If your Chromebook or any other device becomes frozen, you are likely to lose all of your unsaved work. Force restarting a frozen computer is the only method to recover it. As a result, force restarting should only be used as a last resort. Holding the power button for five to ten seconds on a Windows or MacBook laptop will force a restart; the same is true for Chromebook users. This article discusses how to restart a Chromebook that has become frozen. But first, let’s examine the causes of Chromebook freezing.
What Causes a Chromebook to Be Unresponsive?
Multiple background activities may create heavy resource utilization, preventing your Chromebook from responding. Aside from that, there are a few more explanations behind the problem.
- ChromeOS problems
- Hardware issue (internal/external)
- A problem with a recently installed app
What Should I Do If My Chromebook Becomes Unresponsive?
Multiple intensive background processes can cause the Chromebook to freeze. So, the first thing you should do is set it aside for a while. Another way to see if your Chromebook is frozen is to hit the number lock key. If the Chromebook is frozen, the LED light on the keyboard, or the key itself, should not respond.
If nothing works, the only option is to restart the computer completely.
Chromebook should be restarted
All unsaved work will be lost if you force the Chromebook to restart. So, before you shut down, be sure you’ve saved all of your work. Here are some options for restarting your Chromebook. By pushing and holding the Power button for three to five seconds, you can force a computer to shut off.
The power button/key can be found on the keyboard or right above it. The power button on some Chromebooks may be on the side. If your Chromebook doesn’t have a power button on the keyboard, look for a circular button on either side.
An LED light will be switched on next to the power button. If your keyboard has a power key, it will have a power sign on it. Both the power button and key are conveniently accessible, making them difficult to overlook.
Using the Power Button and Refresh
The refresh key is normally located above the numeric keys 3 and 4 on your Chromebook. As previously stated, the power button might be found near the keyboard or even on the sides. After four to five seconds of holding the refresh button, push and hold the power button. This will restart your Chromebook immediately.
Shutdown as usual
We recommend saving all your tasks and doing a regular shutdown if your Chromebook is not entirely frozen but has a slow reaction. Force shutdown should only be used when absolutely necessary. To perform a normal shutdown, follow the procedures below. This method will only work if your Chromebook is really slow.
- On the bottom right of the screen, press the notification button.
- To turn it off, press the Power button.
- Try operating the laptop for a few hours after it has restarted. If your machine frequently crashes or freezes, follow the actions outlined below.
Disconnect any connected hardware
Remove any peripheral devices from the Chromebook, such as a USB mouse, keyboard, or storage device. Compatibility difficulties with peripheral devices are well recognized. Remove these items and use the laptop instead. Complete the application process. Most likely, your screen is stuck as a result of tasks that consume a lot of resources. If this is the case, try terminating the background process.
- To open Task Manager, press Search + Esc at the same time.
- Select the process that is using a lot of RAM and CPU, then click End Process.
Remove the application
Certain programmes have been known to cause system freezes and other issues. As a result, uninstall any suspicious applications that may be causing the problem. If you start having problems after installing an application, you should uninstall it immediately.
- On the bottom left of the screen, click the circular icon.
- Select the Up arrow.
- Look for the application you wish to uninstall here.
- Uninstall it by right-clicking on it.
- Uninstall/Remove is selected.
Battery drain
If your Chromebook keeps freezing, try completely draining the battery. Drain the battery first by leaving it on for several hours. When the battery is completely depleted, hit the power button four or five times to drain all of the capacitors. Allow the Chromebook to sit for an hour to allow all of the components to cool down. Connect the charger and power on the laptop once all of the parts have cooled.
Without a battery, start Chromebook
To turn on a Chromebook without a battery, remove the rear panel first. Turn on the laptop after removing the battery and connecting the charger. As long as you have the power cord plugged in, your laptop will turn on. If the laptop freezes no longer, you may need to change the batteries. If the laptop continues to freeze, it may be necessary to perform a factory reset.
Reset the factory settings
If nothing else works and your Chromebook is frozen, you can do a factory reset. Resetting the OS, on the other hand, will erase all apps, including personal files and folders. As a result, a factory reset should only be used as a last option.
- On the login screen, restart the Chromebook and simultaneously press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R.
- Click Power wash and Revert when the Reset window appears.
- Now complete the reset process to thoroughly erase your Chromebook.
Chromebook repair
If your Chromebook still stalls at random, it’s possible that an internal component is broken. If none of the previous alternatives work, see if your Chromebook is still covered under warranty. If that’s the case, you can get these parts fixed for free. If the warranty on your laptop has expired, you may simply take it to a nearby laptop repair shop to have it fixed.
