If your computer keeps freezing randomly, like every few seconds, don’t worry. To fix the problem, you can try the methods below. There are 9 methods introduced in this post. Try them all and you should find the one that works for you.
Method 1: Delete temp files
Deleting temp files can help improve PC performance. You can try to delete the temp files on your computer and see if it helps fix the freezing issue. To do so:
1) Press Win+R keys to open the Run box.
2) Type “%temp%” in the Run box and click the OK button. After that, the Temp folder will open.
3) Delete all files inside the Temp folder. If some files cannot be deleted, they must be in use. You can just skip deleting those files.
Method 2: Run the System File Checker tool
Corrupted system files can cause your PC to freeze randomly. You can run the Windows built-in tool System File Checker to scan your system and detect corrupted system files. If any corrupted system files are detected, the tool will repair or replace the files.
You can follow these steps to run the System File Checker tool:
1) Press Win+R keys to open the Run box.
2) Type “cmd” in the Run box.
3) Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys to run the Command Prompt as administrator.
4) At the Command Prompt, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter. Then the scanning process will begin. The process will take some time. You’ll need to wait until the verification is 100% complete.
If this method doesn’t work for you, continue to try other methods.
Method 3: Stop the feature of “Automatically pick an accent color from background”
Some users have proved an effective method: stop the feature of “Automatically pick an accent colour from background”. If that feature is enabled, your system background will be changed every few seconds or minutes, and that can make your computer freeze randomly.
You can try this method and see if it works for you:
1) Open Settings.
To open Settings, you can right-click on the Start menu button and select Settings.
2) At the Settings window, select Personalization.
3) Click Colors in the left pane. Under Choose your accent color, check if the checkbox “Automatically pick an accent color from my background” is checked. If yes, uncheck it.
Method 4: Update or roll back your graphics card driver
Generally, it’s recommended that you keep your graphics card driver updated, as outdated graphics card drivers can cause performance issues, like the freezing issues. On the other hand, in some rare cases, the new graphics card driver could be the culprit of poor PC performance.
You can update or roll back your graphics card driver and see if it helps fix the random freezing issue. If you’re not using the latest version of the graphics card driver, you should update it. If the issue occurs after you update your Windows or the graphics card driver, you should roll back the graphics card driver.
How to update the graphics card driver:
1) Open Device Manager (learn how to access Device Manager).
2) Expand the category “Display adapters”. Right-click on your graphics card device entry and then select Update driver.
3) Select Search automatically for drivers. Then Windows will search for a new driver and install the driver automatically.
Tip: Windows may fail to provide you with the latest version of drivers. In that case, you can download and install the driver from the PC manufacturer’s website or the graphics card manufacturer’s website.
How to roll back the graphics card driver:
1) Open Device Manager again.
2) Expand the category “Display adapters” and double-click on the graphics card device to open the Properties window.
3) Go to the Driver tab and click on the Roll Back Driver button. Then follow the on-screen instructions to roll back the driver to the previous version.
4) Once done, click OK.
Method 5: Change advanced power plan settings
If you use an SSD and run into the random freezing problem, you can try to change the advanced power plan settings to fix the problem. Here’s how:
1) Press Win+X to bring up the context menu above the Start menu.
2) Select Power Options from the context menu.
3) Click on Additional power settings.
4) Select High Performance and then click on Change plan settings next to it.
5) Click on Change advanced power settings.
6) Expand Hard disk -> Turn off hard disk, enter the value “0” in the Setting box.
7) Click Apply -> OK to save the changes.
8) Restart your computer. Check to see if the problem is fixed.
Method 6: Defragment your hard drive
Generally, when we save a file in a computer, the file will be divided into lots of fragments. So you know, the more time your computer has been used, the more fragments it will generate. As a result, it will take more time for the computer to read a file, and the computer will run slowly and freeze randomly. So, to fix the problem, you can try to defragment your hard drive.
Here’s how:
1) Press the Windows logo key, type “disk defragment” and then select Defragment and Optimize Drives.
3) Under Status, select the drive you wish to defragment then click Optimize. Then the defrag process will begin. The defrag process can take a few minutes or a couple of hours. You’ll need to wait until the process is complete.
5) Once done, check to see if the problem is fixed.
Method 7: Update your BIOS
Updating BIOS may help stop your computer from freezing every few seconds. You can go to your motherboard manufacturer’s website to search and download the latest version of BIOS, and then install it on your computer. Usually, you can find the guide that shows you how to install BIOS on the manufacturer’s website.
Modifying BIOS incorrectly may cause serious system issues. It can even prevent your computer from booting. So ensure you know what you’re doing. If you’re not sure how to do it, it’s recommended you contact the support of your computer manufacturer or other IT support for further assistance.
Method 8: Clean the dust in your PC
When your computer keeps freezing, it could be due to the dust inside the case. If you use a desktop, power off your computer, open your case and then clean out all the dust. You can do it with an air duster.
Besides, check the thermal paste between CPU and heatsink. If it’s dried up or old, it’s time to replace it with the new thermal paste.
Method 9: Take your computer to a computer shop
If none of the above methods works, you should consider taking your computer to a computer shop nearby for diagnosis. It may cost you some money but it will help you save a bunch of time on fixing this problem.
Hopefully you find this post helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below. I’ll get back to you ASAP.