If you are wondering how do I defrost my device, you have come to the right place. From Chromebooks and Windows laptops to iPhones and Android devices, they can all suffer from a freeze crash and can also be saved.
This guide will break down each device and how you can react to get the ideal solution for that specific device. But before that, it's always a good idea to do the old classic of avoiding the problem if you can. One of the main causes of device failure is overworking and excessive heating of the processor.
You can prevent this from happening by putting less strain on your system. Mainly, make sure you restart your device regularly, ideally daily. This allows you to clear your cache and start over with all your resources ready.
Another important tip is to make sure you have a certain number of applications or tabs open in a browser at the same time. Close it after you're done with an app or browser tab, and that will free up valuable resources so your device is less likely to screech to a halt, especially when you least want it to.
It is also worth keeping your device always updated, both for applications and the system software itself. Additionally, it can be helpful to ensure it is well ventilated to stay cool.
Too late and you are already in a frozen device state while searching for this guide on another device? Find the fastest ways to unfreeze your device below, or click on the specific device in the shortcuts to go directly to yours.
Unfreeze my device guide
Unfreeze a Chromebook
For teachers and students, a frozen Chromebook may not be an uncommon problem. This can be especially problematic for older devices that are very low on resources, or those with less robust Wi-Fi connections, which can mean bottlenecking and caching issues.
First of all, try to remove any usb drives as this could be causing a problem. Then check message error and google that on another device to see if there is a solution. Use Chrome OS Task Manager by pressing Shift + Escape and then select Final task if something consumes a lot of memory.
In case your Chromebook freezes, when nothing else has helped, there is another option to get it working again: a forced shutdown. press and hold he force button for at least seven seconds to restart.
If this fails, there is still another option. A hard reset may help, which involves pressing restart and then forceholding both until the power goes out.
When power is turned on again, open the Task Manager as shown above, and consider remove any app that you do not use frequently and that consume computing resources.
Unfreeze a Microsoft Windows computer
Whatever Windows device you have, be it a laptop, tablet, or desktop, it is susceptible to failure. If that happens, the best first step is to open the Task Manager using the Ctrl + Alt + Del buttons. This will allow you to stop any apps that may have crashed by selecting the option Final task option.
Or restart the File Browser itself. Get here by selecting the Task Manager and entering More detailsso he Processes tab, then selecting File Browser before clicking Final task to restart it automatically.
If you can't access any of this, a hard reset might help. Do this by pressing and holding the force until the device turns off. Then turn it back on. If the problem persists, consider rebooting. Safe Mode holding down F8 while turning it back on.
Defrost and iPhone or iPad
If you are running an iPhone or iPad (any iOS device), you may rarely even find these freezing. This tip applies to iPhone 8 or later and an iPad without a Home button.
Fortunately, this being Apple, the solution can be simple. On your iOS device, when frozen, simply press and quickly release the Turn up the volume button, then do the same with the decrease the volume and then press and hold the button side button until you see the Apple logo, after about ten seconds.
Then the device should turn on again. If this does not happen, connect it to load for at least an hour and then try turning it on again.
For older iPads with a home button, press and hold the button home button on the front and the force at the same time until the device reboots.
Unfreeze and Android phone or tablet
For Android smartphones and tablets, there can be quite a few device variants among brand manufacturers. However, thanks to a fairly consistent Android operating system, you can try a fairly universal solution to unfreeze your device.
The easiest solution is to hold down the button force until your device reboots.
Otherwise, you can force a restart by holding down the button force button and lower volume key at the same time.
In all software and hardware cases, if the problem persists, it may be helpful to contact the software provider or hardware manufacturer, whether Google, Microsoft, or Apple, for more specific help.
