Program Not Responding
When an app freezes and shows “Not Responding,” follow these steps to recover and reduce future occurrences.
Recover & Close Safely
- Wait 1–2 minutes — apps sometimes recover after heavy operations.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Task Manager → select app → End task if needed.
- Reopen the app and let auto-recovery restore documents (Office/Adobe/etc.).
Warning: Forcing an app to close can cause unsaved data loss. Try waiting if disk usage is high.
Prevent Future Freezes
- Check disk space and health (replace failing HDDs/SSDs).
- Update graphics/driver stack; install OS updates.
- Disable conflicting add-ins or plugins within the app.
- Scan for malware if freezes are frequent across apps.
Advanced
- Clean boot to isolate startup conflicts (
msconfigapproach). - Check Event Viewer → Application Hang (AppHangB1, etc.).
- For large files, increase app memory limits or split workload.