Mac keeps freezing or showing the spinning wheel? 8 fixes

2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

Force quit the frozen app with Option + Command + Esc, then restart the Mac. If it keeps happening, free up storage, check Activity Monitor for an app using too much memory, and install macOS updates.

The spinning coloured wheel means an app is busy and not responding. Occasionally is normal. If it happens often, the Mac is short of memory or disk space, or one app is faulty.

Step by step

  1. Wait a moment

    Give the app up to a minute. It may be finishing a large task.

  2. Force quit the app

    Press Option + Command + Esc, select the app marked "not responding" and click Force Quit.

  3. Restart the Mac

    Click the Apple menu and choose Restart. If nothing responds, hold the power button for ten seconds.

  4. Check memory

    Open Activity Monitor and click Memory. A yellow or red Memory Pressure graph means too much is open. Close apps and browser tabs.

  5. Free up storage

    macOS needs free disk space to work. Keep at least 10% free: how to check and free up storage on a Mac.

  6. Update the app and macOS

    Old versions of apps often freeze on a newer macOS.

  7. Disconnect accessories

    A failing external drive can make the whole Mac wait. Eject and unplug it to test.

  8. Test in safe mode

    Start in safe mode, which loads only essential software. If the Mac is stable there, a login item or extension is the cause. Remove recent additions under System Settings, General, Login Items & Extensions.

Good to know

If the wheel appears mainly in one app, reinstall that app.

Run First Aid on the disk: open Disk Utility, select the startup volume and click First Aid.

More causes of a slow Mac: Mac running slow.

In short: Force quit, restart, check memory and storage, update.

Sources
  • Apple Support: If an app freezes or quits unexpectedly on Mac

Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.