Guide

Computer keeps crashing, freezing or restarting? How to find the cause

A computer that crashes once is having a bad day. One that crashes regularly has a cause — and the good news is that both Windows and macOS keep a record of what went wrong. Reading that record turns guesswork into a short list, and most of the time the answer is software, not a dying machine.

Written and maintained by ECSupport · Last reviewed November 2026

Notice the pattern first

When and how it crashes narrows the cause down quickly. Before changing anything, think about which of these matches.

Since a recent update or new app — the most common cause by far — a driver or program that does not get on with the system
Only under load — crashing during games, video calls or exports points at heat or a power problem
Freezes, then recovers — often a struggling drive or running out of memory
Random, getting more frequent — a pattern that worsens over weeks is a classic sign of failing hardware

Read what the computer recorded

Both systems log crashes, and the log usually points at the cause. These are the places to look.

On Windows

The stop code — the crash screen (blue on most PCs, black on recent Windows 11) shows a stop code like MEMORY_MANAGEMENT — write it down or take a photo
Reliability Monitor — search "reliability history" from Start — it shows a day-by-day timeline of crashes and what failed, in plain language
Recent changes — Settings > Windows Update > Update history shows what was installed just before the crashes started
Memory check — search "Windows Memory Diagnostic" and let it restart and test the RAM

On a Mac

"Your computer restarted because of a problem" — that message after a restart means a kernel panic — the Mac equivalent of a blue screen
Console — Applications > Utilities > Console > Crash Reports shows which app or component failed
Apple Diagnostics — Apple Silicon: hold power until startup options, then press Command-D; Intel: hold D at startup — it tests the hardware
Safe Mode — starting in Safe Mode loads only the essentials; if crashes stop there, it is software you added

Fixes that resolve most crashes

Work through these in order. They are safe, free and between them clear up the majority of crash problems we see.

Update everything — install pending system updates, and on Windows update the graphics driver from the maker's site, not just Windows Update
Undo the last change — if crashes began after a specific update or app, uninstall it and see if they stop
Free up space — a nearly full drive causes freezes and crashes on both systems — keep at least 10–15% free
Strip back accessories — unplug docks, hubs and older USB devices; a faulty accessory or its driver can crash the whole machine
Check for heat — if it only crashes under load, the cause may be cooling, not software

When it is hardware

If crashes continue in Safe Mode, after a clean update, or the diagnostics report errors, the cause is likely physical: memory, the drive, the power supply or the board. A failing drive is the one to act on fastest, because every crash risks your files — back up now, while it still runs.

Diagnostics report an error — memory and drive faults are usually replaceable parts, depending on the model
Clicking or slow file access — drive trouble — back up before anything else
Crashes on a fresh system — if it still crashes after a clean reinstall, software is ruled out

Worked through these and still stuck? Read us the symptoms and we will tell you what is likely wrong — free, any hour.

Call 0478 953 755

Common questions

What does a blue screen mean?

It means Windows hit a problem it could not recover from and stopped to protect itself. The stop code on the screen names the area — memory, a driver, the drive — and Reliability Monitor records it afterwards. One blue screen is not a crisis; a pattern of them is worth fixing.

Why does my computer freeze but not crash?

Freezes that recover after a few seconds usually mean the computer is waiting on something slow — a struggling drive, a full disk or running out of memory. If it freezes completely and needs a hard power-off, a driver or hardware fault is more likely.

Can a virus cause crashes?

It can, but it is less common than people think. Drivers, updates, heat and hardware cause far more crashes. If you also see pop-ups, a changed browser homepage or unknown programs, check for malware too.

Should I reinstall Windows or macOS to stop crashes?

It is a reasonable step after the simple fixes, because it rules software in or out completely — but back up first and do it last, not first. If crashes continue on a fresh system, the fault is hardware and a reinstall will not help.

Still not sure?

Describe what the machine is doing and we will tell you what is likely wrong and whether it is worth fixing — before you spend anything. Diagnosis over the phone is free, 24 hours a day.

Call 0478 953 755