Symptoms
- Screen is stuck on one image
- Mouse and keyboard don't respond
- Apps stopped updating
- Touchscreen (if present) doesn't react
Likely causes
- CommonA single app or tab hungA misbehaving webpage or Android app can lock up the whole interface.
- CommonToo many tabs or apps open at onceLimited RAM on many Chromebooks can cause the system to stall under heavy load.
- PossibleChromeOS update installing in the backgroundUpdates sometimes make the system briefly unresponsive before finishing.
- Less commonOverheatingBlocked vents can cause the system to throttle or freeze under load.
What to do
- Wait 1–2 minutes in case it's just a slow update or heavy tab finishing up.
- Try pressing Esc, Refresh (the circular arrow key), and Power together, or check your model's key combo for a hard reset.
- If that doesn't work, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown, then power back on.
- Once it restarts, close extra tabs and apps and see if the freeze happens again under similar use.
- Check chrome://settings for how many extensions are installed and disable ones you don't need.
- If freezes are frequent, restart the Chromebook daily and check for pending ChromeOS updates in Settings > About ChromeOS.
When to call a pro
If freezing happens daily even with few tabs open, a repair tech can check for a failing storage chip or memory issue.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.