Fix a Computer That Keeps Crashing

Stop repeated crashes with systematic diagnostics. Check drivers, memory, disk space, and background processes to restore stability.

1. Check available disk space. A full or nearly full drive causes crashes. On Windows, right-click your C: drive in File Explorer, select Properties, and check the free space percentage. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage. If less than 15% of your drive is free, you must delete files or uninstall programs. Start with Downloads folder and old installers.
2. Review system RAM and Task Manager activity. Open Task Manager on Windows by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Click the Performance tab, then Memory. If RAM usage is consistently above 90%, your system is starved for memory. Note which processes consume the most RAM in the Processes tab. On Mac, open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities, click the Memory tab, and sort by Memory to see which apps are using the most. Close unnecessary applications running in the background.
3. Update all device drivers. Outdated or corrupt drivers are a leading cause of crashes. On Windows, right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, and look for any devices with a yellow warning triangle. Right-click each one and select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for updated driver software. For graphics drivers, visit your GPU manufacturer's website directly—NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel—and download the latest driver. On Mac, click the Apple menu and select System Settings > General > Software Update to check for OS and driver updates.
4. Run a malware and antivirus scan. Malware can cause system instability and frequent crashes. On Windows, use Windows Defender, which is built in. Press Windows+I to open Settings, go to Privacy & Security > Virus & threat protection, then click Scan options and select Full scan. Let it complete. If you prefer a third-party tool, download Malwarebytes Free and run a full scan. On Mac, built-in protection is included, but you can download and run Malwarebytes for Mac as a second opinion.
5. Disable startup programs that aren't essential. Too many programs launching at startup slow your system and can trigger crashes. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click the Startup tab, and right-click any program you don't need at boot to disable it. Be cautious—only disable programs you recognize and don't need running constantly. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Login Items and remove unnecessary apps from both the Allow in the Login Window section and the Open at Login section.
6. Install the latest operating system updates. OS updates patch stability issues and fix known crash bugs. On Windows, press Windows+I, go to Update & Security > Windows Update, and click Check for updates. Install any available updates and restart. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Settings > General > Software Update, and install any updates. Restart when prompted. Updates may take 30 minutes to an hour depending on your connection speed.
7. Monitor for stability over 24 hours. After completing all steps above, use your computer normally for at least 24 hours. If crashes return, note the exact time, what you were doing, and any error messages. This information helps narrow down whether the problem is software-specific or hardware-related. If crashes persist, move to the next step.
8. Check hardware health if crashes continue. If your computer still crashes after the above steps, a failing hard drive or RAM module may be the cause. On Windows, run the built-in memory diagnostic by pressing Windows+R, typing mdsched.exe, and pressing Enter. Select Restart now and check for problems. You can also run hard drive diagnostics through Windows Settings > System > Storage > Disk management and check SMART status, or download a third-party tool like CrystalDiskInfo. On Mac, restart your computer and immediately press and hold Command+D to run Apple Diagnostics.