Here are some common workarounds for issues that may be causing your computer to freeze with Windows 11:
- Insufficient system resources: Close any unnecessary programs and background processes, and consider upgrading your RAM or CPU.
- Conflicting software or driver issues: Uninstall any recently installed software or drivers that may be causing conflicts, and check for updates for your existing software and drivers.
- Overheating or hardware failure: Clean the dust out of the fans and vents to improve airflow and prevent overheating, and check for any signs of hardware failure, such as strange noises or smells.
- Outdated or corrupted operating system files: Run the Windows troubleshooter, check for and install any pending updates, and check for and repair any corrupted files using the built-in utility such as the “sfc /scannow” command in the command prompt.
- Malware or virus infections: Run a full system scan with a reputable antivirus program, and remove any detected threats.
- Power supply problems: Check that your power supply is functioning correctly, and ensure that your computer is plugged into a working outlet or surge protector.
If your computer continues to freeze or you are unable to resolve the issue using these workarounds, it may be helpful to contact the manufacturer or a professional for further assistance.
Terminate the Remote Desktop Using Windows Task Manager
To terminate a Remote Desktop session using the Windows Task Manager, follow these steps:
- Press the “CTRL” + “ALT” + “DELETE” keys on your keyboard.
- Click on “Task Manager” from the options that appear.
- Click on the “Users” tab.
- Locate the Remote Desktop session you want to terminate and select it.
- Click on “End Task” button, it will end the remote desktop session.
Alternatively, you can also use the command line to end a Remote Desktop session. Open the command prompt and type “query session” to view a list of active sessions. Then type “logoff sessionid” (where sessionid is the ID of the session you want to end) to end the specific session.
It is worth noting that if you have a Remote Desktop session running in full screen mode, you may have to press the “CTRL” + “ALT” + “PAUSE” keys to access the task manager.
If you are trying to close a Remote Desktop session on a remote computer, you will need to have administrator access to that computer in order to end the session.
Enable the Turn Off UDP On Client Policy
To enable the “Turn off UDP on client” policy on a Windows computer, you will need to use the Group Policy Editor. Here are the steps to do this:
- Press the “Windows” key + “R” to open the Run dialog.
- Type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter. This will open the Group Policy Editor.
- Navigate to “Computer Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “Windows Components” > “Remote Desktop Services” > “Remote Desktop Session Host” > “Connections”
- Double click on the “Configure transport settings” policy to open it.
- Select “Enabled” and check the “Use only TCP” option.
- Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
This will disable the use of UDP for Remote Desktop connections on the client computer. By default, Remote Desktop uses both TCP and UDP protocols to transfer data. UDP provides a faster and more efficient way to transfer data but it is less reliable than TCP, turning off UDP will make the connection more reliable but it could cause some lag.
After making this change, you may need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
It is worth noting that this setting only applies to Remote Desktop connections to the client computer, it will not affect other network connections on the computer.
Restart Device Manager for Frozen OS
If your operating system is freezing and you are unable to perform any tasks, you can try restarting the Device Manager to see if it resolves the issue. Here are the steps to do this:
- Press the “Windows” key + “X” to open the Quick Access menu.
- Click on “Device Manager” or type “devmgmt.msc” in the search box.
- In the Device Manager, click on the “View” menu at the top and select “Show hidden devices”.
- Locate the “Computer” option at the top of the device list and right-click on it.
- Select “Scan for hardware changes”.
This will restart the Device Manager and rescan all of the hardware devices connected to your computer. If a device is not responding or causing the freezing issue, Device Manager will try to reinitialize it.
In case the above steps don’t work, you can try restarting your computer in Safe mode and then restarting the Device Manager. Pressing F8 during the boot process to get the boot menu, then select Safe mode and then repeat the steps mentioned above.
It’s important to note that if the freezing is caused by a hardware problem, restarting the Device Manager may not resolve the issue. In that case, you may need to check for hardware failure or contact the manufacturer for assistance.
Adjust Virtual Memory
Virtual memory is a feature of Windows that allows the operating system to use a portion of the hard drive as extra RAM when the physical RAM on the computer is full. Adjusting the virtual memory settings can help improve performance if you are experiencing issues such as freezing or slow performance. Here’s how you can adjust virtual memory in Windows:
- Press the “Windows” key + “R” to open the Run dialog.
- Type “sysdm.cpl” and press Enter. This will open the System Properties window.
- Click on the “Advanced” tab and then click on “Settings” under the “Performance” section.
- In the Performance Options window, click on the “Advanced” tab.
- Under the “Virtual memory” section, click on “Change”.
- In the Virtual Memory window, you can see the current settings. To adjust the virtual memory, uncheck the “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” and select the drive on which Windows is installed.
- Now, you can set the initial and maximum size for the virtual memory. The recommended size is usually 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer.
- Click on “Set” and then “OK” to save the changes.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
It’s important to note that adjusting virtual memory can have an impact on performance, so it’s a good idea to monitor the system after making changes to see if it improves or worsens the situation.
Update Outdated GPU Drivers
Updating outdated GPU drivers can help resolve issues such as freezing, poor performance, or compatibility issues with certain games or applications. Here’s how you can update your GPU drivers in Windows:
- Press the “Windows” key + “X” and select “Device Manager” or type “devmgmt.msc” in the search box.
- In the Device Manager, expand the “Display adapters” category.
- Right-click on your GPU and select “Update Driver”
- Select “Search automatically for updated driver software” and Windows will search for the latest version of the driver and install it.
- Once the update is complete, restart your computer.
Alternatively, you can also download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Just search for the make and model of your GPU, and then look for the latest drivers on the downloads or support page.
It’s important to note that updating your GPU drivers can have an impact on performance, so it’s a good idea to monitor the system after making changes to see if it improves or worsens the situation.
It’s also worth noting that updating GPU drivers is not the only solution, sometimes the issue could be related to the power supply, overheating or even software related issues like malware or software bugs. It’s always a good idea to check for other possible solutions before and after updating the GPU drivers.
Force a Shutdown of your Windows PC
If your Windows PC is frozen and you are unable to perform any tasks, you can force a shutdown to turn off the computer. Here are the steps to do this:
- Press and hold the power button on your computer for at least 5-7 seconds or until the computer turns off.
- Release the button and wait for the computer to shut down.
This method is a last resort and it is not recommended to use it frequently, as it may cause data loss or corruption. It’s always a good idea to save your work before attempting a force shutdown and wait for the computer to shut down normally.
Another way to force a shutdown is by using the command prompt:
- Press the “Windows” key + “X” and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”
- Type “shutdown /s /t 0” and press Enter, this will force the computer to shut down immediately.
Please be aware that using a force shutdown may cause data loss or corruption, it’s always a good idea to save your work and wait for the computer to shut down normally.
Change Screen Resolution
Changing the screen resolution in Windows can help resolve issues such as text or images appearing too small or too large, or the display not fitting properly on the screen. Here’s how you can change the screen resolution in Windows:
- Right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select “Display settings”
- In the Display settings window, you will see a “Resolution” drop-down menu.
- Select the resolution that you want to use and click on “Apply”
- A pop-up window will appear, asking you to keep the changes or revert back to the previous settings, select “Keep changes” if you wish to continue.
- Your computer will adjust to the new resolution and you should see the changes in the display.
It’s important to note that different monitors support different resolutions, so the available options will depend on your specific monitor. Also, if you change the resolution to a lower one, that may cause the contents of the screen to appear larger.
You can also try to adjust the screen resolution through the graphics card control panel, if you have one installed, and that should give more options.
If you’re having trouble with the resolution, it could also be related to the graphics driver, updating it may help to resolve the issue.
Clear Temporary Files
Clearing temporary files can help free up space on your hard drive and improve the performance of your computer. Here’s how you can clear temporary files in Windows:
- Press the “Windows” key + “R” to open the Run dialog.
- Type “%temp%” and press Enter. This will open the temporary files folder.
- Select all the files and folders in the folder by pressing “Ctrl + A”
- Press the “Delete” key on your keyboard to delete the selected files.
- Empty the recycle bin
Alternatively, you can use the Disk Cleanup utility to clear temporary files and other unnecessary files from your computer. Here’s how:
- Press the “Windows” key + “X” and select “Disk Cleanup”
- Select the drive you want to clean up and click “OK”
- In the Disk Cleanup window, select the types of files you want to delete, including “Temporary files” and click “OK”
- Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete.
It’s also a good idea to regularly remove programs you don’t use, cookies and browser history, and to run a disk cleanup and disk defragmenter to help keep your computer running smoothly.
It’s important to note that clearing temporary files may not solve all performance issues, and it’s always a good idea to check for other possible solutions before and after clearing them.
Run an SFC Scan
Running an SFC (System File Checker) scan can help detect and repair corrupted or missing system files on your Windows PC. Here’s how you can run an SFC scan:
- Press the “Windows” key + “X” and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”
- Type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter. This will start the scan and check all protected system files, and it will replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.
- The scan process may take several minutes to complete, depending on the number of files that need to be checked and repaired.
- Once the scan is complete, you will see a message indicating whether any issues were found and repaired. If no issues were found, you will see the message “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.”
It’s important to note that SFC scan can’t fix all system issues, but it’s a good way to start troubleshooting, also you can run a DISM scan to check and fix issues related to system image, you can run this command: “dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth” and “dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth”
It’s also a good idea to run the SFC scan in Safe Mode if the issue is related to the boot process or the system is not stable.
Reset Windows 11 to the Factory Defaults
Resetting Windows 11 to the factory defaults will erase all of your personal files, settings, and installed programs, and restore the original version of the operating system. Here’s how you can reset Windows 11 to the factory defaults:
- Press the “Windows” key + “I” to open the Settings app.
- Select “Update & Security”
- Select “Recovery”
- Under “Reset this PC,” select “Get started.”
- You will be presented with two options: “Keep my files” and “Remove everything.” Select the option you want to use.
- If you choose “Keep my files,” Windows will remove your apps and settings, but keep your personal files. If you choose “Remove everything,” Windows will remove everything, including your personal files.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.
- After the reset process is complete, you will need to set up Windows like you did when you first bought your PC.
Please be aware that resetting your PC to factory defaults will remove all your personal files, settings and apps, it’s important to have a backup before proceeding. It’s also important to note that depending on the manufacturer, a reset to factory defaults may not return the computer to the exact state it was in when it left the factory. It will usually return it to a state as if the operating system was freshly installed.