It can be frustrating when your Mac freezes or becomes unresponsive after installing a software update. This issue seems to occur most commonly after major operating system updates like macOS Big Sur or macOS Ventura. The computer may freeze entirely where you can’t click or type anything, or it may just beachball frequently when trying to use apps or open files. There are several potential causes of this problem that we’ll explore in this article.
Software Updates Can Cause Issues
Software updates often involve installing new files, replacing system files, and changing various settings on your Mac. Even updates from Apple that are supposed to improve performance can sometimes expose hidden bugs or incompatibilities with your specific system and configuration.
According to one survey, developers spend 20-40% of their time fixing bugs [1]. Updating a complex operating system like macOS inevitably introduces new bugs. Something in the new update may conflict with existing software, drivers, or configurations on your machine.
Additionally, some updates make major changes to system files, drivers, and libraries. This increases the likelihood of something going wrong or becoming unstable. Even if the update is well-tested, it’s impossible to foresee how it might interact with the vast array of third party software and peripherals people have connected to their Mac.
Insufficient System Resources
Major operating system updates like macOS Ventura require more RAM and storage space than previous versions of macOS. Older Macs may have hardware limitations that prevent them from running new updates smoothly. For example, macOS Ventura requires a minimum of 8GB of available storage space and 4GB of memory (Apple). If your Mac is running low on storage or RAM, the system may freeze or crash after installing a major update because it lacks the necessary resources to run the new OS efficiently.
Upgrading your hardware by adding more RAM or a solid-state drive can help improve performance. But hardware upgrades may not be possible on older Macs. If your Mac is more than 5 years old, it may simply lack the minimum system resources required for new macOS versions. Getting a newer Mac may be necessary to keep up with the latest updates without stability issues.
Incompatible Software
One common cause of freezing or crashing issues after a macOS update is incompatible software (Apple Developer, 2017). When Apple releases a major new version of macOS, older apps that were designed for previous versions may not work properly on the new OS. This is because the underlying system frameworks and APIs that apps rely on can change significantly between OS versions.
If you have older apps installed, they may start misbehaving, freezing, or crashing after updating. This tends to especially affect apps that have not been updated in a long time and are no longer supported by the developer. The app may be trying to call a deprecated system function that no longer exists, leading to errors and instability.
To fix this, check if there are any updates available for your apps that specifically mention compatibility improvements for the new OS version. If no updates are available, you may need to contact the app developer or consider replacing incompatible apps with newer alternatives designed to run on the latest macOS version.
Corrupted Files
One common reason for freezes and crashes after a MacOS update is corrupted system files. The update process itself can sometimes damage important system files, leaving them in an unusable state. This Apple discussions thread describes issues with corrupted files after updating to Monterey, resulting in being unable to open files.
When critical system files become corrupted during an update, it can lead to a variety of stability and performance issues. The Mac may freeze or become unresponsive when trying to access these damaged files. According to EaseUS, corrupted video and media files in particular can cause freezes and crashes.
If you suspect corrupted files are causing freezing after a Mac update, you can scan for and attempt to repair the damaged files. Utilities like Disk Utility and commercial software like Mackeeper can help identify and fix corrupted files. Reinstalling the latest macOS update can also overwrite any damaged files with fresh copies.
Hard Drive Errors
A failing or damaged hard drive can cause system freezes and problems after a software update. As hard drives start to fail, they have increasing difficulty reading and writing data. Software updates involve installing new files and modifying existing ones, which requires efficient hard drive operations. If the drive is struggling, the system can hang or freeze as the update process waits for data to be accessed.
Damaged sectors on a hard drive lead to read/write errors that slow down processes and cause temporary freezing. Bad sectors accumulate on an aging drive and eventually lead to complete failure. An update accessing these bad parts of the drive will result in a system freeze.
In addition, failing drives may have difficulty dealing with the increased disk usage from update installs and file modifications. Insufficient performance to handle the update workload can result in timeouts, lockups, and system freezes as the drive struggles to keep up.
If an imminent drive failure is causing freezes after an update, the issues will persist and likely worsen over time leading to eventual failure. Replacing the faulty drive before it completely dies is recommended to resolve the freezing issues.
Sources:
https://superuser.com/questions/954262/why-do-damaged-hard-drives-freeze-the-entire-system
https://www.easeus.com/storage-media-recovery/external-hard-drive-keeps-freezing.html
Overheating Issues
One potential cause of freezing after a Mac update is overheating. Major software updates like macOS upgrades require extensive processing power to install new files and make changes across the operating system. This spike in CPU usage generates additional heat and can push your Mac to overheat, especially if the internal fans and cooling systems are already strained or blocked by dust buildup.
Signs of an overheating Mac include the computer feeling very hot to the touch, loud and constantly spinning fans, and the temperature warning icon appearing in the menu bar. Overheating can lead to freezes, crashes, shutdowns, and performance issues.
To mitigate overheating, make sure your Mac is well ventilated and clear of dust buildup. Avoid processor-intensive tasks during and right after a major update. Install updates when the computer is cool and let it finish the process without moving it. Monitoring CPU and temperature levels with an app like iStat Menus can also help diagnose overheating issues.
If your Mac frequently overheats even when idle, a deeper hardware issue like failing fans, old thermal paste, or blocked vents may need to be addressed. Working with an authorized Apple service provider can help fully resolve chronic overheating problems.
Login Items
Login Items are applications that automatically launch when you log in to your Mac. These startup apps can sometimes conflict with system updates and cause freezing or crashing issues (Unresponsive Login Items settings – Apple Community). When an operating system update changes background processes, it can disrupt autolaunch apps and prevent them from loading properly at startup.
Try disabling all Login Items before updating your Mac again. To manage your Login Items, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > (select your account) > Login Items. Deselect or delete any apps you don’t need launching automatically at startup. After updating, you can re-enable Login Items one by one while testing system stability.
If disabling Login Items fixes your Mac freezing after an update, it indicates one or more autolaunch apps were incompatible with the update’s changes. You’ll need to troubleshoot each Login Item individually to determine which one(s) caused the issue. Update third-party apps to their latest versions, restart your Mac, and re-enable Login Items gradually to isolate any problematic apps.
Fixes and Solutions
There are several troubleshooting steps you can try to fix a frozen Mac after an update:
Start your Mac in safe mode to isolate software issues. Safe mode loads only required kernel extensions which can help pinpoint incompatible software causing freezes.
Reset the NVRAM on your Mac to clear any corrupted settings that may be causing problems. Press and hold Command + Option + P + R on startup to reset NVRAM.
Run Apple’s built-in diagnostics tools like First Aid to check for and repair disk errors that could lead to freezing issues.
Check Activity Monitor for any runaway processes hogging system resources and causing freezes. Quit any unnecessary apps and processes to free up resources.
Try creating a new user account and logging in to see if freezing persists. This can isolate account-specific configuration issues.
As a last resort, try reinstalling macOS or performing a clean install to eliminate software corruption. Make sure to fully backup your data first.
If you’ve tried these steps and your Mac still freezes regularly, it’s best to contact Apple support for further troubleshooting assistance.
When to Contact Apple Support
If you have tried the recommended troubleshooting steps like restarting, updating software, freeing up disk space, removing login items, and reinstalling macOS, but your Mac continues to freeze randomly after an update, it likely indicates a hardware issue. At that point, it’s best to contact Apple Support for assistance with diagnosis and repair.
An Apple technician can run diagnostics to pinpoint the underlying hardware problem, which is often related to the logic board, RAM, storage drive, or other components. Though Apple repairs can be costly without AppleCare+ warranty coverage, Apple technicians are the most qualified to service Mac hardware and firmware.
Contact Apple Support by calling 1-800-275-2273 or scheduling a repair appointment at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. Be prepared to describe the freezing issue in detail. The technician can then advise if your Mac qualifies for any repair extension programs and provide a quote for out-of-warranty repairs.