How to Fix a Frequently Crashing Mac & Recover the Drive

Introduction

A frequently crashing Mac can be frustrating, especially if you rely on it for work or personal use. From random shutdowns to persistent kernel panics, these issues can slow down productivity and even lead to data loss. But don’t worry—this guide will help you troubleshoot and fix a crashing Mac while also providing steps to recover your drive.

If you’re in Edmonton and need professional assistance, Edmonton Tech Support can help diagnose and fix Mac issues, ensuring your system runs smoothly again.

Common Reasons Your Mac Keeps Crashing

Before jumping into fixes, it’s essential to understand the common causes of Mac crashes:

1. Software Conflicts – Incompatible or outdated applications can cause system instability.
2. macOS Issues – Corrupt system files or outdated versions may lead to crashes.
3. Insufficient RAM or Storage – Running out of memory or disk space can affect performance.
4. Overheating – Poor ventilation or dust buildup may cause thermal shutdowns.
5. Hardware Failure – Issues like a failing hard drive or faulty RAM can crash your Mac.
6. Malware or Security Threats – Though rare on macOS, malware can still impact system stability.

Fixing a Frequently Crashing Mac

Here’s a step-by-step approach to fixing your Mac:

1. Restart Your Mac in Safe Mode

Safe Mode helps diagnose whether third-party apps are causing the crashes.

Steps:

• For Intel Macs:
  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Turn it on and immediately hold down the Shift key until you see the login screen.
  3. Log in and test your system.
• For Apple Silicon Macs:
  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears.
  3. Select your startup disk, then hold Shift and click “Continue in Safe Mode.”

If your Mac works fine in Safe Mode, the issue might be caused by third-party apps.

2. Free Up Storage Space

A nearly full drive can slow down your Mac and lead to crashes. Aim to keep at least 15-20% of your storage free.

Steps to Free Up Space:

• Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage and check available space.
• Delete unused files and apps.
• Empty the Trash and clear the Downloads folder.
• Use macOS Storage Management tools to optimize space.
• Firstly, restarting your Mac in Safe Mode helps determine if third-party apps are causing crashes.
• In addition, freeing up storage space can prevent system slowdowns and unexpected shutdowns.
• Moreover, updating macOS and applications ensures compatibility and fixes potential software bugs.
• On the other hand, if your Mac continues to crash, resetting PRAM and SMC may resolve hardware-related issues.
• Furthermore, running Apple Diagnostics can help identify whether a failing component is causing instability.
• However, if none of these solutions work, reinstalling macOS might be the best option.
• Consequently, using Disk Utility to repair your drive can prevent further damage and data loss.
• Similarly, if your drive is beyond repair, restoring data from a Time Machine backup ensures you don’t lose important files.
• Therefore, professional assistance from Edmonton Tech Support can be beneficial when DIY solutions fail.
• In conclusion, by following these steps, you can troubleshoot a crashing Mac and recover your data effectively.

3. Update macOS and Applications

Keeping your system updated ensures compatibility and fixes bugs that may cause crashes.

Steps to Update macOS:

• Click Apple Menu > System Settings > Software Update (for macOS Ventura and later).
• If an update is available, install it.

Steps to Update Apps:

• Open the App Store and check for pending updates.
• For third-party apps, check the developer’s website for updates.

4. Reset PRAM & SMC (For Intel Macs)

If your Mac is behaving erratically, resetting the PRAM (Parameter RAM) and SMC (System Management Controller) can help.

To Reset PRAM:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds.

To Reset SMC:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press Shift + Control + Option along with the Power button for 10 seconds.
3. Release all keys and turn your Mac back on.

5. Check for Malware and Remove It

Though macOS has strong security, malware can still cause system crashes.

Steps to Scan for Malware:

• Use Mac’s built-in XProtect (automatic security updates help block threats).
• Download a trusted anti-malware app like Malwarebytes for Mac.
• Remove any suspicious browser extensions or unknown apps.

6. Run Apple Diagnostics to Check Hardware Issues

If crashes persist, faulty hardware may be the culprit.

Steps to Run Apple Diagnostics:

• For Intel Macs: Restart and hold D until a diagnostics screen appears.
• For Apple Silicon Macs: Press and hold the Power button until startup options appear, then press Command + D.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to check for hardware issues.

7. Reinstall macOS

If nothing works, reinstalling macOS can resolve system corruption.

Steps to Reinstall macOS:

1. Back up your important data using Time Machine.
2. Restart your Mac and enter macOS Recovery Mode:
   • For Intel Macs: Hold Command + R during startup.
   • For Apple Silicon Macs: Press and hold the Power button, then choose Options > Continue.
3. Select Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts.

Recovering Your Drive After a Crash

If your Mac crashed due to a failing drive, follow these steps to recover your data.

1. Boot into macOS Recovery Mode

If your Mac won’t start properly, boot into Recovery Mode:

• Follow the same Reinstall macOS steps above to enter macOS Utilities.

2. Use Disk Utility to Repair the Drive

• Select Disk Utility and click First Aid to check for errors.
• If First Aid detects issues, attempt to repair them.

3. Restore Data from Time Machine Backup

If your drive is beyond repair, restore your data from a backup.

• In macOS Utilities, select Restore from Time Machine Backup.

4. Use Data Recovery Software

If you don’t have a backup, try third-party recovery tools like:

• Disk Drill
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
• Stellar Data Recovery

When to Contact Edmonton Tech Support

If you’ve tried these solutions and your Mac is still crashing, professional help might be necessary. Edmonton Tech Support offers:

• Mac diagnostics & repair
• Data recovery services
• Virus removal & security updates
• Hardware upgrades (SSD, RAM replacements, etc.)

Conclusion

A frequently crashing Mac can disrupt your workflow, but with the right steps, you can troubleshoot and fix the issue. From Safe Mode startup to macOS reinstallation, there are multiple ways to restore your Mac’s stability. If your drive is failing, using Disk Utility or Time Machine backups can help recover your data.

For expert Mac repair and data recovery in Edmonton, reach out to Edmonton Tech Support today!

We give you 6 tips to help you fix the Samsung touchscreen not working issue. Try them one by one.

Tip 1. Force Reboot your Samsung Phone

If you are facing an issue with the touchscreen not working Samsung then a force reboot is a sensible option. For this, you need to press the volume down key and the Power key for more than 20 seconds. This activity will make your device run smoother and faster with a proper response on the touchscreen.

Tip 2. Remove Memory Card & SIM Card

While performing multiple functions, Smartphone heats up and this hampers its performance. It also affects the touchscreen and makes it irresponsive. Removing your Memory card & SIM card can be a better way to resolve this issue.

Note: Always Unmount your SIM and Memory card before removing them. There can be chances that your data might get deleted.

Tip 3. Fix Samsung System Issue with One Click

If neither a force restart nor removal of a memory card can fix the Samsung touch screen not working issue, your Samsung device may face some system errors. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what the problem is, you can turn to DroidKit – Android Phone Toolkit to repair your Samsung device. DroidKit fixes all the Android system issues you can imagine without data loss. Just connect your phone to the computer equipped with DroidKit, and it will scan all the possible system errors on your phone. After that, you just need to fix the issues by following the tutorial below.

Step 1. Download and install DroidKit. On the home screen of DroidKit, you can see many functions  > Choose Fix System Issues in the middle of the page.

Step 2. Read the notes on the screen > Connect your Samsung device to the computer > Click Start to proceed.

Step 3. Automatically, the program will match the PDA code of your Samsung device > Click Download Now to acquire the firmware.

Step 4. After the firmware is downloaded, click Fix Now button and then put your device in download mode. Next, DroidKit will start repairing immediately. Wait for the successfully fixed page as below.

Video Tutorial on How to Fix Samsung Touch Screen not Working with DroidKit:

Tip 4. Boot the Device in Safe Mode

When the above methods do not perform what is required then, you can boot your Samsung device into safe mode. This procedure will help you in recognizing the problem as if the newly installed application is the reason behind this.

For this, you need to press the Power Button for a longer duration until you see Power Menu Option on the screen. Now, long press the Power Off button and the message will appear on the screen asking you for Reboot. After performing this of the device works properly then it is for sure that the last installed app creating the issue.

Tip 5. Boot your Phone in Recovery Mode and Wipe Cache

If you are still facing the issue of Samsung touchscreen not working then simply try to boot your device in the Recovery Mode. Factory resetting will erase all your data and try to be in safe hand while performing this activity.

Note: This process will erase all your data and all you need is to create a backup and restore your device data safely.

Tip 6. Backup your Data and Reset your Phone

Creating a backup before you reset your device is a sensible option for every user. Mostly while resetting the device all your data might get erased. For this, you can Sync your data with the Gmail Account. Recheck by logging on to your Gmail Account to confirm the backup. Now, smoothly perform the factory reset and make your Samsung Device to reboot. After this process, you can restore all your data from the Gmail account. Some third-party software also assists in creating a backup and restoring data. This process can assist you in the queries like touchscreen not working Samsung.

How to Backup Samsung Data with Simple Clicks

Users who are depressed with a problem like Samsung Touchscreen not working can try to overcome this issue effectively by resetting their Samsung device. But such processes are to be done carefully as this might erase all your data if you fail to make a backup. Using the Gmail account is a sensible option but there some cons to this process as well.

AnyDroid is a reliable third party software which works effectively to perform this activity. Data is vital no matter which Samsung device you are operating. Samsung owners have various methods to back up their data and AnyDroid is the best option to date. Being developed by iMobie, this software is now the leading choice, especially for Samsung users.

The reasons being:

• Allows you to back up your data on Samsung to the computer in just a few clicks.
• Its smart algorithm allows users to select the path and save the files anywhere.
• AnyDroid is highly compatible with all the Samsung Devices.
• While creating the backup there is no data loss or damage.