Quick answer
The spinning wheel ("spinning beach ball") means the Mac is temporarily busy or one app is not responding. Usually it is enough to wait a few seconds, and if it keeps happening, force quit the app via `Force Quit`, check CPU and disk usage in `Activity Monitor`, and restart the Mac. If the freezing returns, the cause is usually too little free space, a faulty external device, or a problematic app.
How to recognize the problem
- The spinning wheel spins for a few seconds to a few minutes and does not go away
- The mouse and keyboard do not respond, windows do not move
- The app is marked as "Not Responding" in the `Force Quit Applications` window
- The whole Mac freezes and then restarts by itself
- The freezing repeats in the same app or during the same task
Most common causes
App not responding
One app is stuck in a loop or waiting for a response that never comes, so macOS shows the spinning wheel until you stop it.
Too little free disk space
When the system disk is almost full, macOS has nowhere to write temporary files and the system starts to hang.
Faulty external device or cable
A broken USB disk, card reader, or cable can block the system while reading and cause freezing.
Too many background processes
Updates, file indexing, and multiple heavy apps at the same time use up CPU and disk, so the Mac temporarily stops responding.
Problematic extension or driver
Safari extensions, system extensions, and third-party drivers can cause hangs after a macOS update.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Wait and check if the Mac recovers
First wait 30 to 60 seconds without clicking. If the spinning wheel appears and disappears occasionally, the Mac is working, just under load. If it does not move even after a minute, go to the next step.
- 2
Force quit the app that is not responding
Press
Option+Command+Escto open theForce Quit Applicationswindow. In the list, select the app marked "Not Responding", clickForce Quit, and confirm. This will not lose saved files, but unsaved changes in that app may be lost. If you do not know which one it is, force quit the apps you opened last, one by one. - 3
Force shut down the Mac if nothing responds
If you cannot even open
Force Quit, press and hold the power button until the screen goes dark, then turn it back on. This is the last option and can lead to loss of unsaved changes in open documents. - 4
Check what is using the CPU and disk
Open
Activity Monitorfrom theApplications > Utilitiesfolder. On theCPUtab, click the% CPUcolumn header to sort the list, then look at the processes with the highest usage. Do the same on theMemoryandDisktabs. If a process is unknown and constantly at the top, look up the process name before stopping it. - 5
Free up space on the system disk
Open
Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storageand check how much is free. If it is less than 15 GB, delete unnecessary files, empty theTrash, and remove old installations. For more detailed steps on freeing up space, see the separate article about a full disk. - 6
Disconnect external devices and check cables
Disconnect USB disks, card readers, hubs, and other peripherals, then restart the Mac. If the freezing does not return, reconnect the devices one by one and watch when the problem comes back. Also check that the power cable and adapters are not damaged.
- 7
Start the Mac in Safe Mode
On a Mac with an Apple silicon chip, shut down the Mac, press and hold the power button until
Loading startup optionsappears, clickOptionsand thenContinue, select the disk, then holdShiftand clickContinue in Safe Mode. On an Intel Mac, holdShiftimmediately after turning it on until the login window appears. If it does not freeze in Safe Mode, the cause is probably a third-party app or extension. - 8
Update macOS and apps
Open
Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Updateand install available updates. Then in theApp Store, open theUpdatestab and update apps. If the problem appeared after a macOS update, also check whether the app manufacturer offers a newer version.
If freezing returns: diagnostics and service
If the spinning wheel keeps coming back even after Safe Mode, updates, and freeing up space, try creating a new user account in System Settings > Users & Groups and work on it for a few days. If the problem does not occur on the new account, the cause is in your user profile, so move your files over gradually. If freezing also occurs on the new account, run Apple Diagnostics by holding the D key while turning on an Intel Mac, and on an Apple silicon Mac hold the power button until Loading startup options appears, then press Command + D, and note the error code. Before service, be sure to make a backup via Time Machine or another reliable backup solution, because data can be lost if the Mac does not start.
How to prevent it
- Keep at least 15 to 20 GB of free space on the system disk
- Regularly update macOS and apps, but not during important work
- Disconnect external disks and hubs when not in use
- Monitor `Activity Monitor` when the Mac starts to slow down and note the processes at the top
When to call a professional
If the Mac freezes even in Safe Mode, if it restarts by itself, or shows an error at startup, it is better to contact IT support or a service center than to change system files and the disk yourself.
IT infrastructure maintenance · Servers, networks, backup, security and helpdeskFAQ
Is the spinning wheel dangerous for data?
The spinning wheel itself is not dangerous, but a forced shutdown can lead to loss of unsaved changes. That is why you should first try `Force Quit` for the app, and use the power button only if nothing else responds.
Why does the Mac freeze only in Safari or one app?
The most common cause is an extension, an outdated app version, or a corrupted profile. Update the app, disable extensions, and check whether the problem repeats in a new user account.
How long may I hold the power button to shut down the Mac?
Hold it for about 10 seconds until the screen goes dark. After that, wait a few seconds before turning it back on. Do this only when the Mac is completely unresponsive, because it skips the normal system shutdown.