MacBook Air freezing

How to Fix Freezing on a MacBook Air Running macOS 27

If your MacBook Air has started freezing after updating to macOS 27, there are several steps you can try to get it running smoothly again.

First, check your Mac's compatibility. A MacBook Air running macOS 27 must be an Apple silicon model, such as one with an M-series chip. The 2020 MacBook Air was sold in both Intel and Apple silicon versions, while the 2018 and 2019 models use Intel processors. To check yours, click the Apple menu () and select About This Mac.

1. Restart your Mac

If your Mac becomes completely unresponsive, press and hold the power button (or Touch ID button) for up to 10 seconds until it shuts down. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Unsaved work may be lost.

Apple's guide: How to start up your Mac

2. Check for macOS updates

Go to System Settings >> General >> Software Update and install any available compatible updates. If the freezing started after upgrading to macOS 27, a subsequent bug-fix update may help.

Apple's guide: Update macOS on Mac

3. Check storage and running applications

Open System Settings >> General >> Storage and check how much free space is available.

Close applications you're not using.

Open Activity Monitor (Applications >> Utilities) to identify apps consuming excessive CPU or memory.

Disconnect external drives, USB hubs and other accessories temporarily to see whether one is causing the problem.

Apple's guides: Free up storage space | Activity Monitor User Guide

4. Try Safe Mode

Safe Mode helps determine whether startup software or third-party applications are causing the freezing.

Shut down your Mac.

Press and hold the power button until the startup options appear.

Select your startup disk.

Hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.

Use your Mac for a while to see whether it still freezes. If it works normally in Safe Mode, review your login items and update or remove incompatible applications.

Apple's guide: Start up your Mac in safe mode

5. Run Apple Diagnostics

If the problem continues, Apple Diagnostics can help identify possible hardware issues.

Shut down your Mac.

Press and hold the power button until startup options appear.

Press and hold Command (⌘) + D.

Follow the on-screen instructions and note any reference code displayed.

Apple's guide: Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac

6. Reinstall macOS if necessary

If none of the previous steps works, back up your important files first. Then:

Shut down your Mac.

Press and hold the power button until startup options appear.

Select Options >> Continue to enter macOS Recovery.

Choose Reinstall macOS and follow the instructions.

Reinstalling macOS can help resolve persistent software problems without normally removing your personal files, but backing up first is essential. Do not erase your drive unless you intentionally want to delete its contents.

Apple's guide: Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon

If the Mac continues freezing after these steps, contact Apple Support.

To help pinpoint the cause: What chip does your Mac show under About This Mac, and does it freeze during startup, when opening apps, or randomly while you're using it?