The Tool Desk
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If a game freezes on Windows 10 or 11, try the graphics-reset shortcut Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B, then use Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and end the game. Restart with the power button only if Windows itself is unresponsive: a forced restart can discard unsaved work.
First check whether the game or the whole PC is frozen
Wait a moment to see whether the game recovers. Notice whether Windows still responds—for example, whether the pointer moves or keyboard shortcuts work. If only the game is stuck, close that process rather than restarting the computer. If the display is black or frozen, try the graphics reset before forcing a restart.
Try to restore a black or stuck display
On Windows 10 and 11, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This shortcut resets the graphics driver. The screen may flicker or the PC may beep if it works. If the display returns, save any work you can before taking further steps. See Microsoft’s blank-screen troubleshooting guide.
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Close the game in Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Select the unresponsive game’s process.
- Choose End task.
This closes the game, so unsaved progress in it may be lost. Steam recommends this approach for a silently crashed or hanging game; see Steam’s instructions for forcing a hanging game to close. If Task Manager does not appear or the shortcut has no effect, do not keep issuing commands blindly; display and full-screen behavior can vary.
#1 Best Overall
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Restart only when Windows is unresponsive
If the graphics reset and Task Manager do not work and the computer does not respond, hold the power button to force a restart. This is a last resort: unsaved work in other applications may be lost, and restarting does not identify the cause. Microsoft’s blank-screen guidance includes a power-button restart for cases where basic recovery steps fail.
If the game keeps freezing, check updates and graphics settings
- Install available updates. Check for Windows and game updates. A freeze can have different causes, so an update is not a guaranteed fix.
- Check the graphics driver. Use the supported update route from your PC or graphics-card manufacturer. Riot Games notes that outdated graphics drivers can contribute to freezes and black screens in its game-freeze troubleshooting guidance.
- Lower graphics settings if the PC is near minimum requirements. Reducing settings may help when hardware is close to the game’s minimum specifications, as EA explains in its PC graphics troubleshooting guidance.
If the PC itself crashes or restarts
A restart or crash that happens beyond one game may involve hardware, a device driver, or software—not just the game. Note any error or stop code and follow Microsoft’s unexpected restart and stop-code troubleshooting, which includes safe mode and driver checks.
Rank #2
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Using a Mac, Linux PC, or console?
The shortcuts and steps here are for Windows 10 and 11. Steam points macOS and Linux users to separate instructions, and the right recovery steps vary by operating system and console. Consult support guidance for your device or platform rather than assuming the Windows shortcuts apply.
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