Have you ever been in the middle of important work on your Windows 11 PC when suddenly everything freezes—except your mouse keeps moving? It’s frustrating and confusing.
You might wonder why your computer stops responding while the cursor still glides smoothly across the screen. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Understanding what causes this problem and how to fix it can save you hours of stress and lost productivity.
Keep reading, and you’ll discover simple, effective solutions to get your PC back to normal quickly.
Common Causes Of Freezing
Computer freezing while the mouse still moves on Windows 11 can be puzzling. Understanding common causes helps you find the right fix. Freezes often arise from hardware, software, drivers, or system load problems. Each issue affects your PC differently. Knowing these causes makes troubleshooting easier and faster.
Hardware Issues
Faulty hardware can cause your computer to freeze. Problems with RAM, hard drives, or overheating CPUs often lead to system hangs. Loose cables or damaged components also affect performance. Hardware failures create delays but usually keep the mouse responsive.
Software Conflicts
Conflicts between programs can freeze Windows 11. Running incompatible apps or background processes may cause the system to hang. Some software bugs or corrupted files also disrupt normal operation. These conflicts block some functions but allow limited control like mouse movement.
Driver Problems
Outdated or corrupted drivers cause system freezes. Drivers help hardware communicate with Windows 11. When drivers fail, devices may not work correctly. This issue often affects graphics or input devices but leaves the mouse pointer moving.
Resource Overload
Too many programs running at once overload system resources. High CPU, memory, or disk use slows down Windows 11. The system struggles to respond but keeps the mouse active. Closing unnecessary apps can reduce the load and fix freezing.
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Basic Troubleshooting Steps
When your computer freezes but the mouse still moves on Windows 11, basic troubleshooting steps can help. These steps often fix common problems quickly. They do not need technical skills and save time before trying advanced fixes.
Follow these simple actions to check your system’s health and improve performance. They help identify if the issue is temporary or needs more attention.
Restart Your Pc
Restarting your PC clears temporary files and stops background processes. This often resolves freezing issues. Click the Start button, select Power, then Restart. Wait for your system to reboot fully before checking again.
Check For Windows Updates
Updates fix bugs and improve system stability. Open Settings, go to Windows Update, and click Check for updates. Install any available updates. A fully updated system reduces freezing problems.
Close Unresponsive Apps
Some apps may cause your computer to freeze. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Select any app that is not responding and click End Task. This frees up system resources and may restore normal function.
Update Or Reinstall Drivers
Drivers are essential for your computer to work properly. They help your hardware and software communicate. Sometimes, outdated or faulty drivers cause your PC to freeze, even if the mouse still moves. Updating or reinstalling drivers can fix this issue quickly. It improves system stability and performance.
Update Graphics Drivers
Graphics drivers control your display and video functions. Old drivers can cause freezes or lags. To update, open Device Manager. Find “Display adapters” and right-click your graphics card. Choose “Update driver” and select “Search automatically.” Windows will find and install the latest driver. Restart your PC after updating. This simple step can stop freezing problems.
Reinstall Problematic Drivers
Sometimes, drivers become corrupted or broken. Reinstalling them clears errors and resets settings. Open Device Manager again. Right-click the problematic driver and select “Uninstall device.” Confirm removal and restart your PC. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. This process refreshes the driver and can fix freezing while the mouse still moves.
Manage Startup Programs
Managing startup programs can help fix computer freezes in Windows 11. Many apps start automatically when your PC boots. Some of these apps slow down your system and cause freezing. Controlling which apps start can improve performance and reduce freezes.
Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps
Some apps do not need to run at startup. Disabling these apps can free up resources. To disable apps, open the Task Manager and go to the Startup tab. Right-click on any app you do not need and choose “Disable.” This stops the app from running at startup, making your PC faster and more stable.
Use Task Manager For Monitoring
Task Manager helps you see all startup programs. It shows the impact of each app on your PC’s startup time. Sort apps by their impact to find the slow ones easily. Check this list regularly to keep your startup clean. Removing heavy apps can reduce freezes and improve overall speed.
Check For Malware
Malware can cause your Windows 11 computer to freeze while the mouse still moves. It disrupts system processes and slows down your PC. Checking for malware helps identify hidden threats. Removing malware often fixes freezing issues quickly.
Run Windows Defender
Windows Defender is built into Windows 11. It scans your PC for viruses and malware. Open Windows Security from the Start menu. Choose “Virus & threat protection” and click “Quick scan.” This scan checks common places malware hides. For a deeper check, select “Full scan.” Wait for the scan to finish. Follow the prompts if it finds any threats. Running Windows Defender is simple and effective for many users.
Use Third-party Antivirus Tools
Third-party antivirus programs offer extra features beyond Windows Defender. Popular options include Avast, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky. Download and install a trusted antivirus program. Run a full system scan to detect malware. These tools often find threats Defender misses. Update the antivirus regularly to protect against new malware. Use the software’s removal options to clean infected files. Using third-party tools can improve your PC’s security and reduce freezing problems.
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Adjust System Performance Settings
Adjusting system performance settings can help fix computer freezes on Windows 11. These settings control how your PC uses resources like memory and graphics. Tweaking them improves smoothness and reduces freezing.
Start by changing visual effects. These effects look nice but use extra power. Cutting back can make your PC run better. Next, increase virtual memory. This space on your hard drive acts like extra RAM. More virtual memory helps your system handle many tasks without freezing.
Modify Visual Effects
Open the Start menu and type “Performance.” Select “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.” A new window appears with visual effects options.
Choose “Adjust for best performance” to turn off all effects. This setting speeds up your computer by using fewer resources. To keep some looks, pick “Custom” and uncheck effects you don’t need. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save.
Increase Virtual Memory
Press Windows + R, type “sysdm.cpl,” and press Enter. Go to the “Advanced” tab and click “Settings” under Performance. Next, click the “Advanced” tab again and select “Change” under Virtual Memory.
Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size.” Choose your system drive and select “Custom size.” Set the initial and maximum size to a value 1.5 times your RAM. Click “Set,” then “OK.” Restart your PC for changes to take effect.
Run System File Checker
Computer freezes but the mouse still moves? This issue often happens because of corrupted system files. Running the System File Checker (SFC) can help find and fix these files. This tool scans your Windows 11 system for problems and repairs them automatically. It is an easy way to improve your PC’s stability without much effort.
Use Sfc Scan To Repair Files
Start by opening the Command Prompt as an administrator. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. The scan checks all protected system files and replaces damaged ones. This process can take some time. Do not close the window until it finishes. After the scan ends, restart your computer. Many users find their freezing issues solved after this step.
Deploy Dism Tool
If SFC cannot fix the problem, try the DISM tool next. Open the Command Prompt with admin rights. Enter the command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. DISM repairs the system image, which SFC uses for file repairs. Wait for the process to complete fully. Restart your PC to apply the changes. This tool often fixes deeper system file problems that cause freezes.
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Use Safe Mode For Diagnosis
Safe Mode is a special way to start Windows 11. It loads only the basic files and drivers. This helps find problems that cause your computer to freeze but still let the mouse move. Using Safe Mode can show if the issue is from software or drivers. It makes troubleshooting easier and clearer.
Boot Into Safe Mode
To start Safe Mode, press and hold the Shift key while clicking Restart. This opens the recovery menu. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings and click Restart again. After your PC restarts, press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode. Your screen looks simpler. Only essential programs run here.
Test System Stability
In Safe Mode, use your computer like normal. Open programs and move the mouse. Check if the freezing happens again. If your system works fine, a driver or app might cause the problem. If it still freezes, hardware could be the issue. Safe Mode helps find the root cause fast.
Consider Hardware Diagnostics
Computer freezes while the mouse still moves on Windows 11 may indicate hardware issues. Hardware diagnostics help find hidden problems. These tests check the health of your RAM and hard drive. Identifying faults early prevents bigger issues later. Running these tests is simple and useful.
Check Ram Health
RAM problems cause system freezes and slowdowns. Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test RAM. Restart your PC and run the test. The tool scans for errors and faulty memory modules. If errors appear, consider replacing the RAM. Healthy RAM keeps your computer stable and fast.
Test Hard Drive Integrity
Hard drive issues also cause freezing while the mouse moves. Use the built-in CHKDSK tool to check your drive. Open Command Prompt and type chkdsk /f /r. The tool scans and fixes disk errors. Faulty sectors or bad blocks slow down the system. A healthy hard drive ensures smooth Windows 11 performance.
Reset Or Reinstall Windows
Sometimes, Windows 11 may freeze while the mouse still moves. This issue can be due to software problems that a reset or reinstall can fix. Resetting or reinstalling Windows gives your system a fresh start. This can clear errors and improve performance.
Before trying advanced fixes, consider resetting your system. It keeps your files but removes apps and settings that may cause freezes. If the reset does not work, a clean install is the next step. This removes everything and installs Windows 11 anew.
Perform A System Reset
To reset Windows 11, open the Settings app. Go to “System,” then “Recovery.” Find “Reset this PC” and click “Get started.”
Choose “Keep my files” to save your personal data. The system will remove apps and settings that might cause freezes.
Follow the on-screen instructions. The reset process can take some time. After it finishes, check if your computer still freezes.
Clean Install Windows 11
A clean install deletes all files and apps on your computer. It installs a fresh copy of Windows 11. This method solves deeper problems that reset cannot fix.
Download the Windows 11 installation media from Microsoft’s official site. Create a bootable USB drive using the media creation tool.
Restart your PC and boot from the USB drive. Follow the setup steps and choose “Custom: Install Windows only.”
Delete existing partitions to remove old data. Then install Windows on the unallocated space. After setup, reinstall your apps and restore files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does Windows 11 Freeze But Mouse Still Moves?
This happens due to system resource overload, driver conflicts, or software bugs. The mouse moves because its driver runs independently. Updating drivers and checking system performance can help resolve this issue.
How To Fix Computer Freezing With Movable Mouse Windows 11?
Restart your PC first. Update Windows and device drivers. Check for malware and remove unnecessary startup programs. Running a system file check can also fix corrupted files causing freezes.
Can Outdated Drivers Cause Freezing But Mouse Moves?
Yes, outdated or incompatible drivers often cause system freezes while the mouse remains responsive. Updating all hardware drivers ensures better compatibility and smoother performance on Windows 11.
Does Running Heavy Programs Cause This Freezing Issue?
Running resource-intensive programs can overload your CPU or RAM. This may freeze the system but keep the mouse pointer movable. Closing unnecessary apps can reduce system strain and prevent freezes.
Conclusion
Computer freezes but mouse still moves on Windows 11 can be frustrating. This issue often points to software or driver problems. Restart your PC to try a quick fix. Check for updates to keep your system stable. Running a virus scan can help find hidden threats.
If problems continue, consider reinstalling drivers or Windows. Taking these steps improves your PC’s performance and reliability. Don’t ignore small signs of trouble. Fixing the freeze early saves time and stress later. Stay patient and follow simple solutions to get back on track.
