Several apps freezing in macOS

I'm having a problem where many apps are freezing and not working. I'm not noticing a specific pattern. Here's some of the situations that are happening.

  • Numbers freezes when opening a shared iCloud document.
  • The Creative Cloud app in my menu bar won't open.
  • Word freezes when opened.
  • The Phone app freezes when it opens for an incoming call.


I've restarted my computer many times. This was happening before I installed macOS 26 and has continued after. I'm up to date on macOS updates and app updates. Appreciate any insights on what's happening and how to fix it. Thanks.

MacBook Pro (M3 Max, 2023)

Posted on Nov 20, 2025 9:59 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 21, 2025 1:46 AM

Part 1 of 2


Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts.


The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.


Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading.


It will only load the Minimum amount of Core Apple Processes to allow the the computer to function at a reduced Level of Performance 


Does the issue present in this mode ?


If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up.


To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac.


Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.


If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.


Part 2 of 2


To Drill Down further and to avoid a session of 20 questions  


Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.


The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet "  and is  only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 


This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer Hardware / Software used on this computer 


The application is free or paid from added features. 


The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 


Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 21, 2025 1:46 AM in response to acropoli

Part 1 of 2


Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts.


The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.


Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading.


It will only load the Minimum amount of Core Apple Processes to allow the the computer to function at a reduced Level of Performance 


Does the issue present in this mode ?


If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up.


To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac.


Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.


If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.


Part 2 of 2


To Drill Down further and to avoid a session of 20 questions  


Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.


The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet "  and is  only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 


This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer Hardware / Software used on this computer 


The application is free or paid from added features. 


The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 


Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

Nov 21, 2025 12:51 PM in response to acropoli

Thank you


Will do an in-depth review later


Right now


Low disk space - This computer is running critically low on free hard drive space.


disk0 - APPLE SSD AP1024Z 1.00 TB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)


Size: 994.66 GB

Free: 33.88 GB

Available: 103.41 GB


Meaning you have a lot of work to do some house cleaning


It is generally suggested to keep about 15% - maybe 20% to the Total Drive Capacity ( 1 TB GB ) as Free space



Nov 21, 2025 1:54 PM in response to acropoli

I don invite my colleague @ neuroanatomist to step in here because I know they have specific User Tip that may assist in this matter


From yet another contributor @etresoft regarding Free Space and Available Space 


Free vs available disk space huge differe… - Apple Community


Quote >>  “ The "available" storage is the amount of used storage that the operating system could automatically delete if it felt that it was really necessary. The "free" storage is the amount that you can actually use for something.


There are system processes that run in the background and automatically delete some of the "available" storage and convert it to "free". If you completely run out of storage, then those system processes will try a little harder. When you "delete" files you are just hinting to the operating system that you don't need those files anymore. The operating system will eventually remove them, but on its own schedule.


Certain tools will allow you to force the issue and manually clean up some of this storage and manually delete local snapshots. But that is only temporary. "  << End Quote 


Purgeable Space is controlled by the Operating System and not the user 


Get detailed information about a disk in Disk Utility on Mac



Nov 20, 2025 8:36 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Activity Monitor said Creative Cloud was using 100% of the CPU. I force quit it from the Activity Monitor. I then reopened it. It opened the program window (which I hadn't been able to do before) but it them immediately froze. After force quitting that I checked Numbers, Phone, and Word and they all still froze. So nothing has changed. The highest CPU usage I have in Activity Monitor is now Safari at 10%. Thanks for the help.

Several apps freezing in macOS

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