Program won't launch or freezes — basic diagnostics
Before you assume an app needs reinstalling, check a few things — the problem is more often with that specific launch than with the installation itself.
What to check, step by step
Check Task Manager for whether it's already running
Sometimes clicking an app icon that won't open actually launches it in the background — repeated clicks just pile up more stuck processes. In Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), check whether the app is already running, and end all of its processes before trying again.
Run the program as administrator
Right-click the app's icon and choose "Run as administrator." Some apps need permissions they don't have on a regular launch, and fail to open silently.
Check for available app updates
Especially after a Windows update, an older app version can stop working correctly. Check within the app or on the vendor's site for a newer version.
Check whether it's one document or the whole program
If the app freezes when opening a specific file but starts fine with an empty window, that one file is likely corrupted, not the program itself.
When it's a job for IT
- The steps above don't help, and the program is essential for daily work.
- The app shows a specific error message — worth noting or photographing before reporting.
- The problem is with a company-licensed app managed centrally — reinstalling may need access you don't have locally.
Couldn't fix it yourself?
Report the issue — it goes straight into our ticketing system, and our AI assistant assesses priority right away.