Optimizing imac - frozen

Sounds to me like you got conned into installing a 3rd part 'cleanup' app like CleanMyMac or something equally terrible.

At this point, I'd say force reboot your Mac. If it won't startup normally, try booting in safe mode.

Remove whatever cleaning app you installed ASAP.

I hope you use Time Machine or otherwise make regular backups...

sandkshort wrote:

UPDATE: after speaking, with Apple support, they think it’s my mouse!

Let's try to startup into macOS Recovery. From there, you can see if your Mac is responsive or not. To enter macOS Recovery, follow these steps for either Intel or Apple silicon. If you don't know, this Apple article should help: Identify your iMac model - Apple Support.

If you have an Intel Mac:

1. Restart your Mac.
2. Immediately press and hold Command-R until you see an Apple logo.
3. If you see a lock, enter the password for your Mac.
4. If you have multiple volumes on your disk, select the volume you want to recover, then click Next.
5. If requested, choose an administrator account, click Next, enter the password for the account, then click Continue.

If you have an Apple silicon Mac:

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > Shut Down.
2. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely. A Mac is completely shut down when the screen is black and any lights are off.
3. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until the system volume and the Options button appear.
4. Click the Options button, then click Continue. 
5. If asked, select a volume to recover, then click Next.
6. Select an administrator account, then click Next.
7. Enter the password for the administrator account, then click Continue.

Once in Recovery, choose Safari, and click around within the app to see if the mouse works correctly. To leave macOS Recovery, choose Apple menu  > Restart.

-Jack

Hey there!

Try to force shut-down your Mac by pressing and holding the rear power button until the screen goes dark. Then, turn it back on.

-Jack

Did you install a third-party cleaning/maintenance app? If so, which one?

Also what sub-model of the iMac? (the bit with a year and sometimes appended with Early, Mid, or Late.

What OS version is it running.?

Remember that iMac have been in continuous production since 1998 in five broad families with different troubleshooting protocols . There could easily be over a thousand variants by now. As we are really bad at guessing, posting your details will get you better quality advice here faster.

Jack-19 wrote:

KiltedTim wrote:

Sounds to me like you got conned into installing a 3rd part 'cleanup' app like CleanMyMac or something equally terrible.

The notification the OP received is part of macOS.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/6e1989e8-0d84-4eea-a9eb-9d37788a9de2

-Jack

I hope you are correct.

Do you use Time Machine or otherwise have a good backup of your data?

KiltedTim wrote:

Sounds to me like you got conned into installing a 3rd part 'cleanup' app like CleanMyMac or something equally terrible.

The notification the OP received is part of macOS.

-Jack