Freezing a Max device prepares it for distribution. A frozen device contains files it needs to operate. These files might include subpatchers, audio files, image files, Javascript code, or third-party Max external objects. (When you freeze a device that contains third-party external objects, you can include both Windows and Macintosh versions of the external in your Max search path, if you have them both. The frozen device device will then will contain both versions, and will work on both platforms.) Max analyzes your device to find any files it uses (called dependencies), and then combines these files with your device. When a frozen device is opened, the files inside the device are used, even if similarly named files reside on your disk in the Max search path.