How to Fix a Game That Keeps Crashing: Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide

How to Fix a Game That Keeps Crashing

Introduction

There’s nothing more frustrating than settling in for a gaming session, only for your game to keep crashing. Whether it's happening on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or mobile, game crashes can ruin the experience.

A crashing game could be due to hardware issues, outdated drivers, software conflicts, overheating, or corrupted files. The good news? Most game crashes can be fixed with the right troubleshooting steps.

In this guide, we’ll cover the best solutions to fix a game that keeps crashing, ensuring you get back to gaming without interruptions.

Common Reasons Why Games Keep Crashing

Before we jump into solutions, let's look at the most common reasons why games crash:

1. Outdated or Corrupt Graphics Drivers

Your GPU (graphics processing unit) plays a huge role in gaming. If the drivers are outdated or corrupted, your game may crash.

2. Insufficient System Requirements

If your PC or console doesn’t meet the game’s minimum requirements, crashes are likely.

3. Overheating Issues

High CPU or GPU temperatures can force your system to shut down to prevent damage.

4. Software Conflicts

Certain background apps or malware can interfere with your game, leading to crashes.

5. Corrupted Game Files

A damaged game installation or missing files can result in crashes.

6. Internet Connection Issues

For online games, an unstable network can cause crashes or disconnects.

How to Fix a Game That Keeps Crashing: Step-by-Step Solutions

Let’s go through the best fixes for games crashing on PC, console, and mobile devices.

1. Check System Requirements

Before troubleshooting, confirm that your PC or console meets the game’s minimum system requirements.

✅ How to Check System Specs (Windows PC):

Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter.
Check your processor (CPU), memory (RAM), and graphics card (GPU).
Compare these with the game’s system requirements (found on the official website or Steam).

🔴 If your PC doesn’t meet the requirements, consider upgrading your hardware.

2. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated drivers often cause game crashes, stuttering, and black screens.

✅ How to Update GPU Drivers (Windows PC):

Press Win + X, select Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters and right-click your GPU (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
Select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.

Alternatively, update manually via:

NVIDIA: Download from NVIDIA
AMD: Download from AMD
Intel: Download from Intel

🔴 Restart your PC after updating the drivers.

3. Verify or Reinstall Game Files

If your game files are corrupted, crashes can occur.

✅ How to Verify Game Files on Steam:

Open Steam and go to your Library.
Right-click the game and select Properties.
Click Local Files > Verify integrity of game files.

✅ For Epic Games, Xbox, or PlayStation:

Reinstall the game or check for game updates.

🔴 Try launching the game after verification.

4. Close Unnecessary Background Apps

Apps running in the background consume system resources, causing your game to crash.

✅ How to Close Background Processes (Windows PC):

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Look for high-resource apps (e.g., Chrome, Discord, OBS).
Right-click and select End Task.

🔴 Avoid running unnecessary apps while gaming.

5. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings

If your PC is struggling, lowering graphics settings can prevent crashes.

✅ Reduce these settings in-game:

Lower resolution (e.g., from 4K to 1080p)
Reduce shadows, reflections, and texture quality
Turn off ray tracing and V-Sync

🔴 Apply changes and restart the game.

6. Monitor and Prevent Overheating

Overheating can cause automatic shutdowns and game crashes.

✅ How to Check PC Temperatures:

Use HWMonitor (Download Here) or MSI Afterburner.
Keep GPU temps below 85°C and CPU temps below 80°C.

🔴 Solutions for Overheating:

Clean dust from fans and vents.
Improve airflow with additional cooling.
Use a cooling pad (for laptops).

7. Disable Overclocking

If your CPU or GPU is overclocked, it may cause instability.

✅ How to Disable Overclocking (Windows PC):

Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (F2, F12, or Delete key during boot).
Find the Overclocking or Performance tab.
Disable overclocking and save changes.

🔴 Reboot and try launching the game again.

8. Check for Windows Updates

An outdated Windows system can cause compatibility issues.

✅ How to Update Windows:

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Click Update & Security > Windows Update.
Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

🔴 Restart your PC after updating.

9. Fix Internet Connection Issues (For Online Games)

If online games keep crashing, it might be a network issue.

✅ How to Fix Internet Problems:

Restart your router and switch to a wired connection.
Use Google DNS (8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4) for a stable connection.

🔴 Check if the game servers are down on Downdetector.

10. Reinstall the Game or Reset Your Device

If nothing works, try a full reinstall or reset your system.

✅ For PC & Console:

Uninstall the game and delete all game files.
Reinstall from the official platform (Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, Xbox).

🔴 If crashes persist after reinstalling, consider a factory reset.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your game still crashes after trying everything:

Check for hardware failures (GPU, RAM, SSD).
Contact the game’s support team for assistance.
Visit a PC repair shop for advanced troubleshooting.

Preventing Future Game Crashes

To avoid future crashes, follow these best practices:

1. Keep Your System Updated

Regularly update Windows, drivers, and games.

2. Avoid Background Downloads

Downloading while gaming can cause performance drops and crashes.

3. Upgrade Your Hardware if Necessary

If your PC is outdated, consider upgrading RAM, GPU, or SSD.

FAQs

Why does my game crash after a few minutes?
It could be due to overheating, software conflicts, or outdated drivers.

Can a virus cause my game to crash?
Yes! Scan your PC for malware using Windows Defender or Malwarebytes.

How do I fix my game crashing on startup?
Try verifying game files, updating drivers, and running as administrator.

Conclusion

A crashing game can be annoying, but most issues can be fixed with simple troubleshooting. By checking drivers, adjusting settings, preventing overheating, and fixing corrupted files, you can get back to smooth gaming.

If all else fails, consider upgrading your system or seeking professional help. Happy gaming! 🎮🔥

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Friday, February 28, 2025