Table of contents

Do you see yourself asking, “Why does my game keep crashing?” Do you experience PC crashes while gaming? Let’s answer your questions and help you fix the issue.

I’ve had my fair share of regular game crashes and I know there are more to come. I’ll be explaining all the reasons you’re getting yanked out of your game, how you can resolve the problem, and preventive measures.

Why Does My Game Keep Crashing?

As you would expect, different underlying issues trigger this particular problem. Sometimes, they can be fixed on the user side, other times, you have to wait for the game developer or Microsoft to resolve the problem. In some cases, it’s your computer that keeps crashing when you’re playing games.

Let’s cover the main reasons for the issue.

  • Your hardware specs are below the game’s requirements

Every game developer releases minimum and recommended system requirements to tell intending gamers what they need to run specific titles. Minimum requirements are the components your computer needs to run the game at its lowest settings. Recommended requirements are the hardware and software configurations required to run higher graphics instances comfortably.

You will face inevitable problems if you insist on running the game on a computer that does not meet its minimum requirements. In some cases, the game will continue to crash if your computer meets its base requirements but you’re trying to run higher graphics settings.

System requirements generally don’t list every CPU or GPU that can run a game. Instead, they list one or two to guide users on the kind of processors they should use. You can always compare the specs of the listed components with yours to confirm if your computer is cleared to run the game.
  • Problematic GPU drivers

Your GPU drivers are software components that translate graphics rendering tasks from Windows to the GPU. If they are corrupt or outdated, they’ll fail to properly convey instructions and force your game to stop running. They can also cause your computer to crash mid-gameplay.

Some graphics driver updates often contain bugs that affect games and cause them to crash.
  • Overclocking

Overclocking involves forcing a CPU or GPU to run at higher clock speeds than their default configurations. This practice generally leads to instability problems that could cause your game to crash. In most cases, overclocked components run too hot and force the computer to shut down certain processes. The entire system could also crash as a result and leave you asking, “Why does my computer keep crashing?”

Also Read: How to Stop Starfield Overheating Your Gaming PC

  • Your graphics card is too powerful for your PSU

Every graphics card has wattage specifications that indicate how much power they require to run smoothly. For example, the NVIDIA RTX 4090 has a total graphics power of 450 watts, but the company specifies that system power should reach 850 watts. Occasional power spikes when running the GPU at max settings can cause it to draw more power.

If you recently upgraded your graphics card, there’s a chance its voltage needs surpass what your PSU can deliver, which could hurt performance and disrupt gameplay. Replacing your laptop charger with a less powerful adapter could also mean your GPU isn’t getting the power it needs to sustain your game’s graphics rendering requirements. 

  • Slow or unstable internet 

If you’re running an online game, especially multiplayer titles, your internet connection could be the reason for the incessant crashes. Even some locally run games require an internet connection to verify users, load profiles, and initiate game modes.

Further Reading: Boost Internet on Your PC: Tips on How to Speed Up Internet Connection 

  • Too many apps open in the background

Running too many apps in the background means your game may lack the required resources to operate smoothly. Some of these programs, such as overlay applications like Game Bar, can also cause conflicts that crash your games.

  • Overheating

Windows will be unable to sustain high-end gameplay for too long if your system has poor thermal management. Overheating is also one of the reasons anyone’s computer crashes when playing games. Windows systems often shut down automatically when temperatures reach critical levels.

Read more: Why Is My Computer Overheating? Top Reasons and Effective Fixes

  • Antivirus

Some antivirus programs can mistake games for threats due to incompatible issues and shut down the games upon launch. In some cases, the antivirus program will close the game during system-wide scans.

  • Corrupt system and game files

Games generally rely on system files, such as DLLs (dynamic link libraries) and program files to run. If these files are corrupt or missing, you’ll continue experiencing regular game crashes.

  • Digital rights management and anti-cheat issues

DRM programs are software tools designed to protect game codes and DLLs against piracy. Anti-cheat software works to detect and prevent cheating attempts targeted at gaining unfair gaming advantages.

These programs do not always work as intended and can prevent you from running your game. For example, some DRM tools recognize Intel 12th Generation E-cores (Efficient-cores) as separate systems and shut down games trying to run on them.

  • Malware

Malware applications usually hog a lot of system resources and could replace or corrupt important system files. These activities are enough to cause significant stability problems and even system crashes.

Resolving Game Crashes Start From

The following checks will ensure you’re not overlooking certain basic issues before drilling into the more advanced methods.

  • Ensure your PC meets the game’s system requirements

If your computer does not meet the game’s minimum requirements, consider upgrading what you can. You can find most of your system’s specs in the DirectX Diagnostics Tool (search for “dxdiag” in the Start menu) and System Information (search for “system information”) windows.

You can replace components, such as your GPU, RAM, storage, and even your CPU, to meet the game’s requirements if you use a desktop computer.

Also read: Gaming Laptop vs. Desktop: Are Gaming Laptops Worth It?

Most gaming laptops provide replaceable RAM or additional slots to expand memory. Users can also upgrade their SSDs or HDDs in most cases.

Some of the most demanding games, like Starfield, require SSDs, and using HDDs could be the reason for the instability issues.

You should also review your graphics settings to ensure you’re not asking too much of your system. Some developers, such as CD Projekt Red, release specifications for different resolutions and settings.

  • Clear your storage space

If your storage is full, games may continue to crash because Windows requires a bit of space to run optimally. This problem could also explain why your computer crashes when playing games. It’s always recommended to keep at least 20% of your storage space empty.

Download Auslogics BoostSpeed
Your one-stop PC maintenance and optimization tool, this program will clean, speed up, repair and tweak your system to ensure maximum speed and efficiency.
Download for Free Learn More
Privacy Policy   EULA

  • Update Windows and your game

Many game glitches, especially DRM and anti-cheat problems, are routinely fixed through Windows and game updates.

Go to Settings > Windows Updates to install your operating system’s latest updates. Most games have automatic updates turned on by default. However, you should check the game’s launcher (such as Steam and Epic Games) to confirm. Go to the library, open the game’s properties, and check for updates.

Automatic updates

  • Check your internet connection

Make sure you have a stable internet connection if you’re trying to run an online game.

Sometimes, the problem may be due to game server downtime, not your internet connection. Check the game developer’s website and social media handles for updates.

How to Fix PC Crashes While Gaming: Further Steps

It’s time to go through the troubleshooting solutions if you’re still asking, “Why do my games keep crashing?”

  • Update your GPU driver

Graphics card manufacturers release updates to resolve issues like game crashes and introduce new features. You can download the latest update through the manufacturer’s website and install it. Ensure you select the correct GPU make and model, system architecture, and operating system to avoid other issues.

Further reading: How to Update Graphics Driver in Minutes

Important!
Roll back the driver if your games started crashing after installing your GPU’s latest driver. Use the update option only if the card’s manufacturer has addressed the issue in a subsequent release
PRO TIP
Other problematic device drivers, such as audio and controller drivers, can also cause gaming problems. So, ensure they are also up-to-date and glitch-free. You can use Auslogics Driver Updater to automate the process.
Download for Free Learn More

Move on to the next steps.

  • Check your power supply

Replace your PSU if its output specification does not match your CPU and GPU’s demands. If the specs do match, check another unit to confirm whether your current power supply isn’t damaged.

  • Reduce clock speed

As mentioned, the high temperatures caused by overclocking can significantly hurt your gaming experience. Reverse your frequency settings and check if that resolves the crashing problem.

You can apply other system tweaks to get more performance from your system. Our gaming performance guide will show a few tricks.

Some Reddit users reported that reducing their CPUs’ default clock speeds and even GPU VRAM resolved the problem. You can use Intel’s XTU program for Intel CPUs and MSI Afterburner to reduce your VRAM a bit, even if you were not previously overclocking. You can also underclock through your BIOS.

Also Read: Dealing with Cyberpunk 2077 Overheating: Best Practices and Solutions

  • Fix corrupt or missing files

Fixing corrupt files involves replacing them. While the method is effective for regular gaming instability problems, it also works quite well for PC crashes while gaming. There are different processes for game and system files.

Replacing corrupt game files

Corrupt game files are usually replaced using the game’s launcher’s verification process. 

Follow this process if you run your games through Steam:

  • Launch Steam and select Library at the top of the window.
  • Select your game in the left pane.

Go to the right side of the screen, click the game’s Settings icon, and select Properties.

Steam Library
  • When the game’s Properties window opens, click Installed Files in the left navigation menu.
  • Next, click Verify integrity of game files and allow Steam to search for and replace corrupted files and other software components.
View integrity of game files
  • Restart your computer once the process is complete and check if the issue persists.

Here’s how to verify game files in the Epic Games launcher:

  • Start the Epic Games Launcher and head to Library.
  • Locate your game and click its three dots.
  • Choose Manage in the menu and select Verify.
  • Allow the launcher to validate your files and replace missing components, as the process may take a while.

You can follow the same principles for other launchers.

Fixing corrupt system files

The System File Checker tool is the main Windows utility for finding and replacing corrupt operating system files. Here’s how to use it:

  • Open the Start menu and type “cmd.”
  • Click Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
  • Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
  • After the administrator window of the Command Prompt appears, type the following and hit Enter:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Note

There are spaces before each slash (/). Move on to the next step when you see the following message:

“The operation completed successfully.”

  • Type “sfc /scannow” and press the Enter button to start the scan for missing and corrupt system files.
  • You should see the “Verification 100% complete” message or an indication that the utility found and fixed corrupt files, showing you where the results are located.
Command Prompt scannow

Did you face any error? Follow our guide on resolving SFC issues.

  • Cool down your PC

Overheating computers don’t run games for long. If you notice high temperatures and uncomfortably loud fans, check the issue.

There are different things you can do to reduce overheating, such as killing off background apps to ease the burden on your CPU, cleaning out your cooling system, changing your computer’s position for better airflow, reducing in-game graphics settings, and upgrading your cooling system.

You can learn more about cooling down your gaming laptop in our guide about resolving laptop overheating issues.

So Why Does My Game Keep Crashing? Additional Troubleshooting Tips

You can also apply these fixes if nothing has worked so far, especially if your PC keeps crashing in the middle of gameplay.

  • Disable your antivirus

Disabling your antivirus will help you confirm if it’s the cause of the problem. You can go into the program’s settings or preferences environment to turn it off.

Note that your computer will likely be vulnerable when you turn off your antivirus program. Try not to download unscanned files or visit unsafe websites during this period.

If the antivirus program is the cause of the problem, update it. If updating does not work, contact the developer or switch to a different antivirus program.

  • Run a full malware scan

Running a full malware scan will eliminate threats that corrupt your system files and use up your computer’s resources. Full scans are different from regular quick scans and may take a while to complete. You can start one by going to your program’s scan options page.

Related: Auslogics Anti-Malware: Features and Reviews

  • Disable background programs

To disable background applications, open Task Manager, select the app, and click End task. You can also go to the Settings app to prevent certain startup applications from running after your computer boots. Head to Settings > Apps > Startup and use the toggle beside each program.

You can also disable startup apps through Task Manager. Once you open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, right-click the program you want to stop, and click Disable.

Like many other users, I’ve also found that turning off Discord overlay, Game Bar (Settings > Gaming > Game Bar), and other overlay programs can fix the problem.

  • Troubleshoot your system memory

Faulty RAM modules can cause significant stability problems, especially for games with high system memory demand. You can use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool or third-party freeware like Memtest86 to test your RAM sticks. You can replace defective modules if the test returns negative results.

Increasing your virtual memory (page file) is also a potential fix. The file helps Windows to create more space when your current standard memory is not meeting your usage demands.

  • Run the game as an administrator

Most games trigger the UAC warning when you launch them because they need access to advanced system resources. Consider granting the same access to the affected game and check if that resolves the problem.

You can always right-click the game or its shortcut and select Run as administrator. If you want to permanently grant admin rights, right-click the game’s shortcut or executable file, select properties, and go to the Compatibility tab. Check the box next to Run as administrator and click the OK button.

Horizon Zero Dawn Properties Compatibility

  • Perform a clean boot

The clean boot process allows you to find conflicting applications that may be causing the crashes. You can disable, remove, or reinstall these programs or services to ensure the issue does not repeat in the future.

Why Do My Games Keep Crashing? Answered

You should now play your games without looking forward to disruptive crashes. Remember to keep your drivers and software up to date, monitor your system temperature, and maintain ample free storage space. That way, you can avoid asking, “Why does my game keep crashing?” or “Why does my PC keep crashing while gaming?”

Please head to the comments section to let us know how you solved the problem or if you’re still experiencing it.

FAQ

Can a power supply cause games to crash?
Yes. Your games will continually crash if your power supply is delivering inadequate or inconsistent voltage to your GPU and CPU.
What happens if your PC keeps crashing?
You could lose important files, and Windows could get corrupted.
How to check why my PC crashed?
You can look at dump files created by Windows to see why your computer crashed. In some cases, Windows will display a blue screen with an error message that points to the cause of the problem.