Why Does My Game Crash On Startup And Quick Fixes To Try First

There’s nothing more frustrating than clicking a game icon, watching the splash screen appear, and then—nothing. The game closes instantly, leaving you staring at your desktop. This type of crash on startup is common across PC gaming platforms, from Steam to Epic Games and standalone installers. While it might seem like a major technical failure, most startup crashes stem from preventable or fixable issues. Understanding the root causes and knowing which troubleshooting steps to take first can save hours of frustration and get you back in the action quickly.

Common Causes of Game Crashes on Startup

Before diving into solutions, it helps to understand what typically goes wrong. A game failing to launch isn’t usually due to a single catastrophic error. Instead, it's often the result of compatibility, configuration, or system-level conflicts. Here are the most frequent culprits:

• Incompatible or outdated graphics drivers: Games rely heavily on GPU performance. Outdated drivers may lack support for newer rendering techniques or APIs like DirectX 12 or Vulkan.
• Missing or corrupted game files: Whether due to an incomplete download, interrupted update, or disk error, missing assets can prevent initialization.
• Conflicting background applications: Overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience), antivirus software, or even browser tabs consuming memory can interfere with game processes.
• Insufficient system resources: Low RAM, full storage, or high CPU usage at launch can starve the game of essential resources.
• Incorrect launch options or command-line parameters: Manually edited settings or mods may introduce syntax errors or incompatible flags.
• Operating system compatibility issues: Some games are optimized for specific Windows versions and may fail on older builds without updates.

Tip: Always check if the crash happens consistently. If the game launches after a reboot but fails later, it's likely a resource or software conflict—not a permanent corruption.

Immediate Fixes to Try First

When a game crashes immediately on startup, don’t jump straight to reinstalling or updating your OS. Start with these fast, low-effort solutions that resolve the majority of cases.

1. Restart your computer. It sounds obvious, but a fresh boot clears temporary files, resets memory allocation, and stops rogue processes that could interfere with game execution.
2. Run the game as administrator. Right-click the executable or shortcut and select “Run as administrator.” This grants the game higher privileges, which some titles require to access system resources or write configuration files.
3. Verify game files through your platform. On Steam, right-click the game > Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files. For Epic Games, go to Settings > Manage > Verify. This scans and replaces any missing or damaged files automatically.
4. Update your graphics drivers. Visit NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel’s official website (avoid third-party tools) and download the latest stable driver for your GPU model. Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in safe mode if previous updates failed or caused instability.
5. Disable overlays and background apps. Turn off Discord overlay, Xbox Game Bar, MSI Afterburner, or any screen recording software. Temporarily disable real-time antivirus scanning during launch.

Checklist: Quick Pre-Launch Troubleshooting

✅ Quick Fix Checklist – Try Before Reinstalling

• Restart your PC
• Run game as administrator
• Verify game files (Steam/Epic)
• Update GPU drivers
• Disable overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience)
• Close unnecessary background apps
• Check Windows updates
• Temporarily disable antivirus

Advanced Solutions When Basic Fixes Fail

If the game still won’t start after trying the basics, it’s time to dig deeper. These steps address less common but impactful issues.

Adjust Compatibility Settings

Some older games—or newer ones with poor optimization—struggle on modern Windows systems. You can force compatibility mode:

1. Right-click the game’s .exe file.
2. Select “Properties” > “Compatibility” tab.
3. Check “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and choose Windows 8 or Windows 7.
4. Also enable “Run in reduced color mode” (16-bit) and “Disable fullscreen optimizations” if available.
5. Apply and test.

Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributables

Games depend on Microsoft Visual C++ libraries for core functions. If these are missing or broken, the game may crash before showing any error message.

To fix:

• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
• Look for entries like “Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable.”
• Uninstall all versions (x86 and x64).
• Download the latest package directly from Microsoft’s official site and reinstall.

Clear Shader or Configuration Caches

Some games store shader caches or user configs in AppData folders. Corrupted data here can halt startup.

Navigate to:

%APPDATA%\\..\\Local\\[GameName]

or

%LOCALAPPDATA%\\[Publisher]\\[GameName]

Delete the folder or move it to desktop as backup. Launch the game—it will recreate clean files.

“Over 60% of ‘crash on launch’ reports we receive are resolved by verifying files or updating GPU drivers. Users often overlook simple fixes while assuming hardware failure.” — Jordan Lee, Senior Support Engineer at Frostbite Studios

Hardware and System-Level Considerations

Sometimes, the issue isn’t software-related. Your hardware setup may be the bottleneck.

Check Minimum and Recommended Requirements

Double-check the game’s official system requirements. Even if your PC meets the minimum specs, integrated graphics, insufficient RAM (especially below 8GB), or slow HDDs can cause immediate crashes.

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended for Stability
CPU	Dual-core 2.0 GHz	Quad-core 3.0+ GHz (Intel i5/Ryzen 5)
RAM	4 GB	8 GB or higher
GPU	Integrated (e.g., Intel HD 4000)	Dedicated (GTX 1050 / RX 570 or better)
Storage	HDD with 20 GB free	SSD with 50 GB free
OS	Windows 7 SP1	Windows 10/11 (64-bit)

Monitor System Temperatures and Performance

Overheating CPUs or GPUs can trigger instant shutdowns. Use tools like HWMonitor or Task Manager to check temperatures during launch. If your CPU exceeds 90°C within seconds, thermal throttling or protection mechanisms may be killing the process.

Poor power supply units (PSUs) can also cause instability. A failing PSU might not deliver consistent power under load, causing sudden termination.

Tip: If you're using a laptop, ensure it's plugged in and set to \"High Performance\" mode. Battery-saving profiles often limit GPU/CPU clocks, leading to launch failures.

Real-World Example: Fixing Cyberpunk 2077 on Launch

A player reported that Cyberpunk 2077 would flash the CD Projekt Red logo and close immediately. No error message appeared. They had tried reinstalling twice with no success.

Here’s how the issue was resolved:

1. Verified game files via Steam — found 3 corrupted files replaced.
2. Updated NVIDIA driver from version 472.12 to 511.79.
3. Disabled RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) overlay, which was injecting into the process.
4. Deleted the settings.xml file in %LOCALAPPDATA%\\CDProjektRed\\Cyberpunk 2077\\.

The game launched successfully on the next attempt. The root cause was a combination of outdated drivers and a malformed config file generated during a previous failed patch.

This case highlights why layered troubleshooting matters: no single fix would have worked alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my game crash only when I launch it from desktop shortcut?

This often points to a bad target path or incorrect launch options in the shortcut properties. Right-click the shortcut > Properties and ensure the target field points to the correct .exe. Also, check for extra commands in the \"Start in\" or \"Target\" fields that shouldn’t be there.

Can too much RAM cause a game to crash?

No—having more RAM doesn’t cause crashes. However, improperly configured RAM (e.g., mismatched speeds, faulty sticks, or incorrect XMP settings) can lead to system instability. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 to rule out hardware issues.

I updated Windows and now my game won’t start. What changed?

Windows updates can overwrite DLLs, change security policies, or remove deprecated frameworks (like .NET or Visual C++). They can also reset permissions. Try running the game in compatibility mode and reinstalling redistributables. Check the game’s community forums—others may have posted workarounds.

Final Steps and When to Seek Further Help

If you’ve gone through all the above and the game still crashes on startup, consider these final actions:

• Perform a clean boot: Use msconfig or Task Manager to disable all non-Microsoft startup items. This isolates software conflicts.
• Reinstall the game completely: Uninstall, delete remaining folders in Program Files and AppData, then reinstall fresh.
• Check event logs: Open Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc), go to Windows Logs > Application, and look for errors around the time of the crash. The faulting module name can reveal whether it’s a DirectX, driver, or memory issue.
• Contact support: Provide them with logs, screenshots of error messages (if any), and a summary of steps already taken.

Conclusion: Take Action, Not Guesswork

Game crashes on startup are rarely unsolvable. Most originate from overlooked settings, outdated components, or minor corruptions that standard tools can repair. By following a structured approach—starting with quick wins like file verification and driver updates—you avoid unnecessary reinstallation or hardware upgrades. Keep a log of what you’ve tried; it saves time if you need to escalate to developer support. Gaming should be immersive, not interrupted by preventable technical hiccups. Apply these fixes methodically, and chances are, you’ll be back in the game faster than expected.

💬 Experiencing a stubborn crash? Share your setup and what worked (or didn’t) in the comments—your insight could help another player get back to playing.