Starfield suffers from the occasional crash and freeze, but sometimes it can really sour your experience. Fortunately, there are a number of fixes you can try to mitigate this problem.
Similar to the typical experience with Bethesda games, Starfield did not make its debut in the most stable condition, causing numerous players to encounter crashes and freezes. Notably, the Xbox version of the game exhibits better optimization in this regard, whereas the PC version tends to be more prone to these issues.
Recognizing that some players may find it difficult to wait patiently for an official patch from Bethesda, Starfield offers a range of solutions and workarounds tailored to address various crash and freeze scenarios.
Starfield Crashes and Freezes Fixes
Starfield offers several remedies to minimize the occurrence of crashes and freezes. These solutions encompass establishing exceptions in your Firewall, ensuring your drivers are up to date, and making necessary adjustments to in-game settings.
Allow Starfield through your Antivirus and Firewall block
If you’re experiencing game crashes in Starfield, it could be due to your Antivirus or Firewall blocking it. To resolve this, follow these steps:
1. **Windows Security Panel**:
– Open the Windows Security panel by right-clicking the pop-up menu on the right side of the taskbar.
– Enable Starfield to bypass Windows security measures. Please note that the process may vary if you use a third-party antivirus solution.
2. **Third-Party Antivirus**:
– Refer to the product description or user manual of your third-party antivirus software to learn how to allow applications to bypass it.
3. **Firewall Bypass**:
– For firewall bypass, open the Control Panel.
– Use the search bar in the top right corner of the screen to locate the firewall application.
– Select the “Allow an app through the Windows firewall” option and grant Starfield the necessary permissions to bypass the firewall.
These steps should help ensure that Starfield can run smoothly without being hindered by your antivirus or firewall settings.
Update GPU driver
This solution addresses both issues of crashes and freezes. Ensure that your GPU drivers are kept current. Frequently, manufacturers release GPU driver updates to enhance performance, especially for newly released games. You’ll be alerted when a new driver becomes available. If you don’t receive a notification, please visit the GPU manufacturer’s website to manually check for updates.
Failing to keep your GPU updated might result in missed opportunities for improved performance. To update your GPU driver, navigate to the lower-right corner of your taskbar and access the GPU tray. In many instances, you can update your driver directly from this location. Alternatively, you can open the Device Manager and manually search for your GPU to initiate the update.
Reinstall the game
Use this method when all other methods fail. Although it may take the longest (depending on your internet speed), this ensures the removal of any corrupted files that may be causing your game to crash. Open the Control Panel and head to the “Uninstall a program” option.
Uninstall Starfield and remove any cache and system files that may still be there. Next, perform a completely fresh reinstall of the game. All corrupted files that were causing your game to crash will be removed. Starfield should work properly now.
Install Visual C++
Most games these days use the Visual C++ packages released by Microsoft for Windows. In most cases, you will receive a prompt to install them while you are in the process of installing your game. These packages need to be updated to cater to the latest games. Starfield is no exception to this. To make sure your packages are correct and up to date, head over to the following link:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170
And make sure your Visual C++ library is up to date. Select the packages that correspond to your operating system and download them.
Update DirectX
Here’s an alternative phrasing:
An effective solution to address crashes and freezes in Starfield is to ensure that your DirectX is up to date. DirectX facilitates seamless interaction between your applications and your PC’s graphics card and other components. Given that Starfield relies on DirectX, updating it is essential for optimizing performance and preventing crashes and freezes.
To accomplish this, access your computer’s update window and choose the “check for updates” option. Typically, DirectX receives updates alongside Windows updates. Alternatively, you can visit Microsoft’s website and download the latest DirectX version directly from there.
Close Background Programs/Processes
Ensure that every other non-important application is closed, as having these applications open increases CPU and RAM usage. This ultimately reduces the amount of overhead available for the game. Open the Task Manager on your Windows PC by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-clicking on the taskbar.
Now, manually close all open programs that may affect your game’s performance. You will see CPU and RAM usage drop, making more of it available for your game. Playing the game after this should decrease crashes and freezing. The worst offenders include your web browsers, particularly if you have a lot of tabs open.
Install the Game on an SSD
Starfield is a massive game, with tons of detail and plenty of objects in your immediate vicinity. On the Xbox series consoles, the game uses Microsoft’s high-speed Velocity Architecture to load the game in seconds. But on the PC, the game uses whatever storage device you have.
If you’re running Starfield on an HDD, you might run into freezing and crashing issues. It could be beneficial to consider installing the game on a speedier SSD to avert these problems. The enhanced read/write speeds of an SSD can lead to smoother game loading and are likely to reduce instances of freezing.
Lower Graphics Options
If none of the previous solutions prove effective, contemplate reducing the graphics settings in order to stave off freezes and crashes in Starfield. Access the video settings menu and begin adjusting the performance settings until you discover the optimal configuration. While visual fidelity may be important to some, constant crashes and freezes can disrupt your gaming experience entirely. Additionally, consider enabling the Dynamic Resolution Scaler for improved performance.
