Why Does Apex Legends Keep Crashing? Troubleshooting & Solutions

Apex Legends, the popular battle royale game, can be incredibly frustrating when it crashes unexpectedly. Crashes can occur mid-game, during the loading screen, or even in the lobby, disrupting your gameplay and potentially costing you a match. Understanding the reasons behind these crashes and knowing how to troubleshoot them is crucial for a smooth gaming experience.

Common Causes of Apex Legends Crashes

Several factors can contribute to Apex Legends crashes. Identifying the root cause is the first step towards fixing the problem. Here are some of the most common culprits:

  • Hardware Issues:
    • Insufficient System Specs: Apex Legends has minimum and recommended system requirements. If your computer doesn’t meet these requirements, especially in terms of RAM, CPU, or GPU, crashes are likely to occur.
    • Overheating: Overheating components, particularly the CPU and GPU, can lead to instability and crashes. This is often due to poor ventilation, dust buildup, or a failing cooling system.
    • Faulty Hardware: In rare cases, a faulty RAM module, graphics card, or other hardware component can cause crashes.
  • Software Issues:
    • Outdated Drivers: Outdated graphics drivers are a very common cause of game crashes. Drivers provide the necessary communication between the game and your graphics card.
    • Operating System Issues: An outdated or corrupted operating system can also lead to instability and crashes. Ensure your OS is up-to-date with the latest patches and updates.
    • Conflicting Software: Other software running in the background, such as overlays, anti-virus programs, or streaming software, can sometimes conflict with Apex Legends and cause it to crash.
    • Corrupted Game Files: Corrupted or missing game files can prevent the game from running properly and lead to crashes. This can happen during the download or installation process, or due to disk errors.
  • Network Issues:
    • Unstable Internet Connection: A weak or unstable internet connection can cause the game to crash, especially during online multiplayer matches. High ping or packet loss can also contribute to this.
  • Game-Specific Bugs:
    • Apex Legends Bugs: Like any complex piece of software, Apex Legends can have bugs that cause crashes. Developers usually release patches to fix these bugs, so keeping your game updated is essential.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Apex Legends Crashes

Here’s a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting Apex Legends crashes, covering various potential causes and solutions:

1. Verify System Requirements

Make sure your computer meets the minimum and recommended system requirements for Apex Legends. Check the official Apex Legends website or the game’s page on Steam or Origin for the latest system requirements.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

  • Nvidia: Download the latest drivers from the Nvidia website.
  • AMD: Download the latest drivers from the AMD website.
  • Intel: If you’re using integrated graphics, download the latest drivers from the Intel website.

After downloading, perform a clean installation of the drivers. This will remove any previous driver versions that might be causing conflicts.

3. Update Operating System

Ensure your operating system (Windows) is up-to-date with the latest updates and patches. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.

4. Repair Game Files

  • Steam: Right-click on Apex Legends in your Steam library, go to Properties > Local Files, and click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
  • Origin: Right-click on Apex Legends in your Origin library and click on Repair.

This process will scan your game files for any errors and download any missing or corrupted files.

5. Close Background Applications

Close any unnecessary applications running in the background, especially overlays, anti-virus programs, and streaming software. These programs can sometimes conflict with Apex Legends and cause crashes.

6. Check for Overheating

Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing Apex Legends. You can use software like:

  • MSI Afterburner
  • HWMonitor

If your temperatures are consistently high (above 80°C for CPU and GPU), you may need to improve your cooling system by:

  • Cleaning out dust from your computer case and fans.
  • Reapplying thermal paste to your CPU and GPU.
  • Adding more fans to your case.
  • Consider a liquid cooler.

7. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings

Lowering your in-game graphics settings can reduce the load on your GPU and CPU, which can help prevent crashes. Try reducing settings like:

  • Texture Quality
  • Shadow Quality
  • Anti-Aliasing
  • Effects Detail

8. Check Your Internet Connection

Ensure you have a stable and reliable internet connection. Try restarting your router and modem. If you’re using Wi-Fi, try switching to a wired connection (Ethernet) for a more stable connection.

9. Run Apex Legends as Administrator

Right-click on the Apex Legends executable file and select Run as administrator. This can sometimes resolve permission issues that might be causing crashes.

10. Reinstall Apex Legends

If none of the above solutions work, try reinstalling Apex Legends. This will ensure that you have a clean and complete installation of the game.

11. Check Event Viewer

Windows Event Viewer logs system errors and crashes. Review the logs to identify specific error messages related to Apex Legends crashes. These messages can provide valuable clues about the cause of the problem.

12. Disable Overclocking

If you have overclocked your CPU or GPU, try disabling the overclock. Overclocking can sometimes lead to instability and crashes, especially if the overclock is not stable.

Conclusion

Apex Legends crashes can be frustrating, but by systematically troubleshooting the potential causes, you can often resolve the issue and get back to enjoying the game. Remember to keep your drivers updated, your system clean, and your game files verified. If you’ve tried all the steps and still experience crashes, consider reaching out to the Apex Legends support team for further assistance.