Why Does Call of Duty Keep Crashing? Troubleshooting and Solutions

Call of Duty (CoD) crashing issues are frustratingly common, affecting players across various platforms and game titles within the franchise. Several factors can contribute to these crashes, ranging from hardware limitations to software conflicts and even in-game glitches. Understanding the potential causes is the first step toward resolving them and getting back into the action.

Common Causes of Call of Duty Crashes

Here’s a breakdown of the most frequent culprits behind CoD crashes:

  • Insufficient System Requirements: Your PC or console might not meet the minimum or recommended specifications for the game. This is a primary suspect, especially with newer CoD titles pushing graphical boundaries.
  • Outdated Graphics Drivers: Drivers are the software bridge between your operating system and your graphics card. Old or corrupted drivers can lead to instability and crashes.
  • Overheating: Excessive heat can cause system components to malfunction, leading to game crashes. This is especially true for PCs and can affect consoles if their cooling systems are compromised.
  • Software Conflicts: Other programs running in the background can interfere with Call of Duty, resulting in crashes. This can include overlays, antivirus software, and other games.
  • Corrupted Game Files: Damaged or incomplete game files can prevent the game from running correctly, leading to crashes or errors.
  • Network Issues: While less common, unstable or slow internet connections can sometimes cause crashes, particularly during online multiplayer matches.
  • Hardware Issues: Faulty RAM, a failing hard drive, or other hardware problems can manifest as game crashes.
  • Game Bugs: Occasionally, the game itself may contain bugs or glitches that cause it to crash under specific circumstances. These are often addressed in patches.
  • Overclocking: While overclocking can boost performance, it can also lead to instability and crashes if not done correctly.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Call of Duty Crashes

Here’s a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting and resolving Call of Duty crashing issues:

1. Verify System Requirements

  • Check Minimum and Recommended Specs: Compare your computer’s specifications (CPU, GPU, RAM, operating system) against the game’s requirements. If you fall short, upgrading your hardware may be necessary.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

  • Download the Latest Drivers: Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific card and operating system.
  • Clean Installation: When installing new drivers, choose the “clean installation” option to remove any remnants of previous drivers that could cause conflicts.

3. Monitor System Temperature

  • Use Monitoring Software: Download and install software like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while gaming.
  • Ensure Adequate Cooling: Make sure your PC has proper ventilation and that your CPU and GPU coolers are functioning correctly. Consider reapplying thermal paste if necessary.

4. Close Background Applications

  • Disable Unnecessary Programs: Close any unnecessary programs running in the background, especially overlays (Discord, Steam), antivirus software, and other games.
  • Perform a Clean Boot: In Windows, perform a clean boot to start the operating system with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs to identify potential software conflicts.

5. Verify Game File Integrity

  • Steam: Right-click on Call of Duty in your Steam library, select “Properties,” go to the “Local Files” tab, and click “Verify integrity of game files.”
  • Battle.net: In the Battle.net launcher, click the gear icon next to Call of Duty and select “Scan and Repair.”
  • PlayStation/Xbox: For console, try uninstalling and reinstalling the game.

6. Check Your Internet Connection

  • Run a Speed Test: Ensure you have a stable and sufficient internet connection for online gaming. Use a website like Speedtest.net to check your download and upload speeds.
  • Restart Your Router: Sometimes, simply restarting your router can resolve connectivity issues.
  • Wired Connection: Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi for a more stable connection.

7. Run Memory Diagnostics

  • Windows Memory Diagnostic: Use the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check for errors in your RAM. Search for it in the Windows search bar.
  • Memtest86: For a more thorough memory test, consider using Memtest86, a free and open-source memory testing tool that runs from a bootable USB drive.

8. Reinstall Call of Duty

  • Uninstall and Reinstall: If none of the above steps work, try uninstalling and reinstalling Call of Duty. This can resolve issues related to corrupted game files that weren’t fixed by the verification process.

9. Adjust Graphics Settings

  • Lower Graphics Settings: Reduce the game’s graphics settings (resolution, textures, shadows) to reduce the load on your GPU and CPU.
  • Disable Ray Tracing: Ray tracing can be very demanding on hardware. If you’re experiencing crashes, try disabling it.
  • Cap Frame Rate: Limit the frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate or slightly below to prevent your hardware from being pushed too hard.

10. Check for Overclocking Issues

  • Revert to Stock Clocks: If you’ve overclocked your CPU or GPU, revert to the default clock speeds to see if that resolves the crashing issues.

11. Contact Support

  • Activision Support: If you’ve tried all of the above steps and are still experiencing crashes, contact Activision support for further assistance. They may be able to provide more specific troubleshooting steps based on your hardware and software configuration.

Conclusion

Call of Duty crashes can be a frustrating experience, but by systematically troubleshooting the potential causes, you can often find a solution. Remember to start with the most common issues, such as outdated drivers and insufficient system requirements, and then move on to more advanced troubleshooting steps if necessary. With a little patience and persistence, you’ll be back in the game in no time.