Why Does Fortnite Keep Crashing On My PC? (And How To Fix It!)

Is Fortnite crashing on your PC? It’s a frustrating problem, but luckily, it’s often fixable. Several factors can cause Fortnite to crash, ranging from outdated drivers to hardware limitations. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the common causes and provide step-by-step solutions to get you back into the game. Let’s dive in!

Common Causes of Fortnite Crashes

Before we jump into fixes, let’s understand the potential culprits:

  • Outdated Graphics Drivers: This is one of the most frequent reasons for game crashes. Old or corrupted drivers can cause instability.
  • Insufficient System Resources: Fortnite requires a certain amount of RAM, CPU power, and storage space to run smoothly. If your PC doesn’t meet the minimum (or recommended) specs, crashes are likely.
  • Corrupted Game Files: Game files can become corrupted due to various reasons, such as interrupted downloads, hard drive errors, or software conflicts.
  • Overheating: If your CPU or GPU is overheating, it can lead to system instability and crashes.
  • Software Conflicts: Other applications running in the background might be interfering with Fortnite. This is especially true for overlay programs, antivirus software, or other games.
  • Operating System Issues: An outdated or corrupted operating system can also cause problems with game compatibility.
  • Hardware Problems: In rare cases, the crashing might be due to failing hardware components like RAM or the graphics card.
  • DirectX Issues: Fortnite relies on DirectX, a collection of APIs, for rendering graphics. Problems with DirectX can cause crashes.
  • Easy Anti-Cheat Errors: Fortnite uses Easy Anti-Cheat to prevent cheating, and issues with this software can sometimes lead to crashes.

Troubleshooting Steps: How to Fix Fortnite Crashes

Now that we know the possible causes, let’s move on to the solutions. Try these steps one by one, testing Fortnite after each step to see if the problem is resolved.

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

  • Nvidia: Go to the Nvidia website and download the latest drivers for your graphics card. You can also use the Nvidia GeForce Experience application to manage your drivers.
  • AMD: Visit the AMD website and download the latest drivers for your graphics card. You can also use the AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin application.
  • Intel: If you have an Intel integrated graphics card, go to the Intel website and download the latest drivers.

After downloading, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. A clean installation is recommended, which removes the old drivers completely before installing the new ones.

2. Verify Fortnite Game Files

  • Open the Epic Games Launcher.
  • Go to your Library.
  • Find Fortnite.
  • Click the three dots next to the game’s name and select “Verify.”

The Epic Games Launcher will check the integrity of your game files and replace any corrupted or missing files.

3. Close Background Applications

Close unnecessary applications running in the background. These can consume system resources and cause conflicts. To do this:

  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
  • Go to the Processes tab.
  • Identify any resource-intensive or unnecessary applications.
  • Select the application and click “End Task.”

Pay special attention to overlay programs (like Discord or OBS), antivirus software, and other games.

4. Lower Graphics Settings in Fortnite

If your PC struggles to run Fortnite at higher settings, lowering them can improve stability.

  • Launch Fortnite.
  • Go to Settings.
  • Navigate to the Graphics tab.
  • Reduce the Graphics Quality preset to “Low” or “Medium.”
  • Lower the Resolution.
  • Disable features like Anti-Aliasing, Shadows, and Post Processing.
  • Apply the changes and restart the game.

5. Check Your System Requirements

Make sure your PC meets the minimum or recommended system requirements for Fortnite.

  • Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit or later
  • Processor: Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Intel HD 4000
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 60 GB available space

If your PC doesn’t meet these requirements, you may need to upgrade your hardware or consider playing on a different platform.

6. Update Windows

Ensure your operating system is up to date.

  • Go to Settings (Windows key + I).
  • Click on Update & Security.
  • Click “Check for Updates.”

Install any available updates, including feature updates and quality updates.

7. Run Fortnite as Administrator

Running Fortnite as an administrator can give it the necessary permissions to access system resources.

  • Right-click on the Fortnite executable file (usually found in the Fortnite game directory).
  • Select “Properties.”
  • Go to the Compatibility tab.
  • Check the box labeled “Run this program as an administrator.”
  • Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

8. Reinstall DirectX

  • Navigate to the Fortnite game directory. Usually, it is located at C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64.
  • Locate the DirectX installer (usually named DXSETUP.exe or similar).
  • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
  • Restart your computer after the installation is complete.

9. Disable Overclocking

If you have overclocked your CPU or GPU, try disabling the overclock to see if it resolves the crashing issue. Overclocking can sometimes lead to instability.

10. Check for Overheating

Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing Fortnite. You can use monitoring software like:

  • MSI Afterburner: A popular tool for monitoring GPU temperature and performance.
  • HWMonitor: A comprehensive hardware monitoring tool.

If your CPU or GPU is overheating (typically above 80-90°C), consider cleaning your PC’s fans and heatsinks, reapplying thermal paste, or improving your PC’s cooling system.

11. Reinstall Fortnite

As a last resort, try reinstalling Fortnite. This can resolve issues caused by corrupted game files or installation errors.

  • Uninstall Fortnite through the Epic Games Launcher.
  • Delete any remaining Fortnite files in the installation directory.
  • Download and reinstall Fortnite from the Epic Games Launcher.

Still Crashing? Contact Support

If you have tried all the above steps and Fortnite is still crashing, it might be a more complex issue. Contact Epic Games Support for further assistance. They may be able to provide specific solutions based on your system configuration and error logs.

By systematically troubleshooting the potential causes, you should be able to identify the reason why Fortnite is crashing on your PC and resolve the issue. Good luck, and happy gaming!