Why Does Fortnite Keep Crashing My PC? (And How to Fix It)

Fortnite crashes on PC due to a variety of reasons, ranging from insufficient hardware to outdated drivers, corrupted game files, or even conflicts with other software. Identifying the root cause is crucial for implementing the correct solution. Let’s explore the most common culprits and how to address them.

Common Reasons for Fortnite Crashes on PC

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the usual suspects behind those frustrating Fortnite crashes:

  • Insufficient System Requirements: Fortnite, while optimized, still demands certain hardware specifications. If your PC doesn’t meet the minimum or recommended requirements, crashes are likely.
  • Outdated Graphics Drivers: Graphics drivers are essential for communication between the game and your graphics card. Old or corrupted drivers can lead to instability and crashes.
  • Corrupted Game Files: Game files can become corrupted during installation, updates, or due to disk errors. This can cause unpredictable behavior and crashes.
  • Overheating: Excessive heat can cause your CPU or GPU to malfunction, leading to game crashes. This is especially common with older hardware or inadequate cooling systems.
  • Software Conflicts: Conflicts with other programs running in the background can interfere with Fortnite’s operation and cause crashes. Overlays, anti-virus programs, and other gaming-related software are potential culprits.
  • Driver Conflicts: Similar to software conflicts, sometimes drivers of different hardware components can conflict with each other, causing system instability.
  • Overclocking Issues: If you’ve overclocked your CPU or GPU, it might be pushing the hardware beyond its stable limits, resulting in crashes.
  • DirectX Issues: Fortnite relies on DirectX, a collection of APIs that handle tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. If the directX version is outdated or corrupted the game might crash.
  • Operating System Errors: Windows errors and corrupted system files can also cause game crashes.
  • Network Issues: Although less common, unstable network connections can sometimes trigger crashes, especially during crucial moments in the game.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Fortnite Crashes

Now that you know the possible causes, let’s dive into the solutions:

1. Verify System Requirements

Make sure your PC meets at least the minimum system requirements for Fortnite:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 / AMD Radeon HD 7870 or equivalent
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 25 GB free space

For a smoother experience, aim for the recommended specifications:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-7300U 3.5 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 / AMD Radeon R9 280 or equivalent
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 25 GB free space

If your PC falls short, consider upgrading your components.

2. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Clean install your drivers to remove any possible corrupted previous versions.

3. Verify Fortnite Game Files

Use the Epic Games Launcher to verify the integrity of your game files:

  1. Open the Epic Games Launcher.
  2. Go to your Library.
  3. Click the three dots next to Fortnite.
  4. Select “Verify.”

This process will check for and repair any corrupted or missing files.

4. Monitor Your PC’s Temperature

Use monitoring software like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to track your CPU and GPU temperatures during gameplay. If temperatures are consistently high (above 80-90°C), consider improving your cooling solution.

5. Close Background Applications

Close unnecessary programs running in the background, especially overlays (Discord, Twitch), anti-virus software, and other gaming-related applications.

6. Disable Overclocking

If you have overclocked your CPU or GPU, revert to the default clock speeds to see if it resolves the crashing issue.

7. Update DirectX

Make sure you have the latest version of DirectX installed. You can download it from the Microsoft website.

8. Check for Windows Updates

Ensure your Windows operating system is up-to-date with the latest patches and updates.

9. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help identify if a background program is causing the issue:

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
  3. In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
  4. Check the box “Hide all Microsoft services.”
  5. Click “Disable all.”
  6. Go to the Startup tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
  7. Disable all startup items.
  8. Close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration window.
  9. Restart your computer.

After the clean boot, try running Fortnite. If the crashing issue is resolved, you can gradually re-enable services and startup items to identify the culprit.

10. Reinstall Fortnite

As a last resort, try completely uninstalling and reinstalling Fortnite. This will ensure a clean installation and eliminate any potential issues with existing files.

Conclusion

Fortnite crashes can be frustrating, but by systematically troubleshooting the potential causes outlined above, you can often identify and resolve the issue. Remember to start with the simplest solutions first and work your way through the more complex ones. Good luck, and happy gaming!