Why Does My Game Keep Crashing Valorant? Troubleshooting Guide

Valorant is a popular tactical first-person shooter known for its competitive gameplay and demanding system requirements. Game crashes can be frustrating, interrupting your gameplay and potentially affecting your competitive rank. There are multiple reasons why Valorant might crash. Here’s a comprehensive troubleshooting guide to help you identify and resolve the issue.

1. Identifying the Root Cause

Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand why Valorant crashes. Common causes include:

  • Hardware Issues: Insufficient RAM, an outdated or incompatible graphics card, or CPU overheating.
  • Software Conflicts: Outdated drivers, conflicting applications, or issues with Windows itself.
  • In-Game Settings: Graphic settings that are too high for your system or corrupted game files.
  • Network Connectivity: Unstable internet connection can cause disconnects that appear as crashes.
  • Riot Client Problems: Issues with the Riot Games client itself.

2. Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Start with these basic troubleshooting steps, which often resolve common crashing issues:

  • Restart Your Computer: A simple restart can often fix temporary software glitches.
  • Update Graphics Drivers: Outdated graphics drivers are a frequent cause of crashes. Download the latest drivers from the NVIDIA or AMD website.
  • Close Background Applications: Conflicting applications, especially overlays or resource-intensive programs, can cause crashes. Close any unnecessary programs before launching Valorant.
  • Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable and reliable internet connection. Run a speed test to verify your connection speed and ping.

3. Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

If the basic steps don’t work, try these more advanced solutions:

3.1. Verifying Game File Integrity

Corrupted game files can lead to crashes. Valorant has a built-in feature to verify and repair game files:

  1. Open the Riot Client.
  2. Click on Valorant.
  3. Click the gear icon in the bottom right corner.
  4. Select “Repair.”

The client will scan and repair any corrupted files.

3.2. Adjusting Graphics Settings

High graphics settings can strain your system and cause crashes. Try lowering your graphics settings in Valorant:

  • Lower Resolution: Reduce the game’s resolution.
  • Reduce Texture Quality: Lower the texture quality setting.
  • Disable Anti-Aliasing: Anti-aliasing can be resource-intensive. Try disabling it.
  • Limit FPS: Capping your FPS can reduce the load on your CPU and GPU.

3.3. Updating Windows

Ensure your Windows operating system is up to date. Windows updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can resolve game crashes:

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
  2. Click “Check for Updates.”
  3. Install any available updates.

3.4. Running Valorant as Administrator

Running Valorant as an administrator can grant the game the necessary permissions to access system resources:

  1. Right-click on the Valorant shortcut.
  2. Select “Properties.”
  3. Go to the “Compatibility” tab.
  4. Check the box that says “Run this program as an administrator.”
  5. Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

3.5. Checking for Hardware Issues

If the crashes persist, consider checking for hardware issues:

  • Overheating: Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures. High temperatures can cause instability and crashes. Consider improving your system’s cooling.
  • RAM: Insufficient RAM can cause crashes. Ensure you have at least 8GB of RAM, and preferably 16GB for optimal performance. Run a memory diagnostic test to check for errors.
  • Graphics Card: An outdated or incompatible graphics card can cause crashes. Ensure your graphics card meets Valorant’s minimum requirements.

3.6. Compatibility Mode

Try running the game in compatibility mode for an older version of Windows:

  1. Right-click on the Valorant shortcut.
  2. Select “Properties.”
  3. Go to the “Compatibility” tab.
  4. Check the box that says “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”.
  5. Select a previous version of Windows from the dropdown menu.
  6. Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

4. Contacting Riot Support

If none of the above solutions work, contact Riot Games Support for assistance. Provide them with as much information as possible, including:

  • Your system specifications (CPU, GPU, RAM, OS).
  • The error messages you’re receiving.
  • The steps you’ve already tried.
  • Any relevant crash logs.

5. Conclusion

Valorant crashes can be frustrating, but by systematically troubleshooting the issue, you can often identify and resolve the cause. Start with the basic steps and then move on to the more advanced techniques. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact Riot Games Support for assistance. With a little patience and persistence, you can get back to enjoying Valorant without interruptions.