Why Does My PC Keep Crashing Valorant? Troubleshooting Guide

Valorant, Riot Games’ popular tactical first-person shooter, is known for its relatively low system requirements and smooth gameplay. However, frequent crashes can be frustrating and ruin your gaming experience. If you’re experiencing persistent crashes while playing Valorant, several factors could be the culprit. This guide will walk you through the most common causes and provide troubleshooting steps to resolve them.

Common Causes of Valorant Crashes

Several issues can lead to Valorant crashing on your PC. Here’s a breakdown of the most frequent culprits:

  • Outdated or Corrupted Graphics Drivers: This is a very common reason for game crashes. Drivers act as the bridge between your operating system and graphics card, and if they are outdated or corrupted, they can cause instability.
  • Incompatible or Outdated Windows: Valorant, like most modern games, requires a compatible and up-to-date version of Windows. Older or unsupported versions might not have the necessary features or security patches.
  • Hardware Issues: Overheating components, faulty RAM, or an insufficient power supply can all contribute to game crashes, especially during demanding moments.
  • Software Conflicts: Antivirus software, overlays (like Discord or MSI Afterburner), or other background applications can sometimes interfere with Valorant’s operation.
  • Game File Corruption: Damaged or missing game files can prevent Valorant from running correctly, leading to crashes.
  • Overclocking Issues: While overclocking can boost performance, it can also introduce instability if not done correctly. If your CPU or GPU is overclocked, it could be the source of your problems.
  • Insufficient System Resources: Even though Valorant has relatively low requirements, running multiple resource-intensive applications simultaneously can overload your system and cause crashes.

Troubleshooting Steps

Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the crashing issues:

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

  • Nvidia: Go to the Nvidia website and download the latest driver for your specific graphics card model. Use the Nvidia GeForce Experience application for automatic updates.
  • AMD: Visit the AMD website and download the latest drivers for your AMD Radeon graphics card. The AMD Adrenalin software also provides update features.
  • Intel: If you have an integrated Intel graphics card, visit the Intel website and download the latest drivers.

After downloading the drivers, perform a clean installation. This involves completely removing the old drivers before installing the new ones. You can use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) for this purpose.

2. Update Windows

  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. Install any available updates, including optional ones.
  • Make sure you are running a supported version of Windows. Riot Games specifies compatible operating systems on the Valorant support page.

3. Check Hardware Temperatures

  • Download and install hardware monitoring software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner.
  • Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing Valorant. If they consistently exceed safe levels (typically above 80-90°C for CPUs and 80°C for GPUs), overheating is likely the problem.
  • Clean dust from your PC case, heatsinks, and fans to improve airflow. Consider reapplying thermal paste to your CPU and GPU.

4. Close Background Applications

  • Close any unnecessary applications running in the background, especially resource-intensive ones like web browsers, streaming software, or video editors.
  • Disable any unnecessary startup programs in Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Startup).

5. Disable Overlays

  • Disable any overlays, such as Discord, Steam, or MSI Afterburner overlays, as these can sometimes conflict with Valorant.

6. Run Valorant as Administrator

  • Right-click on the Valorant executable file and select “Run as administrator.” This grants the game elevated privileges, which can sometimes resolve compatibility issues.

7. Repair or Reinstall Valorant

  • Repair: In the Riot Games Launcher, navigate to Valorant and look for a repair option. This will scan and fix any corrupted game files.
  • Reinstall: If repairing doesn’t work, uninstall Valorant and reinstall it. This ensures a clean installation without any corrupted files.

8. Check RAM

  • Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check for RAM errors. Search for “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the Start Menu and run the test. If errors are found, your RAM may be faulty and need replacement.

9. Check Power Supply (PSU)

  • Ensure your power supply unit (PSU) meets the recommended wattage for your system configuration. An insufficient PSU can cause instability and crashes, especially during demanding games.

10. Check for Disk Errors

  • Run the Check Disk utility to scan your hard drive or SSD for errors. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter. You will be prompted to schedule the scan for the next system restart.

11. Reinstall Riot Vanguard

  • Riot Vanguard is Riot Games’ anti-cheat system, and it is deeply integrated with Valorant. Sometimes, Vanguard itself can cause issues. Try reinstalling it:
    • Uninstall Riot Vanguard through the Control Panel.
    • Restart your computer.
    • Launch Valorant, which will automatically reinstall Vanguard.

12. Check Event Viewer

  • Open Event Viewer by searching for it in the Start Menu.
  • Look for error messages related to Valorant or Riot Vanguard in the Windows Logs > Application section. These error messages can provide clues about the cause of the crashes.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and Valorant continues to crash, it might be time to seek professional help. A qualified computer technician can diagnose and repair any underlying hardware issues or software conflicts that you might not be able to resolve on your own.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of Valorant crashes on your PC and get back to enjoying the game.