Fallout 4 is a 2015’s action role-playing video game that has been developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It’s the fourth main game title under the Fallout lineup and available for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One platforms. Meanwhile, plenty of players are experiencing the Fallout 4 Crashing on PC that may occur due to multiple reasons.

If you’re also one of the victims, make sure to check out this troubleshooting guide to fix it. PC games can be easily get crashed for several reasons something as hardware issues, outdated software versions, incompatible or missing game files, lower in-game graphics settings, antivirus software blocking, and more.

The chances are high enough that maybe your PC configuration isn’t meeting the system requirements. Meanwhile, an outdated DirectX version, outdated graphics card, background running tasks, etc can cause the startup crashing or in-game crashing issue whatsoever.

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Fallout 4 Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC; how to fix it?

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Why Fallout 4 Keeps Crashing?

  • First of all, check out that whether your PC configuration is meeting the system requirements or not. You can check the system requirements below.
  • Any temporary system glitch or cache data can also cause several issues.
  • The chances are high enough that corrupted or missing game files can affect game startup in most cases.
  • If you’re running an outdated Windows OS build and the outdated graphics driver on your PC then it can trigger several issues like crashing or lagging.
  • It can also possible that your DirectX version becomes outdated.
  • An older generation of the graphics card may not support the Direct3D Hardware Feature Level 11.0 GPU.
  • If the game itself or the game launcher hasn’t been updated for a while, startup crashes may occur quite often.
  • Possibly some of the background running tasks or programs can also consume a lot of system resources like CPU/Memory usage. Therefore, the system performance will go down easily.
  • If you’re using the default Windows Security protection or any third-party Antivirus program on your computer, it can block game files or executable files to run properly.

Minimum System Requirements:

  • OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit OS required)
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8 GHz/AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0 GHz or equivalent
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or equivalent
  • Storage: 30 GB available space
  • OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit OS required)
  • Processor: Intel Core i7 4790 3.6 GHz/AMD FX-9590 4.7 GHz or equivalent
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 780 3GB/AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB or equivalent
  • Storage: 30 GB available space

How to Fix Fallout 4 Crashing on PC

As you’re aware of the possible reasons and which aspects you need to check, you can proceed below to follow workarounds one by one.

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1. Run the Program as an administrator

Make sure to run the game and Steam (exe) file as an administrator on your Windows system to give proper access. To do so:

  • Right-click on the game .exe file > Go to Properties.

  • Click on the Compatibility tab > Select Run this program as an administrator.

  • Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.

  • Make sure to do the same for the Steam (.exe) also.

  • Once done, you should be able to run the Fallout 4 game properly.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

It’s always required to update graphics drivers on your Windows system to run all the programs smoothly. To do this:

  • Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.

  • Click on Device Manager from the list.

  • Now, double-click on the Display adapters category to expand the list.

  • Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.

  • Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.

  • If there is an update available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.

  • Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change effects.

Alternatively, you can manually download the latest version of the graphics driver and install it directly from the official website respective to your graphics card manufacturer. Nvidia graphics card users can update the GeForce Experience app via the Nvidia official site. Meanwhile, AMD graphics card users can visit the AMD website for the same.

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3. Update Windows

Updating Windows OS build is always essential for PC users as well as PC gamers to reduce system glitches, compatibility issues, and crashes. Meanwhile, the latest version mostly includes additional features, improvements, security patches, and more. To do that:

  • Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.

  • Next, click on Update & Security > Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.

  • If there is a feature update available, select Download and install.

  • It may take a while to complete the update.

  • Once done, restart your computer to install the update.

4. Close Background Running Tasks

Unnecessary background running tasks or programs can eat up a lot of system resources like CPU or Memory usage that literally reduces system performance. Hence, the startup crashing, lagging, not loading issues appear quite often. Simply, close all the unnecessary background running tasks completely. To do this:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open up the Task Manager.

  • Now, click on the Processes tab > Click to select tasks that are unnecessarily running in the background and consuming enough system resources.

  • Click on End Task to close it one by one.

  • Once done, restart your system.

Now, you can check whether you’ve fixed the Fallout 4 Keeps Crashing on your PC or not. If not, follow the next method.

5. Verify Game Files

Verifying the game files will help to easily fix the corrupted or missing game files from the game launcher directly. To do that:

  • Launch the Steam client > Go to Steam Library

  • Right-click on Fallout 4 > Click on Properties

  • Click on the Local Files tab

  • Select Verify Integrity of Game Files

  • Wait for the process to complete and then restart your game

6. Set High Priority in Task Manager

Make your game priority in the higher segment via the Task Manager to tell your Windows system to run the game properly. To do this:

  • Right-click on the Start Menu > Select Task Manager.
  • Click on the Processes tab > Right-click on the game task.
  • Select Set Priority to High.
  • Close Task Manager.
  • Finally, run the Fallout 4 game to check if it keeps crashing on PC or not.

7. Update Fallout 4 (Latest Patch)

There are several bugs or stability issues that can be found on PC games that need to be fixed by updating the game to their latest patch version. Developers are dedicated enough to release patch fix update quite often that also includes multiple improvements, additional in-game features, etc.

But as a player, if you don’t update your game for a while, it’ll eventually start experiencing crashes, lags, frame drops, and more. So, you should always keep checking the latest patch update for the Fallout 4 game on your computer periodically. Make sure to restart your computer to apply changes.

8. Use Windowed Mode in-game

You should also try using the Windowed Mode from the in-game display settings in order to check whether the Fallout 4 crashing issue has been fixed or not. Additionally, you can try lowering the in-game graphics resolution or other options to cross-check the problem.

9. Configure Fallout 4 Graphics Settings

It may also possible that you’ve configured the Fallout 4 graphics settings improperly on your computer and due to the incompatibility issue, your game crashes a lot. To fix it:

  • As we’ve mentioned already provided the system configuration details for the Fallout 4 game, you should re-check your PC hardware status whether the game is compatible or not.
  • Next, open Fallout 4 Options (Settings menu) > Go to Graphics Adapter and Resolution.
  • Enable Windowed Mode and Borderless checkboxes below.
  • Click on OK to save changes.
  • Then check Enable Intro Video checkbox > Uncheck Enable God Rays checkbox.
  • Click on Save to apply changes.
  • Re-check the display resolution as well. You can also lower it to check the crashing problem.

10. Reinstall DirectX (Latest)

You should try reinstalling the latest version of DirectX from the official Microsoft website on your PC/Laptop. You just need to download and install the DirectX installer package and run it. Keep in mind that you’ll require DirectX 11 or above to run the Fallout 4 game properly.

11. Disable Windows Firewall or Antivirus Program

The chances are high enough that maybe your default Windows Defender Firewall protection or any third-party antivirus program is preventing the ongoing connections or game files to run properly. So, make sure to temporarily disable or turn off the real-time protection and firewall protection.

Then you should try running the game to check if Fallout 4 Keeps Crashing on PC issue has been fixed or not. To do this:

  • Click on the Start Menu > Type firewall.
  • Select Windows Defender Firewall from the search result.
  • Now, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the left pane.
  • A new page will open > Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) option for both the Private & Public Network Settings.
  • Once selected, click on OK to save changes.
  • Finally, restart your computer.

Similarly, you have to turn off the Windows Security protection too. Just follow the steps below:

  • Press Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.

  • Click on Update & Security > Click on Windows Security from the left pane.

  • Now, click on the Open Windows Security button.

  • Go to Virus & threat protection > Click on Manage settings.

  • Next, you’ll need to simply turn off the Real-time protection toggle.

  • If prompted, click on Yes to proceed further.

  • Additionally, you can also turn off Cloud-delivered protection, Tamper protection if you want.

12. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

Make sure to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime on your computer to fix multiple gaming issues or errors completely. To do that:

  • Press the Windows key from the keyboard to open up the Start Menu.

  • Type Apps & Features and click on it from the search result.

  • Now, locate the Microsoft Visual C++ program(s) in the list.

  • Select each program and click on Uninstall.

  • Visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.

  • Once done, install it on your computer, and restart the system to change effects.

13. Disable Steam Overlay

It looks like maybe your Steam client overlay option is enabled and conflicting several issues with the gaming performance. To disable the Steam overlay option:

  • Open Steam on your Windows.
  • Head over to the Settings > Click on the In-Game.
  • Click on the checkbox to disable Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.
  • Once the checkbox mark is removed, click on OK.

14. Adjust Discord Settings

Additionally, you should try tweaking some of the Discord app settings if in case you’re using on your computer. If Discord isn’t installed on your PC then you can proceed to the next method.

  • Launch Discord > Click on User Settings.
  • Select Voice & Video from the left sidebar.
  • Scroll down a bit and click on the Advanced.
  • Next, disable OpenH264 Video Codec provided by Cisco System, Inc.
  • Then disable Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority.
  • Now, go to Overlay.
  • You can also turn off the in-game overlay.
  • Next, head over to Appearance.
  • Go to Advanced.
  • Disable Hardware Acceleration.
  • Once done, restart the system.

15. Adjust Nvidia Control Panel Settings

Make sure to adjust some of the graphics settings from the Nvidia Control Panel option on your computer to check whether the crashing issue has been fixed or not. Sometimes tweaking the in-game graphics settings may not work properly.

  • Click on Adjust image settings with preview under 3D settings.
  • Select Use the advanced 3D image settings.
  • Next, launch the Nvidia Control Panel.
  • Click on Manage 3D settings> Go to Global Settings.
  • Additionally, you can also adjust some of the other options:
  • Disable Image Sharpening
  • Enable Threaded Optimization
  • Use Maximum Performance for Power Management
  • Turn off Low Latency Mode
  • Set Texture Filtering Quality to Performance mode

Once done, restart your computer and check whether the Fallout 4 crashing issue is resolved or not.

  • Disable Image Sharpening
  • Enable Threaded Optimization
  • Use Maximum Performance for Power Management
  • Turn off Low Latency Mode
  • Set Texture Filtering Quality to Performance mode

16. Change AMD Control Panel Settings

If you’re using an AMD graphics card then you should follow the mentioned steps to tweak some of the graphics-related settings on your AMD Control Panel tool for an improved gaming experience.

  • Go to Global Graphics.
  • Turn off Radeon Anti-Lag
  • Turn off Radeon Boost
  • Use Application settings for Anti-Aliasing Mode
  • Set Anti-aliasing Methodto Multi-sampling
  • Turn off Morphological Filtering
  • Disable Image Sharpening
  • Turn off Anisotropic Filtering
  • Use Performance mode for Texture Filtering Quality
  • You can also enable Surface Format Optimization
  • AMD Optimization for the Tesselation Mode
  • Wait for V-sync– Turn it off
  • Use AMD optimization for the Shader Cache
  • Disable OpenGL Triple Buffering
  • Turn off Maximum Tesselation Level
  • Set Graphics for the GPU Workload
  • Turn off the Radeon Chill
  • Disable Frame Rate Target Control

17. Remove Temporary Files

Make sure to try removing temporary files on your computer in order to resolve the system glitch or cache data issue from Windows.

  • Turn off Radeon Anti-Lag

  • Turn off Radeon Boost

  • Use Application settings for Anti-Aliasing Mode

  • Set Anti-aliasing Methodto Multi-sampling

  • Turn off Morphological Filtering

  • Disable Image Sharpening

  • Turn off Anisotropic Filtering

  • Use Performance mode for Texture Filtering Quality

  • You can also enable Surface Format Optimization

  • AMD Optimization for the Tesselation Mode

  • Wait for V-sync– Turn it off

  • Use AMD optimization for the Shader Cache

  • Disable OpenGL Triple Buffering

  • Turn off Maximum Tesselation Level

  • Set Graphics for the GPU Workload

  • Turn off the Radeon Chill

  • Disable Frame Rate Target Control

  • Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the RUN program.

  • Now, type %temp% and press enter.

  • You will get a bunch of temporary files on a page.

  • Select all files by pressing Ctrl + A on the keyboard.

  • Next, press Shift + Delete on the keyboard to remove all the files.

  • Sometimes some of the temporary files can’t be deleted. So, leave them as it is and close it.

18. Set Default CPU and Graphics Speed

As most of the users always want to use ultra-high performance from the CPU and GPU from the very first day. So, most of the users either buy an overclocked version or manually increased the overclocking speed. So, if you’ve also overclocked your GPU speed and after doing that you’re experiencing bottleneck or lagging or crashing related issues, just set it to default mode.

You can also use the MSI Afterburner tool or Zotac firestorm application in order to lower the clocking speed. Once done, you can run the Fallout 4 game to check whether it’s crashing at startup or not.

That’s it. We hope this guide was useful to you. You can comment below for any queries.