What To Do If GTA 5 Is Crashing

Dealing with frequent crashes in GTA 5 can be frustrating if you don’t know how to fix them. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to resolve GTA5 freezing and crashing issues. To fix freezing during gameplay, random freezing, and crashing of GTA5, you first need to diagnose the issue and then troubleshoot to potentially resolve these crashes, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable gameplay session. By addressing these issues systematically, you can avoid crashes and get back to enjoying the immersive world of GTA 5 without interruption.

Why Does GTA 5 Crash On Windows PC

Hardware Issues: Insufficient RAM, overheating GPU/CPU, or outdated hardware drivers can cause crashes.

Software Conflicts: Conflicts with other programs running in the background, antivirus software, or overlays (like Discord or GeForce Experience) can lead to instability.

Graphics Settings: Running the game on settings that exceed your hardware capabilities can cause crashes.

Corrupted Game Files: Missing or corrupted game files due to incomplete installations or file modifications can trigger crashes.

Outdated Game or System: Running an obsolete version of the game or an outdated operating system can lead to compatibility issues and crashes.

Solutions for “GTA5 Is Freezing And Crashing” Issues

Method 1: Modify Graphics Settings

Experts recommend decreasing the graphics settings to fix the GTA5 freezing randomly and continuing errors. This is suggested as insufficient resources like RAM, CPU speed, etc, can cause the issues. To change the graphics settings and fix random freezes, follow these steps: 

Step 1: Open the GTA 5 app.
Step 2: Click on Settings and select Graphics.

Step 3: Modify the Settings as mentioned below. Some Settings are set to Very High by default.

Texture Quality: Normal

Shader Quality: Normal

Shadow Quality: Normal

Reflection Quality: Normal

Grass Quality: Normal

Reducing graphics settings resolves crashing problems for most players. Yet, if your PC has great hardware resources and this isn’t the root issue, move to the next method.

Method 2: Update Graphics Driver

The Graphics driver is a small program that bridges the gap between your GPU and Windows OS. It must be updated regularly to prevent “GTA V freezing during gameplay” issues. There are three methods for Updating graphics drivers, and we have explained them below.

• Update Via Manufacturer’s Website

If you face “GTA5 freezing on the loading screen” issues, you must first identify the make and model of your Graphics card. Visit the hardware manufacturer’s website and search for the drivers related to your graphics card. Download and install them to ensure you do not face GTA 5 crashing issues.

• Update Via Device Manager

The Device Manager is a driver updater tool that helps Windows users update their drivers from the Microsoft Servers. Here are the steps:

Press Win + X to open the Power menu and choose Device Manager > click on Display Updaters to reveal your graphics card > Update driver option

Finally, Follow the onscreen instructions and reboot your PC.

• Update Via Advanced Driver Updater

Advanced Driver Updater is a third-party driver updater tool that scans your PC for outdated, missing, and corrupt drivers. It then updates all the required drivers with the most updated and compatible ones. Here are the steps:

Method 3: Verify Game Files

To play GTA 5, you need Steam or Epic Launcher. These apps provide an inbuilt feature to check the integrity of the game files stored on your PC. Here are the steps:

Epic Launcher

Step 1: Open Epic launcher and Click on Library.
Step 2: Locate GTA 5, click on the three dots next to it to reveal the context menu, and choose Manage.

Step 3: Finally, click on the Verify button.

Steam Launcher

Step 1: Launch Steam and click on the Library option.
Step 2: Right-click on the GTA 5 and choose Properties.
Step 3: Navigate to the Local Files section and click on the Verify integrity of game files… button.

Method 4: Install Visual C++

Some apps and games require additional system files like Visual C++ runtime libraries to function properly. Hence, you must have these files on your PC to fix the GTA5 freezing error. Here is what you need to do:

Step 1: Click on the Visual C++ official download link.
Step 2: Click the download link next to the architecture that suits your PC.

Step 3: After downloading the file, double-click and follow the onscreen instructions to install the file.
Step 4: Reboot your computer and check if the error has been resolved, and you will be able to play the game again.

Method 5: Enable VSync

Vertical Synchronization (VSync) synchronizes your FPS limit with your monitor’s refresh rate, ensuring smoother performance on your device. Even if your GPU can handle high FPS, issues like GTA 5 crashing may occur if your monitor cannot keep up. To enable VSync, follow these steps:

1. Open GTA V Settings.
2. Navigate to Graphics and enable VSync.
3. Save the settings and restart the game.

Read Also: Fix Low Game FPS in Windows – Working Ways

Method 6: Run GTA As An Administrator

Running any program as an administrator gives it admin rights and access to all system files. This helps the app run without hindrance and allows access to all the necessary resources. Here are the steps to run GTA 5 in admin mode.

Step 1: Make a right click on the GTA 5 shortcut and select Properties.
Step 2: Click on the Compatibility tab and check the box next to the “Run this program as an administrator” option.

Step 3: Click on Apply, followed by OK.

Launch the app and check if the “GTA5 freezing on the loading screen” error has been resolved.

Method 7: Modify Virtual Memory

Some experts have suggested increasing the paging file size memory, also known as Virtual memory, Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press Win + I to open the Settings box and type “Advanced System Settings” in the Search box located in the upper left corner.
Step 2: Click on View Advanced System Settings, and a new box will open.
Step 3: Click on the Advanced tab followed by a click on the Settings box under Performance.

Step 4: Another box will open. You must click on the Advanced tab and then click on the Change button.

Step 5: A third box will now open. Uncheck the box next to the “Automatically manage paging size for all drivers” option.
Step 6: Click on the drive where you have installed GTA 5 and click on Custom Size.

Remember, set the Initial Size value at 1.5 times the size of your device’s physical memory, and ensure the Maximum size does not exceed 4 times the physical memory to maintain system stability.

Step 7: Click on Set, followed by a click on OK.

Are You Able To Play GTA 5?

We hope you can play GTA 5 without any freezing and crashing issues. Experts recommend all the above-listed methods as they work and help fix the issue. Do write to us in the comments section below about how you solved your GTA 5 issues.

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