Do you want to play Fallout 4, but it crashes as soon as you launch it? Or does It crash after a few seconds as you start playing?
If you are facing issues with Fallout, you are not alone. Many gamers worldwide have complained about such issues, which ruin their gaming experience. This guide will help all Fallout 4 gamers fix crashing issues when playing the game.
Before getting to the fixes, let us check whether or not your PC meets the required specifications.
Prerequisites Before Troubleshooting Fallout 4 Crashing Issues
Before you start troubleshooting, we recommend checking the minimum and recommended system requirements and comparing them with your PC. If the requirements do not match your PC’s specifications, we suggest you upgrade the hardware.
| Minimum System Requirement | Recommended | |
| Operating system | Windows 10/8/7 (64-bit) | Windows 10/8/7 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2300 2.8GHz/AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0GHz or equivalent | Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz/AMD FX-9590 4.7GHz or equivalent |
| Memory | 8GB | 8GB |
| free disk space | 30GB | 30GB |
| Video | NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or equivalent | NVIDIA GTX 780 3GB/ AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB or equivalent |
| Dedicated Video RAM | 2048MB | 3GB |
Methods To Fix Fallout 4 Crashing At The Beginning
Method 1: Run Fallout 4 In Compatibility Mode
Fallout 4 was released 9 years ago, and the newer system files might conflict with the old gaming files. Hence, we suggest you run Fallout 4 in compatibility mode by following these steps:
Step 1: Right-click on the Fallout Shortcut and choose Properties.
Step 2: In the Properties box, click the Compatibility tab and check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode.”
Step 3: Choose Windows 8 from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Check the box next to “Run this program as an administrator” and click on Apply, followed by OK.
Method 2: Turn Off Mods
Fallout 4 supports various mods, and it is quite likely that these mods are causing the crashes. Try disabling them through your mod manager and then relaunch Fallout 4. If the game runs smoothly after disabling the mods, reinstall them individually to pinpoint any incompatible or corrupted mods that might be responsible for the crashes.
Method 3: Verify Game Files
Steam offers a built-in tool for verifying the integrity of game files. This tool can automatically restore or replace any missing or corrupted files, which may resolve the game crash issue. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Open Steam and find Fallout 4 in your Library.
Step 2: Right-click on Fallout 4 and select “Properties.”
Step 3: Go to the “Installed Files” tab and click “Verify integrity of game files” to check and repair any damaged or missing files required to run the game.
Method 4: Delete Current INI Files
If the game files get corrupted and are not fixed by Steam, it can cause conflicts with game settings and result in Fallout 4 crashing. To address this, you can restore the .INI files to their default state by following these steps:
Step 1. Press Win + E to open the File Explorer and navigate to the Fallout 4 directory by copying and pasting either of the paths mentioned below.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4
C:\Users\username\Documents\My Games\Fallout4
Step 2. Find and delete the files named “Fallout4.ini“, “Fallout4Custom.ini” and “Fallout4Prefs.ini” to reset the game settings.
Step 3. Launch Fallout 4, and Steam will automatically recreate these files with default settings.
This process will reset the game’s settings to default and resolve any issues related to corrupted INI files.
Method 5: Disable GodRays and Weapon Debris
Some gamers have reported on gaming forums that they have fixed the Fallout 4 crashing at the beginning issue by disabling the GodRays and Weapon Debris features. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Launch Steam and initiate Fallout 4.
Step 2: Click on Options followed by Advanced.
Step 3: Locate the “Weapon Debris” and “GodRays Quality” options and select “Off” from the drop-down menu next to them.
Step 4: Click on Ok.
Some users have found that crashes may be linked to fullscreen mode. If you continue to experience issues, try switching to borderless window mode to see if that resolves the problem.
Method 6: Update Graphics Drivers
Updating your graphics card drivers enhances gaming performance and prevents display problems. Drivers facilitate communication between your PC’s software and hardware; issues can arise when they are missing or outdated.
There are three methods to update drivers. Two of these manual methods require technical expertise, time, and patience. The third method is automatic: it uses a driver updating tool that scans your PC for outdated drivers and offers compatible updates, allowing you to choose whether to apply them.
Use OEM Websites
Each hardware manufacturer provides a website where you can download the latest drivers for their products. To update your graphics card, you need to know its make and model, find the appropriate driver, and then download and install it on your PC. Below are links to the websites of the most common graphics card manufacturers.
NVIDIA/AMD/INTEL
Use Device Manager
The Device Manager is a built-in Windows tool for updating drivers. It searches Microsoft servers for available updates and installs them. Follow these steps
Use Third-party Driver Updater App
Advanced Driver Updater is a fantastic application that scans your PC for missing, corrupted, or outdated drivers and updates them with the latest compatible versions. Here’s how to use the application:
Step 1: Download/Install the app using the Download button below.
Step 2: Open the app and click the Start Scan Now button to scan your system for outdated drivers.
Step 3: Once the list of driver issues is displayed, look for your graphics card and click the Update link.
Step 4: The app will now install the best compatible driver for your graphics card.
Step 5: Restart your PC after the process completes.
Are You Able To Resolve the Fallout 4 Crashing Issue?
We hope that the fixes described above will help you resolve the Fallout 4 Crashing issue and that you will be able to enjoy the game. We would like to know more about your thoughts on this issue and how you solved it in the comments section below.
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