Unreal Engine 4 crashing on your Windows PC? This is one of the most frustrating errors for gamers playing games on a Windows PC. The most common troubleshooting step that an average gamer takes is to restart the PC and try to relaunch the Game Launcher. However, the error continues and does not let the user play games. In such cases, we recommend trying the troubleshooting steps below to help fix issues like “Unreal Engine is crashing my whole system.” Let’s begin.
Why Does The Unreal Engine Crash On Windows PC?
There are many reasons, we have listed a few of the common ones:
- The Unreal Engine has not been updated for a long time.
- The Graphics Drivers installed on the PC are Outdated, Corrupted, or Missing.
- The Epic Games Launcher files have been corrupted due to malware attacks or drive issues.
- Overclocking GPU or CPU.
- The Integrated Graphics Card is below the minimum requirement of Unreal Engine.
- Interference from Antivirus and other security software.
- Windows System Files have been corrupted.
How to Stop UE4 Game from Crashing on PC
Method 1: Update Unreal Engine 4 Software
When facing Unreal Engine crash issues, update the app to its latest version. Developers release updates from time to time to enhance gamers’ gaming experiences. Here are the steps to update Unreal Engine 4.
Step 1: Launch the Unreal Engine app and click on the Library tab on the top.
Step 2: Click the Unreal Engine tab in the left panel and check the Engine Version in the right section.
Step 3: Click the small arrow, select the latest version, and choose Install.
Method 2: Update Graphics Driver
Graphics drivers are small programs that help establish communication between the hardware and software. If these drivers are outdated, accidentally deleted, or corrupted, you might face issues like “the ue4 game has crashed and will close fatal error.” All you need to do is update these drivers to the latest version. There are three ways to do this:
Update Graphics Driver Via Original Equipment Manufacturer’s Website
All hardware manufacturers maintain official websites with resources related to their hardware. You need to identify the make and model of your Graphics driver and search for the latest version. Then, download and install the driver, and you are good to go.
Note : This method requires technical knowledge to identify your graphics card and search for the relevant driver.
Update Graphics Driver Via Device Manager
The Device Manager is an inbuilt tool Microsoft provides to all Windows users. This tool helps search and update the drivers on your PC. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + X to launch the Power Menu.
Step 2: Select Device Manager, and a new box will open.
Step 3: Double-click on the display adapter, and you will find your graphics card mentioned underneath it.
Step 4: Right-click your graphics card and choose Update Drivers.
Step 5: In the next screen, select “ Search For Drivers…” and follow the onscreen instructions.
Note : The Device Manager only searches for drivers on the Microsoft Server. If a new update is available, it might not be readily available on the Microsoft Server, and the Device Manager will display the message “The best drivers for your device are already installed.
Update Graphics Driver Via Advanced Driver Updater
The Advanced Driver Updater is a third-party driver updater software that can scan and identify driver anomalies on your PC. It searches for the latest drivers, compares them with those on your PC, and updates them if required. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download and Install Advanced Driver Updater using the link provided below:
Step 2: Launch the app and click the Start Scan Now button.
Step 3: Locate the Graphics Driver in the scan results and click on the Update link next to it.
Step 4: Wait for the update and reboot the PC.
Important : The Advanced Driver Updater searches its database for the latest version of drivers compatible with your OS and system configuration. This method is not technical, and drivers can be updated with a few appropriate mouse clicks. However, when using the trial version of the product, you can update one driver at a time. To update all drivers in a go, you will need to upgrade to the registered version.
Method 3: Verify The App And Game Installation Files.
For those gamers using the Epic Launcher to play games developed on Unreal Engine 4, you can verify the game files using an inbuilt tool. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Open the Epic Launcher app.
Step 2: Click on the Library tab, then click on a small down arrow and choose Verify.
Step 3: Wait for the scan to complete, then click the Launch button.
Method 4: Disable Over Clocking On Your PC.
Some gamers overclock the CPU/GPU settings to enhance the gaming experience and ensure that the hardware delivers maximum performance. However, this can increase energy consumption significantly, potentially leading to crashes. If you’ve overclocked your system, consider reverting your CPU clock speed and GPU settings to their default configurations.
Additionally, reducing all graphics settings to their minimum levels can improve the smooth operation of your Unreal Engine. If these steps resolve your crashing issues, you can skip the remaining steps or proceed to the next troubleshooting solution.
Read Also: 5 Effective Practices to Increase GPU Lifespan
Method 5: Use A Dedicated Graphics Card.
If you have a dedicated graphics card installed on your system, you may change the default graphics card to this one. Here are the steps to do that:
Step 1: Right-click on any space on your desktop to reveal the context menu and choose NVIDIA Control Panel.
Step 2: Click on Manage 3D Settings.
Step 3: Click the Global Settings tab and choose High-performance NVIDIA processor from the drop-down list.
Step 4: Click on Apply and reboot the PC.
Note : The integrated graphics card can only deliver limited performance, and those who want to play high-end games must install a separate dedicated graphics card.
Method 6: Repair System Files.
If the system files on your PC are corrupted or missing, you may face issues with launching the Unreal Engine 4. Fortunately, Microsoft has provided 2 inbuilt tools to verify and fix system files – SFC & DISM. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “cmd.”
Step 2: Press CTRL + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt in admin mode.
Step 3: Type the following command to run the System File Checker, followed by the Enter key.
sfc /scannow
Step 4: After the process completes, type the below-mentioned command to run the DISM tool and press the Enter key to execute it:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Step 5: After the command process is over, reboot the system.
Method 7: Modify Registry Settings.
The Windows Registry is an archive of all your PC settings. Modifying the registry is difficult but will fix many issues if done correctly. As preventive measures, take a complete backup of the Windows registry before making any changes.
Here are the steps you need to take to fix the issue.
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “Regedit.”
Step 2: Press the OK button, and the Registry Editor will open.
Step 3: Copy and paste the following path in the address bar of the Registry Editor.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
Step 4: On the right side, right-click and click on New> QWORD (64-bit) value.
Step 5: rename this new entry as TdrLevel.
Step 6: Double-click this entry to open the Value box. In it, enter “0” and click OK.
Step 7: Exit the Registry Editor and reboot the PC.
Method 8: Temporarily Disable The Antivirus
The crashing issue with Unreal Engine 4 can also occur due to a conflict with antivirus software. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus program and check if the problem persists. Refer to your antivirus documentation for instructions on how to disable it. If disabling the antivirus resolves the issue and your game runs smoothly, consider contacting your antivirus provider for guidance or switching to an alternative antivirus solution.
Method 9: Reinstall The Epic Launcher And Unreal Engine 4
The final option to fix the issue is to uninstall Epic Launcher with all its components and then reinstall the launcher along with Unreal Engine 4.
Are You Able To Play Games Without Facing Crash Issues?
We hope you can play the games based on Unreal Engine 4 on your PC without any crashing issues. Tell us which game you played that caused your system’s Unreal Engine crash in the comments section below.
