Fix Helldivers 2 Crashing on Windows PC

If Helldivers 2 crashes on your Windows PC, the fix usually starts with updating your GPU drivers, verifying game files, and disabling overclocking software. Below are the specific steps to stop the crashes, ordered from most common to least common fixes.

Why Helldivers 2 Crashes on PC

Helldivers 2 uses the proprietary Bitsquid engine, which is known to be sensitive to unstable system components, especially RAM and GPU overclocks. The game also has anti-cheat software (nProtect GameGuard) that can conflict with other background programs. Common crash triggers include:

• Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)
• Overclocked CPU, GPU, or RAM that passes stress tests but fails in the game
• Corrupted game files after a patch or update
• Conflicts with RGB software, MSI Afterburner, or Discord overlay
• Windows page file too small or running out of VRAM
• GameGuard blocking or being blocked by antivirus/firewall

Most crashes happen within the first few minutes of play, often during a mission load or when a lot of enemies spawn. The steps below address each of these common causes in order of likelihood.

Step 1: Update GPU Drivers and Windows

An outdated GPU driver is the single most common cause of crashes in Helldivers 2. Both NVIDIA and AMD release game-ready drivers specifically for this title. To update:

1. Open your GPU manufacturer’s software (NVIDIA App, AMD Software, or Intel Arc Control).
2. Check for driver updates and install the latest one.
3. If you already have the latest driver, do a clean reinstall: use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode, then install the driver fresh.
4. Go to Windows Settings > Windows Update and install all pending updates, including optional ones.

If the crash started after a recent driver update, try rolling back to the previous version—sometimes new drivers introduce regressions for specific hardware.

Step 2: Verify Game Files and Disable Overlays

Corrupted or missing game files can cause crashes at specific points. Steam and the game’s own launcher both have verification tools:

• Steam: Right-click Helldivers 2 > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.
• Game launcher: If you use the PlayStation PC launcher, look for a “Verify” or “Repair” option in settings.
• Disable overlays: Turn off Steam Overlay, Discord Overlay, NVIDIA GeForce Overlay, and any other in-game overlay. These have been reported to cause random crashes.

If verification finds no issues, move to the next step—overlay conflicts are surprisingly common and easy to miss.

Step 3: Remove Overclocks and Test RAM

Helldivers 2 is more sensitive to unstable overclocks than most games. Even if your system passes Cinebench or FurMark, the game can crash due to a marginal overclock. To test:

1. Reset your GPU to stock clocks (remove MSI Afterburner or AMD Adrenalin overclock settings).
2. Disable XMP/EXPO in BIOS and run RAM at default speed (2133/2400 MHz). If crashes stop, re-enable XMP and test again—if they return, your RAM is unstable at that speed.
3. Run a memory test like Windows Memory Diagnostic (search “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in Start) or MemTest86 to check for errors.

If you have a CPU overclock (PBO, Intel Turbo Boost Max), revert to stock settings temporarily. Many users report that simply turning off PBO fixed their crashes.

Step 4: Adjust In-Game Settings and Page File

If crashes persist, try lowering graphical settings, especially anything that uses a lot of VRAM:

• Set render scale to 100% or lower (not above).
• Turn off anti-aliasing or set it to a lower preset.
• Reduce shadow quality and particle effects.
• Cap your frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate (or 60 FPS) to reduce GPU load.

Also check your Windows page file: if it’s set to a tiny size or disabled, the game can run out of virtual memory. Go to System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory, and set it to “System managed size” or a custom size of at least 16 GB (e.g., 16384 MB initial and max).

Step 5: Close Background Software and Check GameGuard

The anti-cheat (GameGuard) can crash the game if it conflicts with other software. Common culprits include:

• RGB control software (iCUE, Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub)
• MSI Afterburner / RivaTuner Statistics Server
• Antivirus real-time scanning (add the game folder to exclusions)
• Discord, especially with hardware acceleration enabled

Close these programs before launching the game. If the game crashes on startup, try running it as administrator (right-click the game .exe > Properties > Compatibility > Run this program as an administrator). If GameGuard itself is crashing, you may see a specific error like “GameGuard initialization failed”—in that case, delete the GameGuard folder in the game directory and verify files to reinstall it.

Step 6: Reinstall the Game and Update BIOS

As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the game. This fixes any deep file corruption that verification misses. Before reinstalling, back up your settings (they’re in %appdata%\Arrowhead\Helldivers2).

Updating your motherboard BIOS can also resolve crashes caused by CPU microcode bugs, especially on AMD Ryzen 5000/7000 series. Check your motherboard manufacturer’s website for the latest BIOS version. Be careful—a BIOS update can fail, so only do this if you’re comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Helldivers 2 crash on startup?

Startup crashes are usually caused by GameGuard failing to initialize, outdated drivers, or a conflict with antivirus. Try running the game as administrator, adding the game folder to antivirus exclusions, and updating drivers. If that doesn’t work, delete the GameGuard folder and verify game files.

Will lowering graphics settings stop crashes?

Sometimes, yes. If the crash is due to VRAM overflow or GPU instability under load, lowering settings reduces stress. But if the crash is from a driver bug or overclock, settings won’t help. Try it anyway—it’s a quick test.

Is Helldivers 2 crashing related to the anti-cheat?

Yes, GameGuard has been known to cause crashes, especially on Windows 11 with certain security features enabled. Disabling Core Isolation (Memory Integrity) in Windows Security can help, but note that this reduces security. Only do this temporarily to test.

Does the game crash on all PCs or just some?

It crashes on a minority of PCs. Most players don’t have issues. The crashes are hardware-specific, often tied to unstable overclocks or specific driver versions. The steps above solve the vast majority of cases.

Should I reinstall Windows to fix the crash?

No, that’s a last resort and rarely needed. Try all the steps above first. If you’ve done everything and still crash, you might have a hardware issue (failing PSU or GPU). Test with another game to confirm.

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