Fixed Fall Guys Freezing on PC? Here’s the Fix

If Fall Guys is freezing on your PC, the cause is almost always a driver, graphics setting, or background program conflict, not your hardware. Below are the exact steps to stop the freezing, starting with the most common fixes and moving to more advanced ones.

Why Fall Guys Freezes on PC

Fall Guys is a lightweight game, so freezing is rarely about raw power. The most frequent culprits are:

Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers – especially after a Windows update.
In-game graphics settings too high – the game’s physics and shaders can stutter if your GPU runs out of memory.
Background apps – overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience, Steam) or antivirus scans can interrupt the game.
Corrupted game files – a bad update or install can cause random freezes.
Windows power settings – a laptop on battery saver will throttle the CPU.

Step 1: Update Your GPU Driver

This fixes the majority of freezing issues. Go to your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver for your exact model. Do not rely on Windows Update – it often installs older versions. After installing, restart your PC and test Fall Guys.

If you recently updated the driver and the freezing started, roll back to the previous version via Device Manager > Display adapters > right-click your GPU > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver.

Step 2: Lower In-Game Graphics Settings

Fall Guys defaults to high settings even on mid-range PCs. Lower these first:

Resolution – set to your monitor’s native resolution, but lower if you’re on a 4K display.
Graphics quality – drop from Epic to High or Medium.
Shadow quality – shadows are the biggest performance hit.
V-Sync – turn it off if you have a monitor above 60Hz, or on if you see screen tearing.
Frame rate limit – set to 60 or 144, not unlimited.

Also, disable any “motion blur” or “depth of field” options – they cause stutter on some systems.

Step 3: Close Background Programs

Overlays are a common cause of freezing. Before launching Fall Guys, close:

Discord (right-click the tray icon and select Quit, not just close the window)
GeForce Experience / AMD Adrenalin overlay
Steam Overlay (disable it in Steam settings for Fall Guys specifically)
Antivirus real-time scanning – temporarily disable it, then re-enable after testing.

If the freezing stops, re-enable programs one by one to find the culprit.

Step 4: Verify Game Files

Corrupted files can cause freezes at random moments. In Steam:

Right-click Fall Guys in your library.
Select Properties > Installed Files.
Click Verify integrity of game files.

This will take a few minutes. If you’re on the Epic Games Store, go to Library > click the three dots on Fall Guys > Verify.

Step 5: Adjust Windows Power Settings

If you’re on a laptop, the default power plan often limits performance. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > select High Performance. For desktops, this is less important, but still check that your power plan isn’t set to Power Saver.

Also, in Windows Settings > System > Power & battery, make sure “Power mode” is set to Best Performance.

Step 6: Disable Fullscreen Optimizations and Run as Admin

Windows’ Fullscreen Optimizations can cause micro-stutters in many games. To disable it:

Right-click Fall Guys in your Steam library > Manage > Browse local files.
Right-click the FallGuys.exe file > Properties > Compatibility.
Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations”.
Check “Run this program as an administrator”.
Click Apply and OK.

This also helps if the game freezes when you alt-tab.

Step 7: Check for Windows Updates and DirectX

Fall Guys uses DirectX 11. Make sure your Windows is up to date. Open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Also install any optional updates under Advanced options, especially ones labeled “Graphics” or “Media”.

If you have an older GPU that only supports DirectX 10, Fall Guys may not run properly – the minimum requirement is DirectX 11.

Step 8: Reinstall the Game (Last Resort)

If none of the above works, uninstall Fall Guys and reinstall it. This clears any corrupted cache or leftover files. Before reinstalling, also delete the Fall Guys folder in %AppData% (press Win+R, type %AppData%, look for FallGuys) to reset all settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Fall Guys freeze only in the lobby, not in matches?

This is usually a network issue, not a graphics one. The lobby loads other players’ outfits and emotes, which can cause a stutter if your connection is slow. Try switching to a wired connection or lowering the “Player Crowd” setting in the video options.

Can a weak CPU cause freezing?

Yes, but less likely than a GPU issue. Fall Guys is more CPU-intensive than it looks, especially during the final round with many physics objects. If your CPU is older than an i5-6600K or Ryzen 5 1400, consider lowering the “Physics Quality” setting.

Will playing on a SSD fix freezing?

It can reduce loading stutters, but not random freezes. If you have Fall Guys installed on a hard drive, moving it to an SSD (via Steam > Properties > Installed Files > Move install folder) may help if the freezing happens when new levels load.

Is there a known issue with certain NVIDIA drivers?

Yes, occasionally a new NVIDIA driver has a bug that affects older games. If you updated recently and freezing started, roll back to the previous driver. You can also use NVIDIA’s “Studio Driver” instead of the Game Ready driver – it’s more stable for many games.

Does the game freeze if my RAM is insufficient?

Fall Guys needs 8GB minimum. If you have 8GB and run a browser or Discord in the background, you can hit the limit. Close other apps or add more RAM. You can check your RAM usage in Task Manager while the game runs.

Should I disable the Steam Overlay?

Yes, it’s a common fix. Go to Steam > Settings > In-Game and uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game”. This also fixes freezes when you press Shift+Tab.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →