Modern Warfare Crashing on PC? Solved

Yes, the most common causes of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) crashing on PC are fixable. The crashes usually stem from outdated graphics drivers, corrupted shader cache files, or conflicting background software, and you can resolve them in about 15 minutes with the steps below.

Why Modern Warfare Crashes on PC

Modern Warfare is a demanding title that pushes both CPU and GPU to their limits. Crashes typically happen for one of four reasons:

• Graphics driver instability – the game uses DirectX 12, which is sensitive to driver bugs.
• Corrupted shader cache – the game compiles shaders on first launch; if that process is interrupted, it can crash repeatedly.
• Overheating or unstable overclocks – the game stresses components harder than most benchmarks.
• Background software conflicts – overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience, MSI Afterburner) and RGB tools can inject into the game process and cause crashes.

Most players report the crash happens either during the loading screen, right after the intro logos, or after 10–20 minutes of gameplay. The fix differs slightly depending on when it crashes.

Step 1: Update Your Graphics Drivers

An outdated or corrupted GPU driver is the single most common cause. Both NVIDIA and AMD release game-ready drivers specifically for Modern Warfare.

1. Open the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app or AMD Radeon Software.
2. Go to the Drivers tab and click Check for Updates.
3. If an update is available, download and install it. Choose Custom Installation and tick Clean Installation (NVIDIA) or Factory Reset (AMD) to remove old driver remnants.
4. Restart your PC before launching the game.

If you already have the latest driver, try rolling back to a slightly older one. Some driver versions have known bugs with specific GPU series, so a clean install of the previous version can help.

Step 2: Clear the Shader Cache

Modern Warfare compiles shaders for your specific GPU on first launch. If that cache becomes corrupted – often after a driver update or a crash during compilation – the game will crash repeatedly.

1. In the game’s main menu, go to Options → Graphics → Quality.
2. Scroll down to Shader Cache and set it to Off.
3. Restart the game. It will recompile shaders from scratch.
4. After the compilation finishes, set Shader Cache back to On and restart again.

If the game crashes before you reach the menu, delete the cache folder manually. In your game installation directory, find the players folder and delete the shadercache subfolder. The game will rebuild it on next launch.

Step 3: Disable Overlays and Background Apps

Overlays are known to cause DirectX 12 crashes. Disable them before playing:

• Discord – Settings → Overlay → turn off Enable in-game overlay.
• GeForce Experience – Settings → General → turn off In-game overlay.
• MSI Afterburner / RivaTuner – close them entirely; they inject into the game process.
• RGB software (iCUE, Razer Synapse, etc.) – close them in the system tray if the crash persists.

Also check Windows Game Bar: press Win + G and close it, or disable it entirely in Settings → Gaming → Game Bar.

Step 4: Verify Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can cause crashes at any point. Both Battle.net and Steam have verification tools.

Battle.net: Click the game icon → Options → Scan and Repair.

Steam: Right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify Integrity of Game Files.

This process downloads any missing or damaged files. It can take 10–30 minutes depending on your connection and drive speed. After it finishes, restart your PC and launch the game.

Step 5: Check Temperatures and Overclocks

Modern Warfare is more CPU-intensive than most games, especially in the campaign and Ground War. If your CPU or GPU overheats, the system will crash to protect itself.

• Monitor temperatures with a tool like HWMonitor (free). Anything above 90°C on the CPU or 85°C on the GPU under load is concerning.
• If you have an overclock on your CPU, GPU, or RAM, set everything back to stock (default) speeds.
• Clean dust from fans and heatsinks. Ensure your case has good airflow.
• If you’re on a laptop, elevate it and make sure the vents are unobstructed.

If the crash only happens after 20+ minutes of gameplay, overheating is the most likely culprit.

Step 6: Adjust In-Game Settings

Some settings are known to trigger crashes on certain hardware. Try these changes:

• Set Render Resolution to 100% (not above).
• Turn Ray Tracing off (it’s very demanding and can cause driver timeouts).
• Set Texture Resolution to Normal or High (not Ultra) if you have 6GB or less VRAM.
• Set DirectX to 11 if you’re on an older GPU. In Battle.net, click the gear icon → Game Settings → check Additional Command Line Arguments and type -d3d11.
• Disable NVIDIA Highlights and G-Sync if you have them on.

If the game becomes stable, you can gradually re-enable settings to find the exact culprit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Modern Warfare crash on the loading screen?

Loading screen crashes are almost always shader cache corruption or an outdated driver. Clear the shader cache using the steps above, then update your GPU driver with a clean install.

Will reducing graphics settings stop the crashes?

Sometimes. If the crash is caused by VRAM exhaustion or a driver timeout, lowering texture quality and disabling ray tracing can help. But if the crash is due to a corrupted shader cache or background overlay, settings won’t matter.

Does the game crash more on AMD or NVIDIA?

Both have had issues at different times. NVIDIA users saw more crashes with certain driver versions early on, while AMD users had issues with the game’s DirectX 12 implementation. The fixes above apply to both.

Is there a permanent fix for Modern Warfare crashes?

No single permanent fix exists because the game’s engine and drivers change over time. The best approach is to keep your drivers updated, avoid overclocking, and disable overlays. If crashes return after a game update, repeat the shader cache clear.

Can a faulty power supply cause crashes?

Yes. If your PSU can’t deliver stable power under load, the system can crash or restart. This is more likely if you have a high-end GPU and a low-wattage PSU. Check that your PSU meets the game’s recommended requirements (650W or more for most modern GPUs).

Should I reinstall the whole game?

Only as a last resort. Reinstalling fixes corrupted files but not driver or overlay issues. Try all the steps above first; a reinstall is time-consuming and often unnecessary.

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