Sword and Fairy 7 Keeps Crashing on PC? Fixes

Sword and Fairy 7 crashing on PC is a common issue, but it is almost always fixable. The most frequent causes are outdated graphics drivers, corrupted game files, or a conflict with the game’s anti-cheat or overlay software, and the fixes below address each of these in order of likelihood.

Why Sword and Fairy 7 Crashes on PC

The game is a demanding Unreal Engine 4 title, and crashes typically stem from a few specific areas. The most common are graphics driver instability (especially with older or beta drivers), DirectX or shader cache corruption, and background software that hooks into the game process. Less common but still frequent causes include insufficient virtual memory, an unstable CPU or GPU overclock, and a corrupted save file that triggers a crash on load.

It is also worth noting that the game’s Chinese and international versions have slightly different patch histories, so a crash that was fixed in one region’s update may still occur in the other until the patch is rolled out. Always make sure your game is fully updated through the launcher or storefront you purchased it from.

First Steps: Update Drivers and Windows

Before making any changes to the game files, update your graphics card driver. Both NVIDIA and AMD release game-ready drivers that specifically address crashing in new titles. Use the manufacturer’s official app (GeForce Experience or AMD Software) or download the driver manually from their website. Do not rely on Windows Update for this, as it often provides older, less stable versions.

Next, ensure Windows is fully updated. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all pending updates, including optional ones. A missing cumulative update can cause memory management issues that lead to crashes. After updating, restart your PC and try launching the game again.

Verify Game Files and Clear Shader Cache

Corrupted or incomplete game files are a leading cause of crashes. The verification process differs by platform:

Steam: Right-click the game in your library, select Properties > Installed Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files.
Epic Games Store: Click the three dots next to the game, select Manage > Verify.
Microsoft Store / Xbox app: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the game, click the three dots, and choose Advanced Options > Repair or Reset.

If verification finds no issues, the problem may be a corrupted shader cache. The game compiles shaders on first launch, and a partial or interrupted compilation can cause crashes. To clear it, navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA%\SwordAndFairy7\Saved (or similar path) and delete the ShaderCache folder. The game will rebuild it on next launch, which may take a few minutes.

Disable Overlays and Background Software

Overlay software that draws on top of the game is a frequent crash trigger. This includes Discord overlay, NVIDIA GeForce Experience overlay, MSI Afterburner’s RivaTuner Statistics Server, and even the Xbox Game Bar. Disable them all temporarily to test. To disable the Xbox Game Bar, go to Settings > Gaming > Game Bar and turn it off.

Also close any hardware monitoring tools (like HWiNFO or AIDA64) that run in the background, as they can conflict with the game’s own monitoring. If the game crashes only when a particular app is running, you have found the culprit. Add an exception for the game in your antivirus software, as a false positive can cause the game to terminate mid-session.

Adjust In-Game Settings and Window Mode

If the crash happens during gameplay rather than on startup, it may be a rendering issue. Try lowering the graphics preset to Medium or High (not Ultra), and disable ray tracing if you have it on. Ray tracing is particularly demanding and can cause crashes on GPUs with limited VRAM. Also switch from Fullscreen to Borderless Windowed mode, which often resolves alt-tab related crashes.

Another setting to try is the DirectX version. The game offers both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 options in its launcher. If you are on DX12 and crashing, switch to DX11, and vice versa. Some players report that one is more stable than the other depending on their hardware.

Check System Stability and Virtual Memory

An unstable CPU or GPU overclock is a classic cause of crashes in demanding games. If you have any overclock applied (including XMP for RAM), reset it to default and test. The game may be pushing your hardware to a point where an otherwise stable overclock fails.

Virtual memory (page file) is also critical. Unreal Engine games can use a large amount of memory, and if your page file is too small or set to a fixed low size, the game will crash. To fix this, go to Settings > System > About > Advanced System Settings > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory. Ensure it is set to ‘System managed size’ or set an initial and max size of at least 16 GB. Restart your PC after changing this.

Reinstall DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables

The game relies on DirectX and Visual C++ runtime libraries. If these become corrupted, the game will crash. Download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from Microsoft and run it. Then, install all Visual C++ Redistributables from 2015 through 2022 (both x86 and x64 versions). You can find them on Microsoft’s website. These installers are safe and will not overwrite newer files.

After reinstalling, restart your PC and try the game. This is a low-effort fix that resolves many Unreal Engine crashes that other steps miss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Sword and Fairy 7 crash on startup?

Startup crashes are usually caused by missing or outdated drivers, corrupted shader cache, or a conflict with overlay software. Follow the steps above in order: update drivers, clear the shader cache, disable overlays, and verify game files. If it still crashes, try running the game as administrator by right-clicking the executable and selecting ‘Run as administrator’.

Does Sword and Fairy 7 crash on Steam Deck?

Yes, some players report crashes on Steam Deck, often due to the game’s anti-cheat or shader compilation issues. The most effective fix is to force the game to run with Proton Experimental, and to set the game’s resolution to 1280×800 in its settings. Clearing the shader cache via the Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode also helps.

Will lowering graphics settings stop the crashing?

It can, but not always. If the crash is due to GPU memory exhaustion or an unstable overclock, lowering settings will help. However, if the crash is caused by a driver bug or corrupted files, it will not. Lowering settings is a good diagnostic step, but not a guaranteed fix.

Is there a known crash after a specific boss fight or cutscene?

Some players have reported crashes during specific cutscenes, often due to corrupted video files. Verifying game files usually fixes this. If it does not, try lowering the resolution and disabling ray tracing for that scene, then re-enabling them later.

How do I check if my save file is causing the crash?

If the game crashes when loading a specific save, the save may be corrupted. To test, start a new game and see if it runs. If it does, your old save is the problem. You can try loading an earlier autosave, or back up your save folder and delete the problematic save file. The save location is typically in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\SwordAndFairy7.

Does the game crash more with ray tracing enabled?

Yes, ray tracing is a common crash trigger, especially on GPUs with 8 GB or less VRAM. The game’s ray tracing implementation is demanding, and a VRAM overflow can cause a hard crash. Disabling ray tracing is one of the most reliable crash fixes for this title.

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 →