Fixed: Fallout 4 Crashing on PC (9 Possible Solutions)

With the rising popularity of the Fallout TV series, many viewers have developed a great interest in the game series, particularly Fallout 4. Not only that, but long-time players are rediscovering the joy of playing this game. However, they often encounter the issue of the game crashing during play.

If you're experiencing something similar, read on for this article from the folks at Tools and try out their solutions.

The image is not displayed, but based on the source code, it appears to be an image related to a crashing issue with the game Fallout 4.

How to Fix Fallout 4 Crashes – 9 Solutions

In the following chapters, we'll provide you with 9 feasible solutions to help you fix Fallout 4 crashing on PC. Let's get this sorted out quickly so you can get back to the game.

1. Solution 1: Check system requirements
2. Solution 2: Run Fallout 4 in compatibility mode
3. Solution 3: Disable all mods
4. Solution 4: Disable weapon debris and V.A.T.S. effects
5. Solution 5: Verify game files
6. Solution 6: Restore INI files
7. Solution 7: Check for SSD damage
8. Solution 8: Update drivers
9. Solution 9: Downgrade to Windows 10

Solution 1: Check system requirements

First, make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements to run Fallout 4. Running the game on lower-end hardware is often one of the main reasons why games might crash, like what's discussed in this article about games crashing. Here are the system requirements for Fallout 4:

Well, it says it requires Windows 10/8/7 to run Fallout 4, but you can still launch it on Windows 11. If you encounter any issues while playing, share this info page and try the next solution.

Solution 2: Run Fallout 4 in Compatibility Mode

Since its release in 2015, Fallout 4 may not run successfully on some systems. As such, you can try running Fallout 4 in compatibility mode.

Step 1. Navigate to the Fallout 4 installation folder. By default, you can find it in either C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4 or C:\Users\Your Username\Documents\My Games\Fallout4.

Step 2 Right-click the Fallout 4 executable and select “Properties.”

Step 3: On the Compatibility tab, check the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and choose Windows 8 or an earlier version of Windows.

Step 4: Check the box next to "Run this program as an administrator," then click "Apply" and then "OK."

This usually fixes compatibility issues and crashes.

Fix 3: Disable all mods

As a game with a lot of modding support, one of these mods could be the cause of your crash. Try disabling them through your mod manager, and then attempt to launch Fallout 4 again.

If Fallout 4 runs properly after doing this, then reinstall your mods one at a time to identify any incompatible or corrupted mods that may be causing crashes.

Fix 4: Disable Weapon Shards and Divine Glow Effects

As mentioned above, the game was released in 2015, so one of the most common reasons for Fallout 4 to crash is improper game settings that might not be compatible with newer systems or hardware. However, many players have reported that they managed to fix game crashes, launcher crashes, or in-game black screens by disabling weapon modding and VATS. Here's how:

Step 1. Open Steam and launch Fallout 4 to open its launcher.

Step 2. Go to OPTIONS > Advanced. Then, set both Godrays Quality and Weapon Debris to Off (Best Performance).

Step 3: Click "OK" to confirm the changes and then run Fallout 4.

Some users have reported that the game crashing might be related to Fullscreen mode. If the issue persists, please try changing the display mode to Borderless Windowed and see if that helps. Don't forget to share this article with other Survivors to help them stay alive for longer in the post-apocalyptic world.

Fix 5: Verify the Game Files

Steam has a built-in tool that allows players to verify the integrity of their game files. If it detects any missing or corrupted files, it will automatically repair or replace them, potentially resolving the issue of the game crashing.

Step 1. Open Steam, and then find Borderlands 4 in your Library.

Step 2: Right-click on Oblivion and select “Properties.”

3. Under the "Install" tab, click "Verify integrity of game cache" to check for and repair any damaged or missing files needed to run the game.

Of course, the EU has no intention of following the US down the path of a trade war with China.

Solution 6: Recover the INI File

Corrupted files or conflicts with game settings can also cause Fallout 4 to crash. You can try resetting your .ini files to their defaults to fix this.

1. Navigate to the Fallout 4 folder location. (It's usually located at `C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4` or `C:\Users\username\Documents\My Games\Fallout4.)`

Step 2 Find and select the “Fallout4.ini,” “Fallout4Custom.ini,” and “Fallout4Prefs.ini” files. Delete these to reset the game's settings.

Step 3: Launch Fallout 4, and Steam will automatically replace the files.

This will reset Fallout 4's settings to default and fix any corruption with INI files.

Fix 7: Check if your SSD is faulty

There are reports that Fallout 4 crashes after being moved to an SSD. If that's your case, you can download tools Partition Master to check the file system and bad sectors on the SSD.

A malfunctioning SSD might prevent programs from launching properly. Here's how to fix it:

Step 1: Right-click the problematic partition.

Step 2. Select Advanced > Check File System.

3. Confirm whether to hide the partition.

4. In the Check File System window, check the box next to “Attempt to fix errors if found.”

5. Click “Start” to begin the scan for partition errors.

If that doesn't work, you may need to move Fallout 4 back to your HDD. The section below offers an easier way to move the game from one drive to another and have it launch directly from there.

Of course, the EU has no intention of following the US down the path of a trade war with China.

Patch 8. Update Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues and crashes. Therefore, make sure to update your graphics driver to the latest version. You can download and install the appropriate GPU driver from the official website. (NVIDIA / AMD / Intel)

Aside from graphics drivers, other outdated drivers can also cause Fallout 4 to crash. You can use a tool like DriverHandy to scan your PC for any outdated drivers. After the scan, you can use this tool to update all of them with one click.

Fix 9: Downgrade to Windows 10

Some players have reported issues running Fallout 4 on their Windows 11 computers. This might be due to compatibility problems between the Windows 11 operating system and the Fallout 4 game files.

To address the issue of Fallout 4 game crashes on Windows 11, you might consider rolling back your system to Windows 10. The following page contains all the information you need to perform this action.

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How to Downgrade to Windows 10 Without Losing Programs

This detailed guide will show you how to seamlessly downgrade your system to Windows 10 without losing any programs or data. Read More >>

Conclusion

Common causes of crashes in Fallout 4 include corrupted game files, incompatible mods, incorrect game settings, and outdated drivers. By going through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue causing your game to crash on startup or during play.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fallout 4 Crashes

Here are some other questions that other players have had about Fallout 4 crashes.

Why does Fallout 4 crash without mods?

If Fallout 4 crashes without any mods installed, the issue is most likely due to low hardware performance, inappropriate game settings, or outdated drivers.

2. Why can't I launch Fallout 4 after modifying it?

Having too many mods enabled can cause conflicts with certain files or caching issues that lead to slow loading or crashes when you launch Fallout 4.

3. How to fix the black screen issue in Fallout 4?

To fix the black screen issue in Fallout 4, you should:

1. Go to `C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4` (default location) and `C:\Users\username\Documents\My Games\Fallout4`.

2. Open the “Fallout4Prefs.ini” file and change the settings to the following:

• bTopMostWindow=0
• bMaximizeWindow=1
• bBorderless=0
• bFullScreen=1
• iSize H=1080 (replace with your own screen height resolution)
• iSize W=1920 (replace with your own screen width resolution)

3. Then, open the Nvidia Control Panel (if you're using it) and set the maximum frame rate limit to 60 FPS.