8 Most Effective Ways To Fix Diablo 4 Crashing [PC] – eXputer

Diablo 4 is one of the highly anticipated games of 2023, with players waiting in the online queue just to get a sneak peek into the beta phase. Among other connectivity and server issues, players have also been facing Diablo 4 crashing issues after the full release. The game suddenly locks up and then crashes to the desktop either when a player is in the main menu or fast travelling. This problem can arise due to various reasons; we’re going to address them and fix this in this guide.

Verify Diablo 4 System Requirements First

System Requirements (Image by eXputer)

Before you start applying our suggested fixes for the Diablo 4 crashing problem, it’s vital that you check the PC system requirements for the game and compare them with your PC. The goal here is to check whether your system can run the game smoothly or not. Check out these official system requirements for Diablo 4 below: 

Minimum System Requirements for Diablo 4

Recommended System Requirements for Diablo 4

High System Requirements for Diablo 4

Ultra 4k System Requirements For Diablo 4

Now that you know the different system requirements needed to run the game at different quality settings, you need to compare these requirements to your system specifications.

You’ll need specs at least equal to or more than the minimum system requirements if you want to run the game at all. If your system doesn’t meet the hardware requirements or even the minimum requirements, then you’ve found the reason why your game is crashing. You’re due for an upgrade if you want to experience Diablo 4 on your PC. 

If everything checks out and your PC can handle the game, but it still crashes, try applying the fixes I’m going to mention from here on out. 

Update Game Client & Diablo 4

First, let’s cover the most simple fix you can do to resolve the Diablo 4 crashing issue. It’s possible that you might be running an outdated version of Diablo 4 for game sessions and never quite the game, ultimately missing out on an update. In this case, you simply need to restart the game client that you have Diablo 4 on and check for any updates. 

Now, Diablo 4 is available on both Steam and Blizzard’s Battle.Net client. Here’s how to keep your Diablo 4 updated on both of them. 

Steam

Steam usually keeps all your titles updated before you launch them. However, you’ll need to manually turn on this feature for Diablo 4 if you want to download and install the game updates as they release.

Here’s how to update Diablo 4 on Steam:

Turn on Auto-Update on Steam (Image by eXputer)

First, you need to close the game and then quit Steam from the taskbar in the bottom right corner of your screen. 
Once you close Steam, you’ll need to relaunch it either through Windows Search or your desktop. This will let Steam restart and download any crucial client updates that you might have missed. 
After Steam opens up, you need to locate Diablo 4 in your games library and then right-click on it and then select Properties. 
Inside properties, you’ll need to head over to the Updates section, and then right under Automatic Updates, you’ll need to select the Always Keep This Game Updated option from the context menu. 

After you’re done, access the download section of Steam, and if you see an update for Diablo 4, download and install it and then try running the game afterward. 

Battle.Net

On Battle.Net, the steps are also similar. Let me guide you through it. 

Here’s how to update Diablo 4 on Battle.Net Launcher: 

Similar to the Steam method, you’ll have to close your game and then quit Battle.Net from the taskbar on the bottom right of your screen. 
After that, relaunch Battle.Net from Windows Search which will allow it to download and install any important client updates.
Once Battle.Net opens up, click on the Diablo 4 icon in the Favourite Games bat and then select the settings icon (Cogwheel) right next to the Play button. 
In the context menu that opens up, click on the Check for Updates option.
Select Check for Updates (Image by eXputer)
This will let Battle.Net Launcher check for updates. If there are updates available, it’ll put them in the download queue and then install them after.

Once the updates are installed, launch Diablo 4 and verify if you’re encountering crashes or not. This is bound to solve your problem for good. 

Verify Diablo 4 Game Files

If your copy of Diablo 4 is fully updated and you’re still experiencing random crashes, this indicates that your game files might have gone corrupted or missing. This is a common occurrence that can happen due to interference of third-party software such as system cleaners or Antiviruses. So you’ll need to verify your Diablo 4 game files on both Steam and Battle.Net.

Steam

Steam has a files verification utility that lets you scan your local game files and then detect which games files have gone missing or corrupted. It’ll let you download those files without having to reinstall the game. 

Here’s how to verify Diablo 4 game files on Steam: 

First, you need to open up Steam and then locate Diablo 4 in your game library. 
Once you’ve found Diablo 4, right-click on it and then click on the Properties option. 
Click on Properties (Image by eXputer)
Inside properties, you’ll need to head over to the Installed Files section and then click on Verify Integrity of Games Files. 
Select Verify Integrity of Game Files for Diablo 4 (Image by eXputer)

This will let Steam scan your Diablo 4 local installation folder to check for any missing or corrupted game files. Once the scan concludes, Steam will automatically download and replace all the missing/corrupted files. After this, start up Diablo 4, and I’m sure you won’t be facing the crashing problem again. 

Battle.Net

If you own the game on Battlet.Net, then you can use its own game file verification feature, which will let you replace any missing or corrupted files with ease. 

Here’s how to verify Diablo 4 game files on Battle.Net:

First, open up Battle.Net Launcher from the taskbar in the bottom-right corner of the screen. 
Inside the launcher, you’ll have to click on Diablo 4 in your favorite game bar on the top. 
On the Diablo 4 game page, you’ll have to click on the settings icon (Cogwheel) and then select Scan and Repair option.
Click on Scan and Repair (Image by eXputer)
Once you click Scan and Repair, Battle.Net will start scanning your Diablo 4 install directory.

Similar to Steam, this process will take anywhere from a few to several minutes, depending on your storage speed. After it completes, Battle.Net will auto-download any missing or corrupted files in your game directory. Now try launching the game now, and I’m confident you won’t be facing the Diablo 4 crashing error anymore. 

Run Diablo 4 As An Administrator

Oftentimes, your Windows user account might not have full access to the PC’s functionality which ends up restricting Diablo 4’s access to your system. This lack of privileges is one of the major reasons why your game is crashing. You can solve this problem by simply running Diablo 4 as an administrator which will grant it heightened privileges.

First, you need to locate the Diablo 4 local installation folder. You can either manually search for it in your Windows Explorer or simply locate it through Steam or Battle.Net. 
After you’re inside the Diablo 4 installation directory, you’ll need to find the main executable file and then right-click on it to select its properties. 
Inside the properties, head over to the compatibility tab.
Compatibility Tab (Image by eXputer)
Once you access the compatibility section in the properties, you’ll need to checkmark the option that says Run This Program As An Administrator. 
After you’re done, also checkmark the option that reads Disable Fullscreen Optimizations.
Once you’re done, simply click on OK to save changes.

After doing the above, Diablo 4 will now run with administrator privileges bypassing any permission hurdles that were restricting it from accessing your PC resources. This is sure to put a stop to the Diablo 4 crashing problem. 

Clear DirectX Shader Cache

DirectX shader cache is a system built into Microsoft Windows that stores all the precompiled shader files. These shader files then help improve the efficiency of games and applications on your PC. These files are prone to corruption, leading to problems like Diablo 4 crashing, stuttering, and even FPS drops. So, to resolve this issue, you’ll need to clear all the cache that the DirectX Shader Cache system has compiled on your system. 

Here’s how to clear DirectX Shader Cache files on your system:

First, you need to open the Windows Settings by hitting the shortcut key Win + I.
In the Windows Settings, you’ll need to enter the Storage Settings.

Click on Storage (Image by eXputer)
Inside the Storage Settings, enter the Temporary Files sections.
 Temporary Files (Image by eXputer)
In the Temporary Files section, all you need to do is checkmark the DirectX Shader Cache option and then click on the Remove button on the top to start clearing it. 

DirectX Shader Cache Removal (Image by eXputer)

After you start the removal process of DirectX Shader Cache files, it’ll take a few minutes. After it’s done, you’ll need to restart your PC to finalize the clearing process. Now you can try launching Diablo 4 and let your GPU generate a new set of Shader Cache files that will help the game improve its performance and resolve the crashing issue. 

Update Your GPU Drivers

GPU manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD push out crucial GPU driver updates that are vital for running your games smoothly without any hitches. If you skip an update or two, you won’t be able to enjoy the latest games properly and will encounter issues like Diablo 4 crashing. We’ll show you how you can update your GPU drivers with the most simple methods. 

Nvidia

You can use several methods to update your Nvidia GPU to its latest Game-Ready drivers. You can find and update the right GPU drivers from Nvidia’s official website. However, the simplest approach is running a driver scan through the Geforce Experience Application. 

Here’s how to update your Nvidia GPU drivers through GeForce Experience: 

First, you need to open up the GeForce Experience application through the taskbar at the bottom-right corner of your screen. 
Open GeForce Experience (Image by eXputer)
After accessing Geforce Experience, you’ll need to head over to the Drivers tab and then click on the Check for Updates button.

Check for Updates

Once you check for updates, the latest Game-Ready driver will pop up for your GPU. All you need to do is click on the download button to start downloading it. 
After the download is complete, you’ll need to click on the Express Installation button to begin the driver installation process. 
After the installation is complete, you’ll need to reboot your PC to finalize the driver installation process. 

After you’ve successfully updated your Nvidia GPU driver to the latest version, it’ll help you fix the Diablo 4 crashes. However, this update won’t only be beneficial for Diablo 4; it’ll help boost the general graphical performance of your PC, including other games. You can go a step further and optimize the Nvidia Control Panel settings with our best Nvidia settings guide. 

AMD

The process of updating your AMD GPU to the latest version is similar to Nvidia’s. All you need to do is visit the AMD official website to download the latest AMD Radeon utility. Once you’ve installed the AMD Radeon Panel, all you need to do is start the driver update process. 

Here’s how you can update your AMD GPU Driver with AMD Radeon Panel: 

Update your AMD GPU Drivers

After installing AMD Radeon Software, you’ll need to launch it through the desktop or by clicking on its icon in the taskbar in the bottom-left corner of the screen. 
Once the software opens up, you’ll need to check out the Drivers and Software section of the home page. Here, click on the Check for Updates button to let the utility scan for any driver updates for your GPU.
Once the drivers are found, it’ll prompt you to download the latest drivers; simply click on download. 
As the download completes, start installing the driver through the AMD Driver Installation Wizard that’ll pop up once you click install. 
After the installation finishes, you’ll need to reboot your PC to finalize the driver installation process. 

That’s all you need to do to update your AMD GPU to the latest drivers. Now you’re sure to resolve the Diablo 4 crashing issue with this latest GPU update. We also have a guide on the best AMD settings if you want to optimize the performance of Diablo 4 further. 

I also recommend that you try running a Windows Update after the drivers and see if there are any crucial updates that you need to install. Windows updates will keep your system running smooth and may also address this crashing issue in Diablo 4.

Disable Third-Party Application Overlays

You’ll have several applications installed on your PC that offer in-game overlays. These overlays are an application extension that provides additional functionality you can access without minimizing the game. As helpful as this sounds, these overlays can sometimes interfere with your games, causing them to crash to the desktop. 

These overlays might be why you’re experiencing Diabo 4 crashing issues on your PC. The best action here is to disable these third-party overlays, which will also provide a noticeable improvement in performance as well. 

We’ll show you how to disable the overlays of common applications installed on your PC. 

Steam

If you own Diablo 4 on Steam, you’ll need to disable the Steam overlay to see if the crashing stops. Here’s how to do it: 

First, open Steam from the taskbar and then access your games library. 
In your games library, locate Diablo 4 and right-click on it to access its properties.  

Steam Properties (Image by eXputer)

You’ll see the general tab after accessing the properties of Diablo 4. Here, all you need to do is uncheck Enable Steam Overlay While In-game option.

After you’ve done it, the in-game overlay for Diablo 4 will be disabled. 

Discord

The Discord overlay (previously known as Overwolf) helps you monitor Discord chatter while in-game by displaying the speakers’ names on your screen. If you don’t need this feature, best disable it to avoid any hitches with Diablo 4. Here’s how:

You’ll need to launch Discord from the taskbar in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Once you open it up, go to its settings. The gear icon is right next to your name and picture.  

Discord Settings (Image by eXputer)

After you access the settings, head over to the Game Overlay tab on the left.
Inside this tab, you’ll need to toggle off the setting called Enable In-Game Overlay on the top.

This will disable the Discord Overlay for all games on your PC. 

Xbox Game Bar

Xbox Game Bar is a built-in application in Windows that keeps running in your background even if you aren’t playing any game. It’s similar to Nvidia’s Shadowplay, as it helps you record, capture and share in-game moments. If you don’t have much use for it, here’s how you can disable it: 

First, open up Windows Settings by hitting Win + I at the same time.
Once you access the Windows Settings, you’ll see to go to the Gaming Tab on the left and then toward the Captures menu inside it. 
Xbox Game Bar Settings (Image by eXputer)
Here, you’ll need to toggle off every setting you come across to ensure your PC isn’t wasting any resources recording gameplay. 
Once you’re done, jump over to the Apps tab and then toward the Apps and Features sections of the settings. 
In this section, you’ll spot a search bat right over the App List. Here, you need to type in Game Bar and you’ll see the Xbox Game Bar application pop up in the results.

Stop Xbox Game Bar (Image by eXputer)
You must click on the 3 dots right next to the Game Bar application and then select Advanced Options. 
Inside the Advanced Options, 
Click on the 3 dot menu next to it and access the Advanced Options.
In the Advanced Options, you’ll see a setting called Let This App Run In The Background. It’s right under the Background App Permissions. You simply need to toggle this setting to Never. Doing this will completely disable Xbox Game Bar from running on your PC.
After you’re done, also go ahead and click on Terminate to quit the application from the background instantly. 

This was all you needed to do in order to disable the Xbox Game Bar overlay from your PC. There are several other applications, like MSI Afterburner and Nvidia Shadow Play, that you can also disable if you want to get the best performance in Diablo 4 and stop the crashing issue (considering third-party overlays are a cause). 

Whitelist Diablo 4 Game Files in Antivirus

One of the most common reasons behind the Diablo 4 crashing issue is the interference from your system’s Antivirus software. Antivirus software sends out false positives when you launch a game. This report will either restrict Diablo 4’s access to your system resources or delete game files from the installation directory. 

In other words, your game will crash or even fail to start if your Antivirus is messing with it. The best course of action is to disable it temporarily to check whether the issues in Diablo 4 originate from the Antivirus. We’ll be using Windows Defender as an example, but you can apply this to any other Antivirus software out there. 

First, you must open Windows Security by typing it in the Windows Search and then click the first link. 
After accessing Windows Security settings, go to the Virus and Threat Protection Tab on the left side. Inside, you’ll need to click on the Manage Settings option under Virus & Threat Protection settings.
 Click on Virus and Threat Protection Tab (Image by eXputer)
After you access the Virus and Threat settings, turn off the Real-Time Protection feature here.
Disable Real-Time Protection (Image by eXputer)

Once you turn off Real-Time Protection, it will temporarily disable the Windows Defender scanning capabilities. After disabling Windows Defender, you should try launching Diablo 4 and check whether you’re encountering the crashing issue or not. If the game runs fine with Windows Defender disabled, it means you’ve found the main reason behind Diablo 4 crashing. 

However, you can’t leave your PC unprotected just to play a game. That’s where the exclusion feature becomes handy. It will help you exclude the Diablo 4 directory from scanning means the Antivirus will continue protecting your PC without any interference. 

Here’s how to do it:

Since you’ll already be present in the Windows Defender settings, you’ll need to scroll down until you see an option to Add or Remove Exclusions under the exclusions settings.
Click on Add or Remove Exclusions (Image by eXputer)
After accessing the exclusion option, you’ll need to select the +Add an Exclusion option and then proceed to add a folder. 
Now all you need to do is locate the Diablo 4 local installation folder and then add it to the exclusion list in Windows Defender.
Add PUBG Folder Here

Now your Diablo 4 will be excluded from any intervention from Windows Defender, and you’ll be able to play without any crashing issues. This process can be done with other Antiviruses as well as they have a similar folder whitelisting feature as well. 

Remove Any Overclocks From Your System

Being a PC gamer, you’re bound to be tinkering around overclocking your GPU or CPU to squeeze every bit of juice from your hardware. However, this doesn’t always work out, as some overclocking profiles can cause a clash with the games you’re playing. A similar situation could be happening with Diablo, which is causing it to crash. 

Now depending on whether you’re overclocking your hardware from third-party software or your UEFI, you’ll need to revert it to its default speeds. Doing this will prevent your PC from overheating and crashing frequently in games.

Speaking of overheating, several players have reported that overheating is also one of the major causes behind the Diablo 4 crashing issue. If your game crashes even after removing the overclocking profiles, I suggest undervolting. Undevolting will reduce the excessive power sent to your CPU or GPU, substantially lowering temperatures. You can try undervolting with apps like Intel XTU or Throttlestop.

Did You Finally Solve the Diablo 4 Crashing Issue? 

We’ve listed every working fix to help you solve the Diablo 4 crashing issue on your PC. The majority of the connectivity problems regarding the game have been fixed. The only ones left are the technical ones. Hopefully, the developers will soon put out a patch to address these crashing issues, but until then, I hope my guide helped you fix this problem. If the problem persists even after you’ve done everything mentioned in this guide, then you can contact Blizzard’s Diablo 4 support, and hopefully, they’ll be able to guide you through this better. 

If you’ve solved crashing, check out our error fix guides for other problems that you also might face in Diablo 4:

Diablo 4 Error Code 316719
Diablo 4 Queued For Game Start Game Pending
Diablo 4 Error Code 300202
Diablo 4 Error Code 75 “Authentication Error”
Diablo 4 World Boss Not Spawning
Diablo 4 Account Locked 

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