Call of Duty Keeps Crashing? Here's How to Fix It on PC
May. 26, 2025 / Updated by Violet to Gaming Solutions
Call of Duty keeps crashing on PC is a frustrating issue experienced by many players across titles like Modern Warfare, Warzone, Black Ops Cold War, and Vanguard. Whether you’re facing constant crashes at startup or random freezes during matches, this guide will provide detailed solutions to fix the problem for good.
Common Reasons Why Call of Duty Keeps Crashing on PC
Understanding why Call of Duty keeps crashing is the first step toward fixing the issue. Here are some common culprits:
Outdated GPU drivers
Corrupted or missing game files
Background software conflicts
Incompatible overclocking
Insufficient system resources
Windows or DirectX issues
Third-party overlay apps (Discord, MSI Afterburner, etc.)
1. Update Your Graphics Drivers
When it comes to gaming performance, your GPU is the most critical hardware component. If your graphics drivers are outdated or incompatible, Call of Duty can frequently crash or fail to launch altogether. Newer COD titles are optimized for the latest driver builds, and using outdated software can result in rendering glitches, poor frame rates, and frequent instability.
Use Driver Talent to Update Drivers Efficiently
Driver Talent is a powerful driver updater that automatically detects outdated, missing, or corrupted drivers and installs the correct versions for your system.
Steps to update with Driver Talent:
Step 1. Download and install Driver Talent.
Step 2. Launch the program and click Scan.
Step 3. Let it detect problematic drivers.
Step 4. Click Fix Now to fix everything in one go.
Step 5. Reboot your system and launch Call of Duty.
2. Repair Corrupted Game Files
Over time, game files can become corrupted due to failed updates, system crashes, or even malware. A single broken or missing file can be enough to crash Call of Duty repeatedly or prevent it from launching. Thankfully, game clients like Battle.net and Steam offer built-in tools to verify and repair game files with just a few clicks.
For Battle.net Users:
Open the Battle.net launcher.
Select your Call of Duty title.
Click on the gear icon next to the "Play" button.
Choose Scan and Repair.
Wait for the scan to complete and relaunch the game.
For Steam Users:
Open Steam.
Right-click on Call of Duty > Properties.
Go to Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files.
3. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings
Running the game on ultra settings may be visually appealing, but it can put a huge strain on your system, especially if you’re not using high-end hardware. Misconfigured graphics settings are a common reason Call of Duty keeps crashing mid-game. Lowering the settings can reduce GPU and CPU usage, making the game more stable.
Recommended settings:
Texture Resolution: Normal or Low
Shadow Quality: Low
Anti-Aliasing: Off or SMAA 1X
V-Sync: Off
Ray Tracing: Disabled
DLSS: Enabled (if available)
Apply changes and restart the game to see if stability improves.
4. Disable Third-Party Overlays and Background Apps
While overlays from apps like Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, and Razer Cortex offer convenience, they often interfere with game processes. These overlays can hook into DirectX or Vulkan APIs, causing performance issues or even full crashes. Eliminating background clutter is essential for a clean and smooth gaming experience.
What to do:
Disable Discord overlay from Settings > Game Overlay.
Exit MSI Afterburner or any GPU tweak tools.
Close all unnecessary background programs via Task Manager.
Disable Steam and GeForce Experience overlays.
5. Lower CPU/GPU Overclocking
Overclocking may provide a performance boost, but it can introduce instability—especially in demanding titles like Call of Duty. Even if your system seems stable during normal use, COD may push hardware to its limits, revealing weaknesses in your overclock configuration. Resetting to factory settings can often resolve unexplained crashes.
Steps:
Reset GPU/CPU to default frequencies using BIOS or your overclocking utility.
Monitor thermals using HWMonitor or HWiNFO.
Ensure your system is not overheating.
6. Set Call of Duty to High Priority
Windows assigns priority levels to processes. By default, games run at “Normal” priority, which means they compete with background apps for system resources. Changing the priority to “High” ensures the CPU allocates more processing power to the game, potentially preventing freezing and crashing, especially on lower-end rigs.
How to do it:
Launch Call of Duty.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Find the game process under the Details tab.
Right-click > Set Priority > High.
7. Reinstall DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables
Call of Duty relies on critical runtime libraries like DirectX and Microsoft Visual C++ to render graphics and run game logic. If these libraries are outdated or corrupted, the game may crash with vague error codes or during specific loading sequences. Reinstalling them can resolve a variety of unexplained crash scenarios.
Download and install from official sources:
DirectX End-User Runtime
Visual C++ Redistributable Packages
Reboot after installation.
8. Modify Config Files (Advanced)
Game configuration files allow deeper control over graphical and performance settings than the in-game menu. Tweaking these manually can help stabilize the game, especially on older or underpowered systems. If you've already tried adjusting in-game settings with no improvement, editing config files can be your next step.
Steps:
Navigate to: Documents\Call of Duty Modern Warfare\players
Open options.ini or config.cfg.
Lower the values for graphics, texture memory, and limit framerate to 60.
9. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations and Run as Administrator
Windows 10 and 11 include a feature called fullscreen optimizations designed to improve gaming performance—but in many cases, it does the opposite, especially with DirectX games. Disabling this feature, combined with running the game as an administrator, can improve stability and reduce crashes caused by permission conflicts or OS overlays.
Steps:
Navigate to your game’s .exe file.
Right-click > Properties > Compatibility tab.
Check Disable Fullscreen Optimizations.
Also check Run this program as administrator.
Apply and click OK.
10. Ensure Your System Meets Minimum Requirements
Trying to run Call of Duty on a system that doesn’t meet minimum specifications can result in frequent crashes, stutters, and performance drops. Even if the game installs, lacking enough RAM, VRAM, or CPU power can cause mid-match crashes. Always ensure your hardware meets or exceeds the recommended system requirements for your specific COD title.
Example for Modern Warfare II (minimum):
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
RAM: 8 GB
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 / AMD Radeon RX 470
Storage: 125 GB available space
Upgrade your hardware if necessary.
11. Reinstall the Game (Last Resort)
If you've tried everything and Call of Duty still keeps crashing, a clean reinstall may be the only option left. Over time, game folders can accumulate junk files or configuration errors that prevent smooth operation. Starting fresh ensures all components are reset to default and removes any deeply hidden corruption.
Steps:
Step 1. Uninstall the game from Battle.net/Steam.
Step 2. Delete leftover files in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Call of Duty
C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents\Call of Duty
Step 3. Restart PC and reinstall the game.
Final Thoughts
Experiencing Call of Duty crashing on PC can be incredibly annoying, especially mid-match. However, with the above comprehensive steps—from updating drivers using Driver Talent, verifying game files, disabling overlays, and adjusting hardware settings—you can achieve a smooth and crash-free gaming experience.
And don't hesitate to download Driver Talent to solve the driver issues easily!
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