Helldivers 2 Crashing on PC? Here’s What You Need to Do

Having trouble going past the Helldivers 2 loading screen? Find out what’s leading to Helldivers 2 crashing on PC and what you can do to fix it

Finally getting your hands on a game that you have been looking forward to playing for quite some time is undeniably fun! The joy will take no time to turn sour, however, when it crashes over and over again. That seems to be the case for many Helldivers 2 players following the game’s recent launch. The highly anticipated twin stick shooter has been blowing through the estimates with heavy sales, but the recurrent crashing issues has dampened the excitement for many gamers. If you have been wondering how to stop Helldivers 2 crashing on PC, we might help you out with a few ideas. 

Helldivers 2 Crashing on PC: Why Is It Happening?

New games are notoriously crash-prone. Since Helldivers 2 is a new release, it’s expected to come with some early bugs, which makes it susceptible to crashing. That, however, is not the only reason for Helldivers 2 to crash on your PC. Sometimes, a corrupted driver could be the culprit. Other possibilities, like anti-virus intervention or an incomplete software update, cannot be ruled out either. 

How to Fix Helldivers 2 Crashing on PC

Arrowhead Studios is still working on a permanent solution to this problem as of writing, but here are some workarounds you can consider:

Check Your Antivirus Settings

Make sure your antivirus is not preventing the game files from installing properly. Windows Defender could flag some of the game files as malicious and block them from getting necessary access. To make sure that this isn’t the case, follow these steps: 

• Search for ‘Firewall & network protection' in the search bar, then select ‘Settings' to open it.

• You'll see the option to allow an app through the firewall here. Click on it, and then choose ‘Allow another app'.

• Look for the Helldivers 2 executable file in the list of apps that pops up. Click on it so that it can bypass the Firewall. 

Verify Game Files 

If Helldivers 2 keeps crashing on PC, it could be because of corrupt files in the installation folder. To make sure the game files have been properly installed, you must go to your Steam Library and locate the game. Go to ‘Properties,' then ‘Local Files,' and finally, select ‘Verify File Integrity.' Initiating this process will launch a file verification scan, which will examine all game files within the installation directory. Any damaged or corrupted files it identifies will be automatically repaired or replaced. It will only take a few minutes.

Disable Steam Input 

Some players have shared that they have managed to resolve the crashing issue after disabling Steam Input. All you need to do is to go to your Steam Library again and check the game Properties. You will find the ‘Disable Steam Input' option there. 

Update Graphics Drivers

Another way to resolve the problem is by updating your graphics drivers. Simply download the appropriate desktop app for your graphics card and let it automatically find and install the latest version. You can also do this without the desktop client. In that case, you will have to go to the website of your graphics card manufacturer and download the latest driver. 

Run the Game as Administrator 

Running the game as administrator is another Helldivers 2 crashing on PC fix we would recommend. Take the cursor over the game icon and right click. Select ‘Run as admin,' and you are good to go. 

Do Not Change Armor Before the First Mission

The game has been crashing for many players when they try to change armor after finishing the tutorial. The developers are aware of this and are currently working on a fix. It's suggested to avoid changing armor until you finish the first mission.

Adjust Graphics Settings

Try lowering the resolution if the crashes persist. The other graphics settings tweak you can try is toggling the Vsync and turning down overall quality presets. Decreasing particles might also help. 

Close Background App

Apps like Chrome and Discord can take up a lot of RAM. As a result, your PC might have a hard time running Helldivers 2. Close all background apps to free up some RAM, and then try launching the game. If insufficient RAM was the cause of the crash, the game should now run smoothly.

Turn Off Crossplay 

The Helldivers 2 crossplay has been problematic since launch, so turning it off before the next patch hits could be a good idea. It could stop the game from crashing. Developers are expected to roll out a fix for this soon. 

Wait For the Patch

Arrowhead Studios has taken note of the problems players have been facing. We're confident that a new patch for Helldivers 2 is on the way, which should address the recurring crashing problems. Please be sure to check for updates regularly and install the patch as soon as it becomes available.