If you want to know how to fix PUBG crashes, the good news is that most crashes come from a short list of common causes you can fix yourself. Whether PUBG: Battlegrounds crashes on startup, freezes in the lobby, or closes mid-match with a "stopped working" error, the six steps below resolve the vast majority of cases on PC. Work through them in order and test the game after each one.
What you'll need before you start
You only need a few minutes and access to your own PC. Make sure PUBG is fully closed (check the system tray and Task Manager), that you're signed in to the Steam account that owns the game, and that you have a stable internet connection in case Steam needs to re-download files. If your crashes started right after a game patch or a Windows update, that's a strong hint that files or drivers are the culprit.
How to fix PUBG crashes step by step
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Step 1: Verify the integrity of game files
A single corrupted or missing file is the most common reason PUBG crashes on launch. In Steam, open your Library, right-click PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, choose Properties, then open the Installed Files tab and click Verify integrity of game files. Steam compares your installation against its servers and automatically re-downloads anything damaged. Let it finish completely before relaunching.
Steam > Library > PUBG > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. -
Step 2: Update your graphics card drivers
Outdated or buggy GPU drivers cause freezes, black screens, and hard crashes. Update through the official tool for your card: the NVIDIA App (or GeForce Experience), AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, or Intel Arc Control. If a recent driver introduced the crashes, a clean reinstall of a slightly older stable driver can also help. Restart your PC after installing so the new driver loads correctly.
Install the latest stable NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics driver, then reboot. -
Step 3: Run the game as administrator
Permission issues can stop PUBG from writing the files it needs and trigger a crash. Find TslGame.exe inside your PUBG install folder (right-click the game in Steam, choose Manage > Browse local files). Right-click it, pick Properties > Compatibility, then tick Run this program as an administrator and Disable fullscreen optimizations. Click Apply. These two options resolve a lot of stutter-and-crash combinations.
Enable admin rights and disable fullscreen optimizations on TslGame.exe. -
Step 4: Lower your in-game graphics settings
If PUBG crashes during loading screens or busy fights, your GPU or VRAM may be overloaded. Launch the game, open Settings > Graphics, and set Overall Graphics Quality to Low or Medium. Turn down Anti-Aliasing, Post-Processing, and Shadows, keep Screen Scale at 100, and disable V-Sync. Lower settings reduce the load that often causes freezes and out-of-memory crashes.
Drop quality, shadows, and post-processing, and turn off V-Sync. -
Step 5: Close background apps and disable overlays
Heavy background programs and in-game overlays frequently conflict with PUBG. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and end resource-hungry apps like browsers with many tabs or recording software such as OBS. Then turn off overlays you don't need: the Steam overlay, Discord overlay, the NVIDIA/GeForce overlay, and the Xbox Game Bar. Freeing RAM and removing overlays often stops random mid-match crashes.
End demanding background processes and switch off in-game overlays. -
Step 6: Repair or reinstall the anti-cheat
PUBG relies on its anti-cheat service to launch, and a damaged install will close the game immediately. Browse to the local files and run the anti-cheat installer found in the game folder, choosing Repair first and Reinstall if that fails. If the game still won't start, a full reinstall of PUBG rebuilds both the game and the anti-cheat cleanly and is the most reliable last resort.
Run the anti-cheat setup from the game folder and choose Repair, then Reinstall.
Extra tips to keep PUBG stable
- Update Windows. Missing OS updates and old versions of the Visual C++ Redistributables and .NET can both cause crashes.
- Install on an SSD. PUBG streams a lot of data; a slow or nearly full drive can trigger loading-screen crashes.
- Set the launch option -USEALLAVAILABLECORES. In Steam, right-click PUBG > Properties > General > Launch Options to help the game use your CPU more evenly.
- Don't overclock while testing. An unstable GPU or RAM overclock is a frequent hidden cause; reset to stock and retest.
- Add an antivirus exception. Some security software flags the anti-cheat or game files; whitelist the PUBG folder.
Troubleshooting common crash scenarios
PUBG crashes immediately on startup
This usually points to corrupted files or a broken anti-cheat. Run Step 1 (verify files) and Step 6 (repair the anti-cheat), then make sure Windows and your GPU drivers are up to date.
PUBG freezes or crashes mid-match
Lower your graphics settings (Step 4), close background apps and overlays (Step 5), and confirm your GPU isn't overheating or unstable from an overclock.
I get a "stopped working" or memory error
Increase Windows virtual memory (the page file), close memory-hungry apps, and reduce in-game quality so PUBG uses less VRAM and system RAM.
Frequently asked questions
Why does PUBG keep crashing on my PC?
The most common causes are corrupted game files, outdated graphics drivers, conflicting overlays or background apps, and a damaged anti-cheat install. Working through the six steps above addresses all of these.
How do I verify PUBG game files?
In Steam, right-click PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, choose Properties, open the Installed Files tab, and click "Verify integrity of game files." Steam repairs anything that's missing or damaged.
Does lowering graphics settings really stop crashes?
Yes, in many cases. If your GPU or VRAM is being pushed to its limit, reducing quality, shadows, and post-processing, and disabling V-Sync, often eliminates freezes and out-of-memory crashes.
Should I reinstall PUBG to fix crashes?
Reinstalling is a reliable last resort if verifying files and repairing the anti-cheat don't work. It rebuilds the game and anti-cheat from scratch, clearing out any lingering corruption.
Final thoughts
Fixing PUBG crashes is mostly a process of elimination: verify your files, update your drivers, grant the game proper permissions, ease the load on your hardware, clear out conflicting software, and repair the anti-cheat. Run through the steps in order and you'll usually have a stable game within a few minutes. For the latest known issues and official server status, check the official PUBG website before assuming the problem is on your end.
