If Call of Duty’s shader compilation is still progressing, let it finish before entering a mode: Activision warns that playing before Shader Preloading completes can affect performance. If the percentage appears frozen, first check whether it is genuinely stalled, then try Steam’s file verification and—if your game offers the control—restart shader preloading. Those latter steps come from player reports, not a guaranteed Activision fix, and menu labels vary by release.
Is Call of Duty shader compilation actually stuck?
Shader preparation can be part of a normal first boot or follow an update. Activision says, “Shader Preloading is an important part of the first boot process.” Its PC guidance for Modern Warfare also cautions that starting a mode before preloading finishes can affect performance. Activision’s Modern Warfare PC troubleshooting guidance does not set a universal time limit for deciding that compilation has stalled.
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Before changing anything, note the game’s exact title, whether this is the first launch or follows an update, the displayed percentage, how long it has been there, and whether the indicator changes. A long duration alone does not prove a failure: Activision’s older Modern Warfare support page lists average Shader Preloading times ranging from 8 minutes 2 seconds to 37 minutes 12 seconds across six configurations. These are historical averages for those listed systems, not current benchmarks or a cutoff for other releases and PCs.
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If progress continues, leave the process alone and wait for it to complete before matchmaking. If the percentage remains unchanged and you suspect a stall, use the steps below.
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Try low-risk troubleshooting steps in Steam
The following sequence is based on advice shared by players in a Steam Community discussion for the Call of Duty Steam app. Replies report mixed outcomes, so treat it as troubleshooting—not a confirmed or guaranteed fix. Read the Steam Community discussion.
- Verify the installed game files. In Steam, open Library, right-click Call of Duty, select Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. Let Steam finish the check before relaunching the game.
- Restart shader preloading if your release has that option. In the game, open Settings → Graphics and look for Restart shaders pre-loading. If the label or location differs—or the control is absent—follow your game’s current in-game instructions rather than assuming every Call of Duty release has the same menu.
- Restart the game and allow the preparation to finish. After restarting, wait for shader preloading to complete before entering matchmaking.
Why the steps may differ by Call of Duty release
Shader labels, menu locations, and startup behavior can change between games and patches. Activision’s cited PC guidance covers Modern Warfare; it should not be read as a universal description of every Call of Duty release.
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There is also a specific exception for the Modern Warfare 4 Beta. In an article dated August 19, 2026, Call of Duty Staff said Steam’s Beta requires a one-time shader compile on first boot, then uses shader preloading after subsequent updates. The statement applies to that Beta, not to every Call of Duty game. Read the Call of Duty Staff article on Modern Warfare 4 Beta PC settings.
When to contact Activision support
If verifying files and restarting preloading do not resolve the apparent stall, contact Activision using the support destination linked from Call of Duty’s Steam listing. Include the exact game edition, that you are playing on Steam, the update or first-boot context, the percentage and elapsed time, and the steps you have tried. That information helps support distinguish a title- or patch-specific issue from a general startup delay.
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