If Cyberpunk 2077 crashes on startup or during play, start by checking system requirements, Windows and graphics drivers, and the game installation. Then test for software conflicts and unstable clock settings. For a launch-only crash, also try running the launcher as administrator and reinstalling Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables for both x86 and x64. These are diagnostic steps, not guaranteed fixes; the right branch depends on when the crash happens and whether the game is modded.
Before changing anything, identify when the crash happens
Record whether the game closes before the main menu, while loading, or after you have started playing. Copy any error message, and note your storefront (Steam, GOG, or Epic Games Store), game version, whether you have Phantom Liberty, and whether you use mods, trainers, or console commands. This baseline helps you choose a relevant test and gives CD PROJEKT RED useful details if you need support. Its support intake asks for information such as platform, version, mod status, and whether the game runs from its executable. Update an older game version before diagnosing further.
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Check the PC and launcher basics
Confirm requirements and Windows version
Compare your PC with the official Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements. CD PROJEKT RED also says Windows 10 users below version 1909 should update Windows. Requirements are a baseline, not proof that a particular component is faulty.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Try an administrator launch
For a failure before the game opens, close the launcher, then run Steam, GOG GALAXY, or Epic Games Store as administrator and try again. This is one troubleshooting test, not a reason to run every application with elevated privileges routinely.
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Repair the game installation
Use your storefront’s built-in file verification or repair option to check for missing or damaged files. On GOG GALAXY, the route is Manage installation > Verify/Repair. The labels and exact route can differ in other launchers, so use their game-library options for verifying or repairing the installation. CD PROJEKT RED includes file verification among its crash troubleshooting steps.
Refresh graphics drivers without guessing
Install the current driver for your graphics hardware using the GPU manufacturer’s official instructions. CD PROJEKT RED recommends a clean graphics-driver installation and links to procedures for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel in its driver guidance. Driver releases change frequently, so use the vendor’s current download and instructions rather than relying on an old version number.
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If the crashes began immediately after a driver update, CD PROJEKT RED suggests installing the previous driver version and reporting the issue. Avoid changing several driver or graphics settings at once; otherwise, it becomes harder to tell which change affected the crash.
Rule out overlays, background software, and clock changes
Test with overlays and unnecessary apps closed
Temporarily disable overlay features or close the related applications. CD PROJEKT RED names Discord, Ubisoft Connect, and GOG GALAXY as examples. Also close unnecessary background applications, including hardware-monitoring tools, while testing. If you temporarily close antivirus or anti-malware software as part of diagnosis, restore normal protection afterward; do not leave security software disabled as a permanent fix.
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Return CPU and GPU clocks to stock
If you have overclocked or underclocked the CPU or GPU, restore the default clock settings and test again. CD PROJEKT RED warns that non-stock clock settings can cause crashes and may damage hardware. Do not increase clocks as a proposed crash fix.
For startup crashes, check Microsoft Visual C++ runtimes
If the game fails to launch, CD PROJEKT RED recommends reinstalling the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages for both x86 and x64. Run each installer as administrator, then verify the game files and try launching again. Follow the official launch and crash troubleshooting instructions for the current steps.
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For a modded game, test vanilla before chasing individual mods
Disable all mods and attempt a clean launch. If the game starts without them, re-enable mods in batches until the crash returns; that narrows the cause to a mod or a combination. Check that each mod is compatible with your installed game version, because game updates can break mod compatibility. CD PROJEKT RED’s modding documentation recommends disabling mods for startup crashes and using batches to isolate a conflict.
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Send CD PROJEKT RED crash evidence if the problem persists
When the basic checks do not resolve the crash, include the crash files and a concise description in a support request. CD PROJEKT RED’s contact form requests relevant system and game details.
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- In File Explorer, enter
%localappdata%REDEngineReportQueuein the address bar. - Open the newest dated folder and attach
stacktrace.txt. - Run
DxDiag, choose Save All Information, and attach the resulting report. - State the launcher, game version, whether mods are installed, the exact crash stage and error text, and whether launching
...binx64Cyberpunk2077.exeworks.
Include when the issue began, especially if it followed a game patch, graphics-driver change, or mod update. That context helps distinguish a startup dependency problem from a later crash or a version-specific conflict.
Choose the next test based on the crash pattern
| What you observe | Useful next test |
|---|---|
| Crash before the main menu | Try administrator launch; reinstall both Visual C++ runtime packages; verify files. |
| Crash only with mods enabled | Disable all mods, then re-enable in batches and check compatibility with the installed game version. |
| Crash began after a graphics-driver update | Try the previous driver version and report the issue to CD PROJEKT RED. |
| Crash during play, especially with modified clocks or monitoring tools | Restore CPU/GPU stock clocks and test with hardware-monitoring tools and unnecessary background apps closed. |
Change one variable at a time where practical, so you can tell whether a test changes the result. The official guidance does not establish a universal hardware replacement or identify a failed component without system-specific evidence.
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