The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Start by identifying what is failing: the game alone, game performance while Windows stays responsive, or Windows itself. Update and restart before changing settings, then test one change at a time in the same game scenario. A game closing by itself calls for a different first response than a full-PC restart or stop code.
First, identify the kind of problem
Note the game and launcher, when the problem happens, any error message or code, and recent changes such as a game or Windows update, graphics-driver change, overlay, peripheral, or settings adjustment. Check whether other games are affected. This helps distinguish a game-specific problem from one involving Windows or the PC.
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- Only the game closes: Start with that game’s updates, launcher repair or file-verification options, and publisher support. Follow the publisher’s instructions for its launcher; the steps and labels vary.
- The game stutters or has low frame rates while Windows remains stable: Check updates, background activity, power mode, and graphics routing before attempting disruptive repairs.
- The whole PC freezes, restarts, or displays a stop code: Treat this as a Windows or hardware problem, not just a game crash. Microsoft lists hardware, drivers, and software among possible causes of unexpected restarts. Microsoft’s unexpected-restart guidance covers the system-level path.
Try the reversible checks first
- Restart the PC. This clears some temporary problems without changing game or Windows settings.
- Install available Windows and game updates. If the issue began after a recent update or settings change, record that detail so you can consider it when diagnosing the problem.
- Review background activity. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Review Processes and Performance while the game runs, and check Startup apps for software you do not need launching automatically. Close only apps you recognize and are not using.
Unneeded background activity, startup apps, storage limits, outdated software, and hardware limitations can all affect general PC performance, according to Microsoft’s Windows performance guidance. It also cautions that older PCs with outdated hardware may not see significant improvement from software-side steps.
Fix a Microsoft Store game or an app installation
Update a Microsoft Store game
For a Store game, sign in to your Microsoft account if prompted, close and reopen the app, and check Windows Update. Then open Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates. Microsoft lists these steps in its guide to fixing problems with Microsoft Store apps.
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Repair before resetting
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the game, open its More menu, and choose Advanced options if available.
- Select Repair, then reopen the game and test it.
- If Repair is unavailable or does not help, consider Reset only if that option is offered.
Windows does not provide repair or reset options for every app. Reset can remove app data or settings, depending on the game, so check save and cloud-sync status first. Microsoft explains the options in Repair apps and programs in Windows.
Check which graphics processor the game uses
On a laptop or desktop with more than one GPU, Windows may be routing a game to the power-saving GPU. To test the per-game preference:
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- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Select the game. If it is not listed, use the option to add or browse for an app.
- Choose Options, select High performance if available, and save.
- Restart the game and compare the same scene or workload.
This preference selects the high-performance GPU option when available; it does not guarantee a frame-rate increase. Windows’ graphics settings guidance also explains the per-app controls.
Use windowed-game optimization only for compatible games
Windows 11’s Optimizations for windowed games setting is aimed at compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless mode. It is not a universal fix for every game, graphics API, or display mode. If a compatible game has problems in those modes, use the Graphics settings to switch the optimization off for that specific app, then restart the game and retest.
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Consider power mode and system load
Microsoft’s performance guidance suggests Best performance power mode when power consumption is not a concern. On a laptop, using more power can shorten battery runtime and make the device warmer; it does not guarantee higher FPS. If you use this mode, compare results while plugged in and in the same game scenario. See Microsoft’s performance tips for the Windows power-mode guidance.
Inspect DirectX and display-driver information
Check DirectX with DxDiag
Search Start for dxdiag and open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Its System Information page shows the installed DirectX version; its tabs provide DirectX and driver details. This is a diagnostic check, not proof that DirectX caused the crash. Microsoft’s DirectX guidance explains checking the installed version in Windows 10 and 11. Do not download a purported DirectX update from an unofficial driver site.
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If the screen flickers
If the display flickers during gameplay, compare it with Task Manager: if Task Manager flickers too, Microsoft says a display driver is probably involved; if it does not, an incompatible app is more likely. Depending on the result, update, roll back, or uninstall the implicated driver or app. Windows+Ctrl+Shift+B can reset the graphics driver in some cases, but it is a display-recovery shortcut, not a general game-crash fix. See Microsoft’s screen-flickering troubleshooting steps.
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If Windows itself restarts or shows a stop code
Write down the stop code and note recent software or hardware changes. If the same restart or code keeps occurring, Microsoft’s basic troubleshooting includes removing newly added hardware and trying Safe Mode. Follow the system-level guidance for unexpected restarts and stop-code errors.
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Keep recovery options as a later step, after less disruptive checks. Some Windows recovery choices can cause data loss, so back up important files before using them. Microsoft describes the options in Recovery options in Windows. A Windows reset is not an appropriate first response to an unspecified game crash.
When to stop changing settings
If the issue persists, keep the notes you collected: game and launcher, symptom, error code, when it occurs, recent changes, and whether other games are affected. Use the game publisher’s support instructions for a game-only failure. For a full-system crash, use the stop code and recent-change history to guide Windows or hardware troubleshooting. Avoid buying hardware or repair software unless a diagnosed bottleneck or failed component supports that choice; the steps above do not establish a universal upgrade or product fix.
Quick Recap
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