20 Ways to Fix Fortnite Keeps Crashing on Windows 11

Imagine you are deeply engrossed in a nerve-wracking Fortnite deathmatch where survival is hanging by a thread. Suddenly, the game crashes out – out of nowhere – which not only throws you out of the battle but also harms your reputation as a noted gaming aficionado. If this situation seems to be fitting in line with the frustration you are going through, you are in the right place. In this most exhaustive guide, I’m going to break down the 20 reliable ways to fix Fortnite keeps crashing on Windows 11. Keep reading to…

Best Tips & Tricks to Fix Fortnite Keeps Crashing on Windows 11

So, what makes Fortnite crash randomly? From the corrupted game files to the malicious software glitches, to clogged-up RAM, there are a number of reasons why this popular game goes to a crashing loop.

• Outdated graphics drivers
• Corrupt game files
• Overclocking instability
• Background apps conflict
• Insufficient RAM/VRAM
• High CPU/GPU temperature
• DirectX compatibility issues
• Windows update conflicts
• Corrupt Fortnite settings
• Antivirus interference

To resolve the issue and restore the full functionality of Fortnite, I’m going to take on each one of the above-mentioned culprits. Hopefully, you will be able to overcome the hurdle before too long.

1. Check System Requirements

Before moving any further, make sure your Windows device fully meets either the minimum or recommended system requirements so that Fortnite can run without any hiccups at all.

• Minimum Fortnite Requirements:
  • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 / AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
  • RAM: 8GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 4000 / AMD Radeon Vega 8
  • Storage: SSD with at least 30GB free
• Recommended Fortnite Requirements:
  • OS: Windows 11 (latest updates)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-7300U / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
  • RAM: 16GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GTX 960 / AMD R9 280
  • Storage: SSD with ample free space

2. Turn Off Windows Game Mode

Is the Game Mode active on your PC? If your answer is in the affirmative, disable this mode as it can sometimes cause performance issues.

• Open Settings (Win + I) on your Windows device > Gaming > Game Mode > Toggle Off.

3. Disable High DPI Scaling

It’s also important to mention that turning off high DPI scaling often works in resolving the crashes related to resolution issues.

• Just right-click Fortnite.exe > Properties > Compatibility tab > Click Change high DPI settings.
• Check Override high DPI scaling behavior > Select Application from the dropdown.
• After that, be sure to click OK > Apply.

4. Run Fortnite as Administrator

It’s worth pointing out that running Fortnite with full admin privileges can go a long way in getting the most out of the battle royale game. So, if the game continues to malfunction on your PC, be sure to get rid of all the restrictions.

• To do so, right-click the Fortnite shortcut on your device and choose Properties.
• After that, head over to the Compatibility tab > Check Run this program as an administrator.
• Then, click Apply > OK to confirm the changes.

5. Verify Integrity of Game Files

As the corrupted or missing files also tend to cause crashes, make sure to verify the integrity of game files on your Windows 11 device.

• To do so, fire up the Epic Games Launcher > Library > Click Three dots on Fortnite > Manage > Click Verify.

6. Update Windows 11

Should Fortnite continue to crash out or get frozen over and over again, try updating your Windows device as it wouldn’t be wrong to keep the possibility of a software glitch out of sight.

• To update your Windows device, open Settings (Win + I) and select the Windows Update showing in the left sidebar > Click Check for Updates > Install updates if available.

7. Disable Background Apps

Ensure that your PC is not set to allow too many background apps to run without any restrictions.

• On your PC, fire up the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and hit the Processes tab in the left sidebar.
• Now, right-click an unnecessary app and then hit the End task option at the top.

8. Adjust Graphics Settings

Lowering in-game settings is a pretty neat way to get rid of the crashing issue.

• To do so, launch Fortnite > Settings > Video:

• Then, make sure to set Window Mode to Fullscreen.
• Lower Graphics Quality to Low/Medium.
• Disable Ray Tracing, V-Sync, and Motion Blur.

9. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Fullscreen optimizations are one of the main reasons why Fortnite tends to crash. Therefore, get rid of the full-screen optimizations.

• Right-click Fortnite.exe > Properties > Compatibility tab > Check Disable fullscreen optimizations > Click Apply > OK.

10. Run Fortnite in DirectX 11 Mode

Switching to DirectX 11 can play a vital role in boosting stability.

• Open Epic Games Launcher > Settings > Scroll to Fortnite > Check Additional Command Line Arguments > Type:diffCopyEdit-dx11

11. Increase Virtual Memory (Pagefile Size)

If your RAM is cluttered for space increasing virtual memory can help.

• Open Settings (Win + I) on your device and hit the System tab in the left sidebar > About > Click Advanced System Settings.
• Go to Performance > Settings > Advanced tab > Virtual Memory > Click Change.
• Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
• Select your system drive (C:) > Choose Custom size.
• Set Initial size to 1.5x your RAM (e.g., 12GB for 8GB RAM).
• Set Maximum size to 3x your RAM.
• Click Set > OK > Restart PC.

12. Disable Overclocking

Be sure your CPU/GPU is not overclocked as it might be gaslighting instability.

• Open your BIOS/UEFI (F2 or Del at startup).
• Look for overclocking settings and set them to Default/Auto.

13. Disable NVIDIA ShadowPlay and AMD ReLive

No luck as yet? Now is the right time to entirely disable the NVIDIA ShadowPlay and AMD ReLive as they have the habit of triggering the out-of-the-blue FPS drops and crashes.

• For NVIDIA: Open GeForce Experience > Settings > In-Game Overlay > Turn Off.
• For AMD: Open AMD Radeon Software > Settings > Record & Stream > Disable ReLive.

14. Clear Temporary Files

Wiping out the temporary files can let you free up space and fix crashes.

• To get it done, press Win + R to launch the Run dialog > type %temp%, and press Enter.
• Now, select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them.

15. Update Graphics Drivers

Bear in mind that outdated or corrupted GPU drivers could also be a major factor why Fortnite is crashing repeatedly on your Windows device.

• For NVIDIA:
  • Open GeForce Experience > Go to Drivers > Click Check for Updates > Install latest drivers.
• For AMD:
  • Open AMD Adrenalin Software > Click Check for Updates > Install latest drivers.
• For Intel:
  • Open Intel Driver & Support Assistant > Update graphics drivers.

Alternatively, update manually via Device Manager:

• Press Win + X > Device Manager > Expand Display adapters > Right-click your GPU > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.

16. Update DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables

As Fortnite is heavily dependent on these components to run, it would be apt to update DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables.

• Download and install the latest DirectX End-User Runtime from Microsoft’s website.
• Download and install the latest Visual C++ Redistributables (2015-2022).

17. Reinstall Fortnite

Should your beloved game remain dysfunctional, reinstall it. For folks who are unaware, a fresh installation often proves to be a game-changing remedy for fixing malfunctioning apps.

• Open the Settings app > Apps > Installed Apps.

• Find the Fortnite app and right-click on the triple-dot icon next to it > Uninstall.
• After that, reinstall the game from the official site and grant all the necessary permissions.

18. Disable Firewall & Antivirus Temporarily

Make sure your security programs are not blocking Fortnite on your device.

• Open Windows Security (Win + I > Privacy & Security) on your PC > Firewall & network protection > Temporarily disable Firewall.

• Now, make sure to add Fortnite as an exception in your Antivirus.

19. Run Fortnite in Compatibility Mode

Since older compatibility settings have helped resolve the Fortnite crashing issue for a good many users, I would recommend you run the Fortnite game in compatibility mode.

• Right-click on Fortnite.exe on your Windows 11 device.
• After that, choose the Properties menu > Compatibility tab.
• Now, check Run this program in compatibility mode for> Select Windows 8.

20. Check for Windows Corrupt Files (SFC Scan)

If nothing has worked in bringing Fortnite back on track, it would be a good idea to wipe out the entire cluster of the corrupt system files.

• Launch the Command Prompt as Administrator on your PC.
• Type:sfc /scannow
• Now, press Enter and wait for the scan to complete.

Wrapping up…

There you go! So, that wraps up this detailed guide about fixing the Fortnite crashing problem on Windows 11. I guess your game is back in action and so is your action-packed gameplay.