Elden Ring Crashing on Startup: 9 Quick and Easy Fixes

Though the Elden Ring was launched in 2022, it is still popular now because it has amazing combat skills and bosses.

However, you might sometimes encounter the “Elden Ring crashing on startup” issue, which could be caused by issues with the software, game files, or even your PC’s hardware.

Don’t worry. This post introduces detailed solutions to fix the Elden Ring crashing problem.

Table of contents Hide

1 9 Fixes for Elden Ring Crashing on Startup

2 Why Elden Ring Crashes on Startup

3 Wrap Up

9 Fixes for Elden Ring Crashing on Startup

Follow the solutions below one by one to see if the problem can be addressed.

Fix 1. Check the PC Specs

If your PC does not meet the required specifications for Elden Ring, the game may crash or fail to run properly.

To check your PC specifications, open Settings > System > About.

Compare your specs with the minimum and recommended system requirements for Elden Ring to ensure your PC can run the game smoothly.

MINIMUM

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: INTEL CORE I5-8400 or AMD RYZEN 3 3300X
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 3 GB or AMD RADEON RX 580 4 GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 60 GB available space
Sound Card: Windows Compatible Audio Device

RECOMMENDED

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11
Processor: INTEL CORE I7-8700K or AMD RYZEN 5 3600X
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1070 8 GB or AMD RADEON RX VEGA 56 8 GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 60 GB available space
Sound Card: Windows Compatible Audio Device

Fix 2. Use a VPN to Protect Against DDoS Attacks

If your PC is attacked while playing Elden Ring, the game may crash on startup. Using a VPN can help protect against DDoS attacks. One option is LightningX VPN, which offers a free trial and affordable subscription plans. Here are some reasons to consider it:

LightningX VPN offers 2,000+ servers in 70+ countries. The massive server network minimizes the ping caused by the encryption process and provides a fast and stable gaming speed.
It is based on robust encryption algorithms and has a no-logs policy, highly protecting your data.
It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get LightningX VPN

Fix 3. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers may cause Elden Ring to crash. Follow these steps to update your PC drivers and fix the “Elden Ring crashing on startup” issue.

Open the Start menu, type Device Manager, and click Open.
Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows find and install the latest driver.
After the update completes, restart your PC and launch Elden Ring.

Fix 4. Allow Elden Ring through Firewall or Anti-Virus Software

Sometimes Windows Defender or other anti-virus software may mistakenly identify Elden Ring as a threat, blocking it and causing the game to crash. You can allow Elden Ring through your firewall and anti-virus software to fix this issue.

Go to Settings > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection.
Click Allow an app through firewall.
Click Change settings.
Find Elden Ring in the list and check both Private and Public boxes.
Click OK, then launch Elden Ring to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 5. Update Your PC

An outdated system may cause performance issues or crashes when playing Elden Ring. To ensure your PC runs smoothly, ensure Windows is up to date. Below are the steps to update the operating system to optimize your PC for gaming.

Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your PC.
Click the gear icon to open Settings.
Select Update & Security.
Click Windows Update in the left sidebar, then click Check for updates.
Follow the prompts to download and install any available updates, then restart your PC.

Fix 6. Force Elden Ring to Use the Dedicated GPU

If your PC has both integrated and dedicated graphics, Elden Ring may crash or perform poorly when it runs on the integrated GPU. In this case, you can force the game to use the dedicated GPU.

To check whether your PC has both types of GPUs, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab, and see if GPU 0 and GPU 1 appear at the same time.

If your PC has a dedicated GPU, use Windows’ Graphics Performance Preference to force the game to run on it (works for NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and others).

Open Settings > System > Display.
Scroll down and click Graphics or Graphics settings.
Click Browse and select the game’s executable file eldenring.exe (usually in your Steam installation folder).
After adding it, click Options > High performance > Save.
Restart the game to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 7. Create a New Character

If your Elden Ring save file is corrupted, the game may crash when loading your character. Try creating a new character to check whether the game runs normally.

If the new character works, your original save file may be damaged and needs to be restored or replaced.

Fix 8. Repair or Reinstall Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC)

Easy Anti-Cheat is the anti-cheat tool required by Elden Ring. If the EAC files are missing or corrupted, the game may fail to launch or crash on startup. You can reinstall EAC to fix the “Elden Ring crashing on startup” issue.

1. Go to the Elden Ring installation folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ELDEN RING\Game\EasyAntiCheat

(Your folder may be under Program Files depending on your Steam installation.)

2. Find and run the file: EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe

3. In the EAC window, choose “Elden Ring” from the dropdown list.

4. Click “Install” or “Repair”.

5. After the installation is complete, restart Elden Ring and check if the issue is resolved.

Fix 9. Update Your Game Launcher (Epic Games or Steam)

Outdated game launchers may conflict with Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or game files, causing Elden Ring to crash. Updating your launcher can help resolve this issue.

For Epic Games Launcher:

Open the Epic Games Launcher on your PC.
Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.
Click “Restart and Update” and wait for the launcher to finish updating.
After the update, launch Elden Ring to see if the issue is resolved.

For Steam Launcher:

Open the Steam launcher on your PC.
Click Steam in the top-left corner and select Check for Steam Client Updates.
If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.
Once updated, restart Steam and launch Elden Ring to check if the crash is resolved.

Why Elden Ring Crashes on Startup

Elden Ring may crash on startup due to insufficient PC specifications, antivirus interference, CPU overheating, outdated GPU drivers, or corrupted game files. Here are the common causes:

Insufficient PC Specifications: If your PC does not meet the minimum or recommended requirements, Elden Ring may crash. Check your system specifications to ensure your PC can run the game.
CPU Overheating: Running multiple programs or games simultaneously can cause the CPU to overheat, leading to crashes. Close unnecessary background processes and allow the CPU to cool down.
Outdated GPU Drivers: Graphics drivers are essential for running games. If your drivers are outdated, Elden Ring may fail to launch. Update your GPU drivers to the latest version.
Antivirus Interference: Windows Defender or other antivirus software may mistakenly detect Elden Ring as a threat, blocking or interfering with it and causing crashes.
Corrupted Game Files: If the game files are missing or damaged, Elden Ring may fail to start. Reinstalling or repairing the game files can resolve the issue.

Wrap Up

If Elden Ring keeps crashing on startup, you can update the operating system and graphics drivers, reinstall Epic Games and EAC, or create a new character to fix the problem. Also, you can try LightningX VPN to defend against the DDoS attack in the Elden Ring.