Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is an incredibly popular first-person shooter game, enjoyed by millions of players worldwide. However, like any complex software, it is not immune to crashes or freezes during gameplay.
These issues can be caused by a variety of factors, such as outdated graphics card drivers, corrupted game files, high graphics settings, interference from background programs, overclocking, or issues with the game installation.
Fortunately, there are several solutions to help troubleshoot and fix these issues, allowing players to enjoy uninterrupted gameplay. In this guide, we will discuss six solutions that you can try to fix CS:GO crashes and freezes during gameplay.
Solution #1: Update your graphics card drivers:
Updating your graphics card drivers is necessary to fix CS:GO crashes and freezes because the game heavily relies on the graphics card to render the game’s graphics and animations. Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues with the game and result in crashes or freezes during gameplay.
By updating your graphics card drivers, you can ensure that your graphics card is fully compatible with the game and that it can perform at optimal levels. This should help to improve stability and prevent crashes or freezes during gameplay.
It is, therefore, essential to keep your graphics card drivers up to date to ensure that you have the best possible gaming experience.
To update your graphics card drivers, follow these steps:
- Determine your graphics card model: Go to the Device Manager on your Windows PC and expand the “Display Adapters” category. Your graphics card model will be listed here.
- Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer: Go to the website of your graphics card manufacturer, such as Nvidia or AMD.
- Find the latest drivers: Navigate to the “Drivers” or “Support” section of the website and find the latest drivers for your graphics card model and operating system.
- Download and install the drivers: Download the drivers and run the installation file. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the drivers on your system.
- Restart your computer: Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure that the new drivers take effect.
After following these steps, your graphics card drivers should be up to date, and you should experience improved stability when playing CS:GO. It is recommended to periodically check for updates to ensure that you have the latest drivers installed on your system.
Solution #2: Verify the game files
Verifying the game files is an essential step in fixing CS:GO crashes and freezes because corrupt or missing game files can cause stability issues during gameplay. The verification process will scan the game files and check for any corrupted or missing files. If any issues are found, the verification process will replace them with clean copies, ensuring that the game runs correctly.
Verifying the game files can also help to identify any issues with the game installation, allowing you to fix them before playing. It is, therefore, important to verify the game files regularly to ensure that your game is running correctly and to prevent crashes or freezes during gameplay.
To verify the game files for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), follow these steps:
- Open Steam: Launch the Steam client on your computer.
- Go to the CS:GO properties: Navigate to your library and locate CS:GO. Right-click on the game and select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
- Select the “Local Files” tab: Click on the “Local Files” tab in the Properties window.
- Verify the game files: Click on the “Verify Integrity of Game Files” button. This process will scan the game files and check for any missing or corrupted files.
- Wait for the process to complete: The verification process may take some time, depending on the size of the game files and your system’s speed. Once completed, any issues found during the process will be fixed automatically.
- Launch the game: After the verification process is complete, close the Properties window and launch the game. The game should now run correctly, and any crashes or freezes caused by missing or corrupted files should be resolved.
By verifying the game files regularly, you can ensure that your game is running correctly, and any issues with the game files are identified and fixed promptly.
Solution #3: Lower your graphics settings
Lowering your graphics settings is another solution to fix CS:GO crashes and freezes during gameplay. This is because high graphics settings can put a significant strain on your graphics card, causing it to overheat and potentially crash.
By lowering your graphics settings, you reduce the workload on your graphics card and help prevent crashes or freezes during gameplay. It is, therefore, recommended to lower your graphics settings if you are experiencing issues with stability during gameplay.
To lower your graphics settings in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), follow these steps:
- Open the game: Launch CS:GO on your computer.
- Go to the video settings: Click on the “Options” button in the main menu and select “Video Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Adjust your graphics settings: In the Video Settings menu, you can adjust various graphics settings, such as resolution, texture quality, shader detail, and more. Lowering these settings will reduce the workload on your graphics card and help prevent crashes or freezes during gameplay.
- Apply the changes: Once you have adjusted your graphics settings, click on the “Apply” button to save the changes.
- Launch the game: Close the Video Settings menu and launch the game. The game should now run more smoothly, and any crashes or freezes caused by high graphics settings should be resolved.
It’s essential to find a balance between graphics quality and performance when adjusting your graphics settings. Lowering your graphics settings too much can result in a poor visual experience, while keeping them too high can cause stability issues.
Solution #4: Disable unnecessary background programs:
Disabling unnecessary background programs is another solution to fix CS:GO crashes and freezes during gameplay. This is because some programs running in the background can use up system resources, causing your computer to slow down and potentially crash. By disabling these programs, you free up system resources, allowing your computer to focus on running CS:GO smoothly. It is, therefore, recommended to close any unnecessary background programs when playing CS:GO.
To disable unnecessary background programs, follow these steps:
- Open the Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.
- Check for unnecessary programs: In the Task Manager, look for any programs that are not essential for your system’s operation or CS:GO gameplay.
- End unnecessary programs: Select the unnecessary programs and click on the “End Task” button to close them.
- Launch the game: After closing any unnecessary background programs, launch CS:GO and check if the crashes or freezes have been resolved.
It is important to note that some background programs are essential for your system’s operation, such as antivirus software or system updates.
Solution #5: Disable overclocking
Disabling overclocking is another solution to fix CS:GO crashes and freezes during gameplay. Overclocking is the process of increasing the clock speed of your CPU or graphics card beyond their factory settings, which can provide better performance but can also cause stability issues. Overclocking can cause overheating, power consumption issues, and system instability, leading to crashes and freezes during gameplay. It is, therefore, recommended to disable overclocking if you are experiencing issues with stability during gameplay.
To disable overclocking, follow these steps:
- Restart your computer: Restart your computer to access the BIOS settings.
- Enter the BIOS settings: During the boot-up process, press the key indicated on the screen to enter the BIOS settings.
- Locate the overclocking settings: In the BIOS settings, look for the overclocking settings. The location and names of these settings may vary depending on your motherboard’s manufacturer and model.
- Disable overclocking: Disable any overclocking settings by setting them back to their default values. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
- Launch the game: After disabling overclocking, launch CS:GO and check if the crashes or freezes have been resolved.
It is important to note that overclocking can provide better performance in some cases, but it also comes with risks. If you want to overclock your system, make sure to do it carefully and within safe limits.
Solution #6: Reinstall the game
Reinstalling the game is another solution to fix CS:GO crashes and freezes during gameplay. This is because game files can become corrupted or missing, causing stability issues during gameplay. Reinstalling the game ensures that all game files are intact and correctly installed, resolving any issues with corrupted or missing files. It is, therefore, recommended to reinstall CS:GO if you are experiencing stability issues during gameplay and all other solutions have failed.
To reinstall CS:GO, follow these steps:
- Uninstall the game: Go to your computer’s Control Panel, click on “Programs and Features,” select CS:GO from the list of installed programs, and click on “Uninstall.”
- Delete any remaining files: After uninstalling the game, go to the game’s installation directory (usually located in “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive”) and delete any remaining files or folders.
- Reinstall the game: Launch Steam, go to the Library tab, and search for CS:GO. Click on the “Install” button to reinstall the game.
- Launch the game: After reinstalling the game, launch CS:GO and check if the crashes or freezes have been resolved.
It is important to note that reinstalling the game can take some time, depending on your internet speed and the size of the game files. Make sure to back up any game files or settings you want to keep before uninstalling the game.