Minecraft is an immensely popular game that has captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide. It is a game that is known for its creativity, exploration, and fun gameplay. However, like any other game, Minecraft is not immune to technical issues.
One of the most frustrating issues that Minecraft players face is the game crashing during gameplay on PC. If you are facing this issue, don’t worry, as there are several possible causes and troubleshooting procedures that you can follow to fix the problem.
In this article, we will discuss the possible causes of Minecraft crashes during gameplay on PC and provide you with step-by-step troubleshooting procedures to help you fix the issue and get back to enjoying the game.
Possible Causes
When playing Minecraft on PC, crashes during gameplay can be a frustrating issue that can prevent you from enjoying the game. These crashes can occur due to various reasons and can be caused by different factors. Understanding the possible causes behind these crashes can help you pinpoint the problem and fix it. In this section, we will explore some of the possible causes of Minecraft crashes during gameplay on PC. By identifying the root cause of the problem, you can take the necessary steps to troubleshoot and fix the issue.
- Outdated or corrupted game files: Minecraft crashes during gameplay can occur if the game files are outdated or corrupted. This can happen due to various reasons, such as interrupted updates, file deletion, or file corruption due to malware or viruses.
- Conflicting software or drivers: Conflicting software or drivers can also cause Minecraft to crash during gameplay. This can happen if there are conflicting applications or drivers that interfere with the game, leading to crashes or freezing.
- Insufficient system resources: Another possible cause of Minecraft crashes during gameplay is insufficient system resources. This can happen if your system does not meet the minimum requirements to run the game or if other resource-intensive applications are running in the background.
- Overheating of CPU or GPU: Overheating of the CPU or GPU can also lead to Minecraft crashes during gameplay. This can happen if the cooling system of your computer is not functioning properly, or if the computer is overclocked, causing the hardware to overheat.
- Hardware issues such as faulty RAM or hard drive: Minecraft crashes can also occur due to hardware issues such as faulty RAM or a failing hard drive. This can happen if there are issues with the hardware components that the game relies on, leading to crashes or freezing.
Troubleshooting Procedures
If you are experiencing Minecraft crashes during gameplay on your PC, there are several troubleshooting procedures you can try to fix the issue. These procedures can help you identify and address the underlying problem, which can range from outdated game files to hardware issues. In this section, we will explore some of the troubleshooting procedures that you can try to fix Minecraft crashes during gameplay on PC. By following these procedures, you can potentially resolve the issue and get back to playing the game without any crashes or interruptions.
Restart Minecraft
Restarting Minecraft is one of the first troubleshooting procedures to try if you are experiencing crashes during gameplay. This is because restarting the game can help to clear any temporary glitches or errors that may be causing the game to crash.
By restarting Minecraft, you are essentially resetting the game, allowing it to start fresh and potentially resolve any issues that may be causing the crashes.
Additionally, restarting Minecraft can also help to free up system resources that may have been tied up by the game, which can help to improve overall performance and stability.
To close Minecraft and restart it on your PC, follow these steps:
- Save your progress (if possible): Before you close Minecraft, make sure to save your progress so you don’t lose any unsaved changes.
- Close Minecraft: Click the X button in the top-right corner of the Minecraft window to close the game.
- Wait a few seconds: Give your system a few seconds to clear any temporary data that may have been causing the crashes.
- Relaunch Minecraft: Click the Minecraft icon on your desktop or start menu to relaunch the game.
- Check for improvements: Once Minecraft has restarted, try playing the game again to see if the crashes have been resolved.
If the crashes persist after restarting Minecraft, you can try some of the other troubleshooting procedures mentioned earlier, such as updating your graphics card drivers, checking your PC’s temperature, and verifying the integrity of game files.
Reboot your computer
Rebooting your computer can help to fix Minecraft crashes by clearing out any temporary data, freeing up system resources, and resetting system settings. To reboot your computer, follow these steps:
- Save your progress: Before you reboot your computer, make sure to save your progress in Minecraft or any other open programs.
- Close all programs: Close all open programs, including Minecraft, to ensure that no data is lost.
- Click the Start menu: Click on the Start menu in the bottom left corner of your screen.
- Click on the power icon: Click on the power icon in the bottom left corner of the Start menu.
- Click on Restart: Click on the Restart option from the power options menu.
- Wait for the computer to reboot: Wait for your computer to shut down and restart. This may take a few minutes.
- Relaunch Minecraft: After your computer has restarted, open Minecraft and check if the crashes have been resolved.
If Minecraft continues to crash after rebooting your computer, try some of the other troubleshooting procedures mentioned earlier, such as updating your graphics card drivers or verifying the integrity of game files.
Update Minecraft to the latest version
Updating Minecraft to the latest version can help to fix crashes that are caused by outdated game files or compatibility issues with your operating system or hardware. Here’s how to update Minecraft:
- Launch Minecraft: Open the Minecraft launcher on your PC.
- Select the latest version: Click on the drop-down menu next to the “Play” button and select the latest version of Minecraft.
- Click on “Play”: Click on the “Play” button to launch the latest version of Minecraft.
- Wait for the update to download: Minecraft will automatically download the latest update in the background. Wait for the update to finish downloading before proceeding.
- Restart Minecraft: Once the update has finished downloading, restart Minecraft to apply the changes.
- Check for updates regularly: To prevent future crashes, make sure to check for Minecraft updates regularly and keep your game up to date.
If updating Minecraft doesn’t fix the crashes, try some of the other troubleshooting procedures mentioned earlier, such as checking for conflicting software or drivers, or verifying the integrity of game files.
Check your PC meets the minimum system requirements
One of the possible causes of Minecraft crashes during gameplay could be that your PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements for the game. Here’s how to check if your PC meets the minimum requirements for Minecraft:
- Go to the Minecraft website: Visit the official Minecraft website at https://www.minecraft.net/en-us.
- Check the minimum requirements: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the “System Requirements” section. Check if your PC meets the minimum requirements for Minecraft.
Here are the minimum system requirements for Minecraft:
- CPU: Intel Core i3-3210 3.2 GHz / AMD A8-7600 APU 3.1 GHz or equivalent
- RAM: 4GB
- GPU (Integrated): Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge) or AMD Radeon R5 series (Kaveri line) with OpenGL 4.4*
- GPU (Discrete): Nvidia GeForce 400 Series or AMD Radeon HD 7000 series with OpenGL 4.4
- HDD: At least 1GB for game core, maps and other files
If your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, you may need to upgrade your hardware or lower the graphics settings in Minecraft to prevent crashes.
Close any unnecessary programs and background processes
Another possible cause of Minecraft crashes during gameplay could be that your PC is running too many programs or background processes, which can take up system resources and cause the game to crash. Here’s how to close any unnecessary programs and background processes:
- Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.
- Check CPU and memory usage: In the “Processes” tab, check the CPU and memory usage of each running program and process. If a program or process is using a lot of CPU or memory, it may be causing Minecraft to crash.
- End the program or process: To end a program or process, select it and click the “End task” button at the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window.
- Disable startup programs: In the “Startup” tab, check if there are any programs set to start automatically when you start your PC that you don’t need. If there are, select them and click the “Disable” button at the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window.
By closing any unnecessary programs and background processes, you can free up system resources and prevent Minecraft crashes during gameplay.
Update your graphics card drivers
Another possible cause of Minecraft crashes during gameplay could be outdated or faulty graphics card drivers. Here’s how to update your graphics card drivers:
- Identify your graphics card: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box, type “dxdiag” and press Enter. In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window, go to the “Display” tab and make a note of the name and manufacturer of your graphics card.
- Download the latest drivers: Go to the website of the graphics card manufacturer (e.g. Nvidia, AMD, Intel) and find the download page for your graphics card. Download the latest drivers for your graphics card and save them to your PC.
- Install the drivers: Run the installer for the graphics card drivers you downloaded, and follow the on-screen instructions to install them on your PC. You may need to restart your PC after the installation is complete.
By updating your graphics card drivers, you can ensure that your graphics card is working correctly and prevent Minecraft crashes during gameplay.
Lower the graphics settings in Minecraft
If Minecraft is crashing during gameplay, it’s possible that your PC may be struggling to handle the game’s graphics demands. Lowering the graphics settings can help reduce the strain on your system and prevent crashes. Here’s how to lower the graphics settings in Minecraft:
- Launch Minecraft and click on “Options” from the main menu.
- Click on “Video Settings” and adjust the following settings to lower values:
- Graphics: Fast or Fancy
- Render Distance: Lower value
- Smooth Lighting: Off
- Particles: Decreased
- Max Framerate: Lower value
- Once you’ve adjusted the settings, click on “Done” to save the changes and exit the menu.
By lowering the graphics settings in Minecraft, you can reduce the load on your system and prevent crashes during gameplay.
Check your PC’s temperature
If Minecraft is crashing during gameplay, it’s possible that your PC may be overheating. High temperatures can cause your system to slow down or shut down to prevent damage. To prevent overheating, here’s how to check your PC’s temperature:
- Download and install a temperature monitoring software such as Core Temp or HWMonitor.
- Launch the software and check the temperature of your CPU and GPU while running Minecraft. The temperature should not exceed 85°C for your CPU and 90°C for your GPU.
- If the temperature is too high, turn off your PC and wait for it to cool down. You can also clean any dust and debris from your PC’s fans and heatsinks to improve airflow.
- Make sure that your PC is not placed in a hot or poorly ventilated area, as this can also contribute to overheating.
By monitoring your PC’s temperature and taking steps to prevent overheating, you can ensure that your system can handle the demands of running Minecraft without crashing.
Verify the integrity of game files
Verifying the integrity of game files can help fix any corrupted or missing game files that may be causing Minecraft to crash. This can be done through the Minecraft launcher by following these steps:
- Open the Minecraft launcher and select the installation that is crashing.
- Click on the “…” button next to the installation and select “Edit”.
- Click on the “More Options” button and then click “Open Game Dir”.
- Navigate to the “versions” folder and select the folder for the version of Minecraft that is crashing.
- Delete the “version.json” and “version.jar” files.
- Open the Minecraft launcher again and select the installation that was edited.
- Click on the “Install” button to reinstall the game files.
- Launch Minecraft and see if the crashing issue has been resolved.
Disable any mods or custom skins
and result in crashes. Disabling them can help identify if they are the cause of the problem. To do this, you will need to go to the game’s settings and disable any mods or custom skins that you have installed.
If the game no longer crashes after disabling them, then you can try reinstalling them one by one to identify which one is causing the problem.
Disabling mods and custom skins in Minecraft is a fairly straightforward process. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Launch Minecraft and go to the main menu.
- Click on the “Options” button.
- Click on the “Resource Packs” button.
- If you have any custom resource packs installed, click on each one and then click on the “Disable” button.
- Click on the “Done” button to close the Resource Packs menu.
- Click on the “Mods” button.
- If you have any mods installed, click on each one and then click on the “Disable” button.
- Click on the “Done” button to close the Mods menu.
- Start the game and see if it still crashes.
If disabling mods and resource packs resolves the issue, you can try to re-enable them one by one to see which one is causing the problem. If you find a mod or resource pack that is causing the game to crash, you can either remove it or try to find an updated version that is compatible with your current version of Minecraft.
Allocate more RAM to Minecraft
Allocating more RAM to Minecraft can improve its performance and prevent crashes during gameplay. By default, Minecraft only uses a certain amount of RAM, and if it exceeds that limit, it can cause crashes. Allocating more RAM can help the game run smoother and prevent crashes.
To allocate more RAM to Minecraft, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Minecraft launcher and go to the “Installations” tab.
- Click on the installation you want to allocate more RAM to.
- Click on “More Options” and then “JVM Arguments”.
- Look for the line that starts with “-Xmx” followed by a number. This is the amount of RAM currently allocated to Minecraft.
- Increase the number to allocate more RAM. For example, changing “-Xmx2G” to “-Xmx4G” will allocate 4GB of RAM to Minecraft.
- Click “Save” and launch the game to see if the issue is resolved.
Try running Minecraft in compatibility mode
Running Minecraft in compatibility mode can help resolve issues related to software conflicts. Compatibility mode allows the game to run as if it were running on a previous version of Windows, which can help bypass any compatibility issues.
To run Minecraft in compatibility mode, follow these steps:
- Right-click on the Minecraft icon or shortcut on your desktop.
- Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
- Click on the “Compatibility” tab.
- Check the box that says “Run this program in compatibility mode for.”
- Select a previous version of Windows from the drop-down menu.
- Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
- Try running the game again to see if the issue has been resolved.
Running Minecraft in compatibility mode allows the game to run as if it is running on an older version of Windows, which can sometimes help resolve compatibility issues.
Reinstall Minecraft
Reinstalling Minecraft may be necessary if the game files have become corrupted or damaged, causing the game to crash during gameplay. It can also help to reset any customized settings or configurations that may be causing conflicts with the game.
Here are the steps to reinstall Minecraft:
- Open the Windows Start menu and go to “Settings”.
- Click on “Apps”.
- Find Minecraft in the list of installed apps and click on it.
- Click on the “Uninstall” button.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall Minecraft.
- Once the uninstallation process is complete, go to the official Minecraft website and download the latest version of the game.
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install Minecraft.
- Once the installation process is complete, launch the game and see if the issue has been resolved.
Note that reinstalling Minecraft will delete your saved games and settings, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding with the reinstallation.
Check for hardware issues by running diagnostic tools
Running diagnostic tools to check for hardware issues is necessary because some Minecraft crashes may be caused by faulty hardware such as a failing hard drive or faulty RAM.
These issues can cause data corruption or memory errors, which can result in crashes during gameplay. Running diagnostic tools can help identify any hardware issues and allow you to address them before they cause further problems.
It is always a good idea to regularly run hardware diagnostic tests to ensure that your computer is running smoothly and to catch any potential issues before they become more serious.
To check for hardware issues by running diagnostic tools, you can use built-in tools in your operating system or third-party software. Here are the general steps:
- Check built-in tools:
- For Windows: Open the “Control Panel” > “System and Security” > “Administrative Tools” > “Event Viewer” and check for any hardware-related errors. You can also run a “Memory Diagnostic” tool by typing “mdsched.exe” in the search bar and following the prompts.
- For Mac: Open the “Applications” folder > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility” and run a “First Aid” check on your hard drive. You can also use the “Apple Diagnostics” tool by restarting your Mac and holding the “D” key until the Apple Diagnostics screen appears.
- Use third-party software: There are many third-party software options available to check for hardware issues, such as “HWiNFO”, “CPU-Z”, “GPU-Z”, and more. These tools can help you identify any issues with your CPU, GPU, RAM, or other hardware components.
It’s important to note that running diagnostic tools can sometimes be complex and may require some technical knowledge. If you’re not comfortable running these tools yourself, consider consulting with a professional or the manufacturer of your hardware.
Conclusion
Minecraft crashing during gameplay can be a frustrating issue for any player. However, by following the troubleshooting procedures mentioned above, you can fix the issue and get back to enjoying the game. If you have tried all the troubleshooting procedures and are still facing issues, it is recommended that you seek professional assistance to resolve the problem. Remember to keep your drivers and game files updated regularly and maintain your PC to prevent any future issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Minecraft can crash due to a variety of reasons such as outdated or corrupted game files, conflicting software or drivers, insufficient system resources, overheating of CPU or GPU, or hardware issues such as faulty RAM or hard drive.
A: You can try several troubleshooting procedures such as restarting Minecraft or your computer, updating Minecraft to the latest version, checking if your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Minecraft, closing any unnecessary programs and background processes, updating your graphics card drivers, lowering the graphics settings in Minecraft, checking your PC’s temperature, verifying the integrity of game files, disabling any mods or custom skins that may be causing conflicts, allocating more RAM to Minecraft, running Minecraft in compatibility mode, and checking for hardware issues by running diagnostic tools.
A: You can allocate more RAM to Minecraft by opening the Minecraft launcher, selecting the “Installations” tab, and clicking on the installation you want to allocate more RAM to. Then, click on the “More Options” button, scroll down to the “JVM arguments” section, and add “-Xmx[amount of RAM]G” to the end of the existing text. Replace “[amount of RAM]” with the amount of RAM you want to allocate, for example, “-Xmx4G” to allocate 4GB of RAM.
A: Minecraft crashes can also be caused by hardware issues such as faulty RAM or hard drive. Running diagnostic tools to check for these issues can help identify and fix the problem.