PoE2 Guide - How to Fix Crashes & Freeze

[glytch]

Crashing and Freezing can be a problem with:

• Windows 11 24H2 Update
  
• Windows GPU Scheduling
  
• Nvidia Graphics Driver
  
• CPU 100% Load
  
• SSD High Disk Activity

---

Note: Press Alt + Tab to switch between Game and Windows/Programs.

---

Reverting Windows 11 24H2 to 23H2

See what version you are running currently by clicking Start Menu and type winver and press Enter.

You only have 10 days to revert before it is disabled.
Settings → Recovery → Go back

If you don't want to do this or are unable, try the steps below.

---

PoE Uncrasher

https://github.com/Kapps/PoEUncrasher
https://github.com/Kapps/PoEUncrasher/releases
VirusTotal Check[www.virustotal.com]
Run this program before launching the game. It will manage CPU resources by reserving cores during loading screens in case of freeze so you can exit out and sets them back during gameplay so you don't lose performance.

If you don't want to use this program but want to do it manually:
While game is running
Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Details Tab → Right Click PathOfExileSteam.exe → Set affinity → Uncheck CPU 0 and 1

BES Battle Encoder Shirasé

https://mion.yosei.fi/BES
Use this program alongside PoE Uncrasher. Limit your PathOfExileSteam.exe CPU process to -10%. Now Windows has some reserve resources to prevent freezing.

---

Windows 8 Compatibility Mode

In Steam Library, Right Click PoE2 Game → Manage → Browse local files

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Path of Exile 2

Right Click PathOfExileSteam.exe → Properties → Compatibility Tab → Compatibility mode: Windows 8
Do this for PathOfExile_x64Steam.exe also.
Screenshot[i.imgur.com]

Nvidia Graphics Driver Hotfix

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5608
You can try this new driver update v566.45 to see if it has any effect. Nvidia said they will release an update that fixes PoE2 crashes in January.

Disable Nvidia Threaded Opitmization

Nvidia Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Threaded optimization: off
Screenshot[i.imgur.com]

Turn Off Windows GPU Scheduling

Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Advanced graphics settings → Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling: off
Restart PC (Important)
Screenshot[i.imgur.com]

Turn Off Windows Auto HDR

Settings → System → Display → Auto HDR: off

Change Game Graphics Options

Options → Graphics Tab
Renderer: Vulkan (Switch back to DX12 if it causes performance problems)
Mode: Windowed Fullscreen

---

(Maybe) you won't crash.

[CpTTryHard]

GUYS I FOUND A FIX its called giving up and swaping to Gforce now i can play no crashing

[Sunaeri]

For me, the game graphics would freeze at the first boss on the river. I tried everything above and it did not resolve the issue.

I am using a widescreen monitor. Switching to windowed mode and selecting a non-widescreen resolution fixed my issue.

[dgenchev]

Originalmente postado por glytch:

Crashing and Freezing can be a problem with:

• Windows 11 24H2 Update
  
• Windows GPU Scheduling
  
• Nvidia Graphics Driver
  
• CPU 100% Load
  
• SSD High Disk Activity

---

Note: Press Alt + Tab to switch between Game and Windows/Programs.

---

Reverting Windows 11 24H2 to 23H2

See what version you are running currently by clicking Start Menu and type winver and press Enter.

You only have 10 days to revert before it is disabled.
Settings → Recovery → Go back

If you don't want to do this or are unable, try the steps below.

---

PoE Uncrasher

https://github.com/Kapps/PoEUncrasher
https://github.com/Kapps/PoEUncrasher/releases
VirusTotal Check[www.virustotal.com]
Run this program before launching the game. It will manage CPU resources by reserving cores during loading screens in case of freeze so you can exit out and sets them back during gameplay so you don't lose performance.

If you don't want to use this program but want to do it manually:
While game is running
Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Details Tab → Right Click PathOfExileSteam.exe → Set affinity → Uncheck CPU 0 and 1

BES Battle Encoder Shirasé

https://mion.yosei.fi/BES
Use this program alongside PoE Uncrasher. Limit your PathOfExileSteam.exe CPU process to -10%. Now Windows has some reserve resources to prevent freezing.

---

Windows 8 Compatibility Mode

In Steam Library, Right Click PoE2 Game → Manage → Browse local files

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Path of Exile 2

Right Click PathOfExileSteam.exe → Properties → Compatibility Tab → Compatibility mode: Windows 8
Do this for PathOfExile_x64Steam.exe also.
Screenshot[i.imgur.com]

Nvidia Graphics Driver Hotfix

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5608
You can try this new driver update v566.45 to see if it has any effect. Nvidia said they will release an update that fixes PoE2 crashes in January.

Disable Nvidia Threaded Opitmization

Nvidia Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Threaded optimization: off
Screenshot[i.imgur.com]

Turn Off Windows GPU Scheduling

Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Advanced graphics settings → Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling: off
Restart PC (Important)
Screenshot[i.imgur.com]

Turn Off Windows Auto HDR

Settings → System → Display → Auto HDR: off

Change Game Graphics Options

Options → Graphics Tab
Renderer: Vulkan (Switch back to DX12 if it causes performance problems)
Mode: Windowed Fullscreen

---

(Maybe) you won't crash.

Dude Merry Christmas, Much success and amazing 2025. I could not even load one map and your script works like a charm. Thank you.

[Shinny Shin Shindeiru]

SUGGESTION (WHAT WORKED FOR ME):

Turn all graphics to maximum. Apparently, the GPU doesn't carry the full processing load unless the graphics are turned up.

I didn't experience freezing, but I did experience crashing in the form of the game closing itself out (this mostly happened when teleporting to/from town, sometimes while AFK/doing nothing).

What I tried before this:

-Verify file integrity (I don't believe in reinstalling; it's not troubleshooting, it's a waste of time)
-Reboot the computer (still crashed)
-Switch to Vulcan renderer (still crashed)
-Disable multi-threading (ran like crap, still crashed)
-Update GPU driver (still crashed)
-Update BIOS (still crashed)
-Check to see if Windows 11 Update 24H2 was installed (it was not installed)
-Change all graphics settings to the minimum possible and all FPS settings to 30 (still crashed)
-Change upscale percentage to zero, set Max Image Quality to Ultra Performance (HDR was never enabled, still crashed)
-Added "--noasync --nologo --waitforpreload" to launch options (still crashed)

My machine:

CPU: AMD 7950X3D
GPU: AMD XTX 7900
RAM: 32GB DDR5 (3000MHz)

[CpTTryHard]

IMO if u wanna play the game buy geforce now like i did so i can enjoy game without stressing about bricking another pc

[lmaocetong]

I was pretty sure that this windows update is bad idea

[eeeezykill]

Yeah i had to revert to console because of my crashes. It runs terrible on console but doesn’t crash.

[joebyronlee]

Originalmente postado por Riukensei:

That's a lot of work to play a game, that is free, and that wants money from me. Maybe they should speed fix this issue and not make me jump thru hoops.

+

[joebyronlee]

Originalmente postado por eeeezykill:

Yeah i had to revert to console because of my crashes. It runs terrible on console but doesn’t crash.

Ohh really? Shoooot I read somewhere that it was bad on consoles!! also
the only way I can try this on console is by buying another key? is that correct or is there another way??

[S4mu3l]

Hi,

this did the trick for me: "Disable Nvidia Threaded Optimization". I am coming from 100% chance to freeze on loading screen to hub area. To be safe, CPU affinity was set to exclude CPU 0 & CPU 1.

9800X3D
GTX 1080 (hot-fixed v566.45)
--noasync --nologo
Vulkan

Hope this helps

[足の指良い匂いジュリ]

Start POE2 > Start Task Manager and look for Pathofexile2steam.exe in Detail > Right-click on it and open the relationship settings. Uncheck CPU0.
This allows you to operate Windows even if POE2.exe freezes.
You can return quickly and never lose the map.

[Pamp]

none of the above ways works for me. the game crashes even at startup. I did literally everything you recommended here. developers don't give a damn about us, and don't care that the game is unplayable. the main thing is to buy Skins for $160
Other teams are able to release paychecks every day after release and here they released one and the only thing they improved was character balance.

RTX 3080
I5 12600K
W11

[MAGNOƎLƎKTR0NIK]

I'm on windows 10. Constantly freezing and crashes..So your game is crippled! Why did you charge us for this?

[Stockwerk 13]

Originalmente postado por The Based Department:

Why go through such hassle when simply switching to Vulkan is enough to resolve the crashes and most likely all of the issues?

because vulkan has way worse performance,
1% lows on some on death effects are especially bad

[Mike]

Gotta love crash during boss fight, dead, xp loss, map loss etc. Great chain to motivate the fun!

Its early access to things like crashes are to be expected however... that said they don't need to punish the players for the unstable game/servers by xp/map loss etc. Once its stable they should consider whenever to enable those mechanics or not.