Fallout 4 crashing whenever I click play (It worked just fine the first time I played it)

[Dies_Ater]

So, you read the title. I've tried everything. Redownloading, disabling my anti virus, disconnecting my internet, trying every graphic setting, checking my GPU usage, is there anything I can do to fix this?

[neds_not_here]

A new install or new play thru ? , have mods installed or did you just install or disable a mod ? , We need more info than that if you wan't us to help .

[Dies_Ater]

Originally posted by neds_not_here:

A new install or new play thru ? , have mods installed or did you just install or disable a mod ? , We need more info than that if you wan't us to help .

I have no mods installed. Its a new play thru. I said I could play it just fine when I first played.

[Shadowrun]

found this post in another thread. original poster marked it fixed. issue sounds like yours. he talks about a background process on his computer as being responsible.

Originally posted by Sherman_Strike:

Right, my game crashes the moment I press "Play" on the launcher. I've tried just about everything I can find. Update my drivers, try older drivers, try another GPU, dissable my firewall, delete the INI files, reinstall the game, validate the game through steam. I've done everything I can, and the game is completely mod free. How do I get the game to run, I just bought it a few hours ago.

Specs: Windows 7, Asus Strix RX480 / R9 280X, i5-3570k @4.4Ghz, Corsair Vengence LP 16Gb @1666mhz, Asus Sabertooth Z77.

EDIT 2: Right, I found the culprit. It's MSI Afterburner, the game won't launch anytime it's running in the background. I should have made sure no programmes were interfering with Fallout before creating this post, my bad. Either way, thanks for the help guys.

also, did you update your graphics card driver? a lot of search results pull up that as a solution for people, but also, some people's problem was updating the graphcs driver. on some cards you're supposed to run a graphics driver 1 year older than the latest for fallout 4.

Originally posted by wtiger27:

Having the latest update drivers for your GTX 1650 Super may be the issue. Try a older version from like a year ago and see if it helps. If not, you can revert to the newer version.

I am using a GTX 1650 Super in my game and with a driver which is over 1 year old and the game runs great.

Also, make sure weapon debris is turned off in the options/advance settings, start up menu.

i found this reply in another thread using the search. maybe leftover files from uninstall are the problem:

Originally posted by KnorKater:

I certainly don't know what exactly causes your problems, but if you're desperate, here are a few things you could try:


1.) Most of the time this seems to be a problem with overclocked GPUs (If the name of your GPU contains "OC", it means 'O'ver'C'locked). If you have one (and know what you're doing), try to set it to the default clock values.

2.) This guy's solution: https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/4122155-fallout-4-crashes-on-newcontinue/

3.) When just deleting files via Steam when attempting to reinstall the game, some files might not be deleted and therefore bugs resulting from them keep occuring. To completely delete Fallout 4, do this:
- right click on Fallout 4 in your Steam library and select "Properties". Go to the "Updates" tab and UNcheck "Enable Steam Cloud synchonization for Fallout 4" > this prevents Steam from downloading old files which might be responsible for your problem
- right click on Fallout 4 in your Steam library and select "Delete Local Content"
- go to "C:\Users\YourUserName\My Games\" and delete the "Fallout 4" folder (saves will be deleted, too, if you don't make a backup) > deletes config and saves of the game
- go to "C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\" and delete the "Fallout 4" folder (you might have to enable Windows to show you hidden files) > deletes the games mod config
- go to "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\" and delete the "Fallout 4" folder > deletes any left over files from mods
- Install again using Steam, try to run it with the default config and no mods installed

Paths my be different, depending on your Operating System.

4.) Do the standard troubleshooting stuff: update drivers, check the filesystem with checkdisk, defragment (if you don't use an SSD), check if your power supply actually delivers enough power for your GPU (this was the cause for MY crashes after buying a new card for Fallout 4).

5.) Try running it on minimum settings.

6.) Gather in front of Bethesda HQ with torches and pitchforks, demand justice.

and this:

Originally posted by Ruin3r:

Ok, I did just got my setup working. I deleted all files in the C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Fallout4 folder and then went to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4 and ran Fallout4.exe directly as administrator (not through steam).

I was able to get the game running again (in both fullscreen and windowed modes). However I currently have no saves or mods so now to see what I can add back.

these seem to be the most common results. hope it helps!

[Dies_Ater]

Originally posted by aaron.mann:

found this post in another thread. original poster marked it fixed. issue sounds like yours. he talks about a background process on his computer as being responsible.

Originally posted by Sherman_Strike:

Right, my game crashes the moment I press "Play" on the launcher. I've tried just about everything I can find. Update my drivers, try older drivers, try another GPU, dissable my firewall, delete the INI files, reinstall the game, validate the game through steam. I've done everything I can, and the game is completely mod free. How do I get the game to run, I just bought it a few hours ago.

Specs: Windows 7, Asus Strix RX480 / R9 280X, i5-3570k @4.4Ghz, Corsair Vengence LP 16Gb @1666mhz, Asus Sabertooth Z77.

EDIT 2: Right, I found the culprit. It's MSI Afterburner, the game won't launch anytime it's running in the background. I should have made sure no programmes were interfering with Fallout before creating this post, my bad. Either way, thanks for the help guys.

also, did you update your graphics card driver? a lot of search results pull up that as a solution for people, but also, some people's problem was updating the graphcs driver. on some cards you're supposed to run a graphics driver 1 year older than the latest for fallout 4.

Originally posted by wtiger27:

Having the latest update drivers for your GTX 1650 Super may be the issue. Try a older version from like a year ago and see if it helps. If not, you can revert to the newer version.

I am using a GTX 1650 Super in my game and with a driver which is over 1 year old and the game runs great.

Also, make sure weapon debris is turned off in the options/advance settings, start up menu.

i found this reply in another thread using the search. maybe leftover files from uninstall are the problem:

Originally posted by KnorKater:

I certainly don't know what exactly causes your problems, but if you're desperate, here are a few things you could try:


1.) Most of the time this seems to be a problem with overclocked GPUs (If the name of your GPU contains "OC", it means 'O'ver'C'locked). If you have one (and know what you're doing), try to set it to the default clock values.

2.) This guy's solution: https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/4122155-fallout-4-crashes-on-newcontinue/

3.) When just deleting files via Steam when attempting to reinstall the game, some files might not be deleted and therefore bugs resulting from them keep occuring. To completely delete Fallout 4, do this:
- right click on Fallout 4 in your Steam library and select "Properties". Go to the "Updates" tab and UNcheck "Enable Steam Cloud synchonization for Fallout 4" > this prevents Steam from downloading old files which might be responsible for your problem
- right click on Fallout 4 in your Steam library and select "Delete Local Content"
- go to "C:\Users\YourUserName\My Games\" and delete the "Fallout 4" folder (saves will be deleted, too, if you don't make a backup) > deletes config and saves of the game
- go to "C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\" and delete the "Fallout 4" folder (you might have to enable Windows to show you hidden files) > deletes the games mod config
- go to "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\" and delete the "Fallout 4" folder > deletes any left over files from mods
- Install again using Steam, try to run it with the default config and no mods installed

Paths my be different, depending on your Operating System.

4.) Do the standard troubleshooting stuff: update drivers, check the filesystem with checkdisk, defragment (if you don't use an SSD), check if your power supply actually delivers enough power for your GPU (this was the cause for MY crashes after buying a new card for Fallout 4).

5.) Try running it on minimum settings.

6.) Gather in front of Bethesda HQ with torches and pitchforks, demand justice.

and this:

Originally posted by Ruin3r:

Ok, I did just got my setup working. I deleted all files in the C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Fallout4 folder and then went to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4 and ran Fallout4.exe directly as administrator (not through steam).

I was able to get the game running again (in both fullscreen and windowed modes). However I currently have no saves or mods so now to see what I can add back.

these seem to be the most common results. hope it helps!

Thanks, I was able to fix it by disabling steam cloud sync.

[Shadowrun]

that pesky steam cloud >_<