How to fix Helldivers 2 crashing on PC

If you can’t join a game of Helldivers 2 on your PC due to crashes, you definitely aren’t alone. We’ve encountered several crash reports for the game on PC, but thankfully, there are a few ways to troubleshoot the problem.

How do you fix Helldivers 2 crashing error on PC?

The fastest fix for random crashes in Helldivers 2 is to restart your gaming system. Most of these crashes tend to be one-time occurrences that disappear after a simple reset.

While players usually face crashes right after a game launches, you may face crashes due to problems or conflicts in your PC. A corrupted driver, an incomplete software update, or even a conflicting anti-virus feature loaded onto your PC may also be responsible for the frustrating crashing issues. Whatever the reason is, we’ll help you troubleshoot the crash error you’re facing in Helldivers 2 on PC.

1) Run Helldivers 2 as administrator

This step is as simple as it sounds. Right-click on the Helldivers 2 executable and select run as administrator. Check if this fixes the issue, and if not, proceed to the next step.

2) Update Windows and graphics drivers

Check if there are any pending Windows updates you need to complete. At the same time, make sure to check for pending graphics driver updates because outdated software can cause Helldivers 2 to crash. You can check for Windows updates from Windows settings and download the newest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

3) Check if Windows Firewall is blocking Helldivers 2

If you use Windows Defender to protect your PC from cyber threats, there’s a chance it’s blocking access to a crucial feature needed for Helldivers 2 to work. Here’s what to do:

1. Type Firewall & Network Protection in the Windows search bar and click on the settings option to open it.
2. Here, you’ll find the option to Allow an app through your firewall. Select it and then select the Allow another app option.
3. Here, click on Browse and locate the Helldivers 2 game executable. Select it to add to the list of apps allowed through firewall.

Once done, try launching the game and see if the crash error persists. 

If you’re using a third-party anti-virus program, you can dig into its settings and make sure Helldivers 2 is allowed through its barriers. If you can’t find it, try disabling the program for a while and check if the issue persists.

4) Check for pending game updates

Arrowhead is constantly releasing hotfixes to fix reported issues, so make sure you are on the game’s latest version. You can check for updates from its Steam page.

5) Disable Steam Input

Some players have reported being able to solve the crash errors by disabling Steam Input. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on Helldivers 2 in your Steam library and choose Properties from the dropdown menu.
2. Go to the Controller tab, and under the controller options, switch to Disable Steam Input.

Once done, check if the game runs without issues. 

6) Check if your PC has what it takes to run Helldivers 2

Check out Helldivers 2’s system requirements and compare them to your PC’s specs. Your PC might not be fit to run the game, hence the crashes.

How to fix the crashing on extraction error in Helldivers 2

If you’re facing crashes during extraction in Helldivers 2, you’ll need to wait for Arrowhead Game Studios to roll out a permanent fix. However, if you’re on a PC, you might be able to temporarily fix this error by using one of the following methods:

• Delete your Helldivers 2 shader cache and Steam’s shader cache for the game. You can find these cache files at “username\AppData\Roaming\Arrowhead\Helldivers2\shader_cache” and “Steam\steamapps\shadercache\553850”
• Verify the integrity of your game files through Steam.
• Try running the game in DirectX 11, instead of the default 12, by adding the “–use-d3d11” command to your Launch Options.
• Turn off crossplay.
• If you have an NVIDIA GPU, you can increase your Shader Cache Size through the NVIDIA Control Panel.
• Fully reinstall the game (as a very last resort).

If you’re on PS5, the best you can do will be to restart your device, disable crossplay, and if nothing else has worked, reinstall the game. When the Helldivers 2 devs deploy a permanent fix for this error, it should resolve on its own.