Crash/Freeze Fortnite

Fortnite Crash on Low Settings - Troubleshooting Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 10 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Update your graphics drivers to the latest stable version, then verify the integrity of the Fortnite game files through the Epic Games Launcher.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The Fortnite application crash during standard gameplay is an unexpected termination of the game process. This error primarily affects the Windows PC platform, though similar instability can occur on macOS. The issue manifests across multiple game client versions, particularly following major engine or content updates. This is a common classification of error with a high severity impact, as it results in a complete loss of game state and forces an exit to the desktop. The crash often occurs without a specific error code dialog, presenting as a sudden process termination. Instances occur during non-intensive gameplay actions, such as traversal, indicating a trigger unrelated to peak GPU or CPU load.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application terminates without warning during a live match. The crash occurs during standard gameplay loops, specifically during character movement and world traversal, not during high-stress combat sequences. The user experiences an immediate closure of the game window to the desktop. The Epic Games Launcher may display a "Sorry, Fortnite has crashed" dialog post-termination. No specific fatal error message from Unreal Engine is typically presented to the user. The system returns to a stable state with no other application instability.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated or corrupted graphics driver (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) containing known compatibility issues with the Unreal Engine 5 branch used by Fortnite. Why this causes the problem: The driver fails to properly execute specific rendering instructions under legacy performance mode, leading to an access violation and process termination. Category: Game Bug / Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Corrupted or missing local game files, including core assets or configuration .pak files. Why this causes the problem: The game client attempts to stream or access a required asset that is damaged, causing a read error that crashes the application. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Incompatible or overly aggressive background applications, including RGB control software, overclocking utilities, or outdated anti-virus real-time scanning. Why this causes the problem: These applications inject code or hook into the game process, conflicting with Fortnite's anti-cheat (Easy Anti-Cheat or BattlEye) and causing a stability fault. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect or unstable in-game settings, particularly related to the "NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency" option set to "On + Boost" on non-NVIDIA hardware or certain driver versions. Why this causes the problem: The feature demands exclusive GPU scheduling control that the system cannot provide, resulting in a driver-level timeout and crash. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: System memory (RAM) instability or faults, even when operating under low graphical settings. Why this causes the problem: Unreal Engine 5 continuously streams and manipulates data in memory; a single-bit error during this process causes an immediate fatal exception. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect Windows power plan settings or outdated system chipset drivers limiting CPU performance states. Why this causes the problem: The CPU or GPU throttles incorrectly during sustained gameplay, causing a timing mismatch in game logic that leads to a crash.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Update Graphics Drivers and Operating System

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Internet connection, administrator rights. Steps:

Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and select Properties. Note the exact driver version.
Visit the manufacturer's website: NVIDIA (www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx), AMD (www.amd.com/en/support), or Intel (www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download-center/home.html).
Use the auto-detect tool or manually select your exact GPU model and download the latest Game Ready Driver (NVIDIA) or Adrenalin Edition (AMD).
During installation, select Custom Install and check the box for Perform a clean installation. Complete the installation and restart your PC.
Press Windows Key + I, go to Update & Security > Windows Update, and install all available updates, including optional driver updates. Restart again.

Technical Explanation: A clean driver installation replaces all GPU runtime libraries and removes conflicting legacy files, ensuring full compatibility with Fortnite's rendering API calls. Verification: Launch Fortnite and complete a full match in the same scenario where the crash previously occurred. Monitor stability for 15-20 minutes of continuous gameplay.

Solution 2: Verify Integrity of Game Files

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10-30 minutes (depends on SSD/HDD speed) Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Epic Games Launcher installed. Steps:

Launch the Epic Games Launcher.
Click on your profile icon in the top right and select Settings.
Scroll down to the MANAGE GAMES section.
Locate Fortnite in the list and click the gear icon (settings) next to it.
Scroll down and check the box for Verify.
Click the VERIFY button. The launcher will scan and repair any missing or corrupted files in the installation directory (default: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite).
Allow the process to complete, which may download several gigabytes of data.

Technical Explanation: This process compares the local file checksums against the master server manifest and downloads corrected versions of any files that do not match, resolving asset corruption. Verification: The Epic Games Launcher will display "Verified" upon completion. Launch the game and check for crash persistence.

Solution 3: Disable NVIDIA Reflex and Adjust Critical In-Game Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Access to Fortnite's in-game settings menu. Steps:

Launch Fortnite and enter the main menu.
Open the Settings menu (gear icon).
Navigate to the Video Settings tab.
Scroll to the Advanced Graphics section.
Locate the NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency setting. Change this from On + Boost to Off.
In the same section, set Rendering Mode to DirectX 11 (temporarily, for testing).
Apply the changes and restart the game as prompted.

Technical Explanation: NVIDIA Reflex Boost mode can cause instability on some system configurations by forcing maximum GPU clocks. DirectX 11 provides a more stable, mature rendering path than DirectX 12 or Performance Renderer for troubleshooting. Verification: Play a full match with the new settings. If stable, you may attempt to re-enable DirectX 12 or Performance Renderer individually to isolate the culprit.

Solution 4: Perform a Clean Boot to Eliminate Software Conflicts

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator rights. Steps:

Press Windows Key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
Check the box Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
In Task Manager, disable every startup item by right-clicking and selecting Disable.
Close Task Manager, click OK in System Configuration, and restart your PC when prompted.
After restarting, launch only the Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite to test.

Technical Explanation: This process starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, preventing third-party software from interfering with the game's operation. Verification: Test Fortnite in the clean boot state. If the crash is resolved, re-enable services and startup items in groups to identify the conflicting software.

Solution 5: Test for Memory (RAM) Integrity Issues

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 45-60 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Time for extended testing. Steps:

Press Windows Key, type Windows Memory Diagnostic, and open the tool.
Select Restart now and check for problems (recommended). Your system will reboot.
The test runs automatically during boot. Press F1 to access options. Change the Test mix to Extended for a comprehensive check. Press F10 to apply.
Allow the test to complete multiple passes (this can take 30+ minutes). The system will reboot upon completion.
After logging into Windows, view the results by pressing Windows Key + R, typing eventvwr.msc, and navigating to Windows Logs > System. Look for an event from MemoryDiagnostics-Results.

Technical Explanation: Faulty RAM can cause silent data corruption that manifests as application crashes. This diagnostic tool writes and reads patterns to all memory addresses to detect physical defects. Verification: A clean test result shows "The Windows Memory Diagnostic tested the computer's memory and detected no errors." If errors are found, faulty RAM is the likely cause of the crashes.

Solution 6: Adjust Windows Power and Graphics Performance Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Low-Medium Prerequisites: Windows 10/11. Steps:

Press Windows Key + R, type control panel, and press Enter.
Set View by to Large icons and select Power Options.
Select the High performance power plan. If it's not visible, click Create a power plan on the left, choose High performance, and name it.
Press Windows Key + I, go to System > Display > Graphics.
Click Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe. Add the file.
Click on the added Fortnite executable, select Options, and set the Graphics preference to High performance. Save.

Technical Explanation: This ensures the CPU maintains consistent clock speeds and forces the system to use the dedicated GPU for Fortnite, preventing power-saving throttling that can destabilize the game engine. Verification: The settings are applied immediately. Launch Fortnite and monitor for a reduction in crash frequency.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a regular driver update schedule, checking for new releases monthly. After every major Fortnite update, perform a game file verification through the Epic Games Launcher. Establish a stable in-game configuration and avoid changing multiple graphics settings simultaneously. Use a monitoring tool like HWInfo64 to log system temperatures and clock speeds during gameplay, establishing a baseline for normal operation. Uninstall unused peripheral management and system tuning utilities to minimize software conflict potential. Keep the Windows operating system updated via the Windows Update service.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Player Support if all documented solutions fail and the crash persists exclusively in Fortnite. Provide the full diagnostic report from the Epic Games Launcher, located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\Logs. Include your DirectX Diagnostic file (dxdiag.txt) generated by running dxdiag and saving all information. Submit your system's full hardware specifications, including CPU model, GPU model, RAM quantity, and motherboard. Official support channels are accessible via the Epic Games Help Center at epicgames.com/help.