CSGO Keeps Crashing? Fixes That Work

If Counter-Strike: Global Offensive keeps crashing on your PC, the cause is usually one of a handful of fixable issues: outdated graphics drivers, corrupted game files, or a conflict with background software. This guide walks you through the most common crash triggers and the exact steps to stop them, from quick checks to deeper system tweaks.

Why CSGO Crashes on Startup vs. Mid-Game

The moment a crash happens tells you a lot about the cause. A crash that occurs while the game is loading, before you reach the main menu, often points to corrupted game files, an outdated GPU driver, or a DirectX issue. A crash that happens after 10-30 minutes of play is more likely linked to overheating, memory leaks, or unstable overclocks. A crash that only occurs when you join a specific server or map may be a corrupted map file or a conflict with a custom config. Write down the exact moment of the crash and any error message you see — that information narrows down the fix considerably.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Before diving into advanced troubleshooting, run through these five steps. They resolve a large percentage of CSGO crashes and take less than five minutes each.

• Restart your PC and launch the game again. A fresh boot clears temporary memory issues and stops background processes that may interfere.
• Verify game files. In Steam, right-click CSGO, select Properties, go to Local Files, and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. This checks every file against the server version and re-downloads anything broken.
• Update your graphics drivers. Go to the NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel website (not a third-party driver updater) and download the latest driver for your GPU model. Use the “clean install” option if available.
• Disable Steam Overlay. In Steam, right-click CSGO, select Properties, and uncheck “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game.” Some overlay versions conflict with the game’s rendering engine.
• Run the game as administrator. Right-click the CSGO executable (or the Steam shortcut) and select “Run as administrator.” This can resolve permission-related crashes on Windows.

If the game still crashes, move on to the more specific fixes below.

Update or Roll Back Graphics Drivers

Graphics drivers are the most common culprit behind CSGO crashes. An outdated driver may not support the game’s latest updates, while a brand-new driver can introduce bugs that affect older titles. If you recently updated your driver and crashes started, roll back to the previous version. In Windows Device Manager, right-click your GPU, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click “Roll Back Driver” if the option is available. If not, download the previous driver from the manufacturer’s website and do a clean install. For most players, the latest stable driver works fine, but if you are on a beta driver, switch to the stable branch. Always download drivers directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel — third-party sites often bundle unwanted software.

Adjust In-Game Settings to Stop Crashes

Sometimes the game’s own settings cause instability, especially on older hardware. Lowering certain options can eliminate crashes without noticeably hurting performance.

• Set the game to fullscreen windowed mode. This stops the game from taking exclusive control of the display, which can resolve resolution-change crashes.
• Turn off MSAA and FXAA. These anti-aliasing options stress the GPU and can trigger crashes on weaker cards.
• Disable multicore rendering. In the video settings, turn this off. It forces the game to use fewer CPU cores, which can fix crashes on systems with unstable core overclocks.
• Lower texture quality. If your GPU has 2GB or less VRAM, setting textures to High can cause memory overflow crashes. Use Medium or Low.
• Cap your FPS. Use the console command fps_max 60 (or your monitor’s refresh rate) to prevent the GPU from running at 100% load, which can cause overheating crashes.

After changing any setting, play for 30 minutes to see if the crash recurs. If it does, revert the change and try the next one.

Check for Overheating and Power Issues

CSGO is not a heavy game by modern standards, but it can still push a poorly cooled system to its limit. Crashes that happen after 20+ minutes of play are often thermal. Download a temperature monitor like MSI Afterburner or HWInfo (free tools) and watch your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing. If the CPU exceeds 90°C or the GPU exceeds 85°C, your cooling is inadequate. Clean dust from fans and heatsinks, ensure all case fans spin, and consider reapplying thermal paste if the system is over three years old. Also check that your power supply can handle your hardware — a failing or undersized PSU can cause random crashes under load. If you have overclocked your CPU, GPU, or RAM, revert to stock speeds and test. Overclocks that are stable in benchmarks can still crash in CSGO because of its specific instruction usage.

Fix Corrupted Config Files and Launch Options

Your CSGO config files can become corrupted after updates or crashes, leading to a loop of instability. To reset them, close the game, navigate to Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\cfg and rename the config.cfg file to config_old.cfg. The game will generate a fresh one on next launch. Similarly, check your launch options in Steam. Right-click CSGO, select Properties, and look at the Launch Options field. Remove any commands you do not understand. Common problematic ones include -high (forces high process priority, which can cause stutter) and -threads with a wrong number. Leave the field empty or use only -novid to skip the intro video. If you use a custom autoexec.cfg, temporarily rename it to test if it is causing the crash.

Disable Background Software Conflicts

CSGO is sensitive to certain background programs. Overlays from Discord, GeForce Experience, and MSI Afterburner can inject code into the game and cause crashes. Close them before launching CSGO. Antivirus software can also interfere — add the Steam folder and the CSGO executable to your antivirus whitelist. Windows Defender sometimes flags game files as false positives. If you use a third-party antivirus, temporarily disable it and test. Also check for any RGB lighting software (like ASUS Aura, Corsair iCUE, or Razer Synapse) — these are known to conflict with Valve games. Close them one at a time to find the culprit. Finally, ensure your Windows is fully updated, as missing system updates can cause DirectX errors.

Reinstall the Game and Check Hardware Stability

If none of the above works, the issue may be a deeper system problem. First, try a full reinstall of CSGO. Uninstall the game in Steam, then delete the remaining Counter-Strike Global Offensive folder inside Steam\steamapps\common\ (this removes any leftover corrupted files). Reinstall and test. If crashes persist, run a memory test — Windows Memory Diagnostic (search “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the Start menu) will check your RAM for errors. A faulty RAM stick can cause random crashes in games. Also run a disk check on your hard drive or SSD (in Explorer, right-click the drive, Properties, Tools, Check). If you have multiple drives, try moving the game to a different one. Finally, if you have recently changed hardware (new GPU, new RAM), make sure all power cables are firmly connected and the components are seated properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does CSGO crash but other games run fine?

CSGO uses an older engine (Source) that is sensitive to certain driver settings and system configurations. Other games may use different rendering paths that do not trigger the same bug. It is not unusual for a game-specific crash to happen while other titles are stable.

Can a corrupted Steam download cause crashes?

Yes. If your internet connection dropped during a download or update, game files can be incomplete. Verifying integrity via Steam Properties > Local Files fixes this by re-downloading only the broken parts.

Does playing in fullscreen vs. windowed mode matter?

Yes. Fullscreen exclusive mode can crash if your monitor’s refresh rate or resolution changes mid-game. Windowed or borderless mode avoids this by using the desktop’s display settings, which is why it is a common fix for resolution-related crashes.

Will lowering graphics settings prevent crashes?

It can. If the crash is caused by GPU memory overflow or overheating, lowering settings reduces the load. It will not fix crashes caused by corrupted files or driver bugs, but it is a good test to isolate the cause.

Is there a known issue with CSGO and Windows 11?

Some players report crashes on Windows 11 due to the new security features like Core Isolation (Memory Integrity). If you are on Windows 11, try disabling Core Isolation in Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation, then restart and test. This is a known workaround for several older games.

Should I use a third-party “fix” tool?

No. Third-party crash fixers often download unnecessary software or modify system files in ways that cause more harm. Stick to the official Steam verification, driver updates from the manufacturer, and the steps above.

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