keepcalculator

06 Numbers and Powers

FNAF Security Breach Crashing? Fixes That Work

Card No. 06·52017 · Updated · Standard formula, shown below

If you’re here because Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach keeps crashing on your PC, the fix usually comes down to updating your graphics drivers, verifying game files, and lowering a few demanding settings. Below are the specific steps, causes, and settings that resolve most crashes, plus what to do if the game still won’t run.

Why Security Breach Crashes on PC

Security Breach is a demanding Unreal Engine 4 game, and crashes often trace back to a few common culprits:

  • Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers – the game relies heavily on modern DirectX 12 features.
  • Corrupted game files – a failed update or download can leave files that crash on launch or during gameplay.
  • Insufficient RAM or VRAM – the game can exceed 8 GB of VRAM at high settings in the Pizzaplex.
  • Overheating – long sessions in dense areas can push CPUs/GPUs to thermal limits.
  • Conflicting background software – overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience, MSI Afterburner) sometimes trigger crashes.
  • Windows-specific issues – outdated OS builds or missing Visual C++ redistributables.

Step-by-Step Fixes to Stop the Crashing

Try these in order—most players find the fix in the first three steps.

  1. Update your graphics drivers. Go to NVIDIA’s or AMD’s website, download the latest driver for your card, and do a clean install (in the NVIDIA installer, check “Perform a clean installation”). For Intel integrated graphics, use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
  2. Verify game files. In Steam, right-click the game → Properties → Local Files → Verify Integrity of Game Files. On Epic Games Store, click the three dots next to the game → Verify. This replaces any corrupted or missing files.
  3. Lower graphics settings. Set the game to Medium or Low preset, disable Ray Tracing (if you have an RTX card), and turn off Motion Blur and Volumetric Fog. These settings are the heaviest on VRAM and often cause memory-related crashes.
  4. Disable overlays. Turn off Steam Overlay (Steam → Settings → In Game → uncheck), Discord overlay, and any GPU software overlay like GeForce Experience or Radeon Software.
  5. Run as administrator and in compatibility mode. Right-click the game .exe (usually in steamapps\common\SecurityBreach) → Properties → Compatibility → check “Run this program as an administrator” and try Windows 10 compatibility mode.
  6. Close background programs. Shut down Chrome, Discord, or any other heavy apps. Use Task Manager to end processes that use significant RAM or GPU.
  7. Update Windows. Install all pending Windows Updates, especially the optional “quality updates” that include DirectX and .NET fixes.
  8. Reinstall the game. As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall. This takes time but clears any corrupted files that verification might miss.

Common Crash Points and What They Mean

Different crashes point to different causes. Here’s what specific errors usually indicate:

  • Crash on launch (before the title screen): Usually a driver or missing redistributable issue. Update drivers and install the latest Visual C++ 2015-2022 x64 package from Microsoft.
  • Crash when loading a save: Corrupted save file or insufficient RAM. Try loading an older save or restarting the game.
  • Crash during the first cutscene: Often a shader compilation issue. Let the game sit on the menu for a few minutes before starting a new game.
  • Crash when entering Roxy Raceway or the Pizzaplex: These areas are dense with assets; lower texture quality and disable ray tracing.

System Requirements and What Your PC Really Needs

The official minimum and recommended specs are a good baseline, but real-world crashes often come from being at the very edge of those specs. Here’s what matters most:

  • GPU: The game needs at least 6 GB of VRAM for 1080p Medium. If you have 4 GB, you’ll likely see crashes in large areas. Lower texture quality to Low to reduce VRAM usage.
  • RAM: 16 GB is strongly recommended. With 8 GB, the game may stutter and crash when the system runs out of memory. Close all other apps.
  • Storage: The game is about 40 GB. An SSD is not required but reduces loading stutters that can sometimes trigger crashes.
  • Windows version: The game supports Windows 10 and 11. Make sure your Windows is up to date—older builds have known DirectX 12 bugs.

How to Prevent Future Crashes

Once the game runs, a few habits keep it stable:

  • Keep drivers updated but don’t install every beta driver—stick to Game Ready or Recommended drivers.
  • Cap the framerate to 60 FPS using the in-game option or a tool like RTSS. Uncapped framerates can cause memory leaks in some Unreal Engine games.
  • Disable Steam Cloud saves if you experience save-related crashes. The cloud sync can conflict with local files.
  • Monitor temperatures with a tool like MSI Afterburner (but close it during gameplay if overlays cause issues). If your GPU exceeds 85°C, clean your fans or improve case airflow.

What to Do If Nothing Works

If you’ve tried all the above and the game still crashes, consider:

  • Check for known issues on the official Steam Community Hub or the developer’s social media. Sometimes a specific patch introduces a bug that gets fixed later.
  • Try a different save slot – some players report that a corrupted save can cause a crash loop.
  • Reinstall Windows? No, not yet. Instead, try a “clean boot” (disable all non-Microsoft services via msconfig) to rule out software conflicts.
  • Contact support – Steel Wool Studios and ScottGames have support channels, but be prepared to provide your system specs and a crash log (found in %LOCALAPPDATA%\SecurityBreach\Saved\Logs).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my game crash only when I enter the Pizzaplex?

This is usually a VRAM or memory issue. The Pizzaplex is a huge open area with many textures loaded at once. Lower your texture quality to Medium or Low, and disable ray tracing. Also make sure you have at least 8 GB of free RAM before launching.

Can I fix crashes by turning off ray tracing?

Yes, ray tracing is one of the most demanding features. If you have an RTX card, disabling it can significantly reduce VRAM usage and improve stability. On non-RTX cards, the option is greyed out.

Do I need to update my BIOS to fix crashes?

Rarely. BIOS updates are for specific hardware compatibility issues. Only update your BIOS if you have a known compatibility problem (e.g., with a new CPU). For most users, updating GPU drivers and Windows is enough.

Why does the game crash at the main menu?

This often points to corrupted shader cache or missing redistributables. Try deleting the shader cache folder: go to %LOCALAPPDATA%\SecurityBreach\Saved and delete the ShaderCache folder. The game will rebuild it. Also install the latest Visual C++ redistributable.

Is there a way to play on low-end PCs without crashes?

You can try setting everything to Low, disabling shadows, and playing at 720p resolution. Some players also use the “-dx11” launch option in Steam (right-click → Properties → Launch Options) to force DirectX 11, which can help on older GPUs. However, the game may still crash if your hardware is below the minimum specs.

Does the Epic Games version have different crash fixes?

The fixes are the same, but the file verification process is different. In Epic, click the three dots next to the game in your library, then select “Verify”. Also, Epic doesn’t have launch options by default, so you can’t add -dx11 easily.

Final Thoughts

Most Security Breach crashes are fixable with driver updates and settings tweaks. Start with the simplest solutions—verify files, update drivers, lower settings—and work your way down. If the game still crashes, it may be a hardware limitation, and you may need to upgrade your components or wait for a patch. Keep your system clean, your drivers current, and your expectations realistic for your hardware.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

More cards in this drawer

The whole Numbers and Powers drawer →