Smite Keeps Crashing? Fixes for PC and Console

If Smite keeps crashing on your PC or console, the fix is usually a combination of updating your graphics drivers, verifying the game files, and disabling overlays. This article walks through the most common causes and step-by-step solutions, from quick checks to deeper system tweaks, so you can get back to the battleground.

Why Smite Crashes: The Common Culprits

Smite is a free-to-play MOBA that runs on Unreal Engine 3. While it is not a demanding game by modern standards, it can still crash for a variety of reasons. The most frequently reported triggers include:

• Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers
• Corrupted game files after a patch
• Overlay software (Discord, GeForce Experience, Steam) interfering with the game
• Background programs consuming too much RAM or CPU
• Overheating hardware, especially on laptops
• Anti-cheat (Easy Anti-Cheat) failing to launch or update
• In-game graphics settings that are too high for your system

Knowing which one applies to you is the first step. The fixes below are ordered from simplest to most involved.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Before diving into driver updates and file verifications, try these two things. They solve a surprising number of crashes.

1. Restart your computer and launch Smite as administrator. Right-click the Smite shortcut (or the game in your Steam library) and select “Run as administrator.” This can bypass permission issues that cause instant crashes on startup.
2. Close all overlay programs. Disable Discord overlay, GeForce Experience overlay, and Steam overlay. In Steam, go to Settings > In-Game and uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.” For Discord, go to User Settings > Overlay and toggle it off. Overlays are a leading cause of random mid-match crashes.

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

Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are the #1 cause of Smite crashing, especially after a Windows update or a new Smite patch. Here is how to update them properly:

1. For NVIDIA users: open GeForce Experience, go to the Drivers tab, and click “Check for Updates.” If you don’t use GeForce Experience, download the driver manually from NVIDIA’s website.
2. For AMD users: open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, go to the Drivers & Support tab, and click “Check for Updates.” Alternatively, download from AMD’s website.
3. For Intel integrated graphics: use Intel Driver & Support Assistant or download from Intel’s website.

After installing, restart your PC. If you recently updated drivers and the crashes started, try a clean install (using the “Clean Install” option in the NVIDIA/AMD installer) to remove any leftover corrupted files.

Verify Game Files in Steam or the Epic Games Launcher

Smite is distributed through Steam and the Epic Games Store, and both have a built-in file verification tool. This checks every game file against the server version and re-downloads anything missing or corrupted.

Steam:

1. Open Steam, go to your Library, right-click Smite, and select Properties.
2. Go to the Local Files tab.
3. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.

Epic Games Launcher:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher, go to your Library.
2. Click the three dots (…) next to Smite and select Verify.

This process can take 5-15 minutes depending on your hard drive speed. It will not delete your settings or progress. If verification finds and fixes files, try launching Smite again.

Disable Easy Anti-Cheat (or Repair It)

Smite uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) to prevent cheating. If EAC fails to start or gets corrupted, the game will crash on launch or shortly after. Here is how to handle it:

1. Navigate to your Smite installation folder. In Steam, right-click Smite > Properties > Local Files > Browse. In Epic, click the three dots > Manage > Folder.
2. Look for a folder called EasyAntiCheat or a file named EasyAntiCheatSetup.exe.
3. Run the setup file. Choose Repair from the dropdown (or “Install” if it is not installed).
4. Restart your PC and launch Smite again.

If you are on Windows, also make sure that Windows Defender Firewall is not blocking Smite or EAC. Go to Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall, and ensure both Smite and EasyAntiCheat are checked for Private and Public networks.

Lower In-Game Graphics Settings

Smite is not very demanding, but if your PC is older or you are playing on a laptop with integrated graphics, the default “High” settings can cause crashes, especially in team fights with many effects on screen.

Go to Settings > Video in Smite and try:

• Set Shadow Quality to Low or Off
• Set Anti-Aliasing to Off
• Set Texture Quality to Medium
• Set Effects Quality to Low
• Disable VSync (unless you have screen tearing)

Also, make sure your Windows power plan is set to High Performance (Control Panel > Power Options). On laptops, this prevents the CPU/GPU from throttling down during gameplay, which can cause crashes.

Check for Overheating and System Stability

If Smite crashes only after 30+ minutes of play, or during intense moments, overheating is a strong possibility. Use a free tool like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to check your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing. Normal temperatures under load are roughly:

• CPU: 60-85°C (140-185°F) depending on the model
• GPU: 65-85°C (149-185°F) depending on the model

If temperatures exceed 90°C (194°F), you likely have a cooling issue. Clean dust from fans, ensure your laptop has proper airflow (not on a blanket), and consider reapplying thermal paste if you are comfortable doing so. Overheating can cause random crashes without a blue screen, especially in games.

When All Else Fails: Reinstall Smite

If you have tried all the above and Smite still crashes, a clean reinstall is the next step. This removes any corrupted files that verification might have missed.

1. Uninstall Smite from Steam or Epic.
2. Delete the remaining Smite folder (usually in Steam\steamapps\common\Smite or Epic\Smite) to remove leftover files.
3. Reinstall the game. This will re-download everything, but your account progress is saved on Hi-Rez servers, so you won’t lose anything.

If the crash persists after a fresh install, it is likely a hardware or Windows-level issue. Run sfc /scannow in an administrator Command Prompt to check for corrupted Windows system files, and update your Windows to the latest version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Smite crash on startup?

Startup crashes are usually caused by outdated graphics drivers, corrupted game files, or Easy Anti-Cheat failing to launch. Try updating your drivers, verifying game files, and running the EasyAntiCheat repair tool. Also, make sure your Windows is up to date.

Does Smite crash more on PC or console?

PC players report crashes more often, largely because of hardware and driver variety. Console versions are more stable because the hardware is fixed, but they can still crash if the game is patched badly. If you are on console, try clearing the console’s cache (power cycle) and reinstalling the game.

Will lowering graphics settings stop crashes?

Often, yes. If your system is struggling with high settings, lowering shadow and effects quality reduces GPU load and can prevent crashes. However, if the crash is due to a driver issue, lowering settings won’t help.

Can antivirus software cause Smite to crash?

Yes. Some antivirus programs block Easy Anti-Cheat or the game’s executable. Add Smite and EasyAntiCheat to your antivirus’s exceptions list, or temporarily disable it to test. Windows Defender usually works fine, but third-party antivirus can be aggressive.

Why does Smite crash only during matches, not in the menu?

This usually indicates a graphics or memory issue. The menu is less demanding, so if the game crashes when abilities are used or during team fights, it is likely a GPU driver crash or overheating. Lower settings, update drivers, and check temperatures.

Is there a way to see what is causing the crash?

Yes. Check the Windows Event Viewer (Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application) and look for errors from “Smite” or “EasyAntiCheat.” The error code or module name can point to the cause. Also, Smite writes crash logs to Documents\My Games\Smite\GameLogs – you can share those with Hi-Rez support for help.

Related

• Subnautica 2 Roadmap: 5 Major Features Coming
• Sharing Name and Photo Not Available? Explained
• How Industrial AI and IoT Monitor Equipment & Quality