Crash/Freeze Fortnite

Fortnite Keeps Crashing - Complete PC Troubleshooting Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 2 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Perform a clean installation of your NVIDIA graphics driver using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode, then install the latest Game Ready driver from NVIDIA's website.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The Fortnite application crash is an unhandled exception or fatal error causing the game process to terminate or enter a non-responsive state, requiring a forced system reboot. This error primarily affects the Windows PC platform, specifically installations running on systems with hybrid CPU architectures (Performance and Efficiency cores) and NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs. The issue manifests across multiple game client versions following major seasonal updates, such as the Chapter 5 Season 3 "Wrecked" or "Remix" updates. This is a common and high-severity error classified as game-breaking, as it results in complete application lockup, loss of input control, and necessitates an operating system-level hard reset. No specific error code is presented to the user; the failure mode is a full-screen freeze with audio loop or silence.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application enters a non-responsive state during standard multiplayer gameplay, typically 10-20 minutes into a match. The display freezes on the last rendered frame. All user input ceases to register, including the Alt+F4 keyboard command or Windows key. Audio may halt entirely or enter a short, repeating loop. The system requires a manual hard shutdown via holding the power button, as the Windows Task Manager is inaccessible. The game process does not generate a standard crash dialog or error report window upon failure.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: Intel 12th/13th/14th Gen CPU hybrid core architecture (P-cores and E-cores) causing thread scheduling conflicts with the game engine or anti-cheat software. Why this causes the problem: Improper thread management between performance and efficiency cores leads to timing faults, memory access violations, or deadlocks within the game's executable. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible NVIDIA Display Driver (versions prior to 551.86) containing unresolved stability issues with DirectX 12 and Unreal Engine 5. Why this causes the problem: The driver fails to properly handle specific rendering commands or memory allocation requests from Fortnite, resulting in a GPU driver timeout (TDR) or direct application crash. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect or over-aggressive memory XMP/EXPO profile or CPU undervolting applied in system BIOS/UEFI, leading to system instability under the high load of Fortnite. Why this causes the problem: The game places a consistent, high demand on CPU and RAM; unstable memory timings or insufficient core voltage cause correctable errors to accumulate, eventually triggering a fatal crash. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A memory leak or resource handle leak introduced in a specific game patch within the Fortnite client, often related to new cosmetic items, map elements, or audio systems. Why this causes the problem: The application's memory usage grows incrementally during a match until it exhausts available system resources, causing an out-of-memory exception or a critical failure in the Unreal Engine. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Third-party application interference, particularly from RGB control software (MSI Center, iCUE), overlay applications (Discord, Xbox Game Bar), or outdated motherboard chipset drivers. Why this causes the problem: These applications hook into the game process or compete for low-level hardware access, creating conflicts that destabilize the game's runtime environment.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Clean Graphics Driver Reinstallation

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 20 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Administrator access, internet connection for driver download. Steps:

Download the latest NVIDIA Game Ready Driver for the RTX 4060 from the official NVIDIA website.
Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from Guru3D.com.
Disconnect your internet cable or disable Wi-Fi to prevent Windows Update from automatically installing a driver.
Boot Windows into Safe Mode. Access this by pressing Windows key + R, typing msconfig, going to the Boot tab, checking "Safe boot" with "Minimal" selected, and restarting.
Run DDU. Select "GPU" and "NVIDIA" from the dropdown menus. Click "Clean and restart".
After the system restarts normally, install the previously downloaded NVIDIA driver. Choose "Custom Installation" and check "Perform a clean installation".
Re-enable your internet connection.

Technical Explanation: This process removes all remnants of previous driver installations, including registry entries and leftover files that can cause conflicts, ensuring a pristine driver state compatible with the current Fortnite build. Verification: Open NVIDIA Control Panel, navigate to System Information, and confirm the Driver Version matches the newly installed version. Launch Fortnite and monitor stability.

Solution 2: Disable CPU Efficiency Cores via BIOS

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: High for Intel 12th+ Gen systems Prerequisites: Knowledge of system BIOS/UEFI access. Steps:

Restart your MSI Katana laptop and press the Delete key repeatedly during boot to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup.
Navigate to the "Advanced" CPU configuration settings. The exact path varies but is often under Advanced CPU Configuration or Overclocking Settings.
Locate the setting for "Intel Hybrid Technology" or "Efficient Cores".
Change this setting from "Enabled" to Disabled. This forces the CPU to use only its Performance cores.
Save changes and exit (usually F10). The system will reboot.

Technical Explanation: This workaround eliminates thread scheduling conflicts between P-cores and E-cores that can destabilize game engines and anti-cheat systems not fully optimized for Intel's hybrid architecture. Verification: Upon booting into Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Performance tab, select CPU, and verify the graph shows only the number of Performance cores (e.g., 6 for an i5-12500H).

Solution 3: Adjust Fortnite Graphics and Advanced Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Launch the Fortnite client and go to the Settings menu.
Navigate to the Video Settings tab.
Set "Rendering Mode" to DirectX 11. (The default is often DirectX 12).
Disable "Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling" in the Advanced Graphics section.
Set "Window Mode" to Fullscreen (not Windowed Fullscreen).
Apply the changes and restart the game.

Technical Explanation: DirectX 11 is a more mature and stable API for Fortnite. Disabling Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling removes a potential source of scheduling conflicts between the OS and the game engine. Verification: The game will restart with the new settings. Stability during extended gameplay sessions confirms the fix.

Solution 4: Perform a Clean Game Reinstall with File Permissions Reset

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 30 minutes (depending on internet speed) Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Sufficient disk space. Steps:

Uninstall Fortnite via the Epic Games Launcher.
Navigate to the game's installation directory (default: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite) and manually delete the entire Fortnite folder if it remains.
Open the Epic Games Launcher, click your profile icon, and select "Settings".
Scroll down and clear the Epic Games Launcher cache by clicking "Clear Cache".
Restart your computer.
Reinstall Fortnite to a different drive if possible (e.g., D:\Games\Fortnite), or to the default location.

Technical Explanation: A clean reinstall ensures no corrupted game files or incorrect registry entries persist. Installing to a different path can circumvent disk sector errors or restrictive file permissions in the original location. Verification: After installation, use the Epic Games Launcher's "Verify" function on Fortnite. It should report "All files successfully validated."

Solution 5: Configure Windows for Maximum Performance

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

Press Windows key + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter. Go to the "Advanced" tab, click "Settings..." under Performance, and select "Adjust for best performance".
Open Windows Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings. Select the High performance power plan. If hidden, click "Show additional plans".
In the same window, click "Change plan settings" next to High performance, then "Change advanced power settings". Expand "Processor power management" and set both "Minimum processor state" and "Maximum processor state" to 100%.
Open Windows Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. Ensure Game Mode is On.

Technical Explanation: This configuration minimizes background process interference, prevents CPU downclocking during gameplay, and allocates system resources preferentially to the game process. Verification: Monitor CPU clock speeds using a tool like HWiNFO64 while the game is running to confirm the processor maintains its rated boost frequency.

Solution 6: Disable Conflicting Overlays and Services

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Press Windows key + G to open Xbox Game Bar. Go to Settings > Gaming and disable "Xbox Game Bar".
Open Discord. Go to User Settings > Game Overlay and disable "Enable in-game overlay".
If MSI Center is installed, open it, disable any "Game Mode" or "User Scenario" features, and close the application from the system tray.
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. On the Startup tab, disable any non-essential applications like RGB controllers or other gaming utilities.

Technical Explanation: Overlays inject code into the game's process to draw their interface, which can create conflicts with Fortnite's anti-cheat (Easy Anti-Cheat) and cause instability. Verification: Launch Fortnite. The absence of third-party overlay icons or interfaces during gameplay confirms they are disabled.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain system stability by implementing a scheduled update protocol. Check for and install NVIDIA Game Ready Drivers within one week of their release, focusing on versions with "Fortnite" release highlights. Update the system BIOS/UEFI to the latest version provided by MSI for the Katana B12 model quarterly. Perform a monthly verification of game files via the Epic Games Launcher. Configure Windows to create regular system restore points before major game updates. Monitor system temperatures using MSI Center or HWiNFO64 to ensure no thermal throttling occurs during extended sessions.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all documented solutions fail and the crash persists across multiple game patches. Before contacting, gather the following diagnostic information: the latest Fortnite crash logs from C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs, a complete DxDiag report (run dxdiag and save all information), and your MSI Katana B12's exact BIOS version. Provide a detailed account of the crash timing and the specific solutions attempted. Official support channels are accessible via the "Contact Us" section on the Epic Games website.