Since VALORANT is primarily a CPU-based game, hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling may not have a significant impact, particularly if you are using a low-end graphics card. Instead, it could potentially cause freezing in VALORANT, as it shifts high-priority tasks to the GPU, which the CPU can handle more efficiently than the GPU. It’s important to ensure that you have a capable CPU that can consistently deliver frames to prevent stuttering and freezing in Valorant. For assistance in determining the optimal CPU for Valorant, we offer a dedicated guide. Please refer to ‘Best CPU for Valorant‘. When it comes to crashing, you should not have multiple background applications running, as they often cause VALORANT to run out of memory, resulting in crashes. To address this issue, we have included all the methods that have been verified and have worked for affected users. Therefore, follow all of these methods, as one of them might work for you.
1. Disable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.
Using Hardware-Accelerated GPU scheduling while playing games can be a good idea when GPU performance is required. However, in the case of VALORANT, although GPU performance is necessary, CPU performance is most crucial, as it is a CPU-based game. Thus, VALORANT may freeze if you use hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, particularly with a low-end graphics card. Hence, try disabling it by following these steps:
2. Configure the compatibility settings.
Compatibility settings include various different options; however, our main focus is on configuring two options. One is to run this program as an administrator, which will allow VALORANT to access the required DLL files of the MS Visual C++ redistributables and DirectX runtime. The second option is to disable Full Screen Optimization, which disables the Windows built-in optimization that helps the application take control of the entire screen. However, since VALORANT has its own optimization, it can conflict with Windows’ built-in optimization, so we will try disabling it. To configure the compatibility settings, follow these steps:
3. Switch to your native resolution.
The native resolution, also known as the recommended resolution, is the difference between the normal resolution and the recommended resolution. The recommended resolution is more compatible with your monitor for receiving data in pixels. If you are using a resolution higher than your native resolution, we recommend that you switch to your native one, because when you lower the resolution, the monitor displays fewer pixels on the screen according to the selected resolution. This helps offload some load from the GPU, which can help reduce freezing and crashing in games. To change the monitor resolution, follow these steps:
4. Close background and overlay apps.
If you are accustomed to running numerous background applications, such as Discord, Steam, and other apps while playing VALORANT, you should consider disabling overlays and background applications. Crashing and freezing in VALORANT often occur when CPU and memory usage spike to 90 percent. Hence, when playing VALORANT, no unnecessary background apps should be running. Before following the steps, launch VALORANT to see how many background applications are using resources while you play VALORANT.
5. Uninstall third-party antivirus software.
Using third-party antivirus software instead of Windows Defender can lead to crashes and freezes in VALORANT. Third-party antivirus software can interfere with running games and applications. It can also block VALORANT from accessing the required files it needs to run properly, which can cause this issue. So, if you are using any third-party antivirus software, especially Avast antivirus, uninstalling it can fix your issue. Please follow these instructions:
6. Roll back the graphics driver.
If your issue began after updating the graphics drivers, you can try rolling back to the outdated version instead of staying on the latest graphics drivers. Despite having the latest graphics drivers, you could face crashes and freezes due to a fault that has not been addressed by your GPU manufacturers in the latest driver. To roll back the graphics drivers, you can either use the Device Manager to install the previous driver update, or manually download and install the GPU driver by navigating to the manufacturer’s site and searching for the driver version name. We recommend using the Device Manager, as it is easier than installing an old GPU driver from scratch.
7. Configure video and graphics settings in Valorant.
This method is very important if you are using high graphics and video settings. If your GPU is capable of handling high graphics settings, still try lowering the graphics and video settings to determine whether they are causing the issue or not. Match your graphics settings with the following settings.
8. Install Microsoft Visual C++ and DirectX runtime.
Microsoft Visual C++ is used to run applications developed with C and C++. Meanwhile, DirectX is a collection of APIs that facilitate communication with the graphics card to operate games or applications. If you are missing any version of Microsoft Visual C++ or have an outdated version of DirectX, VALORANT may crash or freeze. Therefore, it is recommended to have the latest version of DirectX and all versions of Microsoft Visual C++. To install the required MS Visual C++ versions and DirectX, please follow these steps:
9. Turn off Variable Refresh Rate (for Windows 10 Users)
Variable Refresh Rate automatically changes the refresh rate without user input. One might say it is one of the best technologies ever made in this industry. However, it can freeze VALORANT if you are not receiving the frames per second (FPS) according to your monitor’s hertz. Hence, it is recommended to disable it with the help of the following steps:
10. Configure the Graphics Preferences Settings.
Graphic Preference settings will allow you to use High Performance for any program or game. They also help to choose between an integrated and dedicated GPU. If you have configured VALORANT to run in power-saving mode, using the integrated GPU instead of a dedicated graphics card, it may result in crashes and freezes. Therefore, try adjusting the graphics preference settings for VALORANT.
11. Reinstall the graphics drivers using DDU.
If you are still experiencing crashing or freezing in VALORANT, you should now proceed to reinstall your graphics driver, as it is possible that your graphics drivers are either corrupted or outdated. This is why VALORANT keeps failing to utilize the GPU power, resulting in freezes or crashes. To ensure that, you will need to reinstall the graphics driver using DDU. This application is used to remove drivers along with registry files. To accomplish this, follow these steps:
12. Disable Fast Startup.
Fast Startup is a feature in Windows that enables users to boot their PCs more quickly. This feature hibernates all running processes in a file, allowing the system to resume its previous state when the user returns. As a result, users can experience faster boot times. However, since this feature doesn’t allow Windows to shut down completely, it can cause VALORANT to crash or freeze. Therefore, if fast startup is enabled or your PC has been running for an extended period, it’s recommended to fully shut down your computer every 24 hours, allowing the CPU to reset entirely. To disable Fast Startup, follow the steps:
13. Perform a clean boot.
If you are still encountering this issue, try performing a clean boot. A clean boot is a troubleshooting utility used to detect which third-party application or service is interfering with the problematic game or application. To perform a clean boot, follow these steps: If the problem still persists, you should follow the advanced guide on VALORANT, which contains all the possible solutions for fixing this issue.
