Most often, this error shows up when your computer can’t handle high graphics settings. Other causes can be things running in the background, issues with your computer’s memory, or if you’ve overclocked your hardware. Before going into the main solutions, try these quick tips:
If you use multiple displays, try playing with only one monitor connected to see if the problem goes away.Check if other games work normally on your system.Make sure your system’s RAM is running at 3000 MHz, which the game recommends for smooth performance.Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection.
In this article, we’ll look at several ways to fix this error and help you get back to playing without interruptions.
1. Run the Game as Administrator
Permissions can greatly impact game performance. By running the game as an administrator, Call of Duty bypasses typical Windows restrictions. This gives the game full access to any files or resources it needs.
2. Set the Priority of Call of Duty’s Process to High
Setting Call of Duty’s process priority to high tells your computer to dedicate more CPU power to the game, helping it run better and reducing the chances of interrupted gameplay from background processes.
3. Update Windows and System Drivers to the Latest Build
Keeping Windows and your drivers up to date is essential, as older versions may lack important fixes and improvements. Installing all available updates and drivers helps resolve compatibility issues and delivers a better overall gaming experience.
4. Scan and Repair the Game Files
Corrupted or missing game files often cause errors. The Scan and Repair tool checks all files and repairs or replaces anything damaged, fixing most issues that come from a bad installation or update.
5. Use PC Screen Only Option
Setting your display mode to “PC Screen Only” disables external monitors. This can reduce GPU strain and prevent display-related conflicts that may lead to crashes.
6. Set the Game Window to Borderless
Running the game in borderless window mode can improve stability by preventing conflicts with graphics drivers that sometimes occur in full-screen mode. This way, background apps or sudden pop-ups are less likely to crash the game.
7. Change Video Memory Scale
Adjusting the Video Memory Scale setting in the game restricts how much of your graphics card’s memory is reserved for Call of Duty. Lowering it lets the system use resources more efficiently, helping prevent crashes from memory overloads.
8. Deactivate Game Overlay/Performance Monitoring Application
Overlays (like Discord or NVIDIA GeForce Experience) can interfere with Call of Duty and cause errors by disrupting how the game communicates with your graphics card. Disabling these overlays removes any potential conflicts and often improves game stability.
8.1 For Nvidia Overlay
8.2 For GameBar
If you use any other overlay or system monitoring app, refer to its official documentation for steps on disabling it, then try running the game.
9. Use DirectX 11 for Call of Duty
DirectX 12 can cause compatibility issues on some systems. Running Call of Duty on DirectX 11 uses more proven and stable technology, which can resolve conflicts and reduce crashes.
10. Clean Boot Your System
A clean boot limits your computer to only essential programs and services. This prevents unwanted software conflicts and helps isolate if a background app is causing the problem.
11. Tweaking the Shaders
Crashes sometimes come from corrupt or outdated shaders (the files responsible for lighting and effects in-game). Fixing or reinstalling these shaders ensures they match your current hardware and settings, often resolving crashes and glitches.
11.1. Reinstall Shaders
12. Delete the Players/Players 2 folder
Deleting the “Players” or “Players 2” folder makes Call of Duty regenerate all your configuration files. If any settings files are corrupted or incompatible, this reset can fix crashes and errors.
13. Change the Settings
Adjusting graphics and performance settings—such as disabling ray tracing or lowering texture quality—can help the game run smoother, especially if crashes are caused by system overloads or compatibility issues with your graphics card.
13.1. Change the Vertical Sync
13.2 Disable Ray Tracing
13.3 Disable Crossplay
13.4 Enable Server Latency
13.5 Disable G-Sync
13.6 Lower FOV
Reducing your field of view (FOV) can cut down on crashes. A higher FOV demands more from your system, sometimes leading to stutters or errors. Lowering the FOV eases this pressure and may improve stability.
14. Reinstall DirectX
DirectX is central to graphics performance in Modern Warfare. If it’s outdated or damaged, crashes may happen. Reinstalling DirectX ensures your game uses the right graphics API files.
15. Disable Overclocking of CPU/GPU
Pushing your CPU or GPU beyond their stock speeds through overclocking can cause instability and errors in games. Reset any overclocking settings to manufacturer defaults if you experience persistent crashes.
16. Reinstall the Game
As a last resort, a fresh game installation will clear up any corrupted files or bad installations. This step reinstalls all game data, including shaders and dependencies like DirectX.
17. Enabling XMP for your RAM (if applicable)
XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) helps your RAM run at its best speed. Enabling XMP in your BIOS can fix memory-related crashes and improve overall system reliability. Learn more about how to enable XMP.
18. Change RAM
Faulty or mismatched memory can cause unpredictable issues, especially in demanding games. If you’ve tried everything else, replacing or upgrading your RAM can make your system more stable and prevent memory errors during gameplay.
19. Reset or Clean Install Windows
If the error still won’t go away after all troubleshooting, reinstalling or resetting Windows could be necessary. A fresh start clears any deeply embedded software conflicts or corrupted system files that might be causing the issue. Check out our article on how to clean install Windows.
