Counter-Strike 2 keeps crashing (fixed)

The Counter-Strike games have been around for a while and have attracted countless players over the years. CS2 ^[1] is the latest game in the series, and therefore, it’s expected to also be the most polished one. However, sometimes, the game can cause various issues, including crashing every time the player’s trying to play.

If your CS2 keeps crashing, then there are a handful of things you can try doing, including verifying the integrity of game files, updating or rolling back GPU drivers, optimizing the game settings, and more. Having too many background programs and applications can also cause issues.

Here is every potential fix for your Counter-Strike 2 game spontaneously crashing.

1: Verify the integrity of game files

If Counter-Strike 2 keeps crashing on launch, then corrupted or missing game files are a common reason. Verifying the integrity of game files through Steam forces the platform to check every file and repair or redownload any errors or missing files, ensuring everything is fine. 

Players can perform this step by opening their Steam library and finding Counter-Strike 2. Right-click on the game and select properties from the menu. Then, go to the local files tab and select the verify integrity of game files option. After clicking it, Steam will scan and repair files in a process that will take several minutes. Players should try launching CS2 after completing it to see if the issue is fixed.

2: Update or roll back GPU drivers

Outdated or corrupt graphic drivers are a big reason for Counter-Strike 2 crashing, even on high-end systems. The graphics card is essential for running CS2, and having up-to-date drivers is necessary for stability. Players can update, repair, or roll back their drivers by going to their GPU manufacturer’s website.

Players should visit the website of their GPU manufacturer, such as Nvidia, AMD, or Intel. Find the driver download section for the proper graphics card model and operating system, and download the latest driver installer. Players must follow the instructions provided after they open the installer. To prevent corrupt installs, players should use an external software called DDU to uninstall previous drivers.

Some Nvidia users report that newer drivers are unstable and cause crashes in multiple games, so they suggest rolling back to the December 2024 drivers. Players can find the GeForce 566.36 driver by searching for it on a search engine and going to Nvidia’s official website.

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3: Optimize game settings

Pushing graphics settings to their maximum can strain PCs, leading to performance issues and crashes. Finding the balance between fidelity and performance is essential, so players must optimize their settings to reduce the load on their hardware.
The following settings provide a good balance between performance and quality:

• Resolution: Whatever the player’s native monitor resolution is.
• Global shadow quality: Medium
• Model/Texture detail: Medium
• Shader detail: High
• Particle detail: Low
• Ambient occlusion: Medium
• High dynamic range: Quality
• AA mode: 4x MSAA
• Texture filtering: Bilinear
• VSync: Disabled

Players can open their GPU control panels to adjust ambient occlusion and image sharpening for a better experience. Switching to windowed or borderless can improve stability.

4: Manage background processes and startup apps

Background applications and unnecessary startup programs consume system resources such as CPU and RAM, which can cause Counter-Strike 2 to crash due to low capacity, especially during intense moments. Players must use the Windows task manager to monitor and manage these processes to free up resources for the game.

To close background apps, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the task manager. Go to the processes tab, check the CPU and memory columns, and identify processes using a lot of resources that aren’t essential, such as browsers, media players, launchers, etc. Right-click on these processes and select End Task. Also, prevent non-essential programs from launching automatically with Windows. Players can do this by going to the startup tab in the task manager and disabling anything that isn’t necessary.

5: Change Windows and compatibility settings

Windows has settings that can interfere with the game’s stability. Optimizing these settings creates a better environment for the title. Players should disable Windows Game Mode by going to Settings > Gaming and toggling off the Game Mode option. They should also ensure their system is set to High Performance by opening the control panel, navigating to hardware and sound > power options, and selecting the high-performance power plan.

Also, players should turn off the Windows game bar DVR feature by going into settings, opening the gaming option, selecting the game bar, and then toggling off the option that says “record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using the game bar.” 

If problems persist, running the game or Steam in compatibility mode may help resolve them. Players can do it by finding the cs2.exe file or the Steam shortcut and going into its properties by right-clicking it. Then, they must go to the compatibility tab and select the “run this program in compatibility mode for:” option and select a different Windows version, like Windows 10. Remember to run the game as an administrator to ensure it has proper permissions.

FAQs

Why does CS2 keep crashing on my PC?

CS2 may crash for several reasons, most commonly due to outdated graphics drivers, software conflicts, or corrupted game files. It’s important to make sure your system meets the minimum requirements and that all drivers, especially your GPU drivers, are up to date. If the game was recently updated, verify the integrity of the game files through Steam, as new patches can occasionally cause issues if files are missing or corrupted.

Can background apps cause CS2 to crash?

Yes, third-party applications running in the background—such as screen recorders, RGB software, or even Discord overlays. can interfere with CS2’s performance. These apps may conflict with the game’s use of system resources or graphics rendering, causing crashes. It’s a good idea to disable unnecessary software while playing and try running CS2 with minimal background processes to rule out conflicts.

References

1. [1] "Official CS2 website". www.counter-strike.net. Retrieved June 01, 2025