Many players have reported experiencing issues with Path of Exile 2, such as random crashes, the game freezing, or the entire PC slowing down to a crawl. These problems can be incredibly frustrating, especially during intense gameplay moments. Below are several possible solutions to help minimize or resolve these issues.
Path of Exile 2: Game Crashing & Freezing – How To Fix
Solution 1: Adjust CPU Affinity
The first solution comes from what others have discussed on global chat and forums. It worked for a lot of players, and after applying it, they no longer faced issues with freezing or crashing that required a forced reset.
Steps:
- Open the Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to bring up the Task Manager.
- Navigate to the Details Tab: On the right side of Task Manager, click the Details tab.
- Find the Path of Exile Process: Scroll through the list to find Path of Exile 2. Once you locate it, right-click on it.
- Set CPU Affinity: In the menu that appears, select Set Affinity.
- Adjust CPU Settings: In the window that opens, uncheck CPU 0 and CPU 1 (unchecking the last two CPUs also worked for me in some cases). This should help improve stability.
Important Note: Unfortunately, this setting must be applied each time you open the game. If you don’t repeat this step, the game may crash or freeze again.
Despite the latest updates released (as of December 13, 2024), we still experience crashes, but the solution above continues to work for us. It’s the most reliable method we’ve found to prevent the game from freezing and requiring a forceful reset.
Solution 2: Change Graphics Settings (Vulkan or DX11)
The next two solutions are shorter and may not work for everyone, but they have been successful for some players. Solution 2 involves changing the graphics renderer in the game’s settings.
Steps:
- Go to the Options Menu: Open the game and navigate to the Options tab.
- Select Graphics Settings: Find the renderer option on the first tab titled Graphics.
- Choose Vulkan or DX11: Select either Vulkan or DX11 from the options. While this can improve performance for some, it might negatively affect others, so you may need to experiment.
Note: We don’t personally recommend using Vulkan or DX11 because of potential performance issues, but if you’re experiencing consistent crashes, it’s worth a try.
Solution 3: Disable Multi-Core CPU Support
Solution 3 is somewhat similar to Solution 1 but with a key difference. This option forces the game to avoid using your processor’s multi-core functions, which can, unfortunately, reduce performance. However, some players find it effective for resolving freezing and crashing issues.
Steps:
- Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
- Find the Path of Exile Process: In the Details tab, locate the Path of Exile 2 process.
- Set Affinity: Right-click on it and choose Set Affinity.
- Uncheck Multi-Core Processors: Uncheck all CPUs except for one, forcing the game to use only a single core.
Note: While this solution can help with stability, it will likely worsen the game’s performance due to the lack of multi-core processing. Personally, we prefer Solution 1 because it allows us to force the game to close through Task Manager if it crashes, without harming performance as much.
Extra Solution: Reduce All Graphics Settings (Last Resort)
If nothing else has worked so far, there’s one more desperate measure to try: reduce all the graphics settings to the lowest possible values. While this may not be the most optimal solution, it can help relieve some of the strain on your CPU and may reduce crashes or freezes.
Steps:
- Open Options Menu: Go to the Options tab in the game.
- Set Graphics to Low: Lower all of the graphics settings to the minimum. This will reduce the stress placed on your system.
Note: This is more of a “desperation solution.” It should only be used when nothing else has worked, as it will dramatically reduce the game’s visual quality and overall experience.
We hope that at least one of these solutions proves helpful in resolving the issues you’ve been facing with Path of Exile 2.
Good luck, and we hope these steps improve your gameplay experience!
Last Updated on December 18, 2024
An avid listener of music from a number of countries. Writing is his hobby and passion. A follower of all the latest android and PC games. Not to mention his favorite: Mobile Legends!