DayZ Stuck on Loading Screen: In 2018, Bohemia Interactive successfully launched DayZ, a multiplayer zombie survival game set in a post-apocalyptic environment.
Serving as the standalone successor to the ARMA 2 title, DayZ has garnered favorable reviews from both players and critics alike over the years. However, like many PC games, users have reported encountering issues with the game freezing on the loading screen during startup.
If you are experiencing difficulties while trying to play DayZ, it could indicate a problem with your computer system. Fortunately, we have compiled several potential solutions that may assist you in resolving the loading screen issue in DayZ.
Fix: DayZ Stuck on the loading screen
Make sure to check out the following troubleshooting methods below to easily resolve such an issue on your Windows computer. So, without further ado, let’s jump into the guide below.
1. Check-out System Requirements
Before forming any conclusions, it’s essential to review the system requirements. If your computer’s specifications do not meet the necessary criteria, you may encounter problems with launching the game or experiencing smooth gameplay.
Minimum System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 7/8.1 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4430
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD R9 270X
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 16 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Additional Notes: Internet connection
Recommended System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD R5 1600X
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 25 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Additional Notes: Internet connection
2. Increase Virtual RAM
Virtual memory is a feature that merges your computer’s RAM with a designated portion of your hard drive to enhance performance. When your RAM runs low and the default virtual memory allocation is insufficient, you can manually adjust its size.
- To begin, press the Windows logo key on your keyboard and search for “advanced system settings.” Once you locate it, click on “View advanced system settings.” In the System Properties window, navigate to the “Settings” button, then select the “Advanced” tab, followed by the “Change” button.
- Next, uncheck the option labeled “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.” Choose your C: drive (the drive where Windows is installed) and click the “Options” button next to “Custom size.” In the dialog box that appears, enter 4096 MB for both the Initial size and Maximum size.
- As a general guideline, it’s advisable to set the virtual memory to three times the size of your RAM for optimal performance. (Remember, 1 GB equals 1024 MB.)
- Finally, click “Set” and then “OK” to apply your changes. Restart your computer to ensure that the new settings take effect, and you should notice an improvement in your gaming experience.
3. Properly Place the Storage and RAM in the slot
- For optimal troubleshooting, consider taking off the side panel of your computer’s CPU case.
- Once you have access, disconnect the HDD/SSD and RAM from their respective slots.
- Carefully clean both the slots and the components, ensuring there is no dust or debris.
- After cleaning, reinsert the components securely and check if this resolves the issue of DayZ being stuck on the loading screen.
4. Update GPU Drivers
If you haven’t yet updated the graphics driver on your Windows computer, it’s important to install the latest version. Here’s how you can check for updates:
- 1. Press the Windows + X keys together to bring up the Quick Link Menu.
- 2. From the menu, select Device Manager.
- 3. In the Device Manager window, locate and double-click on Display adapters.
- 4. Find your dedicated graphics card in the list, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
- 5. Choose the option to Search automatically for drivers.
If an update is available, your system will download and install it automatically. After the installation is complete, remember to restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
5. Close Unnecessary Background Tasks
To optimize your PC’s performance, it’s advisable to terminate any unnecessary background processes that may be consuming system resources. Here’s how to manage these tasks:
- 1. Press **Ctrl + Shift + Esc** to launch the Task Manager.
- 2. Navigate to the **Processes** tab, where you’ll see a list of currently running tasks.
- 3. Identify the task you wish to close and select it.
- 4. Click on **End Task** to terminate the selected process. Repeat this for each task you want to close individually.
- 5. After you’ve finished closing the tasks, restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.
By following these steps, you can enhance your system’s efficiency and performance.
6. Update DayZ
If you haven’t refreshed your DayZ game in a while, follow these instructions to check for updates and install the latest patch, if there is one available:
- 1. Launch the Steam client.
- 2. Navigate to your Library and select DayZ from the list on the left.
- 3. The client will automatically look for any updates. If an update is found, click on the Update button.
- 4. The installation process may take some time, so please be patient. After it’s complete, close the Steam client.
- 5. To ensure the updates take effect, restart your PC before attempting to launch the game again.
By following these steps, you’ll ensure that you’re playing with the most recent enhancements and fixes.
7. Check for Windows Updates
It’s quite common for your Windows operating system to become outdated or even suffer from corruption over time.
If you suspect this might be the case, it’s important to check for available updates.
These updates often include critical bug fixes and system enhancements. To ensure your system is up to date, follow these steps:
- 1. Press the Windows key and the ‘I’ key simultaneously to open the Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to the “Update & Security” section.
- 3. Click on “Check for updates” within the Windows Update area.
- 4. If a feature update is available, select the option to “Download and install.”
- 5. Allow some time for the update process to complete.
- 6. Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.
Keeping your OS updated is essential for optimal performance and security.
8. Try Disabling Overlay Apps
Certain widely-used applications come with their own overlay features that may run in the background, potentially leading to performance issues while gaming or even preventing games from launching properly. To resolve these issues, it is advisable to disable these overlays by following the instructions outlined below.
**Disabling Discord Overlay
- 1. Open the Discord application and click on the gear icon located at the bottom of the window.
- 2. Navigate to the Overlay section within the App Settings and ensure the in-game overlay option is enabled.
- 3. Go to the Games tab and select DayZ from the list.
- 4. Toggle off the Enable in-game overlay option.
- 5. Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
**Disabling Xbox Game Bar
- 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access the Windows Settings.
- 2. Click on the Gaming section and navigate to Game Bar.
- 3. Disable the option labeled “Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using the Game bar.”
- 4. If you have trouble locating the Game Bar settings, you can use the search function in the Windows Settings menu.
**Disabling Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay
- 1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and go to the Settings menu.
- 2. Click on the General tab and turn off the In-Game Overlay option.
- 3. Finally, restart your computer and launch DayZ again to apply the changes.
Additionally, it is important to consider disabling other overlay applications such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB management software, or any other third-party overlay tools that may be running in the background. This can further improve your gaming experience.
9. Perform a Clean Boot
Certain applications and services may automatically initiate during system startup, which can significantly impact both your internet bandwidth and system performance. If you suspect this might be happening, consider performing a clean boot to troubleshoot the issue. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to bring up the Run dialog box.
- 2. Enter “msconfig” and hit Enter to access the System Configuration tool.
- 3. Navigate to the Services tab and check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services.”
- 4. Click on “Disable all,” then select Apply and OK to save your changes.
- 5. Next, switch to the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager.”
- 6. In the Task Manager window, go to the Startup tab.
- 7. Identify any items with a high startup impact, select them, and click “Disable” to prevent them from launching at startup.
- 8. Repeat this process for any other programs that also show a high startup impact.
Once you have completed these steps, be sure to restart your computer to implement the changes.
10. Verify Game Files
In the event that you encounter problems with your game files, such as corruption or missing components, it’s essential to follow the steps below to diagnose and resolve the issue effectively.
- 1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate DayZ among your installed games, then right-click on it.
- 3. Select Properties from the dropdown menu, and proceed to the Local Files tab.
- 4. Click on the option to Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- 5. Allow the verification process to complete, which may take some time.
- 6. After the verification is finished, restart your computer.
That’s all there is to it! We hope you find this guide helpful. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
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