DayZ Stuttering, Lags and Freezing on PC: In 2018, Bohemia Interactive successfully launched DayZ, a multiplayer survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies.
Over time, the game has garnered positive feedback from both players and critics. However, many PC users have reported issues such as stuttering, freezing, and lag during gameplay.
Despite years of development, the initial reception was not overwhelmingly favorable, but the developers have since addressed numerous concerns.
It’s important to note that no video game is entirely free from glitches or bugs, regardless of the platform. Lag and stuttering are common challenges faced by PC gamers, and DayZ is no exception.
While we anticipate that the developers will continue to release updates to address remaining issues, we have compiled a list of potential solutions that may help mitigate these problems. Let’s explore these options further.
Fix: DayZ Stuttering or Lagging on PC
It’s important to note that there are several potential causes for this problem that may require manual intervention.
Stuttering or lagging on your PC can often stem from compatibility conflicts, in-game configuration settings, or even corrupted game files. To address these issues effectively, please review the following steps.
1. Use Launch Options
To configure your DayZ game settings, start by launching your Steam application.
Navigate to your Library and locate DayZ in your game list. Right-click on the game title and select ‘Properties’ from the dropdown menu.
In the Properties window, access the General tab where you will see an option for Launch Options.
Here, you can specify the command to force the game to run in fullscreen mode by typing -fullscreen. This setting ensures that the game engine initializes in fullscreen upon startup.
2. Update Graphics Drivers
- To access the Quick Access Menu, perform a right-click on the Start Menu. From the options presented, select Device Manager.
- Next, locate the Display adapters section and double-click it to reveal its contents.
- Identify your dedicated graphics card in the list, right-click on its name, and choose the option to Update driver.
- Then, select the option for automatic driver search.
- If an update is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically. After the installation is complete, remember to restart your computer to apply the changes effectively.
3. Run the game as an administrator
To prevent any user account control issues related to permissions, it is important to launch the game executable file with administrative privileges. Additionally, you should also run the Steam client as an administrator. Here’s how you can do that:
- 1. Locate the DayZ executable shortcut on your desktop or in your file directory.
- 2. Right-click on the shortcut and choose ‘Properties’ from the context menu.
- 3. Once the properties window opens, navigate to the ‘Compatibility’ tab.
- 4. In this section, find the option labeled ‘Run this program as an administrator’ and check the box next to it.
- 5. Finally, click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to ensure your changes are saved.
By following these steps, you can help ensure a smoother gaming experience.
4. Set High Priority in Task Manager
To ensure your game runs smoothly, you can adjust its priority in the Task Manager on your Windows system. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Right-click the Start Menu and choose Task Manager from the list.
- 2. Navigate to the Processes tab and find the DayZ game in the list.
- 3. Right-click on the DayZ task and select the option to Set Priority, then choose High.
- 4. Close the Task Manager.
After completing these steps, launch the DayZ game again to see if the issue has been resolved.
5. Verify Integrity of Game Files
In the event that you encounter problems with the game files, such as corruption or missing data, it’s important to perform a quick check to identify the issue. Here’s how to do this:
- 1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Find DayZ in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
- 3. Select ‘Properties’ from the context menu.
- 4. Go to the ‘Local Files’ tab.
- 5. Click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files.’
This process may take some time, so please be patient until it completes. After it finishes, it’s a good idea to restart your computer to ensure everything is running smoothly.
6. Change GPU Settings
To troubleshoot the issue, it’s essential to adjust the graphics card settings on your PC. Follow the steps outlined below to determine if the adjustments resolve the problem.
**For Nvidia Users:
- 1. Access the Nvidia Control Panel by right-clicking on your desktop.
- 2. Select “Nvidia Control Panel” from the menu.
- 3. Navigate to “Manage 3D Settings.”
- 4. Under the “Program Settings” tab, locate ‘DayZ.’ If the game is not listed, you can add it manually.
- 5. Adjust the following settings:
- – **Monitor Technology:** Set to G-Sync (if supported)
- – **Maximum Pre-rendered Frames:** Set to 2
- – **Threaded Optimization:** Enable this option
- – **Power Management Mode:** Choose “Prefer Maximum Performance”
- – **Texture Filtering – Quality:** Select “Performance”
**For AMD Users:
- While the specific steps may differ slightly, you should aim to achieve similar settings:
- – **Monitor Technology:** Set to G-Sync (if supported)
- – **Maximum Pre-rendered Frames:** Set to 2
- – **Threaded Optimization:** Enable this option
- – **Power Management Mode:** Choose “Prefer Maximum Performance”
- – **Texture Filtering – Quality:** Select “Performance”
After making these adjustments, check if the issue persists.
7. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
By default, Windows employs full-screen optimization and DPI settings, which can sometimes lead to issues with certain games. To enhance your gaming experience, consider disabling these features by following these steps:
- 1. Navigate to the directory where the DayZ game is installed.
- 2. Locate the DayZ.exe file, right-click on it, and choose Properties.
- 3. In the Properties window, switch to the Compatibility tab.
- 4. Tick the box labeled ‘Disable Full-Screen Optimizations.’
- 5. Next, click on the ‘Change high DPI settings’ button.
- 6. In the new window, check the option ‘Override high DPI scaling behavior’ and select ‘Application’ from the accompanying drop-down menu.
- 7. Finally, click Apply, then OK to ensure your changes are saved.
By completing these steps, you may improve the performance and visual fidelity of DayZ on your system.
8. Update DayZ
If you haven’t updated your DayZ game recently, it’s important to check for the latest updates and install any patches that may be available. Follow these steps to ensure your game is up to date:
- 1. Launch the Steam client on your computer.
- 2. Navigate to your Library.
- 3. Select DayZ from the list on the left side.
The client will automatically search for any available updates. If an update is found, be sure to click on ‘Update’ to initiate the installation. Depending on the size of the update, this process may take a few moments. Once the installation is complete, remember to close the Steam client.
For the final step, restart your PC to apply all changes before attempting to launch the game again. This method can effectively resolve issues related to stuttering and lag in DayZ on your PC.
We hope you found this guide helpful! If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.
DayZ Crashing/Not Loading on PS4, PS5, or Xbox Series X, S
DayZ Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: How to FIX