Destiny 2: Lightfall Crashing at Startup on PC: Bungie has recently released a new free DLC (Downloadable Content) for Destiny 2, which players can access without any additional cost; however, the base game is required to download and enjoy this new content.
For those unfamiliar, Destiny 2 is a free-to-play action-adventure MMO that has garnered a positive response on platforms like Steam.
Despite the favorable reviews for both the main game and the DLC, some players are experiencing frustrating startup crashes known as the Destiny 2: Lightfall Crashing issue on PC. If you’re among the many players facing this problem, you’re not alone.
Issues such as game crashes at startup, failure to launch, lag, stuttering, frame drops, and graphical glitches have become increasingly common.
Fortunately, we have compiled a list of potential solutions and explanations that may help you resolve this issue and enhance your gaming experience.
Why Destiny 2: Lightfall is Crashing?
When considering the various factors that could lead to crashes, it’s quite possible that you’re facing this issue due to several common culprits. These may include an outdated version of the game, outdated graphics drivers, or conflicts arising from startup applications.
Additionally, problems related to antivirus software, background processes, or an outdated game client could also contribute to crashing during startup.
Moreover, certain technical aspects such as issues with DirectX, an outdated version of Windows, conflicts with Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, problems with overlay applications, overclocked CPU or GPU, and overall compatibility issues with your PC can further exacerbate these crashes. Addressing these factors may help mitigate such problems.
How to Fix Destiny 2: Lightfall Crashing at Startup
“Now that you have a better understanding of the potential causes, let’s proceed with the troubleshooting steps outlined below. By following these instructions carefully, you can address and resolve the crashing issue you’re experiencing. Let’s dive in.”
1. Check System Requirements
To begin with, it’s important to verify that your computer meets the game’s system requirements. If you find that your PC has low-end specifications or outdated components, consider upgrading your hardware. This will help ensure that your system runs smoothly and can handle the demands of the game effectively.
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2. Update Graphics Drivers
To ensure optimal performance of your applications on a Windows system, it is essential to keep your graphics drivers up to date. Follow these steps to update your drivers:
1. Access the Quick Link Menu by right-clicking on the Start Menu.
2. From the options presented, select Device Manager.
3. Locate the Display adapters section and double-click it to expand the list of devices.
4. Right-click on your dedicated graphics card.
5. Choose “Update driver” and then select “Search automatically for drivers.”
If a newer version is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically. After the process is complete, remember to restart your computer to apply the changes.
Alternatively, you can manually download the latest graphics driver directly from the official website of your graphics card manufacturer. For users with Nvidia graphics cards, visit the official site for the GeForce Experience app updates. AMD users can find the necessary updates on the AMD website. Intel graphics card users can access their updates through the Intel website.
3. Update Windows
Keeping your Windows operating system up to date is crucial for both everyday users and gamers alike. Regular updates help minimize system errors, enhance compatibility, and prevent crashes.
Additionally, each new version typically introduces new features, enhancements, and vital security updates. To perform an update, follow these steps:
- 1. Press the Windows key and the letter “I” simultaneously to access the Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to the Update & Security section and click on it.
- 3. Under the Windows Update category, choose the option to Check for updates.
- 4. If a feature update is available, click on Download and Install.
- 5. Allow the update process to finish, and then restart your computer to implement the changes.
4. Run the game as an administrator
To prevent user account control issues related to privileges, it’s important to run the game’s executable file as an administrator. Additionally, the Steam client should also be launched with administrative rights. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Locate the Destiny 2: Lightfall application file on your computer and right-click on it.
- 2. Choose ‘Properties‘ and navigate to the ‘Compatibility‘ tab.
- 3. Check the box that says ‘Run this program as an administrator.’
- 4. Click ‘Apply‘ and then select ‘OK‘ to confirm your changes.
Follow the same procedure for the Steam client to ensure both applications operate smoothly. This may help resolve the crashing problems you’re experiencing with Destiny 2: Lightfall on your PC.
5. Close Background Running Tasks
Background tasks and programs that are not essential can significantly consume system resources such as CPU and memory, leading to decreased overall performance.
This can result in frequent issues like crashes, lag, and loading failures. To enhance your system’s performance, it’s important to completely terminate any unnecessary background processes. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Press the **Ctrl+Shift+Esc** keys simultaneously to launch the Task Manager.
- 2. Navigate to the **Processes** tab. Here, identify and select any tasks that are running unnecessarily and using significant system resources.
- 3. Click on **End Task** to close these processes individually.
- 4. After you’ve finished this step, restart your computer.
Once your system has rebooted, check if the crashing issue with Destiny 2: Lightfall has been resolved. If the problem persists, consider exploring additional troubleshooting methods.
6. Set High Priority in Task Manager
To ensure that your game runs smoothly, you can adjust its priority in the Task Manager on your Windows system. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Open the Start Menu by right-clicking on it and select “Task Manager.”
- 2. Navigate to the “Processes” tab and locate the Destiny 2: Lightfall entry.
- 3. Right-click on the game’s process and choose “Set Priority,” then select “High.”
- 4. Exit the Task Manager.
Now, launch Destiny 2: Lightfall to see if the performance improves and to check for any crashes.
7. Reinstall DirectX (Latest)
Consider downloading and installing the most recent version of DirectX from the official Microsoft website for your PC or laptop. To do this, obtain the DirectX installer package and execute it. Keep in mind that for optimal performance while playing Destiny 2: Lightfall, you will need DirectX 12 or a later version.
8. Force Run the Game in DirectX 11
To optimize your gaming experience, it is advisable to launch Destiny 2: Lightfall using the DirectX 11 version through a specific command. This is particularly useful if your system is operating on DirectX 10 or an earlier version. Here’s how you can do it:
- 1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your LIBRARY.
- 2. Locate Destiny 2: Lightfall and right-click on it.
- 3. Select Properties from the dropdown menu.
- 4. In the left pane, click on GENERAL.
- 5. In the Launch Options field, enter -dx11.
- 6. After entering the command, close the Properties window and proceed to launch the game. If you receive a prompt, make sure to select the radio button next to the Play option for Destiny 2: Lightfall.
This method should help you run the game more effectively.
9. Disable Windows Firewall or Antivirus Program
It’s quite possible that either the built-in Windows Defender Firewall or a third-party antivirus program is obstructing your connections or preventing game files from functioning correctly.
To troubleshoot this, you should consider temporarily disabling real-time protection and the firewall. After making these adjustments, attempt to launch the game again to see if the issue with Destiny 2: Lightfall crashing on PC has been resolved. Here’s how to proceed:
- 1. Open the Start Menu and type “firewall.”
- 2. Choose “Windows Defender Firewall” from the results.
- 3. In the left-hand menu, click on “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.”
- 4. A new window will appear. Select the option to turn off Windows Defender Firewall for both Private and Public Network Settings (note that this is not typically recommended).
- 5. Click “OK” to apply the changes.
- 6. Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
Next, you should also disable Windows Security features. Follow these steps:
- 1. Press the Win+I keys to access Windows Settings.
- 2. Click on “Update & Security,” then select “Windows Security” from the left menu.
- 3. Click on the “Open Windows Security” button.
- 4. Navigate to “Virus & threat protection” and select “Manage settings.”
- 5. Toggle off the “Real-time protection” option.
- 6. If prompted, confirm by clicking “Yes.”
If desired, you can also disable additional features like Cloud-delivered protection and Tamper protection for further troubleshooting.
10. Set High Performance in Power Options
If your Windows system is currently configured to use the Balanced power mode, consider switching to the High-Performance mode for enhanced performance. Keep in mind that this setting will increase power consumption, which may lead to higher battery drain. To make this adjustment, follow these steps:
- 1. Open the Start Menu and type “Control Panel,” then select it from the search results.
- 2. Navigate to **Hardware and Sound**, then click on **Power Options**.
- 3. Choose the **High Performance** option to activate it.
- 4. After making this change, close the window and ensure you completely shut down your computer. To do this, click on the Start Menu, go to **Power**, and select **Shut Down**.
- 5. Once the system is fully powered off, turn it back on.
This adjustment should help resolve the Destiny 2: Lightfall crashing issue on your PC in many cases. If you continue to experience problems, please proceed to the next troubleshooting step.
11. Close the game from Background Apps
If you are experiencing ongoing issues with Destiny 2: Lightfall, a helpful step is to disable it in the Background Apps settings on your PC. Here’s how you can do it:
- 1. Press the Windows key + I simultaneously to access the Windows Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to the Privacy section and then scroll down the left sidebar to find Background apps.
- 3. Look for the entry for Destiny 2: Lightfall in the list of applications.
- 4. Toggle the switch next to the game to turn it off.
- 5. After making this change, close the window and restart your computer.
This procedure could resolve the problems you’re encountering. If it doesn’t, consider trying the next troubleshooting step.
12. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime
To resolve various gaming-related issues or errors, it’s essential to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime on your computer. Here’s how you can do it:
- 1. Open the Start Menu by pressing the Windows key.
- 2. In the search bar, type “Apps & Features” and select it from the results.
- 3. Scroll through the list to find the Microsoft Visual C++ programs.
- 4. Click on each program and choose the Uninstall option.
- 5. Head over to the official Microsoft website to download the most recent version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
- 6. After the download is complete, run the installer to set it up on your system.
- 7. Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Following these steps should help eliminate any persistent issues you’re facing while gaming.
13. Try Clearing the Cache
Occasionally, problems with the cache files of your game launcher can lead to game corruption or crashes while playing. To resolve this, it’s advisable to clear the cache from either the client or the server. Here’s how you can do it:
- 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to the Steam menu located at the top left corner.
- 2. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
- 3. Proceed to the “Downloads” tab.
- 4. Click on the “Clear Download Cache” button.
- 5. After the process is complete, sign back into your Steam account and restart the game.
This should help improve the performance of your games.
14. Perform a Clean Boot
Certain applications and services may automatically launch during system startup, potentially consuming significant amounts of both internet bandwidth and system resources. If you’re experiencing performance issues related to this, it’s advisable to perform a clean boot on your computer to diagnose the problem. Here’s how you can do that:
- 1. Press the **Win + R** keys to open the Run dialog.
- 2. Type **msconfig** and press **Enter** to access the System Configuration tool.
- 3. Navigate to the **Services** tab and check the box labeled **Hide all Microsoft services**.
- 4. Click on **Disable all**, then select **Apply** and **OK** to confirm your changes.
- 5. Next, head over to the **Startup** tab and click on **Open Task Manager**.
- 6. In the Task Manager window, switch to the **Startup** tab.
- 7. Identify any tasks that have 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.
After you’ve completed these steps, be sure to restart your computer to implement the changes.
15. Try Disabling Overlay Apps
Certain popular applications come with their own overlay features that can operate in the background, potentially leading to gaming performance issues or problems when launching games. To resolve these issues, it is advisable to disable these overlays by following the steps outlined below:
### Disabling Discord Overlay:
- 1. Open the Discord application and click the gear icon located at the bottom of the window.
- 2. Navigate to the “Overlay” option in the App Settings menu and toggle the “Enable in-game overlay” setting off.
- 3. Click on the “Games” tab and select “Destiny 2: Lightfall.”
- 4. Ensure that the “Enable in-game overlay” option is turned off.
- 5. Restart your PC to ensure the changes take effect.
### Turning Off Xbox Game Bar:
- 1. Press the Windows + I keys to access Windows Settings.
- 2. Select the “Gaming” section and then click on “Game Bar.”
- 3. Disable the option that allows recording of game clips, taking screenshots, and broadcasting using the Game Bar.
- 4. If you cannot locate the Game Bar settings, use the search function within Windows Settings.
### Disabling Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:
- 1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and navigate to the Settings menu.
- 2. Under the “General” tab, turn off the “In-Game Overlay” feature.
- 3. Restart your computer to apply these changes and relaunch your game.
Additionally, it’s important to consider disabling other overlay applications such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB lighting software, or any other third-party overlay tools that might be running in the background. Doing so can help enhance your gaming experience and prevent potential performance issues.
16. Verify the Integrity of Game Files
In the event that you encounter problems with your game files, such as corruption or missing data, follow these steps to identify and resolve the issue.
- 1. Open the Steam application and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate Destiny 2: Lightfall in your list of installed games, then right-click on it.
- 3. Select Properties from the context menu and proceed to the Local Files tab.
- 4. Click on the option labeled Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- 5. Allow the verification process to complete; this may take some time.
- 6. Once the process is finished, it’s advisable to restart your computer.
By following these steps, you can effectively troubleshoot and ensure your game files are in proper working order.
17. Disable CPU or GPU Overclocking
It’s important to consider avoiding CPU and GPU overclocking on your computer if you are experiencing frequent crashes or stuttering while gaming.
While overclocking can significantly enhance performance, it can also lead to potential bottlenecks and compatibility problems. For the best overall performance, it’s advisable to revert the clock speeds to their default settings.
18. Update Destiny 2: Lightfall
If you haven’t updated your Destiny 2: Lightfall game recently, it’s important to ensure you have the latest version. Follow these steps to check for updates and install any available patches:
- 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Select Destiny 2: Lightfall from the list on the left side.
- 3. The client will automatically look for any updates.
- 4. If an update is found, click on the Update button to begin the installation.
- 5. Once the update is finished, restart your computer to apply the changes.
By keeping your game updated, you can enjoy the latest features and improvements.
19. Reinstall Destiny 2: Lightfall
If none of the previous solutions have resolved your issue, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling Destiny 2: Lightfall on your PC. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Exit the Steam client completely.
- 2. Open the Start menu and search for “Control Panel.”
- 3. In the Control Panel, click on “Uninstall a program” under the Programs section.
- 4. Locate “Destiny 2: Lightfall” in the list of installed programs and select it.
- 5. Click on “Uninstall” and follow the prompts that appear to remove the game.
- 6. After the uninstallation is complete, restart your PC to ensure all changes take effect.
- 7. Finally, reinstall Destiny 2: Lightfall to see if the issue persists.
We hope this guide has been beneficial for you. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.
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