Helldivers 2 Stuck on loading screen on PC: Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is a third-person shooter that serves as a sequel to the original Helldivers, a top-down shooter that debuted in 2015.
The game was released on February 8, 2024, for PlayStation 5 and Windows platforms. Despite its engaging gameplay, some users have encountered issues with the game freezing on loading screens during startup.
This technical glitch disrupts the smooth gaming experience that players anticipate from Helldivers 2.
Fix: Helldivers 2 is Stuck on the loading screen
If you find yourself experiencing a loading screen freeze while playing the newest Helldivers 2, we have compiled several effective troubleshooting techniques to help you overcome this problem. Please refer to the guide below for detailed instructions.
1. Check-out System Requirements
Before playing the game, check the system requirements to avoid issues with launching and gameplay.
Minimum System Requirements:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i7-4790K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 470
- Storage: 100 GB available space
Recommended System Requirements:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT
- Storage: 100 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD Recommended
2. Increase Virtual RAM
Virtual memory is a feature that integrates your computer’s RAM with a portion of the hard drive to enhance performance. When your system runs low on RAM, manually adjusting the virtual memory settings can provide a boost.
To modify your computer’s virtual memory, follow these steps:
- 1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- 2. Begin typing “advanced system settings” and select “View Advanced System Settings” from the results.
- 3. In the System Properties window, click on “Settings” under the Performance section.
- 4. Navigate to the “Advanced” tab and click on “Change” in the Virtual Memory section.
- 5. Deselect the option labeled “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.”
- 6. Choose your C: drive (the drive where Windows is installed) and select the “Custom size” option.
- 7. Enter “4096” in both the “Initial size (MB)” and “Maximum size (MB)” fields.
- Note: Ideally, it’s recommended to set your virtual memory to three times the amount of your current RAM (1 GB equals 1024 MB).
- 8. Click “Set” to apply the changes, then press “OK” to confirm.
Finally, restart your computer and the game to experience improved performance.
3. Properly Place the Storage and RAM in the slot
If you’re experiencing issues with Helldivers 2 being stuck on the loading screen, there’s a straightforward method you can try to resolve it. Start by carefully removing the side panel of your computer case.
Once you have access, disconnect the HDD/SSD and RAM from their respective slots, taking care to handle them gently to avoid any damage.
After that, clean both the slots and the components to ensure there is no dust or debris obstructing the connections.
Once everything is clean, reinsert the components securely into their slots. This process should help fix the loading issue and allow Helldivers 2 to run smoothly again.
4. Update GPU Drivers
To ensure your graphics driver on Windows is up to date, follow these instructions to install the latest patch:
- 1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to access the Quick Link Menu.
- 2. From the menu, select Device Manager, then expand the Display adapters section by double-clicking it.
- 3. Identify your dedicated graphics card, right-click on it, and choose the option to Update driver.
- 4. Opt for the Search automatically for drivers feature.
- 5. If an update is found, your system will handle the download and installation process on its own.
- 6. After the installation is complete, reboot your computer to enable the changes.
5. Close Unnecessary Background Tasks
To enhance your computer’s performance, consider terminating any unnecessary background processes that may be consuming resources. Here’s how you can do that:
- 1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- 2. Navigate to the Processes tab.
- 3. Identify and select the process you wish to terminate.
- 4. Click on “End Task” to close it. Repeat this step for each process you want to end individually.
- 5. After you’ve finished, restart your computer to apply the changes effectively.
This will help optimize your system’s efficiency.
6. Update Helldivers 2
If you haven’t refreshed your Helldivers 2 game in a while, here’s how to check for updates and install the latest patch if one is available.
- 1. Launch the Steam client on your computer.
- 2. Navigate to your Library and select Helldivers 2 from the list on the left.
- 3. The client will automatically look for any available updates. If an update is found, be sure to click on the “Update” option.
- 4. Allow the update to install; this process may take a few moments, so be patient and leave the Steam client open during this time.
- 5. Once the installation is complete, restart your PC to ensure all changes take effect. After rebooting, you can try launching the game again.
7. Check for Windows Updates
Over time, your Windows operating system may become outdated or experience corruption. If you think this might be the case, you can take the following steps to verify and apply any available updates. It is advisable to install these updates promptly to ensure your system benefits from the latest enhancements and bug fixes. Here’s how to check for and install updates on your Windows system:
- 1. Press the Windows key and the letter I simultaneously to access the Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to the “Update & Security” section, and then click on “Check for updates” within the Windows Update area.
- 3. If a feature update is available, click on “Download and Install” to begin the process.
- 4. Allow some time for the update to finish downloading and installing.
- 5. Finally, restart your computer to implement the changes right away.
8. Try Disabling Overlay Apps
Many popular applications feature their own overlay programs that can run in the background, potentially affecting gaming performance or causing difficulties during game launches. To mitigate these issues, you can disable these overlay functions 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 section under App Settings and toggle off the “Enable in-game overlay” option.
- 3. Go to the Games tab and select Helldivers 2.
- 4. Ensure that the “Enable in-game overlay” toggle is turned off.
- 5. Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
**Disabling the Xbox Game Bar
- 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access Windows Settings.
- 2. Select the Gaming option, then click on Game Bar.
- 3. Disable the option for recording game clips, taking screenshots, and broadcasting using the Game Bar.
- 4. If you cannot locate the Game Bar settings, you can use the search function in the Windows Settings menu to find it.
**Disabling Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay
- 1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and navigate to Settings.
- 2. Click on the General tab and turn off the In-Game Overlay feature.
- 3. Restart your computer to apply these changes and then relaunch Helldivers 2.
Additionally, be sure to disable any other overlay applications you may have running, such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB management software, or any other third-party overlays that operate in the background. This will help optimize your gaming experience.
9. Perform a Clean Boot
Some applications and their related services may start automatically when your system boots up. This can lead to excessive use of internet bandwidth and system resources. If you encounter this issue, you might want to consider executing a clean boot on your computer. This method can help you pinpoint the root cause of the problem. Here’s how to perform a clean boot:
- 1. Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to bring up the Run dialog.
- 2. Type “MSConfig” and press Enter to access the System Configuration window.
- 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 confirm your changes.
- 5. Next, go to the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager.”
- 6. In the Task Manager, switch to the Startup tab.
- 7. Identify any tasks that have a significant impact on startup and select them.
- 8. Click “Disable” to prevent these programs from launching at startup.
- 9. Repeat these steps for each program that contributes to a high startup impact.
- 10. Finally, restart your computer to implement the changes.
By following these instructions, you can ensure that only essential services and applications are activated during startup, which can significantly enhance your computer’s performance by minimizing resource usage.
10. Verify Game Files
In the event that you encounter problems with your game files, such as corruption or missing data, follow these steps to quickly identify and resolve the issue.
- 1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate Helldivers 2 in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
- 3. Select “Properties” from the dropdown menu, then proceed to the “Local Files” tab.
- 4. Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
- 5. Allow the verification process to complete; this may take some time.
- 6. Once finished, restart your computer.
We hope this guide assists you in addressing the loading screen issue in Helldivers 2 on your PC.
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