Hollow Knight Keeps Crashing on PC

Hollow Knight Keeps Crashing on PC: How to FIX

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Hollow Knight Keeps Crashing on PC: Understanding why the game crashes is the first step to resolving it. Some frequent causes include:

  1. Outdated / incompatible graphics drivers
    Old, corrupted, or incompatible GPU drivers often lead to crashes, especially when the game uses DirectX or GPU features the driver doesn’t fully support.

  2. Corrupted game files / missing files
    If some files are missing, damaged, or mismatched, crashes may occur.

  3. Conflicting background software / overlays / monitoring tools
    Overlays (Discord, Steam overlay, GeForce Experience), performance monitors, recording tools, or enterprise apps (like Citrix) sometimes interfere with game engines (especially Unity).

    One user noted they got Access Violation crashes involving UnityPlayer.dll, d3d11.dll, etc. despite updating drivers and disabling mods. Reddit

  4. Mods / mod loaders / corrupted mod setups
    If you mod Hollow Knight (for example with Scarab, HKMP, etc.), a broken mod or incompatible version can cause immediate or random crashes.

    A user said the game crashed immediately when “scarab” was enabled until updating to a newer game version. Reddit

  5. Hardware / overclocking instability
    Overclocked GPU, unstable RAM, temperature issues, or inadequate power supply can cause the game to crash under load.

  6. DirectX / Visual C++ libraries missing or mismatched
    The game depends on up-to-date runtime libraries; lacking them or having conflicting versions can trigger crashes.

  7. System compatibility / OS issues
    Windows version, missing updates, or driver conflicts may block proper execution.

  8. Resolution / display / monitor issues
    In rare cases, using a TV as a display, odd refresh rates, or HDMI/DisplayPort issues may crash the PC or game.

    One user reported hooking their PC to a TV caused crashes that didn’t happen on a monitor. Reddit

  9. Memory / disk corruption
    RAM errors, bad sectors on the game drive, or storage issues may corrupt game data mid-play.

  10. Unity engine / bug in a patch
    The version of the game itself or the Unity build may have bugs that crash in specific scenes or under certain conditions.

Given this multitude of causes, a systematic approach is best.

Step-by-Step Fixes & Troubleshooting

Here’s a checklist to go through. Apply each step, test whether the crash stops, and move on if needed.

1. Restart & Basic Housekeeping

  • Fully reboot your PC (not just closing the game).

  • Make sure your system is updated (Windows Update).

  • Free up disk space: ensure sufficient free space on drive where Hollow Knight is installed.

  • Close background apps (especially heavy ones like browsers, video editors, overlays).

2. Update / Clean-Install Graphics Drivers

  • Go to your GPU vendor’s site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).

  • Download the latest driver for your model.

  • Use a tool like DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in safe mode to remove old drivers cleanly, then install the fresh one.

  • Restart and test.

A “clean install” of drivers is commonly cited as resolving persistent crashes. Reddit+1

3. Verify / Repair Game Files

If you’re using Steam:

  • Open your Steam Library → Right-click Hollow Knight → Properties → Local Files → “Verify integrity of game files.”

  • Let Steam scan and re-download missing or corrupted files.

This often fixes crashes caused by damaged or missing files. The Windows Club+2The CPU Guide+2

If you’re using another game client (GOG, etc.), use its repair / verify function.

4. Run as Administrator & Disable Compatibility / Optimizations

  • Navigate to the game’s executable (e.g. hollow_knight.exe in the game folder).

  • Right-click → Properties → Compatibility tab:
     • Enable “Run this program as administrator”
     • Tick “Disable fullscreen optimizations”
     • Under Change high DPI settings, check “Override high DPI scaling behavior” (set to Application)

  • Apply and launch the game.

These help ensure the game has permission and is not interfered with by Windows scaling or compatibility quirks. The Windows Club

5. Disable Overlays, Monitoring/Recording Tools & Conflicting Software

Temporarily turn off:

  • Steam overlay

  • Discord overlay

  • GeForce Experience overlay / shadowplay

  • OBS, FRAPS, MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner

  • Any on-screen FPS counters or performance monitors

  • Enterprise software like Citrix Workspace (which has been flagged as conflicting) The Economic Times+2Oldies Nest+2

  • Antivirus / firewall (temporarily) or add the game folder to exclusions

Try launching after disabling each; sometimes just one overlay is the culprit.

6. Remove / Disable Mods / Mod Loader

If you have installed mods:

  • Temporarily remove or disable all mods and mod loader.

  • Launch the base game to see if the crash still happens.

  • If the game runs without crashing, add mods back one by one to isolate the problematic mod.

A user mentioned that enabling “scarab” mod made the game crash until the game version was updated. Reddit

7. Check Hardware Stability & Temperatures

  • Monitor GPU and CPU temperatures (via HWMonitor, MSI Afterburner, etc.).

  • If temperatures are extremely high under load, the system may crash to protect itself.

  • Disable overclocks (set CPU/GPU to stock) and test again.

  • Run memory diagnostic tools (MemTest86) to check for RAM errors.

  • Check your power supply is adequate and stable.

8. Install / Repair Visual C++ & DirectX Libraries

  • Download / install the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables (all versions: 2015, 2017, 2019, etc.).

  • Update DirectX (use the DirectX End-User Runtime installer).

  • Some mods/games may need specific older runtime versions too.

Missing or mismatched runtimes often cause launch crashes or module errors. LagoFast+3Oldies Nest+3The Windows Club+3

9. Switch / Force Graphics API (DirectX / DX11 / DX12 / Vulkan)

Some games allow command-line or launch options to specify which graphics API to use.

  • For Hollow Knight: Silksong, some guides suggest using -dx12 or switching to -dx11 if crashes persist. Deltia’s Gaming

  • For the original Hollow Knight, check whether there’s a launch option to use a different rendering backend (if supported).

  • If the game supports forcing OpenGL or Vulkan, try alternatives.

10. Reinstall the Game

  • Uninstall Hollow Knight completely (via Steam or client).

  • Delete leftover folders (in game install folder and in %LocalAppData%, %AppData%, etc.).

  • Re-download/install fresh.

  • After installation, test without mods first.

Many users have reported that a clean reinstall fixed persistent crash loops. Reddit+2Oldies Nest+2

11. Use Launch Options / Command-Line Flags

Some flags help mitigate crashes:

  • Open Steam → Library → Properties → Set Launch Options

  • Try adding flags like -force-d3d11 or -dx11 or -dx12, depending on what the game supports

  • You may also try -windowed, -noborder, or other graphics mode flags to reduce stress on rendering

12. Check Event Viewer / Crash Logs

  • After a crash, open Windows Event Viewer → Windows Logs → Application → look for error entries related to the game.

  • The game or modloader may generate logs in its folder; inspect for error tracebacks.

  • Look for “Access Violation,” “Unhandled Exception,” or DLL names (like UnityPlayer.dll, d3d11.dll) to narrow down causes.

13. Test on a Different Monitor / Display Setup

If you’re running the game through a TV, or via HDMI adapters, try:

  • Using a standard PC monitor

  • Changing cables (HDMI ↔ DisplayPort)

  • Simplifying display setup (single monitor)

  • Checking native refresh rate / resolution settings

A user reported that their game crashed when hooked to a TV but not when on a monitor. Reddit

14. Update OS / Install System Updates

  • Make sure Windows is fully updated (including optional patches).

  • Update motherboard BIOS / firmware (if applicable).

  • Ensure system drivers (chipset, etc.) are current.

15. Seek Community / Mod Author Support

If after all that it still crashes:

  • Post in mod forums or communities (if using mods) with logs and conditions.

  • Check if other users have experienced crashes in the same map/scene.

  • Sometimes developers release patches for crash issues in particular areas.

One user reported crashing repeatedly in The Hive area, implying a scene-specific bug. Reddit

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Real User Reports & Observations

  • “I reinstalled Hollow Knight … after ~5–10 minutes it just restarted my PC.” Reddit

  • “Deleted HK, deleted AppData LocalLow, clean GPU drivers install, then installed again → worked.” Reddit

  • “Crash in random places: verifying files, reinstalling, disabling overlays, turning off mods — nothing helps.” Reddit+1

  • “Scarab mod caused crash until updating the game version.” Reddit

These reflect how varied crash triggers can be. Often the fix is a combination (e.g. clean driver + remove overlays + disable mods).

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here are questions people often ask and the answers.

Q1. Why does the game crash immediately on launch (before even showing the menu)?
A: This is often due to corrupted game files, missing runtime libraries (Visual C++ / DirectX), mod loader issues, or conflicting software (overlays). Start by verifying files, disabling overlays, and checking dependencies.

Q2. The crash happens only after 10–30 minutes, or during certain areas. Why?
A: That could signal scene-specific bugs, memory leaks, hardware instability under load, or corrupted assets in a specific map. Use the steps above (reinstall, disable mods, logs, hardware checks) to isolate. One user crashed in The Hive repeatedly. Reddit

Q3. I have mods. Could they be the cause?
A: Yes — mods are a frequent culprit. A bad mod or version mismatch usually causes crashes. Remove all mods and test a clean install first. If clean works, reintroduce mods one by one.

Q4. Does disabling overlays always fix crashes?
A: No, but overlays are common causes of instability (particularly with Unity games). Disabling Steam, Discord, GeForce, and monitoring overlays is a good test. If disabling them fixes the crash, you know the overlay was interfering.

Q5. My PC meets recommended specs — should crashes still happen?
A: Yes — even powerful PCs can crash if drivers are faulty, software conflicts exist, or hardware is unstable (overclock, thermal issues). Meeting specs doesn’t always guarantee stability.

Q6. How do I know which crash is caused by hardware vs software?
A: Hardware issues often cause system-level crashes (PC restarts, blue screens). Software crashes typically log an application error, dump a crash trace, or generate an error message. Monitoring temperatures, running diagnostic tests, and examining crash logs help differentiate.

Q7. After a game update, crashes started happening — what should I do?
A: Often updates introduce new bugs or invalidate mods. Steps:

  • Reverify game files

  • Ensure mods / mod loader are updated or disabled

  • Reinstall the game

  • Reinstall dependencies (DirectX, Visual C++)

  • Update drivers again

Q8. What’s the role of “Access Violation (0xc0000005)” errors I sometimes see?
A: That is a common Windows error indicating the program attempted to read/write invalid memory. Causes include bad pointers in code (mods), memory corruption, driver bugs, or incompatible software. It’s not unique to Hollow Knight. Reddit

Q9. Can I prevent crashes permanently, or is this just trial and error?
A: You can’t guarantee perfection (especially with mods or new patches), but you can significantly reduce crashes by:

  • Keeping drivers and OS up to date

  • Avoiding mod conflicts

  • Disabling overlays

  • Testing stability after each change

  • Monitoring hardware health

  • Backing up clean installs / working configs

Q10. I’ve tried everything; the game still crashes. What now?
A: If you’ve exhausted the above steps:

  • Collect crash logs, error codes, and system info (OS version, GPU, RAM, mod list).

  • Post on the game’s or mod’s official forums or community (Reddit, GitHub).

  • Ask whether the crash happens on a different PC (if possible).

  • Wait for patch updates — sometimes a bug in the game or engine is fixed later.

Summary & Best Practices

  • Start with simple fixes: reboot, update drivers, verify game files.

  • Disable overlays and conflicting software before deeper intervention.

  • If you mod the game, test vanilla first.

  • Use clean installs and hardware stability checks.

  • Keep runtime libraries (DirectX, Visual C++) current.

  • Use logs, Event Viewer, monitoring tools to trace crash causes.

  • Be cautious with overclocking or unstable systems.

  • Always backup your save files and working setup.

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