Metro Exodus Crashing or Not Working on PC

Metro Exodus Crashing or Not Working on PC: How to FIX

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Metro Exodus Crashing or Not Working on PC: Released in 2019, Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter and the third installment in the acclaimed Metro game series, which includes Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light. Developed by 4A Games and published by Deep Silver, it is available on multiple platforms, including Windows PC, Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

However, some players have reported experiencing crashing issues when attempting to launch the game on PC. If you find yourself facing this problem, the following troubleshooting guide offers several potential solutions to help resolve the issue.

It’s important to note that both PC and console games can encounter startup crashes or launching difficulties, and these problems are not solely the responsibility of the developers. Various factors on the player’s end may contribute to these startup issues. By following the suggested workarounds below, you may be able to fix the crashing problem and enjoy a smoother gaming experience.

Why Does Metro Exodus Keep Crashing?

As previously noted, there are numerous factors that can lead to a startup failure or prevent a game from launching properly. These may include an incompatible PC configuration, outdated graphics drivers, an obsolete version of Windows, an old DirectX installation, or even an outdated version of the game itself.

Each of these issues can create conflicts that hinder game performance. Additionally, missing or corrupted game files, as well as interference from overlay applications, can also contribute to these problems.

Moreover, other potential culprits may include an outdated game launcher, unnecessary background processes, programs that run at startup, conflicts with antivirus or security software, and issues related to Visual C++ Redistributables. All of these factors can interfere with the smooth operation of your game. With that in mind, let’s dive into the solutions to address these issues effectively.

1. Check System Requirements

Ensure that you’re having the compatible PC configuration so that the Metro Exodus game runs properly without any kind of issue.

Minimum System Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 7/8/10
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-4440 or equivalent
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 670 / GeForce GTX 1050 / AMD Radeon HD 7870
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 59 GB available space
  • Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card

Recommended System Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-4770k or equivalent
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 1070 / GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD RX VEGA 56
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Storage: 59 GB available space
  • Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card

2. Update Graphics Drivers

To ensure optimal performance of your software applications on a Windows system, it’s essential to keep your graphics drivers up to date. Here’s how you can do that:

  • 1. Begin by right-clicking on the Start Menu to access the Quick Access Menu.
  • 2. Select “Device Manager” from the options presented.
  • 3. Locate and double-click on the “Display adapters” section to reveal the list of installed graphics devices.
  • 4. Find your dedicated graphics card, right-click on its name, and choose “Update driver.”
  • 5. Opt for “Search automatically for drivers.” If a newer version is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.
  • 6. After the installation is complete, reboot your computer to apply the changes.

Alternatively, you can manually download the latest graphics driver directly from the official website of your graphics card’s manufacturer. For users of Nvidia graphics cards, updates can be accessed through the GeForce Experience application available on Nvidia’s official site. AMD graphics card users should visit the AMD website for their driver updates.

3. Update Windows

Keeping your Windows operating system up to date is crucial for all PC users, especially gamers. Regular updates help minimize system errors, enhance compatibility, and prevent crashes. Additionally, new updates often bring valuable features, improvements, and security enhancements. To update your Windows OS, 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, then click on “Check for updates” within the Windows Update area.
  • 3. If a feature update is available, choose the option to download and install it.
  • 4. The update process may take some time to finish.
  • 5. After the update is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.

By regularly updating your system, you can ensure optimal performance and security.

4. Run the game as an administrator

To prevent potential privilege-related issues with user account control, it’s important to run the game executable file as an administrator. Additionally, you should also launch the Steam client with administrative rights. Here’s how you can do that:

  • 1. Right-click on the Metro Exodus shortcut on your desktop or in your file directory.
  • 2. From the context menu, choose ‘Properties’ and navigate to the ‘Compatibility’ tab.
  • 3. Look for the option labeled ‘Run this program as an administrator’ and ensure the checkbox is selected.
  • 4. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to confirm your changes.

Be sure to repeat these steps for the Steam client as well. This process may help resolve any issues you’re experiencing with Metro Exodus on your computer.

5. Close Background Running Tasks

Background tasks and programs that are not needed can significantly drain system resources such as CPU and memory, leading to a noticeable decline in performance.

This can manifest as frequent crashes, lag, or loading problems. To alleviate these issues, it is important to completely terminate any unnecessary background processes. Here’s how you can do this:

  • 1. Press **Ctrl + Shift + Esc** simultaneously to launch the Task Manager.
  • 2. Navigate to the **Processes** tab.
  • 3. Identify and select any tasks that are running in the background and consuming excessive system resources.
  • 4. Click on **End Task** to terminate these processes one at a time.
  • 5. After you have finished closing the unnecessary tasks, restart your computer.

Once your system has rebooted, check to see if the crashing issues in Metro Exodus have been resolved. If problems persist, consider trying the next troubleshooting method.

6. Set High Priority in Task Manager

To optimize your gaming experience for Metro Exodus on your Windows system, you can adjust the game’s priority level through the Task Manager. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Right-click on the Start Menu and choose Task Manager.
  • 2. Navigate to the Processes tab and locate the Metro Exodus game in the list.
  • 3. Right-click on the game’s task and select “Set Priority,” then choose “High.”
  • 4. Exit the Task Manager.

Once you’ve completed these steps, launch Metro Exodus to see if the crashing issue on your PC has been resolved.

7. Reinstall DirectX (Latest)

To ensure optimal performance while playing Metro Exodus, consider downloading and installing the most recent version of DirectX from the official Microsoft website for your PC or laptop. Simply obtain the DirectX installer package, execute the installation process, and follow the prompts. Remember, for smooth gameplay, your system needs to have DirectX 12 or a newer version installed.

8. Disable Windows Firewall or Antivirus Program

It’s quite possible that either the default Windows Defender Firewall or a third-party antivirus program is obstructing your connections or causing issues with game files, which may lead to problems like Metro Exodus crashing on your PC. To troubleshoot this, consider temporarily disabling both the real-time protection and the firewall settings. Here’s how you can do that:

  • 1. Open the Start Menu and type “firewall.”
  • 2. Click on “Windows Defender Firewall” from the search results.
  • 3. On the left side, select “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.”
  • 4. A new window will appear; choose the “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended)” option for both the Private and Public Network Settings.
  • 5. After making your selections, click OK to apply the changes.
  • 6. Finally, restart your computer.

Next, you should also disable Windows Security protection. Follow these steps:

  • 1. Press Windows + I to access the Windows Settings menu.
  • 2. Navigate to “Update & Security” and then select “Windows Security” from the sidebar.
  • 3. Click on the “Open Windows Security” button.
  • 4. Go to “Virus & threat protection” and then select “Manage settings.”
  • 5. Turn off the toggle for “Real-time protection.”
  • 6. If prompted, confirm your choice by clicking Yes.

If desired, you can also disable additional features such as cloud-delivered protection and Tamper protection for further troubleshooting. After completing these steps, try launching the game again to see if the crashing issue has been resolved.

9. Set High Performance in Power Options

If your Windows system is currently set to Balanced mode in the Power Options, switching to High-Performance mode may yield better performance. Keep in mind that this setting will increase power consumption, which could affect battery life. Here’s how to make the change:

  • 1. Open the Start Menu and type “Control Panel”, then select it from the search results.
  • 2. Navigate to Hardware and Sound, and then click on Power Options.
  • 3. Select the High Performance option to activate it.
  • 4. After making this change, it’s important to close the window and perform a complete shutdown of your computer. To do this, click on the Start Menu, go to Power, and choose Shut Down.
  • 5. Once your system is completely powered off, you can turn it back on.

This adjustment should help resolve the crashing issue with Metro Exodus on your PC in most cases. If the problem persists despite this change, consider exploring additional troubleshooting methods.

10. Close the game from Background Apps

If you’re experiencing ongoing problems with Metro Exodus, one potential solution is to disable it from the Background Apps settings on your PC. Here’s how to do that:

  • 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access the Windows Settings menu.
  • 2. Navigate to the Privacy section and locate Background apps in the left sidebar.
  • 3. Scroll through the list to find the Metro Exodus title.
  • 4. Toggle the switch next to it to the off position.
  • 5. After making this change, close the Settings window and restart your computer.

This approach should help resolve any issues you’re facing. If the problem persists, consider trying the next troubleshooting method.

11. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

To resolve various gaming problems or errors, it’s essential to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime on your computer. Here’s how you can do it:

  • 1. Press the Windows key to access the Start Menu.
  • 2. In the search bar, type “Apps & Features” and select it from the results.
  • 3. Look through the list for the Microsoft Visual C++ programs.
  • 4. Click on each program you find and choose the Uninstall option.
  • 5. Head over to the official Microsoft website to download the latest version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
  • 6. After the download is complete, install the software on your computer and restart your system to apply the changes.

This process should help eliminate any ongoing gaming issues.

12. Perform a Clean Boot

Certain applications and services may launch automatically during your system’s boot-up process. This can lead to significant consumption of both internet bandwidth and system resources. If you’re experiencing these issues, it may be beneficial to perform a clean boot to identify the root cause. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to bring up the Run dialog box.
  • 2. In the box, type “msconfig” and press Enter to access the System Configuration utility.
  • 3. Navigate to the Services tab and check the box labeled “Hide all Microsoft services.”
  • 4. Click on “Disable all,” then select “Apply,” and confirm with “OK” to implement the 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 tasks that show a high startup impact and select them.
  • 8. Click “Disable” to prevent these tasks from launching during startup.
  • 9. Repeat this process for any other applications with significant startup impacts.

After completing these steps, be sure to restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect.

13. Try Disabling Overlay Apps

Certain widely used applications can operate their own overlay features, which may run in the background and potentially hinder gaming performance or cause difficulties during game launches. To resolve these issues, consider disabling the overlays by following these steps:

**Disable Discord Overlay:

  • 1. Open the Discord application and click on the gear icon located at the bottom.
  • 2. Navigate to the Overlay section under App Settings and toggle off the “Enable in-game overlay” option.
  • 3. Go to the Games tab, select Metro Exodus, and ensure the in-game overlay toggle is turned off.
  • 4. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

**Disable Xbox Game Bar:

  • 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access Windows Settings.
  • 2. Select the Gaming category and 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, use the search function within the Windows Settings menu.

**Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

  • 1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and go to Settings.
  • 2. In the General tab, find the In-Game Overlay option and disable it.
  • 3. Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect, then relaunch your game.

Additionally, be mindful of disabling other overlay applications that may be running in the background, such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, or any other third-party overlay programs. This can help further optimize your gaming experience.

14. Verify Integrity of Game Files

Should you encounter any problems with the game files, such as corruption or missing elements, follow these steps to efficiently diagnose the issue.

For Steam Users:

  • 1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate Metro Exodus in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
  • 3. Select ‘Properties’ from the context menu, then proceed to the ‘Local Files’ tab.
  • 4. Click on the option labeled ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files.’
  • 5. Allow the system to complete the verification process; this may take some time.
  • 6. Once the verification is finished, restart your computer to ensure all changes are applied.

15. Disable CPU or GPU Overclocking

It’s important to note that if you’re experiencing frequent crashes or stuttering in your games, you should avoid enabling CPU or GPU overclocking on your PC.

While overclocking can significantly enhance gaming performance, it can also lead to problems related to bottlenecks or compatibility. For the best overall performance, consider reverting your settings to their default frequencies.

16. Update Metro Exodus Game

If you haven’t updated your Metro Exodus game in a while, it’s a good idea to check for any available updates and install the latest patch. Here’s how to do that:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client.
  • 2. Navigate to your Library and select Metro Exodus 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 to start the installation process.
  • 4. Please allow some time for the update to complete. Once it’s finished, close the Steam client.
  • 5. To ensure all changes are applied, restart your PC, and then try launching the game again.

We hope you find this guide helpful! If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

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