Modern Warfare 3 Crashing on PC: How to FIX

Modern Warfare 3 Crashing on PC: Released in 2023, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” is a first-person shooter developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision.

This title marks the third installment in the revamped Modern Warfare series and is the twentieth overall entry in the Call of Duty franchise. Players can expect a diverse selection of maps, expansive ground war modes, an array of new weapons and equipment, and the introduction of fresh operators.

As with most newly launched games, it’s not uncommon to encounter some glitches and technical issues across various platforms.

Currently, many PC gamers are reporting a crashing problem with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. If you find yourself facing similar difficulties, rest assured that you are not alone in this experience. Users have noted that crashes may occur during the game loading process or while actively playing.

Several factors might contribute to these crashing issues on the PC version, including outdated patches, corrupted game files, drivers that need updating, hardware incompatibilities, or an outdated Windows operating system.

Fix: Modern Warfare 3 Crashing on PC

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is currently enjoying widespread popularity among gamers on various platforms. However, it has become somewhat customary for PC players to experience crashing issues, which can significantly diminish the overall gaming experience, especially during launch or when attempting to connect to matchmaking.

Fortunately, we’ve compiled several potential solutions that may help address these issues. We recommend trying each method until the problem is resolved. Let’s dive into the details.”

1. Restart the PC

Prior to attempting any alternative solutions, it’s advisable to restart your computer. This simple action can help refresh the system and resolve any temporary glitches or cached data that may be causing problems with game launches. Since rebooting is a quick process, it’s worth trying as a first step.

2. Check the MW3 System Requirements

It’s important to verify the system requirements for Modern Warfare III to avoid any compatibility problems with your computer. If you find that your hardware or software may not support the MW3 game, please refer to the information below for guidance.

Minimum Specs:

OS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
RAM: 12 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / GeForce GTX 1650 / AMD Radeon RX 480
Video Memory: 3 GB
Storage Space: SSD with 65 GB available space (25 GB with COD HQ downloaded)

Recommended Specs:

OS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows 11 64 Bit (latest update)
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
RAM: 16 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 / GeForce RTX 3050 / AMD Radeon RX Vega
Video Memory: 6 GB
Storage Space: SSD with 65 GB available space (25 GB with COD HQ downloaded)

3. Run MW3 as an Administrator

To avoid any potential issues related to system permissions while playing Modern Warfare III, it’s important to run the game as an administrator. Here’s how to do that on your PC:

1. Navigate to the folder where the game is installed.
2. Locate the file named COD MWIII.exe and right-click on it.
3. Select ‘Properties’ from the context menu, then go to the ‘Compatibility’ tab.
4. Check the box next to ‘Run this program as an administrator’ to activate it.
5. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to confirm your changes.

Following these steps will help ensure a smoother gaming experience.

4. Update Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

To ensure optimal performance of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III on your PC, it’s advisable to manually check for game updates. Running an outdated version can lead to various launch issues. Here’s how to do it on different platforms:

**For Battle.net:

1. Launch the Battle.net client.
2. Navigate to your library and select Modern Warfare III.
3. Click on the gear icon next to the game title.
4. Choose the option to Check for Updates.
5. If an update is found, proceed to download and install it.

**For Steam:

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Modern Warfare III and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Updates tab and set Automatic Updates to “Only update this game when I launch it.”
4. Launch Modern Warfare III to allow any available downloads to install.
5. If you prefer, you can return to the Updates section and select “High Priority – Always auto-update this game before others” to prioritize updates.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your game is up to date and running smoothly.

5. Verify and Repair the Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can sometimes cause issues when launching games on your PC. To prevent these errors, it’s advisable to verify and repair your game files. Here’s how you can do it based on the platform you’re using:

**For Battle.net:

1. Launch the Battle.net client and navigate to Modern Warfare III.
2. Click on the gear icon located next to the Play button.
3. Choose the option for Scan and Repair, then allow the process to finish.

**For Steam:

1. Open the Steam application and head to your Library.
2. Right-click on Modern Warfare III within your game list.
3. Select Properties from the menu.
4. Navigate to the Local Files tab and click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
5. Wait until the verification process is complete.

By following these steps, you can ensure your game files are intact and ready for a smooth gaming experience.

6. Update the Graphics Driver

An outdated or malfunctioning graphics card driver can lead to various problems with game performance and overall system operations. To enhance your gaming experience and system efficiency, it’s advisable to check for updates to your graphics driver. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Press the Win+X keys together to access the Quick Link Menu.
2. Select Device Manager from the list that appears, then double-click on Display adapters.
3. Locate your active graphics card, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
4. Choose the option to Search automatically for drivers.
5. If a new version is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.
6. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

Alternatively, you can also visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer to manually download and install the latest driver. Be sure to select the correct driver that matches your specific graphics card model and brand.

7. Close Unnecessary Processes

Excessive background processes and programs can significantly consume system resources such as CPU and memory, leading to a decline in overall performance. This can result in frequent issues like startup crashes, lag, and loading failures. To improve your system’s efficiency, it’s advisable to terminate any unnecessary third-party processes running in the background. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to the Processes tab.
3. Identify and select any non-essential tasks that are using a considerable amount of memory.
4. Click on “End Task” to terminate these processes. Repeat this step for any other unnecessary third-party tasks.
5. Once you have closed all unwanted tasks, restart your computer to implement the changes.

By following these steps, you can optimize your system’s performance and reduce potential issues.

8. Disable Overlays

Certain widely-used applications may include their own overlay features, which can sometimes interfere with gaming performance or even prevent games from launching properly. To resolve these issues, it is advisable to disable these overlays by following these steps:

**Disable Discord Overlay:

1. Open the Discord application and click the gear icon located at the bottom of the screen.
2. Navigate to the Overlay section within the App Settings and enable the in-game overlay option.
3. Click on the Games tab and select Starfield from the list.
4. Turn off the Enable in-game overlay setting.
5. Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

**Disable Xbox Game Bar:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to access Windows Settings.
2. Select the Gaming option and then choose Game Bar.
3. Disable the option that allows recording of game clips, taking screenshots, and broadcasting via the Game Bar.

**Disable Game Mode:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
2. Go to the Gaming section and select Game Mode.
3. Toggle the setting to turn it off.

**Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and navigate to Settings.
2. Go to the General tab and disable the In-Game Overlay feature.
3. Restart your computer to apply the changes, then try launching the game again.

Additionally, remember to turn off any other overlay applications that may be running in the background, such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB control software, or any customization tools for keyboards and mice. This can further improve your gaming experience.

9. Perform a Clean Boot

Numerous reports suggest that various third-party applications often run in the background when Windows starts up. To enhance system performance, it’s essential to conduct a clean boot and disable any startup programs that may conflict with each other.

To begin, press the Win+R keys simultaneously to access the Run dialog box. Next, input “msconfig” and press Enter to launch the System Configuration utility.
Navigate to the Services tab and check the box labeled “Hide all Microsoft services.” After that, click on “Disable all,” then apply your changes by clicking “Apply” followed by “OK.”
Next, shift to the Startup tab by selecting “Open Task Manager.” In Task Manager, go to the Startup tab. Here, identify any tasks that have a high startup impact. Select each of these tasks individually and click “Disable” to prevent them from launching at startup.

Repeat this process for all programs that are listed with a higher startup impact. Once you have disabled the necessary applications, remember to restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

10. Disable CPU or GPU Overclocking

In certain situations, an overclocked CPU or GPU in your computer can create compatibility issues with other components, potentially leading to bottlenecks.

To troubleshoot any crashing problems, it’s advisable to either temporarily disable the overclocking or revert the CPU/GPU settings back to their factory defaults.

This will help you identify the underlying cause of the crashes. There are various software tools available that can assist in modifying the overclock settings for your CPU or GPU, including MSI Afterburner, Riva Tuner, AMD Ryzen Master, and EVGA Precision X, among others.

11. Use High Performance in Power Plan

If your Windows system is currently set to Balanced mode in the Power Options, consider switching to High-Performance mode to enhance performance. Keep in mind that this setting may increase power consumption or drain your battery faster. Here’s how to make the change:

1. Click on the Start Menu and search for the Control Panel.
2. Navigate to Hardware and Sound, then select Power Options.
3. Choose the High Performance option, and then fully shut down your computer.
4. After shutting down, restart your computer to apply the new setting.

By following these steps, you can optimize your system’s performance effectively.

12. Update DirectX

To ensure optimal performance, it’s essential to update your DirectX installation. An outdated version can lead to various problems, including difficulties with program launches and conflicts within system processes. Here’s how to update DirectX on your PC:

1. Navigate to the official Microsoft website to download the most recent version of the DirectX installer.
2. Execute the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation process.
3. After the installation is finished, restart your computer to implement the changes.

By keeping DirectX up to date, you can help avoid potential issues and enhance your system’s functionality.

13. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

If your Windows computer is not equipped with the latest version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime, you may experience various issues. To resolve this, follow these steps:

1. Access the Start Menu and navigate to “Apps & Features.”
2. In the list of installed applications, locate and select each Microsoft Visual C++ program individually.
3. Click on the “Uninstall” option for each program.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
5. Next, visit the official Microsoft website to download the latest version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
6. After the download is complete, install the VCRedist package on your computer.
7. Finally, restart your system to apply the changes.

By ensuring you have the most recent version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime, you can help prevent potential issues and enhance your system’s performance.

14. Update Windows

Using an old version or build of the Windows operating system may lead to various performance setbacks, including difficulties in launching games and other system-related problems. To ensure your system runs smoothly, follow these instructions to update your OS:

1. Open Windows Settings by pressing the Win+I keys simultaneously.
2. Navigate to the Update & Security section.
3. Click on the “Check for updates” option under Windows Update.
4. If a feature update is available, choose the option to Download and Install it.
5. Allow the update process to finish.
6. After the update is complete, restart your computer to finalize the installation.

15. Contact Activision Support

Should the previous solutions not yield results, we recommend reaching out to Activision Support to file a support ticket. Doing so will enable the developers to delve deeper into the problem and provide you with more effective assistance.

Modern Warfare 3 Stuck on Loading Screen on PC: 23 Ways to Fix

Modern Warfare 3 Shaders Optimization Slow or Getting Stuck: How to FIX

COD Modern Warfare 3 Error Your GPU Driver Version Does Not Meet The Recommended: How to FIX