Path of Exile 2 can keep you hooked for hours but only if you are not having to deal with any crashes and errors. We are talking about this because, for some unfortunate players, the game crashes with an endless black screen after being launched. Since you clicked on this guide, you are probably facing the same issue and looking for a fix. Well, let’s see what fixes are available.
Do not forget that the game is still in the early access phase so these errors are understandable. Besides, crashes and black screen issues can happen with any game and are not at all exclusive to Path of Exile 2. The question now is, have the developers acknowledged the issue? Is there any sure-shot fix? What about player-suggested fixes? Here are the answers.
Path of Exile 2 Crashing & Black Screen Issues: Is there any fix yet
While we do not have an official fix, we do have a lot of potential workarounds that could solve the issue for you. The catch is that none of these workarounds are guaranteed to work for everyone. So, you might have success with one fix from the range of fixes listed below, which is why you gotta try them all.
Restart and run as admin
First things first, start with a restart of your PC. After that, go to the game’s installation folder, locate the .exe file, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator. If the issue persists, try compatibility mode by right-clicking the .exe file, selecting Properties, navigating to the Compatibility tab, and enabling the compatibility mode for an older version of Windows.
No Overlays
Overlays like Steam, Discord, Nvidia ShadowPlay, or any other app that you use can sometimes conflict with the game and cause performance or stability issues. To disable the Steam overlay, open Steam, go to your library, right-click on Path of Exile 2, and select Properties. Under the General tab, uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game. Similarly, disable overlays from Discord or GeForce Experience via their respective settings.
No overclocking
Another culprit could be overclocking. If you are one of those advanced users, you might have to revert back to normal frequencies to fix the crashes in Path of Exile 2. You need to look out for overclocking applications like MSI Afterburner or Rivatuner. Close these applications before launching the game. Also, if you’ve overclocked your hardware, reset your GPU and CPU to their default clock speeds so that the system runs smoothly.
Switch to DirectX 11 or Vulkan
Many issues, like crashes or black screens in Path of Exile 2, can stem from compatibility problems with the rendering API. So how do you solve it? Well, by switching to DirectX 11 or Vulka. To do this, open File Explorer and navigate to Documents > My Games > Path of Exile 2. Locate the config file, right-click it, and open it with Notepad. Look for the line that says renderer_type=DirectX12 and change it to renderer_type=DirectX11. Save the changes by going to File > Save. If that does not fix it, try the “Vulkan” option.
Disable Multithreading
Multithreading is a feature that uses multiple CPU threads for better performance, but it can sometimes cause instability in specific systems. Disabling multithreading may improve the game’s stability. Again, you will have to tweak the config file to make the changes. Open it and use Ctrl + F to search for “multi-threading.” Locate the line that mentions engine_uncore_multithreading and change its value from enabled to disabled. Save the file by going to File > Save, then close it and relaunch the game.
Delete the Configuration File
Corrupted configuration files can often lead to crashes or black screens. Deleting these files forces the game to recreate default settings, which can resolve the issue. Head over to the Documents folder, open the My Games folder, and find the Path of Exile 2 directory. Delete the poe2_production_Config file and restart the game. Keep in mind that this will reset all your customized settings.
Verify Game Files
Missing or corrupted game files can also cause these issues. Verifying the integrity of game files ensures all necessary components are intact. Open Steam, go to your library, right-click on Path of Exile 2, and select Properties. Open up the Installed Files tab and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. Steam will scan for and fix any missing or damaged files.
Install Visual C++ Redistributables
Modern games often need a few other applications/software as dependencies. The absence of these programs, especially the Visual C++ Redistributables, could be the reason for Path of Exile 2’s crashing issues. To rule out this issue, download the latest Visual C++ Redistributables from Microsoft’s official website. Install the package and restart your PC. Launch the game and see if this fixes the issue.
GPU fixes
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a common cause of crashes or black screens. Perform a clean installation to ensure no remnants of the old drivers interfere. Begin by downloading the latest drivers from the Nvidia or AMD website, installing them, and restarting your PC. Before you launch the game, open Windows settings and navigate to System > Display > Graphics Settings. Add the game’s .exe file and set it to High Performance to force it to use the dedicated GPU. If you’re using an Nvidia card, you can also configure this in the Nvidia Control Panel under Manage 3D Settings.
Allow the Game Through Antivirus and Firewall
Sometimes, your antivirus or firewall can block the game from accessing certain resources, leading to crashes. To fix this, open your antivirus software and add the game’s .exe file to its exceptions or exclusions list. For Windows Firewall, go to Windows Security, select Firewall & Network Protection, and click Allow an app through Firewall. Add the game’s .exe file to the list of allowed apps.
Windows-related fixes
First of all, running an outdated version of Windows can be the culprit behind these crashes. So, make sure your system is up to date by going to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click Check for Updates, and install any pending updates. Restart your PC afterward to apply the changes. If your Windows is up to date, the other thing you could try is rolling back to a previous version. Again, go to Windows Settings and select Update & Security. From here, go to the Recovery section. If the option to revert to the previous Windows version is available, select it to roll back your system to 23H2.
We hope one of these workarounds helped you solve the crashes and get past the black screen issues in Path of Exile 2. That being said, click here to find out how to disable auto aim in Path of Exile 2. Also, stay in touch with DigiStatement for more daily gaming content like this.
