If Call of Duty: Warzone closes, freezes, or returns to the launcher before you reach a match, there is no single fix that applies to every PC. Work through the checks below in order: identify where it fails, confirm Windows and hardware requirements, update the graphics driver, let shaders finish loading, repair the game files, and isolate software conflicts. The game is often still searched for as “Warzone 2.0,” but Activision’s current support pages call it Call of Duty: Warzone.
First, identify when Warzone crashes
Note the last screen you see and any error code before changing settings. The failure stage helps narrow down what to try first.
| What happens | Start with |
|---|---|
| The launcher will not open | Update Windows and the launcher; check for a game update and background software conflicts. |
| You click Play, then the launcher returns to Play | Update the graphics driver, close overlays, then repair or verify the game files. |
| The game closes at the logo or splash screen | Check hardware and Windows support, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, drivers, and security software. |
| It freezes or exits during shader loading | Update the driver, close overlays and monitoring utilities, and let shader preloading complete without interruption. |
| It reaches the menu or online-services screen, then closes | Repair the game files and test for conflicting applications; check Activision’s Known Issues page if the problem began after an update. |
| A black screen or frozen window remains open | Close overlays, check the driver, and try a clean boot to isolate background software. |
| You see an anti-cheat or security message | Check TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and your Windows version before changing other settings. |
If the same crash occurs on Steam and Battle.net, a system-level cause such as a driver, Windows security setting, unstable hardware, or background software becomes more plausible. That is a diagnostic inference, not an Activision diagnosis.
Check whether your PC and Windows are supported
Activision’s system-requirements page, updated March 11, 2026, lists the following minimum configuration. It notes that requirements can change, mandatory updates may need extra disk space, and laptop GPU models may differ from their desktop counterparts. Check Activision’s current Warzone PC requirements before troubleshooting against this snapshot.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute#1 Best Overall
| Component | Minimum | Recommended for approximately 60 FPS at high settings |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit, latest update | Windows 11 64-bit |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600 | AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or Intel Core i7-6700K |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 12 GB RAM |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon RX 470, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970/1060, or Intel Arc A580 | AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, or Intel Arc B580 |
| Video memory | 3 GB VRAM | 8 GB VRAM |
| Storage | SSD with 116 GB available at launch | SSD with 116 GB available |
| Other | Broadband internet, DirectX 12 compatibility, and an Intel or AMD processor with AVX support | Not stated separately by Activision |
The recommended tier is a performance target, not a promise that the game will start without problems. If your system is below minimum requirements, a driver update cannot make unsupported hardware reliable.
Activision supports Windows 10 and Windows 11, recommends installing the latest available update, and says Windows 7 and Windows 8 are not supported. Insider, preview, and trial Windows builds may also be unsupported. Open Settings → Windows Update, install available updates, restart the PC, and try the game again before reinstalling it.
Check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
Activision’s current requirements identify TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot as requirements for playing Warzone. Its security guidance says Windows 10 needs version 22H2 or later; Windows 11 systems will often already have the features enabled.
Rank #2
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II - Xbox One/ Xbox Series X
- Press Win + R, enter
tpm.msc, and check that the TPM is ready for use and reports specification version 2.0. - Press Win + R, enter
msinfo32, and check Secure Boot State. - If a feature is disabled or unavailable, consult your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s instructions. Do not change UEFI/BIOS settings unless you understand the procedure.
Incorrect BIOS changes can prevent Windows from booting. Activision’s TPM and Secure Boot guidance, updated August 14, 2026, also offers a Call of Duty Secure Attestation Wizard to check whether your PC meets the security requirements.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Update the graphics driver from its official source
Activision’s PC troubleshooting page was updated March 11, 2026 and lists these recommended driver versions. Treat them as a dated reference, not permanent requirements: check Activision and your GPU vendor for newer guidance before installing.
| Graphics hardware | Activision-listed recommended driver |
|---|---|
| AMD | 25.12.1 |
| NVIDIA desktop | 591.59 |
| NVIDIA workstation | 582.08 |
| NVIDIA notebook | 591.59 |
| Older NVIDIA Maxwell/Pascal architectures | 581.80 is the last recommended driver |
| Intel | 32.0.101.8531 |
- Find your GPU model in Task Manager → Performance → GPU or Device Manager.
- Download the appropriate driver directly from AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel—not a third-party driver site.
- Install it, restart Windows, then launch Warzone.
One vendor-specific historical case: Intel says driver 101.5186 caused a startup freeze on the Arc A750 and that 101.5522 or newer resolved that issue. This is not a general driver requirement for other GPUs. Read Intel’s Arc A750 support note.
Rank #3
- IN‑GAME CURRENCY — Call of Duty Points (CP) are the shared in‑game currency used to unlock content across supported Call of Duty titles, including Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6, Modern Warfare III, Modern Warfare II, and Call of Duty: Warzone.
- UNLOCK NEW CONTENT — Use CP to purchase Battle Passes, Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, Bundles, and other in‑game content to customize and enhance your Call of Duty experience.
- BATTLE PASS PROGRESSION — Battle Pass owners can spend CP to unlock tiers instantly and gain immediate access to seasonal rewards, operators, weapons, and cosmetics.
- CROSS‑TITLE USE — CP redeemed in an eligible Call of Duty game can be shared across supported titles where CP functionality is enabled, allowing flexible use across multiple games.
- BASE GAME REQUIRED — CP must be redeemed in a supported Call of Duty title and require the corresponding game, an internet connection, and a linked Activision account.
Let shader preloading finish
Warzone compiles shaders during startup. Activision warns that leaving the main menu interrupts preloading and can cause performance problems. After a driver update or restart, launch the game and stay at the main menu until the shader-preloading indicator completes; avoid entering a match, switching menus repeatedly, or closing the game while it is working.
If the game exits during shader loading, restart the PC, close overlays and monitoring tools, and try again after updating or repairing the game as described below. Restarting once after preloading may also help. Deleting shader caches is not a universal fix: it forces another compilation cycle and is better left as a later diagnostic than a first step.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRepair or verify the installation
Launcher file checks can replace missing or damaged game files. They will not fix a driver issue, security requirement, conflicting overlay, or hardware instability.
Rank #4
- Officially licensed Call of Duty Ghost figure: Heavy-duty PVC construction with sturdy black base holds gaming controllers, mobile phones, remotes, and more without tipping over during intense gaming sessions
Battle.net: Scan and Repair
- Close Warzone completely.
- Open Battle.net and select Call of Duty.
- Open the game options menu and choose Scan and Repair.
- Wait for the check to finish, restart Battle.net, and launch the game.
Steam: Verify integrity of game files
- Open Steam → Library.
- Right-click Call of Duty and select Properties.
- Choose Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for Steam to complete the check, then relaunch.
Activision recommends file repair for Battle.net and file verification for Steam in its PC troubleshooting guidance. Steam also provides a Warzone technical-support page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Isolate overlays and other background software
Overlays, monitoring tools, RGB utilities, VPNs, overclocking software, and other background applications can conflict with a game or its launcher. Activision specifically names NZXT CAM, MSI Afterburner, Razer Cortex, and Razer Synapse and recommends checking other background applications as well. This does not mean every overlay causes crashes; temporarily closing them is a way to isolate a possible conflict.
- Exit Discord, GeForce or AMD overlays, Xbox Game Bar, OBS, RGB utilities, hardware monitors, VPNs, third-party antivirus, and overclocking tools. Also close the utilities Activision names if installed.
- Return CPU and GPU settings to stock rather than testing with an overclock.
- Restart Windows and launch Warzone.
- If it starts, reopen applications one at a time, testing the game after each, to identify the conflict.
If closing applications does not help, try a Windows clean boot, following Microsoft’s instructions for your Windows version. If Warzone starts in a clean boot, that points to a service or startup application conflict; it does not identify which one. Re-enable items in small groups or individually to find the cause. Activision’s troubleshooting page recommends a clean boot when other steps fail.
Best Value
- Wide array of play modes including single player, local multiplayer versus and online co-op and multiplayer
- Seventh installment of the Call of Duty series, based on the live fire conflicts of the Cold War era
- Diverse variety of play setting ranging from urban air and ground combat in SE Asia, to snow combat in Soviet region and jungle combat
- Blending of traditional COD, and new first-person character scenarios designed to both retain the essence of the COD gaming experience and ensure constantly flowing and varied action
- New arsenal of weapons and vehicles tied to the Cold War era, including the SR-71 Blackbird and sited explosive-tipped crossbows
Check antivirus settings and ASLR without lowering security permanently
Security software can sometimes block a game file or launcher. Activision recommends adding the Call of Duty: Warzone folder to an antivirus exception list. If you test this, use a temporary exclusion for the actual installation folder only; do not exclude an entire drive or leave the protection disabled. Remove the exclusion if it does not help.
Activision also says to re-enable ASLR if it was disabled and Warzone will not start. Do not disable exploit protections as a workaround. Use Activision’s instructions rather than changing security settings based on an unverified online tip.
If the crash started after an update, check for a game-side issue
Before trying drastic local changes, check whether the game has a pending update and review Activision’s Known Issues in Call of Duty: Warzone. The page is a changing list of reported issues under investigation or scheduled for fixes; it was updated August 7, 2026. As of August 16, 2026, it did not list a broad issue specifically named “Warzone crashes at startup on PC.” That does not rule out a newer, narrower, or not-yet-listed problem.
Record the date the crash began, the game update, your GPU and driver version, launcher, and exact error. Avoid unofficial driver downgrades, random launch commands, or permanent changes to Windows security while waiting for a game-side fix.
Recommended Free Tools
When to reinstall—and when to send a crash report
Reinstall only after updates, security checks, file repair, application-conflict testing, and a clean boot have failed. Before starting, confirm the SSD has enough free space for the installed game and updates. Reinstalling can help with a persistently incomplete installation, but it will not correct unsupported hardware, faulty RAM, unstable overclocks, bad drivers, BIOS settings, or a game-side defect.
If the crash continues, send Activision a PC Crash Report. Include the GPU and CPU models, RAM, Windows version, launcher, graphics-driver version, exact crash stage and error code, and what changed just before the problem began. That detail makes it easier to distinguish a local configuration problem from a current game issue.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
