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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCompany of Heroes 3 crashes on Windows 10 or Windows 11 for several different reasons, so there is no single fix that works for every PC. Start by restarting Steam and Windows, verifying the game files, updating Windows and your graphics driver, then disabling mods and overlays. If the crash continues, reset CoH3’s local settings, repair its Visual C++ runtimes, test permissions and GPU selection, and reinstall only after backing up your saves.
This guide separates ordinary desktop crashes from freezes, blue screens, reboots, and power-offs. The latter usually indicate a driver, temperature, stability, or hardware problem rather than a damaged CoH3 installation.
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Identify the crash before changing anything
The symptom often tells you which troubleshooting branch to try first:
| Symptom | Test these areas first |
|---|---|
| Nothing happens after clicking Play | Steam files, Visual C++ runtime, antivirus, permissions, and corrupted settings |
| Steam shows “Running” briefly, then stops | Executable startup, runtime files, graphics driver, overlays, and settings |
| CoH3 crashes before the main menu | GPU driver, local configuration, runtime, mods, and overlay software |
| It crashes while loading a mission | RAM or VRAM pressure, graphics settings, mods, corrupted settings, and drivers |
| Only multiplayer crashes | Mods, mismatched content, overlays, security software, or a recent game update |
| Only one campaign or save crashes | A damaged save or campaign state; test a new game |
| The whole PC freezes, reboots, loses display output, or blue-screens | Drivers, temperatures, overclocking or undervolting, RAM, GPU, power supply, or Windows |
Do not treat a BugSplat or desktop exit as the same problem as a BSOD or hard shutdown. The first is usually an application-level issue; the second requires system-level diagnosis.
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Check the official PC requirements
As of August 16, 2026, Relic’s published Company of Heroes 3 PC requirements list the following:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10, 64-bit | Windows 10, 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel i5 6th generation or AMD Ryzen desktop CPU; four cores at 3 GHz, or equivalent | Intel i7 8th generation or AMD Ryzen desktop CPU; eight cores at 3 GHz, or equivalent |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 950, AMD Radeon R9 370, or equivalent | NVIDIA GTX 1660, AMD Radeon RX 5600, or equivalent |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 40 GB | 40 GB |
The retrieved requirements page names Windows 10 rather than separately listing Windows 11. Windows 11 users can still work through the same troubleshooting steps, but this article does not treat Windows 11 as explicitly listed on that particular requirements page.
Meeting the minimum specification is not a guarantee against crashes. Low available system memory, limited video memory, background applications, high temperatures, or a faulty driver can still cause instability. Relic’s minimum GPU table also does not state a VRAM amount, so do not assume a particular VRAM figure from it.
Try these fixes in order
1. Restart Steam and Windows
Exit CoH3, close Steam completely, and restart Windows. This clears temporary processes and ensures pending driver or Windows updates are not waiting for a reboot. If the problem began immediately after an update, record that fact before changing several other variables.
2. Update Windows and the graphics driver
- Open Settings.
- Go to Windows Update.
- Install available updates and restart the PC.
- Update your NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics driver using the manufacturer’s official software or download page.
- Restart again and test CoH3 before enabling optional graphics features.
Relic and SEGA both recommend current Windows and graphics drivers. If the crashes started directly after a driver or Windows update, testing the newest manufacturer driver—or temporarily returning to a previously stable manufacturer driver—can help determine whether the update is involved. A rollback is a diagnostic step, not a guaranteed solution.
3. Verify the Steam installation
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click Company of Heroes 3 and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for Steam to finish, restart Steam, and launch the game.
Steam may reacquire missing or damaged files. Verification does not necessarily remove Workshop content, reset corrupted local settings, repair external runtimes, or resolve driver and overlay conflicts. If the scan reports repaired files but the crash remains, continue to the next steps rather than repeatedly verifying.
You can also use the Steam support page for Company of Heroes 3 if Steam reports a separate installation or account problem.
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4. Disable every mod
Mods can become incompatible after either CoH3 or the mod itself is updated. For a clean test:
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- Disable all mods inside the game.
- Unsubscribe from Workshop items you no longer use.
- Close and restart Steam.
- Verify the game files again.
- Launch an unmodified skirmish or campaign.
Unsubscribing alone may not remove every locally stored or manually installed mod file. Check CoH3’s game directory and local user-data folders for manually added mod files, and move uncertain items to a temporary folder rather than deleting them immediately.
If the base game is stable, add mods back one at a time. A crash that returns with one specific mod points to mod compatibility, not necessarily to Windows or your hardware.
5. Disable overlays and GPU utilities
Temporarily disable software that injects an overlay, records gameplay, monitors hardware, changes GPU behavior, controls RGB lighting, or applies automatic game profiles. Relevant examples include:
- Steam Overlay
- NVIDIA App automatic game optimization
- AMD Software: Adrenalin features such as Anti-Lag, Boost, and Chill
- Recording and monitoring utilities
- Overclocking, undervolting, and “game booster” tools
- Third-party RGB or hardware-control software
SEGA specifically recommends turning off NVIDIA automatic optimization and AMD Anti-Lag, Boost, and Chill while troubleshooting. Change one category at a time when possible; that makes it easier to identify the conflicting program.
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6. Reset CoH3’s local settings safely
A damaged graphics or preference file can crash the game before you reach the settings menu. SEGA notes that files may be named config, graphics, or preferences under the user’s AppData folders. Relic also recommends clearing the My Games folder as a troubleshooting step, but warns that doing so can delete saves and progress.
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Back up first. Copy your CoH3 save and custom files to another folder before resetting anything.
- Close CoH3 and exit Steam.
- Back up your saves and custom files.
- Check the typical location
C:Users<YourUsername>DocumentsMy GamesCompany of Heroes 3. - Rename the CoH3 folder to
Company of Heroes 3.oldrather than deleting it. - Start the game and let it create fresh settings.
- Test an unmodified game before copying old configuration files back.
This is a typical location, not a guaranteed one. Windows folder redirection, OneDrive, and other installation configurations can place Documents elsewhere. If the game creates a new folder and launches successfully, the old configuration was likely involved. Restore files selectively; copying the entire old folder back can reintroduce the fault.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors7. Repair the Microsoft Visual C++ runtimes
Relic says Steam installs the runtimes CoH3 needs and provides these Microsoft-hosted reference installers in its launch troubleshooting guidance:
Run the official installer and choose Repair when that option is offered. Restart Windows, then verify CoH3’s files in Steam once more.
Avoid “all-in-one DLL” packages and unofficial DLL download sites. Do not copy random DLL files into the game folder; that can create a different version conflict and introduces unnecessary security risk.
8. Test administrator permissions
Administrator mode can reveal a permissions problem, but it is not a universal fix and should not automatically be left enabled forever.
- Locate the CoH3 executable in the Steam installation folder.
- Right-click it and select Properties.
- Open the Compatibility tab.
- Enable Run this program as administrator.
- Select Apply, launch the game, and test.
The executable path varies with your Steam library location. If this makes no difference, undo the setting and continue. Leaving applications elevated unnecessarily can complicate file permissions and is not a general performance improvement.
9. Select the high-performance GPU
On a laptop or hybrid-graphics PC, Windows may launch CoH3 on integrated graphics instead of the discrete GPU.
- Open Windows Graphics settings.
- Add or locate the CoH3 executable.
- Set it to High performance.
- Connect the laptop to AC power and test again.
Use the laptop manufacturer’s performance or cooling profile while testing. Battery power limits can reduce CPU and GPU power, and blocked vents or excessive temperatures can cause instability.
10. Lower graphics settings and try windowed mode
This step is most useful when CoH3 reaches the menu but crashes during asset-heavy loading or after entering a match. Try:
- Lowering the resolution
- Reducing shadows and detail settings
- Using windowed or borderless-window mode
- Disabling forced driver features
- Applying a frame-rate limit
- Closing memory-heavy background applications
Higher resolution increases VRAM demand. Older GPUs, laptops with shared graphics memory, and systems with little free RAM are more vulnerable to memory pressure even when the PC technically meets the published minimum. Lowering settings may identify a memory or thermal limit, although it does not repair a defective GPU or unstable driver.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fixes by crash location
CoH3 never reaches the main menu
Prioritize file verification, Visual C++ repair, Windows and GPU updates, disabling overlays and GPU optimization, resetting local settings, and the administrator-permission test. If none changes the behavior, perform a save-protected clean reinstall.
CoH3 crashes while loading or during a mission
Disable all mods, lower resolution and demanding settings, close background applications, and watch RAM and VRAM usage. Test a new skirmish or campaign. If a new game works but one save consistently crashes, the save or campaign state may be corrupted rather than the entire installation.
Only multiplayer crashes
First test without mods and overlays. An older mod may conflict with a recent game update or produce mismatched content between players. Also check whether antivirus or firewall software is blocking Steam or game components. If the problem began after a CoH3 update and affects multiple unmodified players, check Relic’s official support and troubleshooting pages and current Steam discussions for an update-specific incident.
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A DNS change or network command is not a general crash fix. Use network troubleshooting only when the symptom is actually a connection, authentication, or service error rather than a desktop crash.
Reinstall CoH3 only after protecting saves
Relic recommends reinstalling when earlier troubleshooting does not resolve startup or in-game crashes. SEGA also describes removing remaining game-related files as part of a clean reinstall, but leftover folders can contain saves and settings.
- Back up
DocumentsMy GamesCompany of Heroes 3and any other confirmed CoH3 save locations. - Confirm cloud saves are synchronized, but do not rely on cloud storage alone.
- Uninstall CoH3 through Steam.
- Restart Windows.
- Check for leftover CoH3 files and move uncertain folders to the desktop instead of deleting them blindly.
- Reinstall the game, preferably to an SSD if one is available.
- Launch once with no mods and default settings.
- If the first launch fails, verify the files again.
An SSD can improve loading performance, but it is not established as a guaranteed cure for crashes. Restore saves only after confirming that the clean installation launches and plays an unmodified match.
When the problem is not CoH3
A normal application crash usually returns you to the desktop. A blue screen, sudden restart, black-screen display loss, power-off, or system-wide freeze points to a broader PC stability problem. Investigate:
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- GPU driver failures
- CPU or GPU overheating
- Unstable overclocks or undervolts
- Faulty or unstable RAM
- GPU or power-supply problems
- Motherboard BIOS or chipset issues
- Windows system corruption
For laptop users, check temperatures under load, connect the charger, use the manufacturer’s cooling profile, clean blocked vents, and remove aggressive tuning while diagnosing. BIOS updates can address compatibility and stability issues, but follow the manufacturer’s exact procedure: an interrupted or incorrect update can leave a system unbootable.
If other demanding games also crash, or Windows reports hardware errors, stop treating this as a CoH3-only installation problem. Test system stability, drivers, temperatures, and memory separately.
What to record before contacting support
If the ordered fixes fail, collect:
- Windows edition and build
- CPU, GPU, and installed RAM
- GPU driver version
- CoH3 version shown on the main menu, if reachable
- Whether the crash occurs at launch, loading, campaign, skirmish, or multiplayer
- Installed or recently updated mods
- Recent Windows, driver, or CoH3 updates
- The exact BugSplat, Steam, or Windows error message
- Crash dumps or log files if Relic support requests them
Use Relic’s Tech Support & Troubleshooting section for current instructions. Describing the exact symptom and what changed is more useful than reporting only that “the game crashes.”
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