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If Civilization VI crashes, freezes, or will not launch on Windows 10 or 11, work through the checks below in order: confirm the PC meets the published requirements, verify the game files, update the graphics driver, and test the other DirectX mode. These are troubleshooting steps, not guaranteed fixes; the cause can differ from one PC to another.
1. Check Windows and the PC against the published requirements
Start with the basics before changing settings. Valve’s Steam listing gives the following requirements for Civilization VI:
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-bit) | Not stated on the listing |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Not stated on the listing |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Free storage | 17 GB | 23 GB |
The listing does not name Windows 11. That omission is not proof that Windows 11 is unsupported, nor does meeting the listed requirements guarantee a crash-free game. The page’s OS list may be dated, so use it as the published listing rather than as a diagnosis of a Windows 11 problem. Install available Windows updates as part of the initial check.
2. Verify the game installation
Steam
- Open Steam and go to Library.
- Right-click Sid Meier’s Civilization VI and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files and select Verify integrity of game files.
- Let Steam finish checking and repairing files, then launch the game again.
This check compares local installation files with Steam’s copies and repairs errors it finds. 2K Support includes file verification among its Steam troubleshooting steps.
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3. Update the graphics driver
Get the current driver from the support page for the graphics hardware actually installed in the PC: NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. 2K identifies outdated graphics drivers as a possible source of stability, compatibility, and launch problems. Restart Windows after installing the driver, then test the game before making several other changes at once.
4. Switch DirectX mode using the storefront’s launch controls
Testing the alternate DirectX mode is useful because Civilization VI’s launch options differ between Steam and Epic. For the specific EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error, Civilization Support recommends trying DirectX 11 even if DirectX 12 was previously in use. This is a diagnostic step, not a universal fix.
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Steam
At launch, choose the DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 option in Steam. To test DirectX 11, start the game from the Steam client and select that option. A desktop shortcut uses the default top launch option; changing the preferred option does not change the shortcut’s behavior.
Epic Games Store
Epic’s default is DirectX 11. To launch with DirectX 12, add -dx12 in the game’s Epic launch options, as documented by Civilization Support.
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The 2K Launcher was removed from Civilization VI on Steam as of August 14, 2024, according to 2K’s January 21, 2025 launcher notice. Follow the current Steam or Epic launch flow rather than looking for the removed Steam launcher.
5. Isolate mods, overlays, and other possible conflicts
Temporarily test the game without user-created mods. If the crash stops, restore mods selectively to identify whether one is involved. Also try a launch with overlays disabled and unnecessary background applications closed. If a VPN or security tool may be interfering, test its involvement carefully; do not broadly disable security protections. Where security software blocks the game, 2K recommends creating a game-specific exception.
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- Unsubscribe from or temporarily remove mods, then test a clean launch.
- Turn off overlays for a test and close nonessential background applications.
- If a controller conflict is plausible, unplug the controller during a launch test.
- If antivirus or firewall software appears to block the game, use a game-specific exception rather than leaving protections disabled.
6. If the error is EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION
Civilization Support’s targeted guidance for EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION includes the following steps. Try them individually so you can tell whether anything changes:
- Launch using DirectX 11.
- Remove user-created mods for a test.
- Update the graphics driver from the GPU maker.
- Reinstall the Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Redistributable.
- On startup, do not click or press keys until the intro cutscene has played fully.
If the error remains, collect DxDiag and MSinfo and include both with a support request to 2K.
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7. Escalate with system diagnostics; reinstall only after simpler checks
If the preceding checks do not resolve the problem, 2K Support’s general PC guidance recommends collecting DxDiag and MSinfo so support can inspect the system’s hardware and software environment. A cache clear or complete reinstall may be considered after simpler checks. Before uninstalling, back up save files; do not assume they will be preserved by removing the game.
2K Support’s troubleshooting guidance covers general PC issues, while its Civilization-specific exception article gives the focused steps for EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION. Neither guidance guarantees that one change will resolve every crash, so provide the exact error and the diagnostics when asking for help.
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