The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Open your inventory and drop enough items to bring your carried weight below the displayed Carry Weight limit. On PC, press R to drop a selected item, according to the official Skyrim PC manual.
Reduce your carried weight
- Open your inventory and check your current load against the Carry Weight limit.
- Select items you can do without and drop them. On PC, the manual lists R as the drop-item control.
- Repeat until your load is below the limit. Bethesda Support recommends dropping items to reduce the current load below full Carry Weight to remove the over-encumbered state.
“Carry Weight” is the amount you can carry before becoming overly encumbered, as defined in the PC manual.
Want to keep the items?
If you do not want to drop loot, you can try transferring it to a follower or an appropriate container where the game allows it. Bethesda’s cited support guidance confirms dropping items as the fix, but does not establish that every container is safe or specify follower capacity rules. Avoid leaving valuable items in an arbitrary container unless you know it will retain them.
Why you may still be moving slowly
If you are no longer over your Carry Weight limit but movement remains slow or you cannot sprint, encumbrance may not be the cause. Bethesda Support also identifies a hostile frost-based spell as a possible cause; on PC, check whether autorun has been toggled on. See Bethesda’s troubleshooting guidance.
#1 Best Overall
- Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail.
- The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features.
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
What changes in Survival Mode
Survival Mode significantly reduces carry weight. Over-encumbrance drains stamina and makes fatigue build faster, and arrows and lockpicks count as weight. Bethesda says the Extra Pockets perk and Steed Stone each add 50 carry weight in Survival Mode, rather than 100. Details are in Bethesda’s Survival Mode overview.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- EPIC FANTASY REBORN - Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
- LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLD - Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.
- YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAY - Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.
- BATTLE DRAGONS - Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
- INCLUDED CONTENT - The Anniversary Edition includes the core game, pre-existing and new Creation Club content, plus all three official add-ons: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.
Rank #4
- Winner of more than 200 game of the year awards, Skyrim special edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail
- The special edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
Rank #3
- Live Another Life, In Another World: Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls comes to life in one legendary experience from all three official add-ons.
- Dawnguard: The Vampire Lord Harkon has returned to power. By using the Elder Scrolls, he seeks to do the unthinkable - to end the sun itself. Will you join the ancient order of the Dawnguard and stop him? Or will you become a Vampire Lord?
- Hearthfire: Purchase land and build your own home from the ground up - from a simple one-room cottage to a sprawling compound complete with an armory, alchemy laboratory, and more.
- Dragonborn: Journey off the coast of Morrowind, to the vast island of Solstheim. Traverse the ash wastes and glacial valleys of this new land as you become more powerful with shouts that bend the will of your enemies and even tame dragons.
Rank #2
- ANNIVERSARY EDITION CONTENT — Includes the base game, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn, and hundreds of Creation Club items such as quests, weapons, armor, spells, and dungeons.
- SWITCH 2 ENHANCEMENTS — Explore Skyrim with updated visuals, improved load times, and optimized performance for Nintendo Switch 2.
- SHAPE YOUR ADVENTURE — Choose your character and decide how to play in an open world that responds to your actions.
- BUILD YOUR CHARACTER — Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities to define your play style.
- BATTLE DRAGONS — Face ancient dragons as the Dragonborn, learn their secrets, and harness their power.
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