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 errorsIf Rust crashes on startup, while joining a server, or during play on Windows, work through these fixes in order. Start by checking that your PC meets Rust’s current requirements, then restart Windows and your network, verify the installation, repair Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), and check for memory, security, or compatibility problems.
Important: Steam’s current listing specifies Windows 11 64-bit as Rust’s minimum supported Windows operating system. It does not currently list Windows 10 as supported, so Windows 10 crashes may not be fully fixable without upgrading.
If Rust continues crashing, Outbyte PC Repair can log application failures and scan Windows components for related issues.
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Before troubleshooting: check Rust’s current requirements
Steam currently lists these minimum Windows requirements for Rust:
- Windows 11 64-bit
- AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600
- 12 GB RAM
- AMD RX 470, NVIDIA GTX 1060, or Intel Arc A580
- DirectX 11
- 45 GB of available storage
The recommended configuration is Windows 11 64-bit, 16 GB RAM, an RX 6600 XT, RTX 3060, or Arc B580, DirectX 12, and an SSD. Check the current Steam requirements before spending time on software fixes.
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13 fixes for Rust crashing on Windows
1. Restart Windows, Steam, Rust, and your router
Close Rust and Steam completely, restart Windows, then restart your modem or router. This clears temporary game, Steam, authentication, and network states. Facepunch includes restarting both the PC and network hardware in its EAC authentication troubleshooting.
2. Install every available Windows update
Open Windows Update, install all available updates, and restart the PC. This is especially important when EAC reports a certificate-validation or code-signing problem: Facepunch identifies an outdated Windows Certificate Store as a possible cause and specifically recommends updating Windows.
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3. Verify Rust’s files in Steam
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click Rust and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
Let the process finish before launching Rust again. It may take several minutes. Do not verify multiple games at once or run verification during disk-intensive work or an antivirus scan.
A message saying that one or more files failed verification does not automatically mean the installation remains broken. Steam notes that local configuration files may intentionally be excluded from replacement.
4. Repair Easy Anti-Cheat
Use the repair command documented by Facepunch:
- In Steam, right-click Rust and select Manage… → Browse local files.
- Open the EasyAntiCheat folder.
- Click File Explorer’s address bar.
- Type
EasyAntiCheat_EOS_Setup.exe repairand press Enter. - Approve the administrator prompt.
A small console window may appear briefly. The repair can complete without an older graphical setup window.
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5. Delete the stale Rust EAC wrapper
Close Rust and open:
<Steam-library>steamappscommonRustEasyAntiCheatIf it exists, delete:
RustClient.exe.eacThen launch Rust again. Facepunch lists this as a fix for EAC authentication timeouts.
6. Rebuild the EAC installation
For “Disconnected: EAC: Client Integrity Violation,” delete only Rust’s EAC folder, then restore it through Steam:
- Right-click Rust in Steam Library and choose Properties.
- Select Installed Files and choose Browse.
- Delete the EasyAntiCheat folder.
- Return to Steam and select Verify integrity of game files.
Facepunch’s article uses older labels such as Local Files and Verify integrity of game cache; Steam’s current wording is shown above. Do not delete the entire Rust installation when only EAC needs rebuilding.
7. Run Steam as administrator for an EAC integrity error
Exit Steam completely, right-click the Steam shortcut, choose Run as administrator, and then verify Rust’s files again. This is a targeted step for local EAC integrity violations, not a universal solution for every crash.
8. Test whether antivirus is interfering
Update your antivirus first. If Rust still fails authentication, temporarily disable real-time protection only long enough to test whether the result changes, then turn protection back on immediately. If the crash disappears, configure an appropriate exception using your security software’s normal process rather than leaving antivirus disabled.
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9. Find applications EAC has marked as forbidden
Open Rust’s installation directory and locate:
<Steam-library>steamappscommonRustoutput_log.txtFor authentication problems, inspect the bottom of the file for applications EAC identifies as “forbidden.” Close those applications through Task Manager and try Rust again. Avoid assuming that every background program is a problem; use the log’s specific entry as your guide.
10. Test Rust without EAC
Launching the client directly can identify whether EAC is involved, but it is not a permanent fix:
- In Steam, right-click Rust and select Properties → Installed Files → Browse.
- Run
RustClient.exe. - At the main menu, press F1.
- Enter
connect 79.137.98.20:28021.
The default installation path is C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonRust, although your Steam library may be elsewhere. This launch mode connects only to EAC-unsecure servers, which do not appear in the normal server browser. If Rust works here but crashes during a normal launch, EAC is highly likely to be involved.
11. Restore automatic virtual-memory management
Do not enter arbitrary pagefile values from a generic optimization guide. Restore Windows-managed settings instead:
- Search Windows for Advanced System Settings.
- Open View advanced system settings.
- Under Performance, select Settings.
- Open the Advanced tab.
- Under Virtual Memory, select Change.
- Enable Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Select OK and restart Windows if prompted.
Facepunch warns that setting the pagefile threshold too low can cause performance problems.
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12. Check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
As of March 2026, Facepunch says TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are enabled on selected Rust servers marked with special “secure” tags. They are not yet a universal requirement for every Rust server, although global enforcement is planned.
To check TPM, press Windows key + R, enter tpm.msc, and confirm that the status says “The TPM is ready for use.” To check Secure Boot, press Windows key + R, enter msinfo32, and check that Secure Boot State is “On.”
If either feature is disabled, enabling it requires entering your motherboard’s UEFI/BIOS. Menu names vary by manufacturer. Do not change firmware security settings casually; check your motherboard or PC maker’s instructions first.
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Because Steam’s current Rust listing specifies Windows 11 64-bit rather than Windows 10, Windows 10 should be treated as unsupported for this version of Rust. If the game continues crashing after the relevant fixes above, upgrading to a supported Windows 11 installation is the appropriate compatibility step, provided your hardware supports it.
On Windows 11, also compare your PC with the minimum requirements rather than relying only on whether the game launches. Systems below 12 GB RAM, below the listed GPU class, short on the required 45 GB of storage, or using a very slow drive may crash or become unstable under load even after EAC is repaired.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which fix should you try first?
- Crash or failure before joining a server: restart Windows and Steam, update Windows, verify files, then repair EAC.
- “EAC Authentication Timeout”: restart the router, delete
RustClient.exe.eac, inspectoutput_log.txt, and test antivirus interference. - “EAC: Client Integrity Violation”: delete only the EasyAntiCheat folder, verify Rust’s files, and try Steam as administrator.
- Works only with
RustClient.exe: EAC is the likely cause; the direct launch is diagnostic and cannot replace EAC on protected servers. - Fails only on secure servers: check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.
- Windows 10 system: note that the current Steam requirements do not list Windows 10 as supported.
When to stop troubleshooting
If Rust still crashes after file verification, EAC repair or rebuild, Windows updates, and the relevant security checks, record the exact error, whether the crash occurs before or after server connection, and the final lines of output_log.txt. That information distinguishes an EAC failure from an unsupported operating system, insufficient hardware, or a separate Windows or driver problem. Avoid downloading unofficial “EAC repair” tools or deleting unrelated Steam and Windows folders.
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