6 Ways to Fix Regular In-Game Path of Exile 2 Crashing on a Windows PC

Path of Exile 2 is now an early-access game, and many players have reported that POE 2 frequently crashes on their PCs. One POE 2 player’s Reddit post says, “Anyone else getting these issues, I can play for like 20 seconds, and then the game (Path of Exile 2) will just freeze everything, and I have to force restart my PC.” Those players can start POE 2, but that game keeps crashing at regular intervals when they’re playing it. This is how you can fix regular in-game Path of Exile 2 crashing on a Windows PC.

Read also: 7 Ways to Fix Path of Exile 2 Not Launching on a Windows PC

Verify the Files for Path of Exile 2

Some players say verifying the POE 2 game files has fixed their Path of Exile 2 crashing. This is a straightforward troubleshooting method you can apply by selecting a Verify option in Steam that will scan for and repair corrupted game files detected. This Steam troubleshooting page includes instructions for verifying game files.

The Verify integrity of game files option

Run Path of Exile 2 in Windows 7 Compatibility Mode

Players have said on Reddit that they fixed regular Path of Exile 2 crashing by setting that game to run in compatibility mode. Applying this fix will set the game to run as it would on an older Windows platform like 7 or 8. you can run Path of Exile 2 in the Windows 7 compatibility mode like this.

1. Start your Steam game software and go into the Library tab.
2. Right-click on the Path of Exile 2 game in the sidebar to select Manage > Browse local files.
3. Next, click the PathofExile_x64Steam file with your mouse’s right button to select Properties > Compatibility.
4. Select the checkbox with the Run this program in compatibility mode label.
   
   

   The Run this program in compatibility mode for checkbox

5. Choose Windows 7 in the drop-down menu.
6. Click on Apply and OK to set the compatibility options.
7. Repeat the steps above for the PathofExileSteam.exe file.

Select Vulkan

Changing the in-game Display setting to Vulkan is another potential fix for the Path of Exile 2 crashing that some players confirm can work. Selecting that option will change the API to Vulkan. This is how you can select Vulkan in Path of Exile 2.

1. Run the Path of Exile 2 game.
2. Select Options in the game menu.
3. Next, click on the Graphics tab.
4. Select Vulkan on the drop-down Display drop-down menu.
   
   

   The Display setting in Path of Exile 2

5. Press Save to apply settings.

Disable VSync and Engine Multithreading

Engine multithreading and VSync are settings that can cause Path of Exile 2 crashing issues to occur when enabled. So, consider disabling both of those options if they’re enabled. These are the steps for disabling those options.

1. Go to the Graphics tab in Path of Exile 2 as outlined for steps one to three of the previous fix.
2. Select Off for the VSync option.
3. Click Disabled on the Engine Multithreading drop-down menu.
   
   

   The Engine Multithreading setting

4. Click on Save to finish.

Uninstall GameInput Service

Some players have fixed Path of Exile 2 crashing by uninstalling the old version of the GameInput Service. If an old GameInput Service version is listed in Programs and Features, try uninstalling that software. This is how you can uninstall GameInput Services via the Control Panel.

1. Launch Run by pressing Start with your mouse’s right button and selecting the shortcut for opening that accessory.
2. Enter appwiz.cpl (Programs and Features) into Run and click OK.
3. Input GameInput Service inside the Programs and Features search box.
4. Select GameInput Service and click Uninstall to remove.

The Programs and Features applet in the Control Panel

Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

Players also confirm they’ve fixed Path of Exile 2 crashing by uninstalling recent Windows 11/10 updates on their PC. To be more specific, some players removed the problematic KB5048667 patch update. So, try uninstalling that KB5048667 update or a recently installed alternative patch on your PC, as instructed on this Microsoft page.

The Installed Updates in the Control Panel

Other Potential Ways to Fix Path of Exile 2 Crashing

If the POE 2 crashing continues, there are more possible fixes you can try applying. These additional troubleshooting methods could be worth a try:

• Apply a graphics card driver update with a method in this KeenGamer guide.
• Undo any overclocking applied by restoring the default GPU or CPU settings.
• Run Path of Exile 2 as an administrator.
• Add the Path of Exile 2 game folder to antivirus exclusion lists (whitelists).

Applying some of those potential fixes could stop (or at least reduce) the regular in-game Path of Exile 2 crashing on your PC. However, remember that crashing issues are more likely to arise for early-access games. The full-release version of Path of Exile 2, launched later in 2025, will probably be more stable.

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