How To

Fix: Squad Game Keep Crashing on Startup or Won’t Launch Issue

8 min read
3 years ago

Squad is a tactical first-person shooter video game that has been developed and published by Offworld Industries. Although the title was initially launched back in 2015, it has publicly released for Windows in 2020. The game has received very positive reviews on Steam for the PC version and players are loving this realistic multiplayer title a lot. But some are facing the Squad Game Keep Crashing on Startup or Won’t Launch Issue on their PCs.

If you’re also facing the same issue then make sure to follow this troubleshooting guide to fix it. To be very precise, almost every PC game has its own fair amount of issues or bugs or errors whatsoever. Squad title is no exception here and it looks like that most of the Squad PC gamers are encountering the same kind of startup crashing or the game not launching issue whatsoever.

Why Squad Game Crashing?

Maybe there are a couple of reasons appearing on your computer and that’s why the game keeps crashing a lot while startup or doesn’t even launch. Such as an outdated game patch version, an outdated graphics driver version or Windows build, corrupted or missing game files, corrupted or missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, unnecessary background running tasks, etc can cause several issues.

Whereas some of the players can encounter issues due to an incompatible PC hardware or background running Steam in-game overlay app or security software is blocking game files to run properly or even running the game executable file without admin access can occur startup crashing issues whatsoever.

Fix: Squad Game Keep Crashing on Startup or Won’t Launch Issue

Now, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into the guide below.

1. Check System Requirements

You’ll need to check whether your PC configuration is meeting the system requirements or not.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 (x64)
  • Processor: Intel Core i or AMD Ryzen with 4 physical cores
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Geforce GTX 770 or AMD Radeon HD 7970 with at least 4 GB of VRAM
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 55 GB available space

Recommended Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 (x64)
  • Processor: Intel Core i or AMD Ryzen with 6 physical cores
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon 570 with at least 6GB of VRAM
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 55 GB available space

2. Run the game as an Administrator

If you’re not running your video game using an administrator privilege, then it may cause some issues with the game launching or startup crashing or even the game not loading, etc. So, it’s better to simply run the game exe file as an administrator on your Windows computer to check if that fixes the problem or not. To do so:

  • Right-click on the Squad exe shortcut file on your PC.
  • Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
  • Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
  • Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

3. Verify Integrity of Game Files on Steam

Sometimes, verifying the integrity of game files can easily fix the game launching or crashing-related issues on the Windows PC. In some cases, issues with the game files or corrupted game files may cause several issues whatsoever. Luckily, these in-game file issues can be fixed by using the game launcher that you’re using. To do this:

  • Launch Steam > Click on Library.
  • Right-click on Squad from the list of installed games.
  • Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
  • Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
  • You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
  • Once done, just restart your computer.

4. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

  • Head over to the following path on your PC:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\vcredist

  • You should see the following folders:
    • 2012\vc_redist.x64.exe
    • 2013\vc_redist.x64.exe
    • 2019\vc_redist.x64.exe
  • Just make sure to run all of these executable files that are present. (If you’ve different folders, then run the vc_redist.x64.exe file in those folders)
  • Finally, restart your PC to fix the issue.

5. Update DirectX

  • Go to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\DirectX folder path.
  • Next, run the DXSETUP.exe file to reinstall/update DirectX.
  • Once done, restart your computer to apply changes.

6. Update GPU Drivers

It seems that multiple affected players have reported about the outdated graphics driver. If you’re also using the outdated graphics driver for a while then make sure to check for updates by following the steps below:

  • Press Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
  • Now, click on Device Manager from the list > Double-click on Display adapters.
  • Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that’s active.
  • Next, select Update driver > Choose to Search automatically for drivers.
  • If there is an update available, the system will automatically download & install it.
  • Once done, restart the computer to apply changes.

7. Disable Steam in-game Overlay

According to some of the affected players, disabling the Epic Games Launcher overlay and Steam overlay on the Windows computer has helped them to easily fix the game not launching issue. As the in-game overlay app is always running in the background whenever you launch the game client, it’s quite possible to have issues with the processes or system resources.

  • Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
  • Now, right-click on Squad > Select Properties.
  • Head over to the General section > Here just uncheck the Enable Steam Overlay checkbox.
  • Go back to Library > Re-open Squad to check for the not launching issue.

8. Install All Pending Windows Updates

It may possible that somehow any of the Windows bugs or system files conflict with the game to run it properly. Sometimes an incompatibility issue can also take place when you didn’t update the software for a while. So, make sure to install all the pending Windows updates one by one and keep it to the latest OS build whatsoever. To do that:

  • Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
  • Next, click on Update & Security > Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.
  • If there is a feature update available, select Download and install.
  • Wait for some time until the update gets completed.
  • Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes immediately.

9. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program

  • Click on the Start menu > Type Control Panel and click on it.
  • Now, type firewall in the search box > Click on Windows Firewall.
  • From the left pane, click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
  • Make sure to select Turn off Windows Firewall for the Private, Domain, and Public Network Settings.
  • Finally, reboot the PC to apply changes, and try checking the issue.

Now, you’ll have to disable the anti-virus protection (Windows Defender) as well by following the steps below:

  • Head over to the Windows Settings > Privacy and Security.
  • Now, go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
  • Click on Manage settings >Then turn off the Real-time Protection option.
  • Once done, make sure to reboot your PC to apply changes.

If in case, you’re using any third-party antivirus program then make sure to turn it off manually.

10. Launch the Game in Windowed Mode

Try launching the game in Windowed display mode to check if that helps you or not. Sometimes a computer with an average hardware specification can cause several issues with the fullscreen display mode while running the game.

  • Open the Steam client and go to Library.
  • Right-click on Squad > Select Properties.
  • In the General section, click on Set Launch Options.
  • Next, copy & paste the following command-line argument:
 -windowed -noborder
  • Make sure to save changes and try running the game again to check if Squad Crashing or not.

11. Perform a Clean Boot

  • Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Now, type msconfig and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
  • Go to the Services tab > Enable the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.
  • Click on Disable all.
  • Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
  • Now, click on the Startup tab > Click on Open Task Manager.
  • Under the Startup tab from the Task Manager interface, click on the particular tasks which are enabled for startup boot > Click on Disable.
  • Make sure to select the high-impact startup programs and disable them one by one.
  • Once all is done, restart your PC to apply changes.

12. Close Background Processes

  • Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
  • Click on the Processes tab > Select the task that you want to close.
  • Once selected, click on End Task. Make sure to do the steps for each task individually.
  • Once done, just restart your computer to change effects immediately.

13. Reset Squad

  • Press the Windows (Start) + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
  • Select Apps and Features > Click on Squad from the list of installed programs to select it.
  • Now, click on Advanced options > Select Reset.
  • Once done, reboot your computer and try to launch the game.

14. Reinstall Squad

If none of the methods worked for you then try reinstalling the Squad game to check if that helps you to fix the crashing issue or not. To do so:

  • Launch the Steam client on your computer.
  • Now, go to Library > Right-click on the Squad game.
  • Head over to Manage > Select Uninstall.
  • If prompted, click on Uninstall again and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
  • Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to apply changes immediately.
  • Open the Steam client again and install the game again using the existing Steam account.
  • Enjoy!

That’s it, guys. We hope this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.