How to fix Modern Warfare 2 crashing issues on PC

The new Call of Duty game has all sorts of crash-related issues that can be frustrating. A lot of the time it’s difficult to figure out what is causing Modern Warfare 2 to crash, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Many crashes in the game share a solution, so finding a fix isn’t as hard as you might think. Here’s our guide on how to fix Modern Warfare 2 crashing issues on PC.

Note: For more information about the game, check out our Modern Warfare 2 guides and features hub.

How to fix Modern Warfare 2 crashing issues on PC

The fixes listed below are not aimed at any specific crash or bug. Instead, they are universal fixes that address the most common causes of crashing in Modern Warfare 2. There’s no guarantee that these solutions will fix your specific issue. Even so, it’s still worth working through them in order for the best results.

Update GPU drivers

By far the most common fix for MW2 crashing is updating GPU drivers. You can update your GPU drivers by using GeForce Experience for Nvidia graphics cards and Adrenalin for AMD graphics cards. Not only can this fix the crashing but it’s good practice to have the latest drivers installed as doing so can also improve performance.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Verify the integrity of game files

Sometimes a corrupted file can find its way into your Modern Warfare 2 folder. This can cause all kinds of issues including crashing. The easiest solution is to verify the integrity of game files. On Steam this is done by right-clicking Modern Warfare 2 in your library, selecting properties, then Local Files, and finally Verify Integrity of Game Files. As for Battle.net, click Modern Warfare 2 on your library, select the cog symbol at the bottom left, and then click Scan and Repair.

Complete all Windows updates

Strangely a lot of MW2 PC players have found that updating Windows is an effective fix for crashing. To update Windows simply search ‘Windows update’ on your taskbar and select Check for Updates. If an update is found download and install it.

Use fullscreen

It sounds too easy to be true, but simply switching to fullscreen mode can help to prevent crashes. Although convenient, both Fullscreen Borderless and Windowed are known to cause stability issues in MW 2. If you are struggling with these issues, try switching your Display Mode found in the in-game graphics settings to Fullscreen Exclusive.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Run the game as admin

Running MW2 as admin is a more effective fix for crashing on PC than you would expect. This is especially effective if your game is crashing just after you open it. To run Modern Warfare 2 as admin, you need to right-click the cod.exe file in your MW2 folder, select properties, then Compatibility, and finally Run this program as an administrator. The default installation folder for Modern Warfare 2 is as follows:

• Battle.net: C: > Call of Duty
• Steam: C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > Call of Duty HQ

Lower graphics settings

Some graphics settings are known to cause stability issues in MW2. A potential fix for the crashing in MW2 on PC is to reduce these settings. The graphics settings that most commonly cause these issues are On-demand Texture Steaming, Video Memory Scale, Texture Resolution, Shader Quality, and Ambient Occlusion. Try lowering these settings to see if that helps reduce how often your game crashes.