How to Fix Civilization 7 Crashing on PC | Troubleshooting Guide

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is the latest installment in the legendary 4X turn-based strategy series, developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. Released on February 11, 2025, for multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, the game has quickly captured the attention of strategy enthusiasts worldwide.

However, some PC players have encountered frustrating issues where Civilization 7 crashes on startup or unexpectedly crashes mid-game. If you’re experiencing these issues, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are several ways to troubleshoot and resolve these crashes so you can get back to building your empire.

Why Does Civilization 7 Keep Crashing on PC?

Before diving into the solutions, let’s first understand the common causes behind the game crashing:

• Outdated Graphics Drivers – Running older GPU drivers may cause performance issues and crashes.
• Corrupt or Missing Game Files – If any critical game files are missing or damaged, the game may fail to launch or crash during gameplay.
• Background Applications Using Too Many Resources – Other apps running in the background can impact performance and stability.
• Conflicts with Overlay Apps – Steam, Discord, GeForce Experience, and other overlays may interfere with the game.
• Windows or DirectX Not Updated – Running outdated system software can cause compatibility issues.
• Antivirus or Firewall Blocking the Game – Security software can sometimes mistakenly flag the game and prevent it from running properly.

Now that we know what might be causing Civilization 7 to crash, let’s go step by step to fix it.

How to Fix Civilization 7 Crashing on PC

Follow these solutions one by one until your issue is resolved.

1. Check System Requirements

Before applying any fixes, ensure your PC meets at least the minimum system requirements to run Civilization 7 smoothly.

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor: Intel i5-4690 / Intel i3-10100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1050 / AMD RX 460 / Intel Arc A380
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 20 GB available space

Recommended Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Core i5-10400 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2060 / AMD RX 6600 / Intel Arc A750
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 20 GB available space

If your PC struggles to meet these specs, lower the game’s graphics settings or consider upgrading your hardware for better performance.

2. Run the Game as an Administrator

Sometimes, Civilization 7 needs administrative privileges to run properly.

How to Run as Admin:

1. Right-click on the Civilization 7 shortcut.
2. Select Properties > Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check the box that says Run this program as an administrator.
4. Click Apply > OK, then relaunch the game.

3. Verify Integrity of Game Files (Steam & Epic Games)

Corrupt or missing game files can prevent Civilization 7 from launching or running correctly. You can fix this by verifying the game files through your game launcher.

For Steam Users:

1. Open Steam and go to Library.
2. Right-click Civilization 7 and select Properties.
3. Go to the Local Files tab.
4. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
5. Wait for the process to complete, then restart Steam.

For Epic Games Users:

1. Open Epic Games Launcher and go to Library.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to Civilization 7.
3. Select Verify and wait for the process to finish.
4. Relaunch the game and see if it works properly.

4. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Your GPU drivers must be updated for the latest games to function properly.

For NVIDIA Users:

1. Open GeForce Experience > Go to the Drivers tab.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If an update is available, download and install it.

For AMD Users:

1. Open AMD Radeon Software > Go to Updates.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install any available updates and restart your PC.

If your game still crashes, use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely remove old drivers before installing fresh ones.

5. Disable Overlay Apps (Steam, Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience)

Overlays can sometimes interfere with game performance and cause crashes.

Disable Steam Overlay:

1. Open Steam > Go to Library.
2. Right-click Civilization 7 > Select Properties.
3. In the General tab, uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”

Disable Discord Overlay:

1. Open Discord > Click Settings (⚙️ icon).
2. Go to Game Overlay and turn it off.

Disable GeForce Experience Overlay:

1. Open NVIDIA GeForce Experience.
2. Click Settings > General.
3. Turn off In-Game Overlay.

After disabling these, restart the game and see if the crashes stop.

6. Update Windows & DirectX

Make sure your Windows OS and DirectX are up to date.

To Update Windows:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

To Update DirectX:

1. Download the latest DirectX Web Installer from Microsoft’s website.
2. Install it, restart your PC, and launch the game again.

7. Disable Antivirus & Windows Firewall

Sometimes, antivirus software mistakenly blocks game files, causing crashes.

Disable Windows Defender:

1. Open Windows Security > Click Virus & Threat Protection.
2. Click Manage Settings > Turn off Real-Time Protection.

Disable Windows Firewall:

1. Open Control Panel > Go to Windows Defender Firewall.
2. Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall On or Off.
3. Select Turn Off Firewall for both options.

Try launching the game again after doing this.

8. Reinstall Civilization 7 (Last Resort)

If nothing else works, reinstalling the game might help.

How to Reinstall:

1. Uninstall Civilization 7 from Steam or Epic Games Launcher.
2. Restart your PC.
3. Reinstall the game from Steam or Epic Games.

A fresh installation often fixes persistent crashing issues caused by corrupted installation files.

Final Thoughts

Crashes in Civilization 7 can be frustrating, but they are often fixable with a few troubleshooting steps. Start with basic fixes like running the game as an administrator, verifying game files, and updating drivers. If the problem persists, adjust system settings, disable overlays, or reinstall the game.

If none of these solutions work, let us know in the comments so we can troubleshoot further! Hopefully, this guide helps you get back to conquering the world in Civilization 7.