How To Fix Forza Horizon 4 Crashing On Windows 10 / Xbox Series X

It seems that the popular racing video game Forza Horizon 4 has started crashing on Windows 10 and Xbox Series X devices quite often that players are getting worried about it. It’s worth mentioning that Forza Horizon 4 has been published by Microsoft Studios and both the Windows/Xbox platforms are also developed by Microsoft. Still, the PC and Xbox Series X users are encountering such an issue.

If you’re also one of the victims and don’t want the crashing issue to mess with your gameplay experience then you can follow this troubleshooting guide to fix it. Well, we always mention that PC games are prone to bugs and errors which you can’t deny at all. Meanwhile, the reports are also coming that even the Xbox Series X console users are experiencing the same startup crashing issue while launching Forza Horizon 4.

Here we’ve mentioned all the possible reasons behind the crashing issue on the computer or Xbox Series X console. So, let’s take a quick look at it, and then we’ll head over to the solutions below.

Why Forza Horizon 4 Crashes?

If you’re a PC user then there should be no specific reason behind such an issue whatsoever. However, the chances are high that your PC configuration may not be compatible with the game. Meanwhile, an outdated game version, an outdated Windows OS build, an outdated graphics driver version, issues with the DirectX Direct3D, running the game without admin access, etc can be another reason.

How To Fix Forza Horizon 4 Crashing On Windows 10

Additionally, we also assume that maybe some of the background running tasks are causing such an issue. Whereas the antivirus program can also trigger issues with the programs running and connecting to the servers. If you also feel it, make sure to follow this troubleshooting guide.

1. Check System Requirements

First of all, checking the system requirements of the game is really necessary. If your computer isn’t capable enough to run the Forza Horizon 4 game then you should understand that the problem is inside your PC/Laptop hardware.

Minimum System Requirements:

OS: 64-Bit Windows 10 15063.0 or higher
Processor: Intel Core i3-4170 or higher
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 650Ti or AMD R7 250X
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 80 GB available space
Network: Requires Internet

Recommended System Requirements:

OS: 64-Bit Windows 10 15063.0 or higher
Processor: Intel i7-3820 @ 3.6Ghz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVidia GTX 970 OR NVidia GTX 1060 3GB OR AMD R9 290x OR AMD RX 470
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 100 GB available space
Network: Requires Internet

2. Update Graphics Drivers

It’s always required to update graphics drivers on your Windows system to run all the programs smoothly. To do this:

Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
Click on Device Manager from the list.

Now, double-click on the Display adapters category to expand the list.

Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.
Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
If there is an update available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change effects.

Alternatively, you can manually download the latest version of the graphics driver and install it directly from the official website respective to your graphics card manufacturer. Nvidia graphics card users can update the GeForce Experience app via the Nvidia official site. Meanwhile, AMD graphics card users can visit the AMD website for the same.

3. Update Windows

Updating Windows OS build is always essential for PC users as well as PC gamers to reduce system glitches, compatibility issues, and crashes. Meanwhile, the latest version mostly includes additional features, improvements, security patches, and more. 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.
It may take a while to complete the update.
Once done, restart your computer to install the update.

4. Close Background Running Tasks

Unnecessary background running tasks or programs can eat up a lot of system resources like CPU or Memory usage that literally reduces system performance. Hence, the startup crashing, lagging, not loading issues appear quite often. Simply, close all the unnecessary background running tasks completely. To do this:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open up the Task Manager.

Now, click on the Processes tab > Click to select tasks that are unnecessarily running in the background and consuming enough system resources.
Click on End Task to close it one by one.
Once done, restart your system.

Now, you can check whether you’ve fixed the Forza Horizon 4 Doesn’t Open / Not Launching or Crashing on your PC or not. If not, follow the next method.

5. Log in to Windows as Administrator

If you want to quickly fix several issues with the app or game launching or performing any tasks on your Windows computer, make sure to log in to Windows 10 with a local Administrator Account. To do so:

Click on the Start Menu > Go to Settings.
Go to Accounts > Select Family & other users [Other users].
Click on Add someone else to this PC.
Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter a user name, password, password hint, or choose security questions.
Now, click on Next to create a local user account.
Click on the Start Menu again > Go to Settings > Select Accounts.
Select the account owner’s name under the Family & other users option.
Then click on Change account type.
Select Administrator under the Account type.
Click on OK and then sign in with your new administrator account.
Finally, make sure to reboot your computer to check for the issue.

6. Set High Priority in Task Manager

Make your game priority in the higher segment via the Task Manager to tell your Windows system to run the game properly. To do this:

Right-click on the Start Menu > Select Task Manager.
Click on the Processes tab > Right-click on the game task.
Select Set Priority to High.
Close Task Manager.
Finally, run the Forza Horizon 4 game to check if it Doesn’t Open / Not Launching or Crashing on PC or not.

7. Reset Microsoft Store and UWP Game (If Required)

If in case, you’ve installed the Forza Horizon 4 game from the Microsoft Store then make sure to reset the Microsoft Store UWP app and the game too.

Press the Windows key on your keyboard > Click on Settings.
Now, type Apps & Features and click on it from the search result.

Scroll down to the Microsoft Store title > Click on it and select Advanced Options.
Click on Reset.
Do the same for Forza Horizon 4 game too.
Once done, restart your computer and check for the issue again.

If none of the above methods worked for you, try another method below.

8. Reinstall DirectX (Latest)

You should try reinstalling the latest version of DirectX from the official Microsoft website on your PC/Laptop. You just need to download and install the DirectX installer package and run it. Keep in mind that you’ll require DirectX 12 or above to run the Forza Horizon 4 game properly.

9. Disable Windows Firewall or Antivirus Program

The chances are high enough that maybe your default Windows Defender Firewall protection or any third-party antivirus program is preventing the ongoing connections or game files to run properly. So, make sure to temporarily disable or turn off the real-time protection and firewall protection. Then you should try running the game to check if Forza Horizon 4 Doesn’t Open / Not Launching or Crashing on PC issue has been fixed or not. To do this:

Click on the Start Menu > Type firewall.
Select Windows Defender Firewall from the search result.
Now, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the left pane.

A new page will open > Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) option for both the Private & Public Network Settings.

Once selected, click on OK to save changes.
Finally, restart your computer.

Similarly, you have to turn off the Windows Security protection too. Just follow the steps below:

Press Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
Click on Update & Security > Click on Windows Security from the left pane.

Now, click on the Open Windows Security button.
Go to Virus & threat protection > Click on Manage settings.

Next, you’ll need to simply turn off the Real-time protection toggle.
If prompted, click on Yes to proceed further.

10. Set High Performance in Power Options

If in case, your Windows system is running on the Balanced mode in Power Options, just set the High-Performance mode for better results. Although this option will take higher power usage or battery usage. To do this:

Click on the Start Menu > Type Control Panel and click on it from the search result.
Now, go to Hardware and Sound > Select Power Options.
Click on High Performance to select it.
Make sure to close the window and fully shut down your computer. To do this, click on the Start Menu > Go to Power > Shut Down.
Once your computer fully turned off, you can power it on again.

This should fix Forza Horizon 4 Doesn’t Open / Not Launching or Crashing issue on your PC in most cases. However, if none of the methods worked for you, follow the next one.

11. Close the game from Background Apps

If somehow the Forza Horizon 4 game is still going through issues, make sure to turn it off from the Background Apps feature on your PC. To do so,

Press Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
Click on Privacy > Scroll down from the left pane and select Background apps.
Scroll down and look for Forza Horizon 4 game title.
Just turn off the toggle next to the game title.
Once done, close the window and restart your computer.

This method should help you out. However, if this doesn’t fix the issue, you can follow the next method.

12. Use Current Account to Download Game from Microsoft Store

If in case, you’re using multiple user accounts on your Windows computer then make sure to use the current account from which you’ve installed the game or purchased it. To do so:

Open the Microsoft Store from the Start Menu > Click on the Profile icon from the top-right corner.
If you’ve multiple accounts already signed in then make sure to sign out of all the accounts. But keep only one account (email account) that is linked while purchasing the game.
Now, go to the Microsoft Store and Download the Forza Horizon 4 game by using that account.
You can find your purchased game in the Library section.

13. Set Proper Date and Time

If somehow your Windows system isn’t showing you the correct time or date then make sure to set the time & date properly to fix multiple issues in a jiffy. To do that:

Right-click on the clock info on Taskbar.
Click on Adjust Date/Time > Uncheck the ‘Set time zone automatically’ option and recheck it.
Once enabled, close the window.
Finally, restart your PC to apply changes.

Now, you can check if the Forza Horizon 4 Doesn’t Open / Not Launching or Crashing on PC has been fixed or not.

14. Turn Off Development Mode

If your Windows system is enlisted for Development Mode then make sure to disable it to check for the issue.

Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
Now, click on Windows PowerShell (Admin) > If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.
Copy and paste the following command into the PowerShell window and hit Enter to execute it:

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

Reboot your PC and check for the crashing or not opening issue again.

15. Reinstall the game (UWP Version)

It may possible that the game is having issues with a recent update that relates to Windows update, Drivers update, etc. So, you should do the following steps:

Keep in mind that you’re running on the most latest build of Windows 10.
Additionally, check whether your graphics card driver is updated to its latest version or not.
Now, you’ll have to press Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
Click on Apps > Scroll down to the Microsoft Store title > Click on it and select Advanced Options.
Click on Reset.

Do the same steps for Forza Horizon 4 game too.
Once all done, make sure to Uninstall the game and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.

16. VR/Windows Mixed Reality Headsets

The Playground Games team is currently investigating the issue regarding Forza Horizon 4 crashing while using VR/Windows Mixed Reality Headsets on PC. Make sure to don’t use VR or mixed reality headsets while playing Forza Horizon 4 game.

However, if you’re receiving the problem quite often and don’t want to wait further, make sure to submit a ticket and attach your event logs and DXDIAG by following the steps below.

Launch the Forza Horizon 4 game on your computer.
Once the splash screen ends, you’ll have to type Event Viewer in the Start Menu open it.
Select Windows Logs and then Application.
Choose any warning or error messages to see if it’s related to Forza Horizon 4 or not.
If it relates to the game, you’ll have to select ‘Save Selected Events’ from the Actions on the right-side.
Once done, go to the Forza Horizon 4 official website and contact customer support to submit a ticket with all the info.

17. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

Make sure to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime on your computer to fix multiple gaming issues or errors completely. To do that:

Press the Windows key from the keyboard to open up the Start Menu.

Type Apps & Features and click on it from the search result.
Now, locate the Microsoft Visual C++ program(s) in the list.

Select each program and click on Uninstall.
Visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
Once done, install it on your computer, and restart the system to change effects.

18. Reset the Microsoft Store

You can use the following steps to easily refresh the Microsoft Store if in case, it has some temporary glitch or cache issues. To do so:

Close the Microsoft Store app from the Task Manager (if already running).
Click on the Start Menu > Type WSRESET and right-click on it from the search result.

Fix: Forza Horizon 4 Doesn't Open / Not Launching or Crashing on PC

Now, select Run as Administrator > If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.
The MS-Dos interface will open for a few seconds. Wait for it to close automatically and the Microsoft Store will open automatically.
Uninstall the Forza Horizon 4 game from the Control Panel > Uninstall a program.
Finally, reinstall the game again to check whether Forza Horizon 4 Doesn’t Open / Not Launching or Crashing on PC issue has been fixed or not.

How To Fix Forza Horizon 4 Crashing On Xbox Series X

While the Xbox Series X console users can follow the workarounds below that should work for them. So, let’s follow the steps one by one until the problem gets fixed.

1. Go Offline Status

For Xbox console users, it’s one of the most useful methods to resolve such an issue. It may take a couple of minutes to completely perform the process.

Press the Xbox button on the controller.
Head over to the profile section (last option on the right side) > Select Profile & system.
Choose to Settings > Select General.
Select Network settings of your Xbox console > Choose to Go offline.
Once done, head over to the game library, and run the Forza Horizon 4 game again.

2. Check for Game Updates

Checking for game updates is really necessary if you’re not aware whether the game is updated to its latest patch or not. Having the latest patch version installed, your game will run smoothly and much stable than before with improved features too.

Press the Xbox button on your controller.
Next, choose My games & apps > Select See all.
Select Manage and then Updates.
If there is an update available, your console will automatically start downloading & installing the new patch

3. Uninstall and Reinstall Forza Horizon 4

As a final resort, if nothing works for you, try uninstalling and reinstalling the game completely. It may also possible that your game files are become corrupted or missing. Therefore, try to reinstall the Forza Horizon 4 on your console.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, let us know in the comment below.