# How to Fix Payday 2 Crash upon Launch

**URL:** https://www.compsmag.com/blogs/how-to-fix-payday-2-crash-upon-launch/
**Author:** Ayushi Chauhan
**Published:** 2023-01-20
**Updated:** 2023-01-20
**Categories:** Blogs
**Tags:** Blogs Daily, Computer Guides, Gaming tips and tutorials, guiderobert, Guides and Tutorials, guiding12, How To Guide, How To Guides, internet tips and tutorials, Linux Guides, Originals How to, Software tips and tutorials, Tips, Tricks, Windows 11
**Reading Time:** 6 min

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A cooperative first-person shooter [video game](https://compsmag.com/best/video-games/) is called Payday 2. Payday 2 is a follow-up to Payday: The Heist and was first made [available for various platforms in August 2013](https://www.paydaythegame.com/). These include Windows, Linux, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3/4, [Xbox One app](https://compsmag.com/best/xbox-one-apps/), and [Nintendo Switch](https://compsmag.com/reviews/nintendo-switch-review/). Numerous gamers have expressed interest in this game, but some claim they are unable to launch Payday 2 at all. If Payday 2 won’t launch, there might be a problem with the game files or a lack of administrator rights.

Other factors may have contributed to the problem, but you can still resolve it successfully. There is a high chance that crashing problems will appear as a result of a number of different potential causes, such as incompatibilities between the [gaming PC](https://compsmag.com/best/gaming-pcs/) and the game. Downtime on the server, corrupted or missing game files, out-of-date game versions, out-of-date game launchers, out-of-date or missing graphics drivers, etc. can all simultaneously cause the same thing to happen.

On the other hand, some of them consist of outdated Windows, issues with DirectX, overlay applications, disc data issues, background running processes, etc. On a Windows computer, issues with antivirus software, Windows Firewall blocking, system performance issues, Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables issues, startup app-related issues, etc. The Payday gang returns to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area two years after the events of the previous game to go on another heisting rampage. The player can carry out heists by themselves or with up to three teammates while controlling one of the gang’s twenty-two members.

## Ways to Fix Payday 2 Crash upon Launch

### Disable fullscreen optimizations

Open the Steam Launcher > Click on “Library”.

Right-click “PayDay 2” > click “Manage”.

Select “Browse local files” > Navigate to the “PayDay 2” installation location.

Now right-click on PayDay 2.exe > Select Properties.

Click on the “Compatibility” tab > Check the “Disable Full Screen Optimization” checkbox to enable it.

When done, click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

### Run the Game File as an Administrator

Additionally, it’s advised to always run the game executable file on a Windows computer with administrator privileges so that User Account Control (UAC) can properly grant all access. The computer may occasionally believe you’re attempting to start the game without permission. For every game, this is a one-time procedure. To do this, be sure to take the following actions:

Right-click on the PayDay 2 exe shortcut file on your PC.

Then click on Properties > Compatibility tab.

Click on the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox and make sure it is checked.

Click Apply and select OK to save your changes.

You can now double-click on the game’s exe file to launch it.

### Update Graphics Drivers

To make sure no update is pending on your end, you should try checking for graphics driver updates on your Windows PC and installing the most recent version. The proper operation of graphics-intensive programmes can be affected by an outdated or missing graphics driver. For that:

Right-click on the Start menu to display the Quick Access menu.

Click “Device Manager” from the list to open the interface.

Now double-click on “Display Adapters” to expand it.

Next, right-click on the name of the dedicated graphics card you are using to bring up the context menu.

Next, click on “Driver Updates” > Select “Automatic Driver Search”.

It will automatically check for available updates.

If an update is available, it will automatically download and install the latest version.

Once complete, make sure to[restart your computer](https://compsmag.com/blogs/how-to-restart-computer/) to apply the changes.

### Update Windows

System hiccups, performance declines, app crashes, and other issues can occasionally be brought on by an outdated Windows OS build. The most recent version may have more features, bug fixes, enhancements, security patches, and so forth. For that:

Press the Windows key + I key to display the Windows Settings menu.

From the left pane, click “Windows Update” > “Check for Updates”.

If there are updates available, select Download and Install.

Wait for the update to complete.

Once complete, be sure to restart your computer to apply the changes.

Then start PayDay 2 and check to see if the crashing issue is still present.

### Check for Optional Updates

Press Windows + I keys to display the Windows Settings menu.

Click on “Windows Update” from the left pane > Click on “Advanced Options”.

Now scroll down a bit and find the “Additional Options” section.

Click on Optional Updates > Select the available update, if any.

Click Download and Install > Once the update is installed, reopen the system.

### Perform Disk Cleanup

Click on the Windows icon to open the Start menu.

Here you can search for Disk Clean up and open it from the results.

Now select the C: drive. [By default, the Windows OS is installed on the C: drive] If you installed Windows on another drive, select the same one.

Next, select everything you want to remove from the list, including downloaded program files, temporary Internet files,

DirectX shader caches, Windows error reports, and delivery optimization files.

Once you have made your selections, be sure to click OK.

Now click Delete Files and wait for the process to complete.

Finally, restart your PC to apply the changes.

## About

**Release date:** 13 August 2013

**Engine:** Diesel

**Publishers:** Starbreeze Studios, 505 Games

**Platforms:** [PS5](https://compsmag.com/reviews/ps5-review/), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, [Windows 11](https://compsmag.com/reviews/windows-11-review/)

## System Requirements

**OS:**Windows 7

**Processor:**2 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor

**Memory:**4 GB RAM

**[Graphics card](https://compsmag.com/best/online-games/):**Nvidia & AMD (512MB VRAM)

**DirectX®:**9.0c

**Storage:**83 GB available space

**Sound:**DirectX 9.0c compatible

## About the Gameplay

The [action game](https://compsmag.com/best/action-games/) offers a variety of heists that the player can choose to carry out on their own, with AI, or with others online. Bank robberies, drug trafficking rings, rigged elections, and the theft of nuclear warheads are all examples of heists. Some of the heists strongly emphasize stealth, and some heists can only be completed in stealth. Successful completion of these heists is frequently rewarded with extra experience points and money.

The level selection menu is modelled after the fictitious website Crime.net, where contracts for missions occasionally appear on a map of Washington, D.C. A contract can be started by another player, joined by another player, picked up from an open contract, or paid for with in-game currency stored in an offshore bank account. Normal, Hard, Very Hard, Overkill, Mayhem, Death Wish, and Death Sentence are the seven levels of difficulty, with Hard being the most difficult and Very Hard being the easiest. Some contracts in Payday 2 last for several days, with each day being represented by a different level with its own set of objectives.

## Final Words

We hope you like our article on how to Fix Payday 2 Crash upon Launch. A first-person shooter called Payday 2 places you in the role of a bank robber, in contrast to many other shooters. Payday 2 has some problems on Windows 11, despite the fact that the gameplay sounds enjoyable. In particular, it frequently experiences crashes or black screens, and occasionally it won’t even launch. Payday 2 may occasionally launch incorrectly on computers without displaying any error messages. Numerous users have voiced their complaints about the annoying issue, and some of them have also shared the solutions they’ve tried.

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