How to Fix Doom 2016 In-Game Crash on PC

Even when Doom was released in 2016, it was one of the best-optimized games for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Since then, we have had more powerful hardware, which can run the game without skipping a beat. However, with so many PC configurations, there are bound to be some errors and issues that the game will encounter, as PC users report that the game is crashing randomly during gameplay. The following fixes will resolve the Doom 2016 in-game crash issue on your Windows PC.

Best Fixes for DOOM 2016 Gameplay Crashes

PC users report that Doom keeps crashing randomly during gameplay. For some, it crashes after a few minutes of play time; for others, it takes longer but crashes nonetheless.

There are multiple reasons for the game to crash during gameplay, like the XMP profile in BIOS causing issues with the game, overclocked graphics card, the game running on an unlocked or high FPS, Windows Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) shutting down the GPU driver, and more. The following fixes will resolve the Doom 2016 in-game crash issue on your PC.

Fix #1 – Disable XMP

XMP is an option in the BIOS, that ensure the RAM installed on your PC is used to its full potential. To put it simply, it overclocks your RAM to clock speeds tested by the manufacturers, so you don’t have to mnaully adjust them.

While useful, XMP is the reason Doom 2016 is crashing to the desktop during gameplay. You can fix the issue by disabling XMP in the BIOS and manually setting the RAM’s clock speed.

Fix #2 – Disable All In-Game Overlays

In-game overlays are a useful tool, as they allows gamers to chat or access features wihtout minimizing to closing the game. They are now a staple of almost every gaming-related app. However, these overlays can sometime interfere with games and cause crashes.

Doom is crashing during gameplay on your PC due to in-game overlays for apps like Steam, Discord, or NVIDIA. You can fix the gameplay crash issue by disabling all in-game overlays. Here is how to disable overlays for Steam, Discord, NVIDIA App, or GeForce Experience:

Discord

• Go to User Settings.
• Open the “Game Overlay” tab.
• Turn off the “Enable In-game overlay” options.

Steam

• Open Steam settings.
• Select the “In Game” tab.
• Turn off the “Enable the Steam overlay while in-game” option.

Nvidia App

• Open the Nvidia App and open Settings.
• Go to the “Features” tab.
• Disable “Nvidia Overlay”.

Geforce Experience

PC users who use GeForce Experience can disable its overlay by clicking the Gear (settings) Icon right next to the username. Click General and turn off “IN-GAME OVERLAY”.

Fix #3 – Limit DOOM’s Max FPS

DOOM is a game that has to be played at least at 60 FPS, and it plays even better at a higher framerate. PC gaming’s one of the biggest advantages over consoles is that it can run games consistently at a higher FPS, provided the hardware is powerful enough. However, playing games at an unlocked framerate puts the GPU and CPU under a lot of stress, which often results in games crashing during gameplay.

If you are playing DOOM 2016 at an unlocked FPS, it crashes the game during gameplay. You can fix the issue by limiting the game’s Max FPS, and here is how it can be done:

Enable Vertical Synchronization (Vsync)

Some PC users like to play games with vsync disabled, as it not only runs games at an unlocked FPS, but the input latency is greatly reduced. If you are playing DOOM with vsync disabled, then enable it to fix the in-game crash issue. Enabling vsync will limit the FPS to your monitor’s refresh rate.

Alternatively, you can also force vsync through the NVIDIA Control Panel. The reason I recommend using the control panel to force vsync is that it gives you more options. Here is how you can enable it:

• Open the Nvidia Control Panel.
• Click the “Manage 3D settings” option from the left menu.
• Open the “Program settings” tab, and select “DOOM” from the drop-down menu.
• Scroll through the options and find the “Vertical Synchronization” option. Select “On”.
• Apply the changes, and the in-game crashes are now fixed.

Useful Tip: In the NVIDIA Control Panel, you have four vertical sync options.

1. “On” forces vsync at all times when running the game.
2. “Adaptive” options activate when the FPS and refresh rate at matched. If the FPS drops below the refresh rate, vsync disables, and you get screen tearing.
3. “Adaptive (half refresh rate)” locks the game’s framerate to half the value of your monitor’s refresh rate. Meaning, if you are using a 120 Hz monitor, enabling Adaptive (half refresh rate) will lock the game at 60 FPS.
4. “Fast” allows the game to render as many frames as it can, just like it would with vsync disabled, but without screen tearing. However, it’ll only display the frames that your display supports; the rest are wasted. Meaning, if you have a 60 Hz display and Fast Sync is rendering 80 FPS, only 60 FPS will be displayed; the rest of the 20 frames will be wasted.

Use the Nvidia App

You can limit DOOM 2016’s max FPS using the NVIDIA App to fix the in-game crash issue. The app gives you more granular control over the FPS. Here is how you can use the NVIDIA App to limit Doom’s max FPS:

• Open the Nvidia App and select the “Graphics” tab.
• Select “Doom” from the list of games.
• Scroll down the options and click on “Max Frame Rate”.
• Turn it on and set a value for it.
• Play the game, and the crashes are now fixed.

Fix #4 – Disable Graphics Card Overclock or Underclock It

A lot of PC users overclock their hardware to get more in-game performance. While it can get you more FPS in-game, overclocking can make gaming an unstable experience, as games often crash randomly during gameplay.

If you have overclocked your graphics card, then revert it to its default GPU and Memory clocks to fix the in-game crashes.

However, most graphics cards from NVIDIA or AMD AIB partners are usually factory overclocked or use higher GPU and Memory clocks than their respective reference models. These higher clocks are crashing Doom during gameplay. You can fix the issue by enabling the Debug Mode for NVIDIA GPUs or by underclocking AMD GPUs. Here is how you can do both:

Enable Debug Mode (NVIDIA)

• Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
• Click the “Help” button in the top menu.
• Select the “Debug Mode” option.

Helpful Note: The Debug Mode forces the graphics card to use NVIDIA’s recommended GPU and Memory clocks for the particular model. This reduces the GPU load a bit and fixes the in-game crash issue.

Underclock Your Graphics Hardware (AMD)

AMD Adrenalin Software doesn’t offer a similar option to the Debug Mode. That is why you’ll have to manually underclock your graphics card to fix the DOOM in-game crash issue. You’ll have to do a slight underclock, which won’t impact the game’s performance that much. Here is how you can underclock your AMD graphics card:

• Open AMD Adrenalin Software.
• Go to the “Performance” tab.
• Click the “Tuning” tab.
• Click on “Custom” under “Manual Tuning”.
• Enable “GPU Tuning” and also enable “Advanced control”.
• Three sliders will appear: Minimum Frequency, Maximum Frequency, and Voltage.
• You only need to adjust the “Maximum Frequency” slider.
• Slide it a little bit to the left to lower it, and click the “Apply Changes” button at the top right. (Finding a stable value requires trial and error.)
• Play DOOM 2016, and the in-game crashes are now fixed.

Fix #5 – Turn Off all Background Applications and Tools

PC users often install apps and tools to monitor games’ performance metrics, to use third-party peripherals, and more. However, these third-party software, like MSI Afterburner, Discord, driver/software for controllers or HOTAS, and more, conflict with the game and cause in-game crashes.

If you are using any third-party tools or software that are running in the background, then disable them to fix the Doom 2016’s in-game crashes on PC.

That is all for our fixes for the gameplay crashes in Doom 2016. If you are experiencing errors and crashes in games, also see our fixes hub for commonly occurring errors for PC and handhelds.