Having a really complex skill system, Path of Exile 2 is a free action-RPG that runs on a custom engine developed by Grinding Gear Games. The game is pretty optimized and runs fairly well on low-end systems. But every game troubles the player with some issues, and Path of Exile 2 (POE2) is no exception, as PC users report the Deadlock Detected crash. In this Path of Exile 2 guide, I have come up with 4 confirmed fixes that will resolve the Deadlock Detected error on your Windows PC.

Verified Fixes for Path of Exile 2 Deadlock Crash

This issue has reportedly been experienced by a ton of Path of Exile 2 players. There are multiple reasons for the Dealock Detected crash to occur on your PC. The following fixes will resolve the POE2 Deadlock Detected crash on your Windows PC.

Verify Integrity of Game Files

There are some corrupt or missing Path of Exile 2 files on your PC, which is the reason the game crashes with the ‘Deadlock Detected’ error. To fix this, you will have to check the integrity of game files. What this actually does is that Steam scans all the files, removes the corrupt ones, and downloads the missing ones. Follow my lead:

  • Open your Steam Library and find Path of Exile 2.
  • Right-click it and go to “Properties.”
  • Go to the “Installed Files” tab, and you will see the “Verify Integrity of Game Files” option.
  • Click on it, and the process will begin.
  • Once the process is done, launch Path of Exile 2, and you won’t experience the Deadlock Detected crash again.
How to verify Steam games files after download.
Right-click the game in the Steam library > Properties > Installed files tab. Click the “Verify integrity of game files” button.

Unplug any Third-Party Peripherals

Many users report that third-party peripherals are the reason why Path of Exile 2 is crashing with the Deadlock Detected error. The fix obviously will be to unplug them one by one and see which one is the cause of the problem. These devices could be an Xbox or PlayStation controller, even your mouse or keyboard. Once you have identified which one is causing the problem, simply unplug it, and Path of Exile 2 will run fine without the Deadlock Detected error.

Switch from Vulkan to DirectX

The reason Path of Exile 2 keeps crashing on your PC is because of your API. The game is running on Vulkan, which is causing the game to crash on your PC. To fix this, you will have to ensure that the game is running on DirectX. This fix has been confirmed by several players and will help you as well.

To fix the Deadlock Detected crash in POE2 on your PC, go into the Graphics settings and change the Rendered to DirectX 11 or DirectX 12.

How to change API renderer in Path of Exile 2 to fix the Deadlock Detected and in-game crashes on PC?

However, if Path of Exile 2 is crashing at startup with the Deadlock error, then here is how you can switch the game’s API to DirectX:

  • In your File Explorer, head to Documents.
  • Navigate to My Games and open the Path of Exile 2 folder.
  • Now, you will need to open the poe2_production_Config file.
  • See “renderer_type=VULKAN” under the Display section? Here, change VULKAN to DirectX 12 or DirectX 11, and save the changes.
  • Launch Path of Exile 2, and it will run on DirectX, and the Deadlock Detected crash is fixed.

Play Path of Exile 2 on Linux

What if your OS is the problem? Running the game on Linux has proved to fix the deadlock-detected issue for several players and might come in clutch for you, too. If you are playing Path of Exile 2 on Windows. Then play the game on Linux, and the error will be fixed. Path of Exile 2 works natively on Linux, so you won’t have a problem running it.

That’s all for this Path of Exile 2 guide on how to fix the Deadlock Detected error on PC. These are confirmed fixes and will definitely fix your issue. If you are facing errors and issues while playing other games on PC and handhelds, head to our hub of commonly occurring PC errors and their fixes.