Skyrim crashes: You can do that
If The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim crashes at launch or in the middle of the game, there can be several reasons. Therefore there is no uniform solution. We have summarized the most important approaches to resolving the problem for you in this article.
Skyrim crashes: check system requirements
In order for Skyrim to run on your computer, it should have at least a dual-core CPU with 2 GHz, 2 GB of RAM and a DirectX 9.0c-compatible graphics card with 512 MB RAM. If not, you will need to upgrade your PC to play Skyrim properly.
Use the latest graphics card drivers
Make sure you have the latest graphics card drivers installed. Owners of an Nvidia graphics card can download the latest drivers here. If you are using an AMD card, follow this link.
Skyrim: Check the game files for errors
If Skyrim's game files have been corrupted, unexpected crashes may occur. Therefore, check the files required by the game for errors:
- Right-click on "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" in Steam and select "Properties" from the context menu.
- Switch to the "Local Files" tab and click the "Check game files for errors" button. Wait for the process to finish. Faulty files are then automatically downloaded again.
Use an older game
If Skyrim crashes in the middle of the game, it can help if you load an older game and continue the game from this point.
Uninstall the "High Resolution Texture Pack"
Skyrim developers have released an official expansion pack with high-resolution textures for the game. Unfortunately, on some systems this can cause problems and crash the game. So remove the texture pack and check if the game works properly afterwards.
- In Steam, right-click the entry "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" and then select "Properties" from the context menu.
- Switch to the "DLC" tab. Remove the check mark from "Skyrim High Resolution Texuture Pack". Then close the window.
Reinstall the game
If the problem cannot be resolved, you can also try to completely reinstall Skyrim. However, remember to save your scores beforehand.
Correct incorrect audio settings
In rare cases, incorrect configuration of the standard playback device in Windows can cause crashes in Skyrim.
- Open the Windows Control Panel and click on "Sound". If you use the category view, you must first select "Hardware and Sound".
- In the "Playback" tab, right-click on the device you have defined as the default device and select "Properties".
- Switch to the "Advanced" tab and select the "16 bit, 44100 Hz (CD quality)" option in the "Standard format" area. Then apply the changes with the OK button.
Change the start order of mods or switch them off
If you have installed mods for Skyrim, these are also possible sources of error. The order in which the mods are loaded when the game starts also plays a role here.
- Try turning off all mods and then trying to start the game. To do this, click on "Data files" in the launcher and remove all checkmarks in front of the mod name. You can leave the checkboxes at "Dragonborn.esm", "HearthFires.esm" and "Dawnguard.esm" activated (if available), as these are part of the official expansion packages. If the game works now, you can reactivate the mods step by step.
- Changing the start order works similarly: In the Skyrim launcher, click on "Data Files". Now mark the mod you want to move and use the arrow keys next to "Modify Load Order" to move it to the desired position in the table.
You can also download and set up mods for Skyrim using the free Nexus Mod Manager. This way you avoid installation errors. We will explain how the tool works in our next practical tip.