Fixing Common Dying Light Errors on Windows 10

Dying Light is a powerful video game where players must survive in the wake of a deadly epidemic that ravaged the city of Haran. The first-person, open-world survival action game keeps users glued to the adventures of facing throngs of zombies and scavenging for weapons and supplies.

You don’t want ever to face any difficulty playing such a game. However, the reality is that certain bugs affect Dying Light. While many errors and glitches have been resolved through patches, some are still plaguing the game and frustrating players.

If you’re one of those gamers experiencing issues such as crashes, stuttering, lagging and FPS drops, the fixes in this article will help you end them.

Does Your PC Meet the Requirements for the Game?

Using top-tier CPUs and large system memory isn’t all that you need to look at and confirm that your computer can run the game. Other often-overlooked specifications can make or mar your gaming experience. This is why it’s important that you take a look at the game’s official minimum and recommended requirements before you attempt to install it.

Check the system requirements of Dying Light and confirm whether your PC can run it. There’s also another guide on how to check your system’s specs against that of the game below.

Minimum Requirements

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 7, 8, and 8.1

System Memory (RAM): 4 GB

CPU: AMD FX-8320 @3.5 GHz; Intel® Core™ i5-2500 @3.3 GHz

GPU: AMD Radeon™ HD 6870; NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560

Sound: DirectX compatible

DirectX: Version 11

Recommended Requirements

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 7, 8, and 8.1

System Memory (RAM): 4 GB

CPU: AMD FX-8350 @4.0 GHz; Intel® Core™ i5-4670K @3.4 GHz

GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 780; AMD Radeon™ R9 290

Sound: DirectX compatible

DirectX: Version 11

According to the game’s developers, the game does not officially support laptop versions of video cards, even though they may work.

How to Check Your System’s Specifications

1. Right-click the Start button and click on Settings.
2. Go to System.
3. Once the System screen opens, go to the left pane, scroll down, and click on About.
4. Under About, go to the Device Specifications segment to check details of your PC, including your system memory size, system type, and your processor’s make and model, among others.
5. Scroll down further to check the specifications of your OS.

To check your display card’s specs:

1. Launch the Settings app and click on System.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the Display tab and click on Advanced Display Settings.
3. Under Advanced Display Settings, click on Display Adapter Properties for Display 1.
4. A new dialog window, showing you the details that you need to know about your graphics card, will appear.

How to Resolve Dying Light Crashes

Crashing issues are one of the most prevalent problems that Dying Light players seem to face. Most gamers complain that the game crashes back to the desktop once they launch it, and others reported that it crashed every 5-20 minutes.

The culprits responsible for crashing and startup issues include bad graphics card drivers, Windows 10 compatibility issues, antivirus interference, corrupted or missing game files, corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable and .NET Framework, and overclocking settings, among others.

We’ll be walking you through fixes for the crash issue and showing you how to run Dying Light if it doesn’t launch. Before you proceed, though, make sure you install the latest update of the game via Steam, as the game’s developers tend to release regular hotfixes for certain bugs.

First Action: Update Windows

You can solve many gaming issues by updating your operating system. Certain component and basic driver updates take place once you install available updates for your computer. To your surprise, Dying Light might start working without issues after you apply this fix. The steps below will refresh your memory on how to update your Windows 10 PC:

1. Launch the Settings app, using the Windows + I hotkey combination.
2. Once you see the home screen of Settings, click on the Update & Security label.
3. The Windows Update tab of the Update & Security screen will now show up.
4. Click on the Check for Updates button, then select Download Updates if there are available updates for your PC.
5. Windows will notify you when the downloads are complete. You’ll then be prompted to allow Windows to restart your computer and install the downloaded updates. Click on Restart Now and wait for the update process to complete.
6. Now, relaunch the game and check if the problem has been resolved.

Second Action: Resolve Issues Plaguing Your Graphics Card

One thing that you should always be conscious of when playing a game like Dying Light is your graphics card driver. A broken, missing, or outdated display driver messes up video games and causes a lot of errors, including crashing and launching issues.

Display driver issues can come up at any point. Even though you recently updated the driver, another recent system change might have tampered with it. You might have also updated the driver wrongly.

Make sure your display driver isn’t behind the crashing and launching issue you’re experiencing by performing a fresh installation. If reinstalling the driver yields no result, update it and check if that resolves the problem.

Reinstalling Your Graphics Card Driver

If your driver is corrupt as a result of incomplete installation or other system issues such as improper shutdowns or app crashes, try reinstalling it. Follow these steps:

1. Hold down the Windows logo key on your keyboard, then tap the X key.
2. Once the Quick menu appears on the right side of your screen, click on Device Manager.
3. Wait for the Device Manager window to appear, then go to the Display Adapters drop-down and expand it.
4. Right-click on your video card and select Uninstall this device.
5. Once the Uninstall Device dialog shows up, make sure the checkbox that reads, “Delete the driver software for this device” is unchecked before clicking on the Uninstall button.
6. Allow Windows to complete the process, then reboot your system.
7. Once your PC starts, go to Device Manager and click on the Magnifier icon at the top of the window, or click Action >> Scan for Hardware Changes.
8. Windows will now scan your computer and automatically reinstall the driver.

You can also uninstall your driver via Control Panel.

Go to the Start menu, type control, then launch Control Panel once it shows up in the search results. Once the application opens, click on Uninstall a Program. In the Programs and Features window, go to the segment where all the apps on your system are listed, navigate to your graphics card driver, then right-click it and select Uninstall. Confirm your decision and follow the subsequent on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. Once your computer reboots, go to Device Manager and try reinstalling the driver.

Install the Latest Version of Your Graphics Card Driver

If reinstalling the driver proves ineffective in fixing the crash issue, try updating it. There are different methods involved in updating your graphics card driver, and we’ll show you how to get the job done. Even if you’ve recently updated your driver, you might have gone about it the wrong way, causing you to experience issues with the game.

Use Auslogics Driver Updater

One of the best ways to update your graphics card driver is by using a third-party program such as Auslogics Driver Updater, which automatically scans for problem drivers and updates them. Not only does the tool take a great deal of stress off your hands, but it also ensures that you install the latest version of your display driver from the right source.

The guide below will show you the steps to take:

1. Follow this link to download Auslogics Driver Updater.
2. Once the download completes, run the installer.
3. Choose your preferred language and click the Install button.
4. Once the program is installed, launch it (if it doesn’t launch automatically), then click on the Start Search button to trigger the scan.
5. Once the tool is done scanning your PC, it’ll show a list of problem drivers.
6. If your graphics card driver is missing, corrupt, or out-of-date, it’ll appear on the list.
7. Click on the Update option to prompt the tool to perform the update.
8. Reboot your PC once the process completes, then launch the game and check for the problem.

Use Device Manager

1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Device Manager.
2. Expand Display Adapters.
3. Right-click your card and choose Update Driver from the context menu.
4. After the Update Driver window opens, select the option that says, “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
5. The most recent version of the driver will now be fetched from the internet and installed.
6. Now, restart your computer and launch Dying Light to check for the crashing or startup problem.

Update the Driver Manually

Sometimes, Device Manager might fail to find the updated version of your graphics card driver. If this happens, you can go to the website of the card’s manufacturer and search for the driver yourself.

This procedure can be stressful and quite risky. You must find the exact piece of software for the make and model of your card, and if you install the wrong driver, you might cause further incompatibility issues.

Using Auslogics Driver Updater will save you this stress and ensure that you install the right driver. You can also try using the driver program for your graphics card. For AMD cards, for example, you’ll be using AMD Radeon Settings, while Nvidia card users will have to turn to the Nvidia Control Panel.

Third Action: Install the Latest .NET Framework and the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

Dying Light, like most games, requires certain frameworks to run properly. By default, all the required frameworks are installed during the game’s installation process. The issue might be that these MS programs are corrupt or may have been tampered with by a third-party antivirus or simple human mistake.

You can find the installation packages of these programs in the game’s installation folder:

C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dying Light\_CommonRedist (C is a placeholder for the drive where you installed the game).

That said, it’s best to go to the Microsoft website and search for the latest versions (for Windows 10) of these programs. Install them, and check if the problem goes away.

Fourth Action: Run the Game in Compatibility Mode

Originally, Dying Light was developed for the 64-bit variants of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. This means that you could be experiencing these issues because of compatibility clashes with Windows 10. You can try to fix the crashing and launching problems by running the game in compatibility mode for a previous Windows version. This fix worked for many users, and you have a great chance of enjoying the game after applying it. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the game’s installation folder and locate its EXE file. You can use the search function to locate the file. An alternative method would be going through Steam:

• Launch Steam through the Start menu or double-click its shortcut.
• Once the app opens, click on Library at the top of the window.
• Locate Dying Light, right-click it, and then click on Properties.
• Go to the right pane, navigate to the Local Files tab, then click on the Browse Local Files button.
• You’ll be taken to Dying Light’s folder.

2. Right-click on the game’s EXE file, then select Properties from the context menu.
3. Once the Properties dialog opens, switch to the Compatibility tab.
4. Go to Compatibility Mode and check the box beside “Run this program in compatibility mode for,” then select Windows 7 or Windows 8 from the drop-down menu.
5. Check the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox, then click on OK to save your changes.
6. Relaunch the game and check for the issue.

Fifth Action: Scan For and Replace Faulty Game Files

Games are made up of different files, and if any of these files go missing or become corrupt, issues will arise. If Dying Light keeps crashing on you, chances are, one or more of the game’s files have encountered a problem. You can use the Steam Client to confirm this, and if there are problem files, the application will replace them. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button, search for Steam and launch the app.
2. Once the Steam Client window shows up, navigate to the top and click on Library.
3. Locate Dying Light under Library, right-click it, then select Properties.
4. Go to the Properties section in the right pane and switch to the Local Files tab.
5. Under Local Files, click on the Verify Integrity of Game Files button.
6. Now, allow the program to search for faulty Dying Light files.
7. Steam will provide the result of the process once it’s done.
8. Relaunch the game and check if the error has been resolved.

Sixth Action: Run the Game in Windowed Mode

Your system’s current resolution might not support that of the game. This is usually the reason Dying Light crashes back to desktop upon launch or goes black screen. You can fix the crashing issue by running the game in Windowed mode, just like many other users did.

To run the game in Windowed mode, press the Alt and Enter keys simultaneously once you launch the game. Now, go to the game’s video settings and change its resolution to the one your PC is currently using. To check your monitor’s present resolution, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on your Desktop’s surface.
2. Select Display Settings from the context menu.
3. Once the Display page in the Settings app appears, go to Display Resolution and check the current option.

Seventh Action: Disable Game Mode

As you may know, Windows 10 was developed with gamers in mind. However, since Dying Light came before the OS, certain features and enhancements tend to not work with it. Game Mode is one of those features. While it might be great for other Windows 10 games, it could be the reason for the frequent crashes and launch issues you’re facing. To resolve the problem, in this case, try turning off Game Mode. Follow these steps:

1. Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard, then punch I to summon the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Gaming from the home screen of Settings.
3. Once the Gaming page opens, go to the right pane and click on Game Mode.
4. Switch to the right pane and toggle off the switch under Game Mode.
5. Launch the game and check for the issue.

Eight Action: Stop Overclocking

Many gamers rely on certain programs such as GeForce Experience, RiverTuner, and MSI Afterburner to enhance the speed and efficiency of their CPUs and GPUs. Overclocking often gives low-end components the ability to run graphics-intensive processes that are meant to be run on higher CPUs and GPUs.

While the advantage of overclocking is obvious, it might cost you a great deal. Apart from shortening the lifespan of these components, it could also be the main culprit responsible for the crashing or launching issue you’re experiencing on Dying Light. Try reverting your CPU’s and GPU’s frequencies to their default values and check if the game can run without issues.

Ninth Action: Prevent Your Antivirus from Blocking the Game

If your antivirus program suspects any Dying Light file to be a threat, it will block or quarantine it. These system security applications are known to block game files, and some Dying Light players reported that they had resolved the issue of the game crashing on startup by adding it to their AV suite’s exceptions list.

Finding the exceptions list in your antivirus should be easy. If you don’t know how, try searching for a guide on the website of the app’s developer. If you rely on Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender) for your system’s security, follow these steps to add the game in the exclusions list of the Virus & Threat Protection tool:

1. Click on the Start button and click on the cog icon once the Start menu appears. You can also launch the Settings app, using the Windows + I combo.
2. Go to the Update & Security page from the Settings app’s home screen.
3. Click on Windows Security in the left pane of the Update & Security page.
4. Go to the right pane and choose Virus & Threat Protection under Protection Areas.
5. Once the Virus & Threat Protection tool opens, scroll down and click on Manage Settings under Virus & Threat Protection Settings.
6. Scroll down and click on Add or Remove Exclusions once the Virus & Threat Protection Settings screen opens.
7. Now, click on “Add an exclusion,” then choose Folder from the drop-down.
8. Once the Select Folder dialog opens, browse to the installation folder of Dying Light, click on it, then click on the Select Folder button.

Once you add the game to the exceptions or exclusions list of your antivirus program, relaunch the game and check if the launch error is resolved.

Reinstall the Game

If the game continues to crash whenever you start it or a few minutes into gameplay, you can try to reinstall it. This is a drastic measure that involves downloading gigabytes of files. In that vein, make sure you go over the fixes detailed above before you move on.

Closely follow the steps below:

1. Launch the Steam Client.
2. Once the program opens, navigate to the top of the window and click on Library.
3. Locate Dying Light in your Library, right-click it, then click on Uninstall.
4. Confirm your decision if any prompt pops up, then follow the subsequent instructions to remove the game from your PC.
5. Make sure you delete folders of the game from your system, such as the one in the Documents folder.
6. Now, go back to the Steam store, search for the game, and install it.
7. Henceforth, make sure you run the game and Steam as an administrator.

How to Resolve Dying Light Stuttering, Lagging, and Low FPS Issues

FPS drops, game lags and stuttering issues are usually caused by bad graphics card drivers, a poor internet connection, Firewall interference (especially in multiplayer mode), and wrongly configured game and system settings. The guides in this section will help you boost your FPS and get rid of the performance issues you’re facing.

Make sure you update your graphics card driver and apply all the fixes released by the game’s developers before you proceed. Also, ensure you have a strong internet connection and lower some of the game’s video settings.

Allow the Game through Your Firewall

Firewall programs are another layer of system security that filters the traffic between your computer and the Internet. On certain occasions, the security utility blocks certain programs from sending or receiving data online because it senses a threat. This could be the case with Dying Light. Fixing the issue here involves allowing the game through your Firewall.

If you are using a third-party Firewall program, try allowing Dying Light through it. If you don’t know how to, an online guide on the matter will surely help. To allow the game through Windows Defender Firewall, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the right-hand side of your taskbar and click on the “Show hidden icons” arrow.
2. Once the System tray slides up, click on the white shield icon.
3. Windows Security will now appear.
4. Click on the Firewall & Network protection label.
5. Once Firewall & network Protection opens, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” link.
6. After the Allowed Apps window appears, click on the Change Settings button.
7. Now, in the Allowed Apps and Features list, locate Dying Light and check its boxes under Public and Private.
8. Click on the OK button, then relaunch the app and check for the performance issue.

Set the Game’s Priority to High in Task Manager

It could be that your CPU is treating Dying Light as a moderate application, whereas the game requires high processing power. This could be why you’re experiencing performance issues. You can go through the Task Manager and make sure your processor handles the game’s task as high priority. The simple guide below will walk you through the process:

1. Launch Dying Light.
2. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc combo to launch the Task Manager.
3. Once the Task Manager window appears, right-click on Dying Light and select Go to details from the context menu.
4. Once you get to the Details tab, right-click on Dying Light’s process, place your mouse pointer over Set priority, then choose High.
5. Exit Task Manager and restart the game to check for the problem.

Set the Game’s Processor Affinity

Processor affinity, another term for CPU pinning, is a feature that allows users to determine the number of cores that will handle a program’s tasks. You can “pin” Dying Light to all your CPU cores to increase the processing power dedicated to it. This fix helped many users enhance the game’s performance significantly.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. On your keyboard, punch the Ctrl, Shift, and Esc keys together to summon Task Manager.
2. Right-click on Dying Light once Task Manager opens, then click on Go to Details.
3. Right-click on the entry for Dying Light again under the Details tab, then click on Set Affinity in the context menu.
4. Once the Processor Affinity dialog opens, mark all the checkboxes for all the cores on the list.
5. Click on the OK button, then relaunch the game and check for the issue.

Conclusion

You can now rest easy and continue to survive horde after horde of the infected while you work your way toward completing your ultimate mission. If you have any questions or thoughts on these issues or more, use the comments section below.