Apex Legends Crashing Without Error

Apex Legends, like many online games, can sometimes crash without displaying any error messages, leaving players frustrated and unsure of the cause. These crashes can be due to corrupted game files, network instability, conflicts with third-party software, or outdated drivers. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve Apex Legends crashing issues on your PC.

Fix Apex Legends Crashing Without Error

1. Restart Your PC

A simple restart can often clear temporary system glitches or conflicts that might be causing the game to crash.

Action:
Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu.
Click on the Power Options tab (usually a power icon).
Choose Restart from the options and wait for your system to reboot.
Benefit: Refreshes your system's memory and processes.

2. Run Apex Legends As Administrator

Running the game with administrator privileges ensures it has the necessary access to system resources, which can prevent crashes caused by permission issues.

Action:
Locate the Apex Legends shortcut on your desktop or in your game library.
Right-click on the Apex Legends executable (r5apex.exe) or its shortcut.
Click on Properties.
Go to the Compatibility tab.
Enable the 'Run this program as an administrator' option.
Click Apply and then OK.
Launch Apex Legends to check if the problem is solved.
Benefit: Grants the game elevated permissions to operate smoothly.

3. Disable Third-Party Antivirus

Some overly protective antivirus software can mistakenly flag game files or processes, leading to crashes.

Action:
Temporarily disable your third-party antivirus software while playing Apex Legends.
Alternatively, if your antivirus has a whitelist or exclusion feature, add the Apex Legends game folder and its executable (r5apex.exe) to the allowed list.
Benefit: Eliminates potential conflicts caused by security software.

4. Check Your Network Connection

Apex Legends is an online game, and an unstable or slow internet connection can lead to unexpected disconnections and crashes.

Action:
Perform an internet speed test using a service like Fast.com to measure your upload and download bandwidth, as well as latency.
If the results indicate a problem (e.g., very low speeds, high ping, high packet loss), power cycle your modem or router:
- Unplug your router/modem from the power outlet.
- Wait for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Plug it back in and wait for all lights to stabilize.
Re-run the speed test. If the issue persists, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Benefit: Ensures a stable connection for uninterrupted gameplay.

5. Disable Origin In-Game (or EA App Overlay)

Overlays provided by game launchers like Origin (now EA App) or Steam can sometimes cause performance issues or crashes due to resource consumption or conflicts.

Action (Origin/EA App):
Launch the Origin client (or EA App).
Click on Origin (or the three horizontal lines/gear icon in EA App) in the menu bar and choose Application Settings.
Click on More (if applicable) and then Origin In-Game.
Locate the 'Enable Origin In-Game' (or similar for EA App) option and disable it.
Restart the application and launch Apex Legends.
Benefit: Reduces potential overhead and conflicts from the overlay.

6. Update Display Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a very common cause of game crashes.

Action:
Press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard to open the Quick Menu.
Click on Device Manager.
Expand the Display Adapters tab.
Right-click on your graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
Choose the 'Update Driver' option and follow the prompts. Select "Search automatically for drivers."
Alternatively, visit your graphics card manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) to download and install the latest drivers directly. Performing a "clean installation" through the driver installer can sometimes be beneficial.
Restart your system after the update.
Benefit: Ensures your GPU is running with the latest optimizations and bug fixes.

7. Adjust Your Graphics Settings

If your PC isn't a high-end gaming rig, running Apex Legends on high graphics settings can overload your system and lead to crashes.

Action:
Launch Apex Legends.
Go to the Video Settings within the game.
Adjust the following settings to lower values or disable them:
- Anti-Aliasing: OFF
- Texture Streaming Budget: Lowest
- Texture Filtering: Anisotropic 2x
- Ambient Occlusion Quality: Disabled
- Sun Shadow Coverage: Low
- Sun Shadow Detail: Low
- Spot Shadow Detail: Off
- Volumetric Lighting: Disabled
- Dynamic Spot Shadows: Disabled
- Model Detail: Low
- Effects Detail: Low
- Impact Marks: Low
- Ragdoll: Low
Apply the changes and restart the game.
Benefit: Reduces the graphical load on your system, improving stability.

8. Repair Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can cause inexplicable crashes. Origin/EA App has a built-in tool to verify and repair these files.

Action (Origin/EA App):
Open the Origin client (or EA App) on your computer.
Go to your Game Library and find Apex Legends.
Right-click on the game and choose the 'Repair' option (or click the three dots icon and select 'Repair').
Follow the prompts to complete the repair process.
Once done, launch the game.
Benefit: Replaces any damaged or missing game files.

9. Check Your Computer's Temperature

Overheating can cause components like your CPU or GPU to throttle or even shut down to prevent damage, leading to game crashes.

Action:
Use a third-party tool like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while playing Apex Legends.
Ensure your computer is in a well-ventilated area.
Check that your case fans, CPU cooler, and GPU fans are not obstructed and are spinning correctly.
Consider cleaning the fans and heatsinks of your CPU and GPU with compressed air. If you're not comfortable opening your PC, consider taking it to a service center.
Benefit: Prevents thermal throttling and component shutdowns.

10. Update Windows

An outdated Windows operating system might have underlying issues or missing components that affect game stability.

Action:
Access the Start Menu on your computer and go to Settings.
Click on Update & Security (or Windows Update on Windows 11) and open Windows Update.
Click on 'Check for Updates' and follow the prompts to install any available updates.
Restart your system after the update.
Benefit: Patches system bugs and ensures compatibility with modern software.

11. Close Unused Applications

Running many applications in the background can consume valuable system resources (RAM, CPU) that Apex Legends needs to run smoothly, leading to crashes.

Action:
Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.
Go to the Processes tab.
Click the 'Memory' (or 'RAM') column header to sort applications by their memory usage.
Identify and close any unnecessary applications that are consuming a significant amount of resources (right-click and select 'End task').
Restart Apex Legends.
Benefit: Frees up system resources for the game.

12. Reinstall Apex Legends

If all other troubleshooting steps fail, a complete reinstallation of the game can resolve issues caused by deeply corrupted files or an improper installation.

Action:
Open the Origin client (or EA App) and go to your Game Library.
Locate Apex Legends.
Click the Gear icon (or three dots) beside Play and choose 'Uninstall.' Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation.
After uninstallation, it's a good idea to check the game's installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex Legends or your Steam library folder) and delete any remaining files or folders.
Restart your PC.
Reinstall Apex Legends through Origin/EA App or Steam.
Benefit: Ensures a clean and fresh installation of the game.

13. Contact Apex Legends Support

If you've exhausted all the above solutions and Apex Legends continues to crash, it's time to reach out to the experts.

Action:
Head to the EA Help website (https://help.ea.com/).
Search for Apex Legends and look for options to contact support (e.g., "Contact Us," "Get Help").
When submitting a ticket or speaking with a representative, provide all relevant information:
- Your account details (EA Account ID/Steam ID).
- Your PC specifications (CPU, GPU, RAM, OS version).
- A detailed description of the problem, including when the crashes occur (e.g., on launch, in-game, after a certain time), and what troubleshooting steps you've already tried.
- Any relevant information from your Windows Event Viewer (search "Event Viewer" in Windows Start Menu and check "Windows Logs" -> "Application" and "System" for errors around the crash time).
Benefit: Allows EA's support team to provide specialized assistance or investigate a wider issue.