Written by Mayank :)

How I Fixed Valorant Crashes on Startup, Critical Error Occured Issue (After Trying Everything!)

If you’re struggling with Valorant crashing on startup, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. Sometimes it magically works, and then—boom—it crashes again. I spent hours going through countless YouTube videos and articles, but nothing seemed to work. After all that frustration, I finally found a solution that worked for me. If you’re facing the same issue, this fix might just save the day for you too!

Step 1: Ensure All Your Drivers Are Updated

The first step is to check if all your drivers are up to date. In my case, I have an AMD Ryzen 5000 Series processor and an NVIDIA GeForce 3050 graphics card. If you’re using Windows 11, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Start Menu and search for Device Manager.
  2. Open Device Manager and scroll down to Display Adapters.
  3. Right-click on your graphics adapter (e.g., NVIDIA or AMD) and select Update Driver.
  4. Follow the prompts to check for any available updates.

Repeat this process for other adapters listed under Display Adapters.
Alternatively, you can make things easier by using a trusted driver updater tool like AVG Driver Updater. It automatically scans and updates all the drivers on your system, saving you time and effort.

Lastly, make sure your Windows is up to date: Install any available updates to ensure your system runs smoothly. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I. Navigate to Windows Update and click Check for updates.

Step 2: Reinstall Your Graphics Drivers

Sometimes, the VALORANT files may become corrupted or your graphics drivers may overlap, causing crashes. To resolve this, it’s recommended to reinstall your graphics drivers. Don’t worry, your drivers will still be up to date—this process is just to fix any potential conflicts.

Follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Start Menu.
  2. Open the Control Panel (switch to Classic View if necessary).
  3. Select System.
  4. Go to the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.
  5. Expand the Display Adapters section by clicking the drop-down arrow.
  6. Right-click on your video card (either AMD or NVIDIA) and select Properties.
  7. Under the Drivers tab, click Uninstall.
  8. Restart your computer and repeat this process for both your AMD and NVIDIA cards.

After uninstalling the drivers, reinstall the latest versions from the following links:

Once installed, restart your computer again. This method worked for me, and I was able to run the game without any issues.

If you encounter any difficulties reinstalling the drivers, you can try rolling back to a previous version:

  1. Open Device Manager and expand Display Adapters.
  2. Right-click on your AMD graphics driver and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver to revert to the previous version.

Important: Do not modify any system settings while following these steps. If you’re unsure about something, it’s a good idea to do some research first or consult a trusted source.

Thanks, Signing off.