What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If Fallout 4 is stuck on the loading screen, the right fix depends on where it hangs and what changed just before the problem began. First identify whether the game fails at startup or the main menu, hangs while loading one save, or started having trouble after a mod, Creation, or DLC change. Then follow the instructions for your platform; no single fix is established for every kind of infinite loading screen.
First, identify where Fallout 4 gets stuck
Before changing files or reinstalling content, note the failure point and the most recent change. This helps distinguish a save-specific problem from a startup crash or a mod/DLC issue.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Fallout 4 - PlayStation 4 | $26.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Fallout 4 Game of the Year Edition | $49.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Back 4 Blood - PlayStation 5 | $9.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
HITMAN: World of Assassination - PlayStation 5 | $29.90 | Buy on Amazon |
- Startup or main menu: The game never reaches the menu, or it hangs while the Xbox main menu is loading.
- One save: The game reaches the menu, but gets stuck loading a particular save. Check whether an earlier or unmodded save loads.
- After a change: The issue began after enabling mods or Creations, installing DLC, or updating the game. Test the changed content before trying unrelated fixes.
Also identify your platform: PC, Xbox, or PlayStation. The official steps differ, and the PlayStation DLC procedure below applies only to an infinite loading screen after DLC installation.
If the problem began after changing mods or Creations
Disable mods and test the game or save again. If that resolves the hang, add the content back gradually rather than enabling everything at once. After a game update, test mods carefully because the changed game version may affect them. A modded save is marked [M] on Xbox.
#1 Best Overall
- Next generation of open-world gaming
- Developed by Bethesda Game Studios Under the Direction of Todd Howard
- Fallout 4 Is the Follow Up to the 2008 ‘Game of the Year’ Fallout 3
- First title from the world-renowned studio since the release of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Xbox: clear Reserved Space for the described mod-related issue
For Xbox loading or startup trouble after activating many mods, Bethesda Support recommends clearing the game’s Reserved Space. This removes local mod data, not the actual save. Bethesda’s explicit warning is: “When doing this make sure you do not delete your actual save file.” Follow the support page’s current console instructions, and verify you are clearing Reserved Space rather than deleting saved games.
Bethesda cautions on that support page that downloading more than 10 mods at once is “at risk.” Treat this as its warning for that situation, not as a universal stability limit. If clearing Reserved Space does not help, Bethesda suggests power-cycling the console and retrying; reinstalling the game is a further option if the issue remains.
If one Xbox save will not load
For an Xbox One save-loading problem, Bethesda’s troubleshooting sequence starts with a console power-cycle, then disabling mods and testing an earlier or unmodded save. Clearing Reserved Space to remove local mod data is a later step. Preserve the actual save files throughout; do not confuse them with the mod data stored in Reserved Space.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
If Fallout 4 hangs at the Xbox main menu
For a hang while loading the Xbox main menu, Bethesda recommends quitting and restarting the game, power-cycling the console, or launching offline so the console uses local save data. Offline play has a trade-off: Bethesda warns that “No save files located on the Xbox cloud will be available.” Its support page also describes how to resync cloud data afterward. Use the offline option only if local saves are available and you understand that cloud saves will be inaccessible while offline.
Rank #3
- Fight your way through a perilous world In a 4-player co-op story campaign where you must work together to survive increasingly challenging missions
- Choose from 8 customizable cleaners and a range of lethal weapons and items
- Play with or against friends in PvP
- A new Roguelike card system creates different experiences each and every time
- A PlayStation Plus subscription is required to play Back 4 Blood on PlayStation or Xbox consoles.
If PlayStation shows an infinite loading screen after installing DLC
For this specific DLC-related issue, Bethesda instructs players to uninstall and redownload the DLC one at a time, following this order. After each installation, load the game and save before proceeding to the next DLC.
- Automatron
- Wasteland Workshop
- Far Harbor
- Contraptions
- Vault-Tec Workshop
- Nuka-World
Bethesda notes that removing DLC may require uninstalling the base game. Do not apply this sequence to unrelated loading problems; it is for the infinite-loading issue after DLC installation.
Rank #4
- ENTER THE WORLD OF THE ULTIMATE ASSASSIN - HITMAN World of Assassination brings together the best of HITMAN, HITMAN 2 and HITMAN 3 including the main campaign, contracts mode, escalations, elusive target arcades and featured live content.
- BECOME AGENT 47 - Suit up for a spy-thriller adventure where all your deadly abilities are put to the test across more than 20 locations.
- FREEDOM OF APPROACH - Your deadliest weapon is creativity. Unlock new gear and up your game on highly replayable missions.
- WORLD OF ASSASSINATION - Travel a living, breathing world, filled with intriguing characters and lethal opportunities.
- HITMAN FREELANCER - A new way to play on your own terms, that combines rogue-like elements and deep strategic planning with a persistent and infinitely replayable gameplay experience.
If Fallout 4 crashes at startup on PC
Bethesda’s PC guidance is for a crash at the “Please Stand By…” screen, not a confirmed cure for every PC save-loading hang. For that startup-crash context, Bethesda recommends checking system requirements and graphics drivers, removing mods, restoring modified INI files to their defaults, and trying borderless windowed mode.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Check that the PC meets the game’s system requirements.
- Install current graphics drivers.
- Remove mods and retry.
- If you edited the game’s INI files, restore them to their default settings.
- Try borderless windowed mode.
If the startup crash continues, Bethesda’s page suggests contacting support with a DxDiag file. These steps are specific to the cited startup-crash guidance; they should not be treated as a verified fix for every PC infinite-loading or save-loading problem.
When to stop and protect your saves
- Do not delete actual save files while clearing Xbox Reserved Space or local mod data.
- When one save fails, test an earlier or unmodded save before taking broader action.
- Before uninstalling DLC or the base game, confirm how your platform handles saved data and downloadable content.
- Check the live Bethesda Support page for your platform before following console steps, since support instructions and interfaces can change.
The cited Bethesda Support pages were accessed October 7, 2026; they did not display publication or revision dates in the reviewed content.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
