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If Warzone closes after you click Play or crashes during startup, first update Windows and your graphics driver, let shader preloading finish, and repair the game files through the launcher you use. If the problem continues, test for software conflicts and submit Activision’s PC Crash Report with details about your setup. A startup crash alone does not show that a hardware part needs replacing.
Start with your Windows version and launcher
Activision lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 as supported and Windows 7 and Windows 8 as unsupported. Keep Windows current. Steam’s Warzone listing also specifies updated 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11. You can check Activision’s current Warzone PC troubleshooting guidance and the Steam Warzone listing.
Note whether you launch through Steam or Battle.net, and record any error message or code. The repair steps differ by launcher. If you need to check whether your computer meets the game’s current CPU, GPU, memory, and storage requirements, consult the official requirements for the release you have installed; the Windows version alone does not establish that the hardware meets them.
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Activision recommends keeping Windows current and lists graphics-driver versions for troubleshooting. Those driver numbers can change, so check the live Activision article and its linked graphics-vendor pages for the latest guidance rather than treating an older version as a permanent requirement. Activision distinguishes workstation graphics cards, such as Quadro, from consumer cards; use the appropriate driver type for your hardware.
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Let shader preloading finish on first boot
After starting the game, let Shader Preloading complete before trying to play. Activision describes it as an important part of the first-boot process and says navigating away from the Main Menu stops preloading, which can lead to performance issues. This is a specific startup check, not proof that shaders cause every crash.
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Repair the game files in your launcher
Choose the instructions for the launcher where Warzone is installed; do not mix the two repair paths.
Battle.net: Scan and Repair
- Open Battle.net and select Warzone.
- Use the game’s Scan and Repair option to check and repair its files.
- Close other services or applications that may interfere, then try launching again.
Steam: Verify the integrity of game files
- In Steam, open your Library and select Warzone.
- Use Steam’s option to verify the integrity of the game files.
- Disable programs that may interfere with Steam, then try starting the game again.
If clicking Play produces no visible error and the game immediately closes, Steam’s general guidance says a game can fail to launch for several reasons, including a PC being at or just below its requirements. That guidance is not a Warzone-specific diagnosis. See Steam Support’s “Games do not run after ‘Preparing to Launch’” article.
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Test for background-software and security conflicts
Activision recommends targeted checks for software that may interfere with Warzone. Change one relevant setting at a time when practical so you can tell whether it affects startup. Do not broadly turn off antivirus protection or Windows security.
- Antivirus: If antivirus software is involved, add the entire Warzone game folder to its exception list. Activision also provides additional steps for Comodo and BullGuard in its troubleshooting guidance.
- Razer Synapse: If you use it, update Razer Synapse.
- NZXT CAM, MSI Afterburner, or Razer Cortex: Activision identifies these as potential conflicts. Close or disable them as a test, then retry the game.
- Clean boot: If the cause remains unclear, perform a Windows clean boot with only essential programs running, following Microsoft’s instructions for your Windows version. If the game then launches, a background program may be involved; re-enable startup programs methodically to identify it.
- ASLR: If you previously disabled Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), re-enable it as Activision recommends. Avoid changing security settings you have not intentionally modified.
Send Activision a crash report if it still fails
When the official checks do not resolve the crash, use Activision’s Call of Duty PC Crash Report. Include the launcher, Windows version, GPU and driver version, exact error text, and the steps you have already tried. These details help describe the failure but do not guarantee a fix.
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