DayZ Keeps Freezing Problem? Here’s how to fix it
There are several factors that can cause your DayZ Steam game to freeze. It could be due to a game bug, corrupted game files, hardware compatibility issues, or outdated drivers. To fix this you will need to perform several troubleshooting steps.
DayZ is a popular zombie survival video game developed and published by Bohemia Interactive. It’s available for the Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 platforms. The game takes place in the open world environment of the fictional former Soviet Republic of Chernarus with your main aim of staying. The game map is large enough which allows you to scavenge for supplies found in houses, buildings, and barns. There are various weapons available which should protect you from zombies and other players.
Why does my DayZ keep freezing?
One problem that you might encounter with DayZ is when the game stutters or freezes. This issue can happen before the game starts or even during gameplay. The freezing problem can even lead to your game crashing if it occurs regularly.
Here’s what you need to do to fix this freezing and game crashes problem.
Solution 1: Check your PC components
One of the first things that you will want to do is to make sure that your computer can run the game. The Steam store page of DayZ has listed the minimum system requirements and recommended system requirements needed to play the game. Your computer should at least meet the minimum system requirements in order for you to avoid any freezing or crashing issue.
DayZ Minimum system requirement:
- OS: Windows 7/8.1 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4430
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD R9 270X
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 16 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Additional Notes: Internet connection
Recommended system requirement:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD R5 1600X
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 25 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Additional Notes: Internet connection
Solution 2: Update graphics drivers
Another factor that can cause the DayZ to freeze is an outdated graphics driver. You need to make sure that your graphics drivers are updated as this will come with several performance enhancements as well as bug fixes that can make your DayZ game run better.
Update graphics card manually
Right click on the Start button. This can be found at the lower left side of the screen.
Click on Device Manager. This will open the device manager window.
Click the arrow before Display adapters. This will expand the display adapter list.
Right click on the selected graphics card then choose Update driver. This will allow you to update your driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers. This will search online for any new drivers and install it.
You can also update the graphics drivers using the Nvidia GeForce Experience app if you have an Nvidia card or the Radeon Software if you are using a Radeon card.
There are some computers that will have two GPU’s. The first GPU is integrated which is built-in with the processor and the second GPU is a dedicated one from a video card such as Nvidia or Radeon.
You should make sure that the preferred graphics processor you will be using to play DayZ is the Nvidia GPU. Nvidia users can switch to their preferred GPU from the Nvidia control panel.
- Open the NVIDIA control panel.
- Navigate to 3D settings > Manage 3D settings.
- Open the Program settings tab and select your game from the dropdown menu.
- Select Preferred graphics processor for this program from the second dropdown menu. Your NVIDIA GPU should appear as “High-performance NVIDIA processor”
- Save your changes.
Once the graphics driver has been updated you should restart the computer then check if the DayZ crashes or freezing issue still occurs.
Solution 3: Check your internet connection
Since DayZ is an online game you need to make sure that your computer has a good internet connection. If your internet connection is slow or keeps getting disconnected then there’s a possibility that DayZ will crash frequently or freeze intermittently.
You can check the status of your internet connection by running a speed test.
Check internet speed
- Open a browser.
- Go to speedtest.net.
- Click on Go.
Take note of the ping, download, and upload results. These results will determine if your internet connection is good.
A low ping between 50ms to 100ms is good to average. If your ping is high then the game might just keep on connecting to the server without success.
Your download and upload speeds should match what you are subscribing for from your ISP.
If there are issues with your connection then you check if it is caused by your networking equipment by following these steps.
- Turn off your computer.
- Unplug your Modem and Router from the power source.
- Wait for a minute then plug your modem and router back into the power source.
- Wait until the lights turn back on.
- Turn on your computer.
- Reconnect your computer to the internet. If possible try using a wired connection instead of a wireless connection.
In case the server connection issues still persists then you should contact your Internet Service Provider.
Solution 4: Close other running applications when playing DayZ
You need to make sure that your DayZ game gets to use most of your computer’s CPU, GPU, an memory resources. If any applications are running, such as your Chrome browser, then this will greatly affect your computer’s gaming performance and will usually cause freezing or crashing issues.
Force close other running applications using the Task Manager
- Right click on the Start button.
- Open Task Manager.
- Click on More details found at the bottom left part of the window if it appears.
- Click on the Processes tab.
- Right click on the apps running and select End task. Do this for all applications except DayZ and Steam.
Try to check if this will fix the DayZ freezing issue.
Solution 5: Check if your antivirus is causing DayZ to freeze
The DayZ crashing or freezing issue will usually occur if the antivirus software is constantly checking the game files. You can check if this is the culprit by disabling the antivirus software of your computer then launch DayZ. If the game does not lag, freeze, crash, or have decreased framerates with the antivirus software disabled then you will need to add DayZ to its exception list.
Disable the Windows antivirus software
Click the Start button.
Click on Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Security.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
Click on Manage settings.
Turn off the Real time protection switch.
Adding DayZ to the exception list of antivirus software
Click the Start button.
Click on Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Security.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
Click on Manage settings.
Click Add or remove exclusions.
Click Add an exclusion.
Click Folder.
Find the folder location of DayZ and select it.
Solution 6: Verify the integrity of game files
There’s a possibility that game is freezing because of missing or corrupted cache files. To fix this, you will have to verify the integrity of the game’s files using the Steam game client.
Verifying integrity of the files
- Open the Steam client.
- Click on your Steam Library.
- Find DayZ then right click it then click on Properties.
- On the new window that appears click on Local Files tab.
- Click Verify integrity of game files…
Once the game files have been fixed try to play the game and check if you can play the game properly.
Solution 7: Reinstall DayZ
If you are still experiencing the DayZ crashing issue at this point the you need to uninstall the game and reinstall it.
Uninstalling the game
- Go to the Steam Library tab.
- Right click on DayZ then click on Manage then uninstall.
- Click on Uninstall again to uninstall the game.
Installing the game
- Go to the Library tab.
- Right click on DayZ then click on install.
- Click next to proceed with the installation.
With the game newly installed, try to play DayZ and check if the FPS drop issue still occurs.
Feel free to visit our YouTube channel for additional troubleshooting guides on various devices.