How To Fix Final Fantasy XIV Keeps Freezing Issue

There are various reasons why you are experiencing the freezing issue on the PC version of your Final Fantasy XIV Online game. It could be due to a game bug, corrupted game files, internet connection problem, or driver issues. To fix this you will need to perform several troubleshooting steps.

Final Fantasy XIV Online is an MMORPG developed by Square Enix that features a persistent world that allows you to explore the region of Eorzea. You can create your own character who will become an adventurer as you go on quests, team up with other players, and craft items. The game is currently in its fourth expansion called Endwalker , which concludes the Hydaelyn–Zodiark arc.

Why does FFXIV keep freezing?

One of the issues that you might experience with when playing Final Fantasy XIV Online is when the game freezes. This can happen at the start of the game or randomly while in battles. This can be a frustrating experience as this affects your overall gameplay.

Here’s what you need to do to fix this problem.

Solution 1: Check if your PC hardware can play the game

The first thing you will want to do in this case is to make sure that your computer meets at least the minimum system requirements to play the game. Final Fantasy XIV is a graphics intensive game that requires a powerful CPU, GPU, as well as a large RAM in order for it to run smoothly. If your computer does not meet these requirements then you are going to experience issues playing the game such as freezing or crashing error.

Minimum system requirements

OS: Windows 8.1 64 bit, Windows 10 64 bit, Windows 11 64 bit

CPU: Intel Core i5 2.4GHz or higher

Memory: 4GB or higher

Available space on hard disk/SSD: 80GB or more

Graphics Card: NVIDIA Geforce GTX750 or higher AMD Radeon R7 260X or higher

Screen Resolution: 1280×720

Internet: Broadband Connection

Communications port: TCP：80, 443, 54992～54994, 55006～55007, 55021～55040

Sound Card: DirectSound

DirectX: DirectX 11

Recommended system requirements

OS: Windows 8.1 64 bit, Windows 10 64 bit, Windows 11 64 bit

CPU: Intel Core i7 3GHz or higher

Memory: 8GB or higher

Available space on hard disk/SSD: 80GB or more

Graphics Card: NVIDIA Geforce GTX970 or higher AMD Radeon RX 480 or higher

Screen Resolution: 1920×1080

Internet: Broadband Connection

Communications port: TCP：80, 443, 54992～54994, 55006～55007, 55021～55040

Sound Card: DirectSound

DirectX: DirectX 11

Solution 2: Check your internet connection

Final Fantasy XIV is an online game that requires you to have a broadband internet connection. If your internet is not good, such as when the ping is too high or the upload and download speeds are too low then you will experience not only frame drops but the game freezing as well.

You can check the status of your internet connection by running a speed test.

Ideally, you will want to have a low ping value. If you are getting 50ms to 100 ms then this is still acceptable. Any value higher than this will cause your game to freeze.

Your download and upload speeds should match what you are subscribing for from your internet service provider. If you have a poor internet speed then you can 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.

Try checking if the same issue occurs. If it does then you should contact your Internet Service Provider.

Solution 3: Update your graphics drivers

Sometimes, outdated graphics drivers will cause your game to freeze. It’s therefore a good idea to check if any new updates are available for your video drivers and install them as they will have performance enhancements as well as bug fixes that will eliminate any freezing or crashing issues you encounter in games.

Updating graphics drivers ( Nvidia, Radeon, Integrated graphics card)

• Right click on the Start button.
• Click on Device Manager.
• Click the arrow before Display adapters.
• Right click on the selected graphics card then choose Update driver.
• Select Search automatically for drivers.

If any new drivers are found install it then restart your computer. You can also update the drivers using the Nvidia GeForce Experience app if you have an Nvidia card or the Radeon Software if you are using a Radeon card.

Solution 4: Lower your Final Fantasy XIV graphics settings

If your computer hardware only meets the minimum system requirements and are playing the game at high graphics settings then you are likely to experience freezing issues as your computer will have a hard time rendering the graphical detail and keep up with the frame rates.

You should try lowering your graphics settings then check if this will fix the freezing issue you are experiencing.

Using low details graphics

• Click on Configuration on the main menu screen of Final Fantasy XIV.
• Click on Graphic Settings icon.
• On the General section change all High settings to normal.
• On the Shadows section change all settings to hide and enable the use low detail models on shadows feature.
• On the Movement Physics section change all settings to off.
• Under Effects turn off Water refraction settings, Glare, and Screen space ambient occlusion.
• Click Apply then close.

Solution 5: Close other running applications

If you have your Chrome browser and Excel spreadsheets running while playing the game then this might be what’s causing the freezing issue. You need to make sure that most of your PC resources will be allocated to the game so as to avoid any freezing or crashing issues.

Quit other running applications

• Right click on the Start button
• Open Task Manager.
• Make sure to 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 apps except Final Fantasy XIV.

Solution 6: Reset the Final Fantasy XIV system settings

If you keep on experiencing freezing issues then you should try to reset the system settings of the game.

Reset system settings

• Open the Final Fantasy XIV launcher.
• Click on Settings located on the upper right side of the launcher.
• Click the reset button on Reset System Settings.
• Click Yes to proceed.

Solution 7: Restore the Final Fantasy XIV game data

If the freezing issue is caused by a corrupted game file then you will need to restore the game.

Restore game data

• Open the Final Fantasy XIV launcher.
• Click on Settings located on the upper right side of the launcher.
• Click the restore button on Restore Game Data.
• Click Yes to proceed.

Solution 8: Reinstall Final Fantasy XIV

In case the issue still persists then you will have to reinstall the game.

Uninstall the game

• Click on the Start button.
• Click on Settings.
• Click Apps
• Click on Final Fantasy XIV Online on the list then click on Uninstall.
• Click Uninstall again to confirm your action

To install the game just head over to the Final Fantasy XIV Online website and download the game again.

Feel free to visit our YouTube channel for additional troubleshooting guides on various devices.