GPU Crash dump Triggered [Solved!!]

Your game freezes, the screen goes black, and then it hits you: “GPU crash dump triggered.” Whether you’re playing Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, or any Unreal Engine-based game, this error usually means your graphics card hit a serious snag. But don’t worry! It’s fixable!

In this article, we will walk you through the fixes that actually work, so you can get back to gaming as soon as possible. Just work your way through the list until you find the one that works for you.

Fix 1: Update your GPU driver

One of the most common culprits for the crash dump is an outdated or corrupted GPU driver. When the driver fails to handle complex Unreal Engine features like real-time lighting, particles, or FSR/DLSS, the GPU can crash and generate a dump file.

To rule this out, you should update your graphics driver to the latest stable version. You can manually search for updates through the NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel websites, but this method requires care: installing the wrong driver version or missing a critical clean install step can introduce new instability.

If you’d rather avoid the hassle of manual searching — and the risks that come with it — you can update automatically with Driver Easy. Driver Easy is a trusted driver updater that makes the process effortless. It automatically detects the exact drivers your system needs and installs them correctly, without the risk of picking the wrong version.

You can start with the free trial, which gives you 7 days of access to all Pro features. During this time, you’ll be able to automatically download and install the correct drivers with just a few clicks—no payment required unless you decide to keep using the Pro version.

All it takes is just a few clicks:

Fix 2: Disable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling is a feature that offloads certain GPU-related tasks from the CPU to the GPU. While it can boost performance by reducing CPU bottlenecks, it may cause instability on some systems, especially with older GPUs or incompatible drivers. When misconfigured or unsupported, this feature can overload the GPU and lead to crashes, including the GPU Crash Dump Triggered error.

Disabling it can reduce GPU stress and may help prevent these crashes:

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and I simultaneously to open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Display.
   
3. Scroll down to Related settings and click on Graphics.
   
4. Click Change default graphics settings.
   
5. In the Graphics Settings window, toggle the Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling option to Off.
   
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
7. Check to see if the GPU crash problem is fixed. If yes, great! If it still crashes, please try Fix 3.

Fix 3: Switch launch options

Some games let you choose between different graphics APIs like DirectX 11 and DirectX 12. While DirectX 12 offers advanced features and better performance for some systems, it can also introduce stability issues, especially if your GPU or driver doesn’t handle it well. If you’re encountering the GPU Crash Dump Triggered error, switching to an older but more stable API like DirectX 11 might help.

If your game doesn’t have an in-game option to change the API, you can set it manually through the game’s launch options. Here I’ve used Steam as an example, but the process is nearly identical across other platforms like Epic Games and Ubisoft Connect.

1. Launch Steam.
2. In LIBRARY, right-click on your game and select Properties.
   
3. In the Launch Options field, type -dx11 to force the game to use DirectX 11. (You can try -dx12 if you want to switch back later.)
   
4. Close the window.
5. Start your game to check if the crash still happens. If everything runs smoothly, you’re good to go! If not, you can clear the launch option and move on to the next fix.

Fix 4: Turn off overlays

Overlays from apps like Steam, Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, and Xbox Game Bar can sometimes interfere with your game, putting extra load on your GPU and causing crashes like the GPU Crash Dump Triggered error. Disabling them can help improve stability and potentially fix the error.

Here’s how to turn off common overlays:

Disable Steam overlay:

1. Launch the Steam client and select the tab LIBRARY.
2. Right-click on your game and select Properties.
3. Select GENERAL and uncheck the box Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.
   
4. Apply the changes and exit Steam.

Disable Ubisoft Connect Overlay:

1. Open Ubisoft Connect and go to Settings.
2. Under General, uncheck Enable in-game overlay for supported games and click Close.
   

Disable Discord Overlay:

1. Click on the Users Settings icon.
   
2. Locate and click on Game Overlay. Then toggle off the option Enable in-game overlay.
   
3. Apply the changes and exit Discord.

Disable Geforce Experience in-game overlay:

1. Click on the Settings icon.
   
2. Under the GENERAL tab, scroll down and switch IN-GAME OVERLAY to OFF.
   
3. Apply the changes and exit GeForce.

After disabling overlays, restart your game and see if the crashing issue improves. If it’s still no joy, please proceed to Fix 5, below.

Fix 5: Verify game files

Corrupted or missing game files are a common cause of crashes, including the GPU Crash Dump Triggered error. These issues can happen if certain files become damaged or are missing due to installation errors, interruptions, or updates.

Most game platforms, like Steam and Epic Games, offer built-in tools to verify the integrity of your game files. This process checks for any corrupted or missing files and replaces them automatically.

Here are the steps:

On Steam:

1. Open Steam and go to LIBRARY.
2. Right-click on your game and select Properties.
   
3. In the Installed Files tab, click Verify integrity of game files.
   
4. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your PC and launch the game.

On Ubisoft Connect:

1. Open Ubisoft Connect and go to My games.
2. Click the three-dot icon next to your game, then click Manage > Properties.
   
3. Under Local files, click Verify files.
   
4. Once the scan is complete, relaunch the game.

On Epic Games Launcher:

1. Open Epic Games Launcher and go to Library.
   
2. Click the three dots next to your game and select Manage.
   
3. Scroll down and click VERIFY.
   
4. After verification, restart your PC and try launching the game.

Fix 6: Lower GPU Core Clock (MSI Afterburner)

If your GPU is running too close to its performance limits, it can become unstable and trigger errors like the GPU Crash Dump Triggered crash. This is especially common in games that heavily load the GPU, or if your card is factory overclocked. Slightly lowering the GPU Core Clock can ease the stress on your GPU and help stabilize performance without a noticeable loss in visual quality.

When to try it:

• You’re using a factory-overclocked card: Some factory overclocks aren’t 100% stable across all games and workloads.
• You’re experiencing frequent crashes under heavy load: If crashes mainly happen during graphically intense scenes, it could be a stability issue.
• You’ve recently updated drivers: Sometimes, newer drivers can introduce instability with existing clock speeds.

To lower the GPU core clock: First, download and install MSI Afterburner, a trusted tool for GPU tuning. Once installed, launch MSI Afterburner and locate the Core Clock (MHz) slider. Gently reduce the Core Clock by -50 MHz to start. Apply the settings and then test your game. If crashes persist, you can try lowering it a bit further (in small increments like -25 MHz each time) until the crashes stop.
Remember, don’t make large adjustments all at once — gradual changes are safer and easier to control.

If lowering the Core Clock improves stability, you can keep it at the slightly reduced setting without any noticeable drop in everyday performance.

Fix 7: Switch to DLSS

Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) is an advanced feature developed by NVIDIA to improve performance without sacrificing visual quality. When enabled, it reduces the load on your GPU while still delivering crisp, smooth visuals. This can be especially helpful in graphically demanding games, where high GPU demand can lead to crashes, like the GPU Crash Dump Triggered error.

When to try DLSS:

• Your game supports DLSS: DLSS works with many modern AAA games, especially those built on Unreal Engine.
• You’re using an NVIDIA RTX GPU: DLSS is only available on NVIDIA’s RTX graphics cards (RTX 2060 and above).
• Performance strain: If you’re experiencing poor FPS or stuttering in-game, DLSS can help improve stability by increasing performance.

To enable DLSS, open your game’s settings and navigate to the graphics or video options. If DLSS is supported, you’ll find an option to turn it on. Choose the DLSS mode that suits your needs—Performance for higher frame rates, Balanced for a mix of visuals and performance, or Quality for the best visuals with a moderate performance boost. Save your settings and restart the game to apply the changes.

Wrap up

The “GPU Crash Dump Triggered” error can be fixed through a variety of methods, from updating drivers to adjusting settings like GPU scheduling and graphics APIs. Hopefully, one of these methods has helped you resolve the issue. If the error persists, try reinstalling the game or contact the GPU manufacturer or game support for further assistance.

• game crash