If you’re experiencing issues with Counter-Strike 2 freezing or crashing at the Valve logo, here are the steps you can take to try and fix the problem.
The More Obvious Fixes
- Verify game files: Go to your Steam library, right-click on Counter-Strike 2, select “Properties,” then “Local Files,” and click “Verify integrity of game files.” This will check for any missing or corrupted game files and replace them as needed.
- Disable overclocking: If you have overclocked your CPU or GPU, try reverting to the default clock speeds. Overclocking can sometimes cause stability issues that lead to crashes or freezes.
- Reinstall the game: If none of the above solutions work, you may need to uninstall and reinstall Counter-Strike 2. This will remove any corrupted files or settings that may be causing the issue2.
Update Your Video Drivers
The first step in fixing the freezing or crashing issue in Counter-Strike 2 is to ensure that your graphics drivers are up-to-date. Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues and lead to crashes. If you haven’t updated your drivers recently, download the latest version from your graphics card manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). If you’re still experiencing issues after updating, consider using a third-party utility like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove your current drivers and perform a clean installation of the latest version.
Disable Your Antivirus
Antivirus software, including the built-in Windows Defender, can sometimes interfere with the game’s anti-cheat system, causing crashes or freezes. To rule this out as a potential cause, temporarily disable your antivirus before launching Counter-Strike 2. If the game runs smoothly with the antivirus disabled, consider adding an exclusion for the game in your antivirus settings.
Set the Game to Use the Discrete GPU
For laptop users with dual graphics (integrated and discrete GPUs), ensure that Counter-Strike 2 is set to run on the discrete GPU. To do this, go to your Windows graphics settings and specify that the game should use the high-performance discrete GPU. This will help prevent performance issues and potential crashes.
Adjust Compatibility Settings
While some users have reported that enabling or disabling full-screen optimizations in Counter-Strike 2’s executable properties can resolve freezing or crashing issues, this solution seems to be inconsistent and may not work for everyone. To access these settings, right-click on the Counter-Strike 2 executable file (cs2.exe) and select “Properties.” Navigate to the “Compatibility” tab. It’s important to approach compatibility settings with caution, as modifying options like “Run this program as an administrator” can introduce security risks and interfere with the game’s normal operation. Unless you exhaust all other troubleshooting options, it’s best to leave the compatibility settings unchanged (unticked) to avoid potential problems.
Remove Configuration Files
Counter-Strike 2 is an update to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), and your installation may still contain old configuration files that can interfere with the new game. To fix this, navigate to the 'Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg' folder and delete the autoexec file, if you have one. Additionally, go to the 'Steam\userdata\<your SteamID3 / Friend Code>\730\local\cfg' folder and delete the ‘cs2_video.txt’ file, along with any other configuration files you may have. The game will generate new configuration files as needed.
If you’re unsure of how to find your own SteamID3, head over to SteamIDFinder and search for it using the number or string that shows up at the end of your Steam profile URL.
Adjust Video Settings
If you’ve deleted the ‘cs2_video.txt’ file but are still experiencing issues, you can manually adjust the game’s video settings. Open the recovered or newly created ‘cs2_video.txt’ file with a text editor and ensure that the setting.defaultres and setting.defaultresheight values match your display’s native resolution. For example, if you have a 1920×1080 (Full HD) monitor, the values should be set accordingly.
Add Launch Options
You can also try adding launch options to Counter-Strike 2 in Steam by navigating to your Steam library, right clicking Counter-Strike 2 and selecting ‘Properties’. First, remove any existing launch options. Then, add '-w 1920 -h 1080' (replace the values with your actual monitor’s resolution) to specify the correct resolution for the game. Additionally, you can try adding the '-allow_third_party_software' launch option, which may help resolve some crashes.
Disable Steam Overlay
The Steam Overlay is a feature that allows you to access Steam functions while in-game, such as browsing the web, chatting with friends, or taking screenshots. However, this overlay can sometimes interfere with the game’s performance, causing issues like freezing, crashing, or reduced frame rates. If you suspect that the Steam Overlay might be the culprit behind your CS2 freezing or crashing issue, you can try disabling it.
To disable the Steam Overlay for CS2, follow these steps:
- Open your Steam client and go to the “Settings” menu under Steam in the top left corner.
- In the Settings window, select the “In-Game” tab.
- Make sure that the “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” option is checked. This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s necessary to ensure that you can disable the overlay for specific games.
- Now, go to your Steam library, right-click on Counter-Strike 2, and select “Properties“.
- In the Properties window, uncheck the box next to “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game“.
- Close the Properties window and launch CS2 to see if the freezing or crashing issue has been resolved.
Disconnect Controllers
Counter-Strike 2 may experience issues if joysticks, gamepads, or other controllers are connected to your PC. This includes USB wired devices, USB wireless devices with a dongle, and Bluetooth devices. Disconnect all such devices and remove any associated drivers or software. Some gaming keyboards also have built-in joystick emulation, which can cause problems. Disable this feature if possible.
Use the ‘nojoy’ Launch Option
If disconnecting controllers doesn’t resolve the issue, you can add the ‘-nojoy’ launch option to Counter-Strike 2 in Steam. This command disables joystick support in the game, preventing any potential conflicts. Keep in mind that this option only affects Counter-Strike 2 and will not impact controller functionality in other games.
By following these steps and addressing each potential cause individually, you should be able to resolve the freezing or crashing issue in Counter-Strike 2 and enjoy the game without interruptions.
If you’ve exhausted all troubleshooting options and the problem persists, your best course of action is to reach out to the official support channels provided by Valve. You can visit the Steam Support website and submit a ticket detailing your issue, including information about your system specifications, the steps you’ve taken to resolve the problem, and any error messages or crash logs you’ve encountered.
