Conan Exiles Crashing: Every Fix for Enhanced in the Right Order

If Conan Exiles is crashing, the cause since the Enhanced update is almost always one of four things: outdated drivers, an incompatible mod, corrupted game files, or a loading error that only looks like a crash. The move to Unreal Engine 5 made all of these noticeably more common.

This guide goes through the fixes in the order you should try them, from the fastest to the most thorough. The most recent Enhanced patch we checked line by line is Hotfix 2.1.1 from August 26, 2026, which followed Patch 2.1.0 from August 18.

🆕 Start here: update your client (Hotfix 2.1.1 and later)

Before you try anything else, make sure your client is up to date. After Patch 2.1.0 on August 18, Funcom shipped Hotfix 2.1.1 on August 26, 2026. If you're still on an older build, you may be chasing a bug Funcom fixed weeks ago. Steam normally updates automatically, but a paused download or a stuck update queue can leave you behind.

Two of the five entries in 2.1.1 target crashes directly, and both involve mods. That's exactly the cause reported most often since the UE5 switch.

• Crash caused by mods: Funcom added redirectors that stop certain mods from crashing the game.
• Crash on load from mod animations: mods with custom animations crashed the game while loading. Fixed in the Dev Kit.
• Lost Bazaar purchases: a clock sync error made bought Bazaar items disappear. Fixed.
• Ferine Stalker Staff: the staff no longer drops outside the Headhunter event.
• Dev Kit: the missing SetOwnerStableId for the ThrallComponent was added.

The takeaway: if your game started crashing after August 18 and you haven't updated since, the update alone may fix it. If your client is current, work through the steps below in order.

🩹 Then: the two quick standard fixes

Before you dig deeper, rule out the two most common causes. First, verify your game files. In Steam, right-click Conan Exiles, then Properties, Installed Files, "Verify integrity of game files". That step is on Funcom's official list, and it repairs corrupted or half-updated files, especially after a big patch.

Second, update your graphics driver. UE5 puts more load on the GPU than the old engine, and an outdated driver is one of the top causes of a crash on launch. NVIDIA users should install at least the driver Funcom recommends for Enhanced. AMD and Intel users should grab the latest one.

🧩 The most common Enhanced cause: mods

Since the UE5 switch, old UE4 mods aren't automatically compatible anymore. A single outdated mod can kill the game right after you click Play, on the loading screen, in the main menu or while loading a save.

To test it, rename the modlist.txt file in your Mods folder (or clear the mod list in the launcher) and start without mods. If you reach the main menu, it was a mod. Then re-enable only mods that are explicitly updated for Enhanced, one at a time or in small groups. With a long mod list, halving is faster: disable half, test, then keep splitting the broken half.

📣 Player reports after 2.1.0 that Funcom hasn't confirmed

The official discussion thread for Patch 2.1.0 collected problems that Funcom has not confirmed as bugs in the patch notes. They come from player reports, but they show up several times and independently of each other.

• Dedicated servers no longer start or vanish from the server list, while joining directly by IP still works. Several server owners mention the message "NavData Registration Failed".
• More crashes than before the patch, including when using teleporters.
• Broken mods, because the patch checks mod versions more strictly and won't load older builds.
• Login fails as soon as mods are active.

For context: these are player reports, not officially confirmed bugs. Hotfix 2.1.1 addresses two of them at least indirectly, because it fixes mod crashes and loading crashes from mod animations. If one of these hits you, going through your mod list is almost always faster than waiting for another fix.

⬛ Black screen instead of a crash

Not every apparent crash is one. The most reported launch week problem was a black screen: you click Play, the window opens, and nothing happens. No menu, no Funcom logo.

Funcom's official workaround: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open Task Manager, end the Conan process and start the game again. Players also report that an Alt + Tab out of the window and back in helps. That one isn't on Funcom's list, but it takes seconds to try.

⚠️ Fatal Error and corrupted pak files

If the error survives the steps above, it's time for the stubborn causes. A "Fatal Error" before the main menu often comes from a corrupted pak file or a broken runtime library.

If verifying the files again doesn't fix it for good, reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (2015 or newer, 64-bit) fresh from Microsoft. If the error only shows up with BattlEye ("Failed to start BattlEye service"), restart your PC and run the BattlEye installer in the game's BattlEye folder as administrator.

Funcom also fixed two crash causes in 2.1.0 itself: a crash when dyeing certain items and, relevant for modders, frequent editor crashes on undo. If your crash reliably happens on one specific action, check the patch notes before you spend hours blaming your hardware.

🔍 Narrow it down: the Legacy version

If you can't tell whether the problem is Enhanced itself or your hardware, use the Legacy version as a cross-check. In Steam, right-click Conan Exiles, Properties, "Game Versions & Betas" (older clients just say "Betas"), then pick Conan Exiles Legacy. If Legacy starts cleanly, the cause is an Enhanced mod or a UE5 client problem, not your hardware.

Keep in mind that Legacy is only a diagnostic tool. You can't join current Enhanced servers with it, and you don't get new PC content. If Legacy won't start either and your PC is close to the UE5 minimum requirements, it may simply be a hardware limit. Then the only options are lower settings or an upgrade.

🧹 Cache, config and admin rights

After a big update like Patch 2.1.0 and the hotfix that followed, an old config can become the problem. If Conan Exiles keeps crashing even though files and mods are clean, back up your save and reset your settings to default.

Two small tweaks fix a lot of leftover crashes: start the launcher once as administrator so the game has write access, and if in doubt switch to borderless windowed mode instead of exclusive fullscreen. That gets around some renderer hangs after the UE5 switch.

📊 Conan Exiles crashing: fixes by symptom

❓ FAQ: Conan Exiles crashing

Why does Conan Exiles keep crashing since Enhanced?

Because the move to Unreal Engine 5 puts more demand on hardware, drivers and mods. Old UE4 mods and outdated drivers are the most common triggers.

What's the first thing to do after a crash?

Verify the game files in Steam and update your graphics driver. That solves most launch crashes.

How do I find out which mod is to blame?

Clear your mod list and start without mods. If it runs, turn the mods back on in small groups and test after each step.

What helps against the black screen?

Open Task Manager, end the Conan process and restart, or Alt + Tab out of the window and back in.

How do I rule out a hardware problem?

Start the Legacy version through Steam's Game Versions & Betas tab. If it runs cleanly, the problem is Enhanced, not your hardware.

Is a full reinstall worth it?

Only as the last step. The UE5 switch can leave an install inconsistent after Steam's in-between updates. If verifying, drivers, mods and config don't help, a clean reinstall is the most thorough fix. Back up your local saves first.

Does Hotfix 2.1.1 fix my crashes?

Partly. 2.1.1 specifically fixes crashes caused by mods and by mod animations during loading. Crashes from drivers, corrupted files or weak hardware aren't affected.

💡 How to prevent future crashes

Most launch crashes happen right after a patch. So after every bigger update, verify your game files and update your graphics driver before a long session. Keep your mod list lean and remove mods that haven't seen an Enhanced update in weeks. That's how you stop Conan Exiles from crashing again after the next patch.

Also keep an eye on the official patch notes. August was a typical cycle: a big patch on the 18th, a hotfix eight days later. If you grab the hotfix, you skip part of the troubleshooting entirely. Once the game runs again, our thralls guide and the best weapons tier list help you get back up to speed, and all our guides are collected on the Conan Exiles hub.

As of October 11, 2026. The patch content in this guide was checked against Funcom's official patch notes for Hotfix 2.1.1 and Patch 2.1.0 on the Funcom forums and the update overview on conanexiles.com.

Funcom has shipped newer builds since: Update 2.2.0 (September 15), Hotfixes 2.2.2 and 2.2.3, Patch 3.0.0 (October 6) and Hotfix 3.0.1 (October 8, 2026), the current version. According to Funcom's Steam news, their crash fixes include two D3D12 crashes introduced with 2.2.0 (fixed in 2.2.2), a crash when checking the Player List on official servers and a crash on Steam Deck (both fixed in 3.0.1).

The items in the "player reports" section come from the official discussion thread for Patch 2.1.0 and are player reports, not bugs confirmed by Funcom. The exact error is always in the crash log with the matching timestamp; "Fatal Error" alone doesn't name the cause.