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My Game is Not Launching or is Crashing on PC

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Forza Support Team
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If you are having trouble launching your game on PC or are experiencing random crashes, Please thoroughly attempt all steps. 

Minimum System Requirements

Confirm your PC build is capable of running the game.

Forza Horizon 5 PC Specs

Forza Horizon 4 PC Specs

If you have an onboard graphics processor, be sure to prioritize PCI-E > PCI > Int.Graphics/Int.GPU in BIOS.

Run MemTest to rule out any RAM related issues

Administrator Account

Log in to Windows 10/11 with a local Administrator Account and launch the game/store as an Administrator. This fixes the majority of cases reported.

Check for Updates to Windows 10

Always ensure that you have the latest updates to Windows 10 by clicking Start and typing 'Updates' in the search box.

Here is the updated Windows assistant: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3159635/windows-10-update-assistant

Once you've updated, perform a complete shutdown and restart your machine.

Microsoft Store and UWP game reset

Make sure to set your game to the highest priority in Task Manager.

Windows > Settings > type Apps & Features > title > Advanced Options > Reset

 

Third-party Overlay Incompatibility

Apps and software with overlay features (interfaces designed to continuously run in the background or "on top" of gameplay) are not always compatible with Forza Horizon

Examples of apps with overlays include communication overlay features from Discord, GeForce Overlay for screen capture and sharing from Nvidia, or hardware monitoring and capture with Fraps

Attempting to use similar overlay software may interfere with expected in-game performance, cause crashes, or other disruptive technical issues. Please disable or uninstall overlay features and similar functions within these programs before launching Forza Horizon for the best possible gameplay experience.

 

Software

The game does not explicitly support and may even see specific applications/software as a conflict or threat and, as such, refuse to run, or run with crashes.

Disable ALL background software or applications, including, Antivirus, Firewalls, and any FPS boosting or monitoring software.

Example list of virus checkers that will make the game not boot.

  • Trend Micro Maximum Security
  • Comodo Antivirus
  • Sophos
  • Emisoft Anti-Malware
  • Avira
  • Avast
  • Bitdefender Firewall
  • AVG

The following list of software applications examples can cause the game to either fail to launch or crash while playing. Please make sure you either disable or uninstall to ensure successful gameplay.

  • Logitech G Hub
  • MSI Afterburner / Riva Tuner Statistics Server
  • EVGA Precision
  • OBS
  • Xsplit
  • MacType
  • Warsaw Banking App
  • Wallpaper Engine
  • A-Volute Sound studio
  • Sonic Audio

If you use OBS, Xsplit, or any other streaming programs, please set your source to display capture. 

We would suggest disabling Game Mode in Windows and closing any overclocking, hardware monitoring, streaming, recording, and any nonessential apps while you play the game.

Turn off any extra Power monitoring software

  • MSI DragonCenter
  • RyzenMaster
  • Gamefast from Dells Killer Control Center
  • Any software installed that may be adjusting or monitoring power settings

Then, make sure that your Power settings are correct

  1. Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options
  2. Change to High Performance
  3. Perform a Full Shutdown (not restart).

​

 

Hang or Crash when Suspending and Resuming [Windows 10/11]

Make sure you have not disabled Forza Horizon 4 as a background app.

  1. Click the Windows button on your PC
  2. Open Privacy
  3. Scroll down to Background Apps on the left-hand side. 
  4. Scroll down to the game title and select the slider to turn it ON.

Downloading with current Account from Microsoft store

  1. Open the Microsoft Store, then click on the profile picture in the top right corner.
  2. If you have multiple accounts signed in, sign out of all of them but leave the email account linked to the game's purchase signed in.
  3. Next, in the Microsoft Store, download any free app at all.
  4. Then, try playing the game again through the Microsoft Store 'Library' page.

Disabling Development Mode

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type Powershell and hit enter.
  3. Copy and paste the following into the Powershell window and press enter.

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”} 

Reboot your PC. 

Make Sure the Time/Date on your PC is Correct

  1. Right-click on the clock on your start menu.
  2. Select Adjust Date/Time.
  3. Untick then retic 'Set time zone automatically.
  4. Reboot your PC.

Missing/Corrupted files 

The game may have encountered an issue with a recent update (Windows, Drivers, Content) and refuses to run with crashes or missing updates.

  1. Ensure you have the MOST recent Windows 10 update
  2. Make sure your Graphics Card is updated with the latest patch after the windows update.
  3. Reset Store and Application - Windows>Settings>Applications>title>Advanced Options>Reset
  4. Full re-installation of the title

VR/Windows Mixed Reality Headsets.

We are currently investigating an issue regarding Forza Horizon 4 crashing when using VR/Windows Mixed Reality Headsets. Please make sure you have these unplugged when attempting to launch and play Forza Horizon 4. 

If you are still having an issue after trying these, please submit a ticket using the option below and attach your event logs and DXDIAG.

Instructions on how to get your event logs:

  • Try to launch the game.
  • Right after the splash screen closes, you will want to type Event Viewer into the start menu and press enter
  • Select Windows Logs then Application. 
  • Select any warning or error messages to see if it's related to Forza Horizon 4 (or the title of the game you will submit a ticket for).
  • If so, you will want to select 'Save Selected Events' from the Actions on the right-hand side.

Run the Microsoft Tool

Go to the link and save/run the tool. Follow the on-screen instructions to troubleshoot/fix your issue.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=271185

Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ programs

  1. Press the Windows Key + R, appwiz.cpl and then press Enter.
  2. Locate the Microsoft Visual C++ programs in the list.
  3. Select each entry and then click Uninstall.
  4. Download a fresh copy of Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime from here and then install it.

Reset the Microsoft Store

You can use the steps below to refresh the Microsoft Store, which will clear the cache and refresh your library permissions. This fixes the majority of the cases.

  1. Close the Windows Store app if you have it open.
  2. Click Start and type 'WSRESET', without the quotes.
  3. Right-click on the command and click 'Run as Administrator.' Click 'Yes' or 'Run' if the Windows permission box appears.
  4. A black MS-Dos screen will appear for a few seconds. Please wait for it to disappear, and the Store will automatically open.
  5. Attempt to Install the Forza title.

Check for Exception codes after Crash.

If you are crashing and receive no error or windows pop up directly from the game, please use this guide to diagnose your PCs issue for the Crash event that may be occurring,

  1. Open Event Viewer by pressing the Windows key and type "Event Viewer"
  2. Click on the "Windows Logs" folder
  3. Click on "Application"
  4. Click on the "Date and Time" column to sort and look for "Application Error" around the date/time your crash happened.
    • After you find the Application Error for the game, you will notice "Information" on the right.
      In this tab, there will be a ton of information listed. Please check the error code to see if you have anything related to these examples below

Examples of Coded issues:

0xc0000005
0xc000001d
0xc0000409
0xe06d7363
0xc0000374
0xc00000fd
0x80000003
0xc0000096
0xc0000094
0xc0000006

Please report these codes to Official Windows Support and open a Feedback Hub report. Official Windows Support will be able to diagnose and resolve these issues for you.

Too Many Devices

Could you please check the device limit for your account and try removing any devices you don't use or don't use often. It's possible that there are too many devices attached to your account and this may be a reason for your issue

 

  1. Go to this site
    1. https://account.microsoft.com/
  2. Make sure you're logged into the account that you use to play / use the Microsoft store with.
  3. Scroll down to the device section.
  4. Select View all devices.
  5. Remove/unlink any device that you are no longer using
  6. Scroll down to "Microsoft Store device management"
  7. Select Manage (Will take you to this page (https://account.microsoft.com/devices/content)
  8. Remove/Unlink a device that you are no longer using.
  9. After removing any unused devices and putting your account under 10 devices Restart your PC

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