pcsx2 keeps crashing fix

PCSX2 crashes to desktop mid-game, or refuses to start a specific title. The issue tracker shows the pattern clearly: most crash reports are either a specific game hitting an emulation edge case or a renderer that failed to come up.

1. You’re on an old build

PCSX2 fixes crashes constantly. A crash that started recently is often already resolved upstream.

1. Update to the latest PCSX2 build
   Get it from the official site. Nightly and stable both land crash fixes; if a game "just started crashing", a newer build is the first thing to try.
   The version in Help → About matches the latest release.

2. The renderer failed to start

1. Switch the Graphics Renderer
   Open Settings → Graphics → Renderer. If Vulkan crashes, try OpenGL; if OpenGL is unstable, try Vulkan. A renderer that can't initialise your GPU is a common silent-crash source.
   The game renders a frame instead of closing.
2. Update your GPU driver
   A crash that only happens under load, or only with one backend, is usually a driver issue. Install the latest from the GPU maker.
   The crash stops recurring at the same scene.

3. A specific game needs different settings

Some titles only crash under the default emulation accuracy.

1. Adjust clamp and rounding modes
   Under EE/IOP and VU settings, move Clamp Mode from None to Full, or change Rounding. Many odd crashes — especially in older or obscure titles — disappear with stricter clamping.
   The game gets past the point where it previously crashed.
2. Clear the cache
   A corrupted shader or texture cache can crash a title on every load. Clear it and let PCSX2 rebuild.
   The game recompiles instead of loading a broken cache.

When it’s the controller, not the game

If the crash is really an input fault — a pad that disconnects or a binding that throws an error — that’s a different fix: see PCSX2 not detecting controller. For slow performance rather than crashes, the performance guide covers it.