The Ultimate Guide to Fix Fallout New Vegas Keeps Crashing

1. Why Does Fallout New Vegas Keep Crashing?

Here are some of the most common reasons why the game crashes:

• The 2GB RAM Out-of-Memory LimitBy default, New Vegas is a 32-bit application that is hard-capped to only use 2 GB of system RAM, no matter how powerful your PC is. As you walk around the Mojave and the game loads more textures, NPC data, and world cells, it quickly hits that 2 GB ceiling and instantly crashes to the desktop (CTD).
• Windows 10/11 Compatibility & Driver ConflictsThe game relies on older DirectX 9 runtime files. Modern graphics card drivers (especially NVIDIA and AMD updates over the last few years) frequently conflict with how the old Gamebryo engine processes physics and memory management, causing random freezes during fast travel or combat.
• Broken Autosave FilesThe game’s native auto-save system is notoriously corrupt. Over time, saving while changing locations or during active combat overwrites memory slots improperly. When the game tries to read a bloated or corrupted autosave file, it will freeze infinitely on the roulette-wheel loading screen.

Now let’s look at the best ways to fix the problem.

2. How to Fix Fallout New Vegas Keeping Crashing?

Fix 1: Install Stability Mods with Viva New Vegas

One of the most effective ways to reduce crashes is to install the Viva New Vegas modding guide, which combines carefully tested tools and patches that work well together, helping you avoid the problems that often come from installing random mods.

• Visit the official Viva New Vegas guide in your web browser. Read the guide from the beginning to understand the required tools and installation process.

• Install the recommended mod manager if you don't already have one.

  

• Follow the guide in the exact order it recommends. Install each stability mod and patch one at a time instead of skipping ahead.

• Avoid adding extra mods until you have confirmed that the game runs properly with the recommended stability setup.

• Launch Fallout New Vegas and test the game to see if the crashes have been resolved.

Many players report a much more stable experience after following the Viva New Vegas guide, making it one of the best solutions for reducing random crashes and improving overall gameplay.

Fix 2: Edit Fallout.ini to Reduce Random Crashes

Sometimes the game’s configuration files become corrupted or contain settings that cause instability. You can try editing the Fallout.ini file to improve stability.

• Open File Explorer and go to Documents\My Games\FalloutNV. Find the Fallout.ini file.

• Open it with Notepad. Locate "bUseThreadedAI=0" using Ctrl + F, change its value to 1, and add a new line directly below it reading iNumHWThreads=2.

  

• Then save the file and exit.

Another simple solution is to delete the Fallout.ini and FalloutPrefs.ini files. The next time you launch Fallout New Vegas, the game will automatically create fresh copies with default settings.

Fix 3: Cap Fallout New Vegas to 60 FPS

Although modern graphics cards can run Fallout New Vegas at very high frame rates, the game’s engine was designed with a 60 FPS limit in mind.

Running above this limit may cause random crashes, animation problems and so on. To limit the frame rate:

For NVIDIA users

• Open NVIDIA Control Panel. Go to Manage 3D Settings.

• Select Fallout New Vegas. Set Max Frame Rate to 60 FPS.

  

For AMD users

• Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.

• Locate the game’s graphics profile.

• Enable frame rate control and set it to 60 FPS.

You can also use a trusted frame limiter if your graphics software doesn’t include this feature. After limiting the frame rate, test the game to see whether the crashes stop. This method can also fix Stellar Blade Fatal Error and Battlefield 6 DirectX Error.

⚡ Bonus Tip: Clean Up Windows to Improve Game Performance

Even after fixing game-specific problems, Windows itself can affect how smoothly games run. Temporary files, cache files, and other unnecessary data can build up over time and take up valuable storage space. Cleaning these files regularly helps keep your system organized.

You can use the Windows Clean feature in 4DDiG Partition Manager to remove unnecessary files.

• Install and open 4DDiG Partition Manager. From the menu on the left, click Windows Clean. Select the types of junk files you want to remove, then click Start Scan. The program will scan your computer for unnecessary files.

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• When the scan is complete, you’ll see a list of junk files. Items that are safe to delete are already selected. You can also expand each category to review the files before cleaning them.

  

• Click Clean to remove the selected files. Confirm the action when asked, and the program will begin freeing up space on your drive.

  

• Once the process is finished, you’ll see a message confirming that the cleanup is complete. With less unnecessary data on your computer, Windows can stay cleaner and games may run more smoothly.

  

Conclusion

If Fallout New Vegas keeps crashing, don’t give up on the game. In many cases, the issue can be fixed by updating your graphics driver, installing trusted stability mods, rebuilding the Fallout.ini files, or limiting the game to 60 FPS. These solutions have helped many players enjoy a much more stable experience.

To keep your PC performing well, it’s also a good idea to remove unnecessary Windows files from time to time. 4DDiG Partition Manager offers an easy way to clean junk files, helping your system stay organized and ready for longer gaming sessions.