Arknights: Endfield should run smoothly on PC, but many players are facing issues like crashing at startup, black screen, freezing, lag, or the game not loading at all. These problems can come from driver issues, Windows settings, corrupted files, or system conflicts.
The good news is most of these errors can be fixed with simple steps. Below is a complete guide covering all working solutions you can try on your PC. Also check out our Arknights Endfield Codes for more rewards!
1. Restart Your PC First
Before changing any settings, restart your computer once. A fresh reboot clears background tasks, memory issues, and temporary errors. After restarting, launch Arknights: Endfield and check if the issue still appears.
2. Run Arknights: Endfield as Administrator
Running the game with admin permission can fix startup and black screen problems.
- Open Epic Games Launcher
- Click the three dots next to Arknights: Endfield
- Open Manage and click the folder icon to access the install location
- Open the game folder and find Endfield.exe
- Right-click it, open Properties, then go to Compatibility
- Enable Run this program as administrator and apply
You can also try compatibility mode using Windows 8 or Windows 7. If the game runs worse, turn all options back off.
3. Launch the Game Directly from the Install Folder
If the Epic Games launcher fails to open the game properly, try launching it manually.
- Open the installation folder
- Double-click the launcher or Endfield.exe
- Check if the game starts without errors
This method often bypasses launcher-related crashes.
4. Clean Install Your Graphics Driver
Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers often cause black screens and lag.
- NVIDIA users should install the latest Game Ready Driver
- AMD or Intel users should download the correct driver for their GPU
During installation, choose Custom Install and enable Clean Installation, then restart your PC.
5. Allow the Game Through Windows Security
Windows Defender can block game files without warning.
Controlled Folder Access
- Open Windows Security
- Go to Ransomware Protection
- Allow apps through controlled folder access
- Add both the launcher and Endfield.exe
Firewall Access
- Allow both files through Private and Public networks
If you use third-party antivirus software, add the game files to the exclusion list or temporarily disable the antivirus to test.
6. Force the Game to Use Dedicated Graphics Card
Laptops and some PCs may run the game on integrated graphics.
- Search Graphics Settings in Windows
- Add Endfield.exe as a desktop app
- Set GPU preference to High Performance
This helps fix lag, freezing, and sudden crashes.
7. Verify and Repair Game Files
Corrupted files can stop the game from loading.
From Epic Games Launcher
- Open Manage
- Click Verify Files
From Endfield Launcher
- Open game launcher
- Select Check Game Integrity
- Let the scan finish completely
After verification, relaunch the game.
8. Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables
Missing Visual C++ files can cause startup crashes.
- Download both x64 and x86 versions
- Install or repair both
- Restart your PC
This step fixes many silent launch errors.
9. Delete Arknights: Endfield Save Data (Last Option)
This resets settings and save files.
- Open C:\Users\YourName\AppData\LocalLow
- Find the Endfield folder
- Back it up first
- Delete the original folder
Only do this if nothing else works, as progress may be lost.
10. Disable Overlays and Background Apps
Overlays can conflict with the game.
- Turn off Discord overlay
- Disable NVIDIA or AMD overlay
- Close MSI Afterburner, Razer Synapse, or similar tools
Also disconnect unused USB devices, controllers, or extra monitors.
11. Update Windows
An outdated Windows version can cause compatibility issues.
- Open Windows Update
- Install all available updates
- Restart your PC
12. Reinstall Arknights: Endfield
If every fix fails, reinstall the game.
- Uninstall the game
- Restart your PC
- Reinstall it on an SSD (preferably C drive)
This removes all corrupted data and launcher issues.
13. Change DirectX Launch Options
DirectX issues are a common cause of crashes and freezing.
From Epic Games Launcher
- Open Manage for Arknights: Endfield
- Enable launch options
- Try entering -dx11 and launch the game
- If it fails, replace it with -dx12
From the Endfield Launcher
- Open the game normally
- Enable Launch with DirectX 11 option
- Click Play
If none work, remove all launch options and try again.
Crashing, black screen, or freezing issues in Arknights: Endfield on PC can be frustrating, but most of them are caused by drivers, Windows security, or corrupted files. By following the fixes above step by step, you should be able to run the game smoothly again. If one solution does not work, move to the next until the issue is resolved.