Fix Hogwarts Legacy Crash to desktop(CTD),crashes on preparing shaders/shader loading, Out of video memory crash, crash on startup,Hogwarts Legacy Crash after Epileptic/Seizure Warning,UE4 Crash,Unreal Engine 4 has crashed, freezing & black Screen
Step 1) Preparing shaders is taking time, so if you see black screen wait for some time
Step 2) Restart your PC
Step 3) Verify game files
Step 4) Set Ray Tracing to False and quality settings to 0 in GamerUserSettings file, put the file on "Read Only" could help not to reset it
Step 5) Set UpscaleMode to NVIDIA_NIS or None in GamerUserSettings file, again put the file on "Read Only" could help not to reset it
Step 6) Save the Save files folder somewhere and then delete the whole Hogwards Legacy save folder and start the game and the put the save files back
Step 7) Delete the save game file and then launch the game (You will lose all the game progress)
Step 8) Disable overclocking and close all the overclocking applications, Disable Steam Overlay, close all the overlay apps (Discord, GeForce Experience, Nvidia shadow play overlay, AMD overlay)
Step 9) Launch the game from game installation folder, try running the game as an administrator, also try launching in compatibility mode
Step 10) Increase the virtual memory in windows
View Advanced system settings
Initial Size: 1.5 x Total Ram
Maximum Size: 3 X Total Ram
Step 11) Close OBS, close all the background applications, also close all the browsers especially Chrome.
Step 12) Allow the game exe file to your antivirus program/Windows Security and Firewall
Step 13) Allow the game exe file to exploit protection, (Make sure you add this exception for both the "HogwartsLegacy.exe" files)
Step 14) Do a clean installation of graphics driver
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/
https://www.amd.com/en/support
Step 15) Roll back graphics driver
Step 16) Install Visual C++ Files https://docs.microsoft.com/en-US/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-160
Step 17) Update your Windows to the latest version, 22H2
Step 18) Install Media Feature Pack: If you are using N versions of Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/media-feature-pack-list-for-windows-n-editions-c1c6fffa-d052-8338-7a79-a4bb980a700a or switch normal Windows 10/11 editions
Step 19) Install DirectX: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109
Step 20) Disconnect multiple monitors, unplug all the USB devices, Logitech wheel, joystick, Razer Tartarus gamepad, vjoy, turn off Razer Synapse (razor lighting effects) and MSI Dragon Center, corsair software, end nahimic services & lightingservice.exe in task manager, remove the undervolt
Step 21) Update System BIOS
Step 22) Try Windowed mode, turn off Ray Tracing, DLSS, turn off RTX, lower down graphics settings
Step 23) Move the game folder to C drive and then launch the game
Step 24) Uninstall and reinstall the game to the different drive (Try SSD first)