When Zenless Zone Zero was released on July 4, 2024, players surely expected some issues. New games always have a few unfortunate glitches and bugs, and crashing is always one of them. If you're experiencing game crashes when playing Zenless Zone Zero, this guide is for you.
Fixes for Zenless Zone Zero crashes and freezes on PC
PC fix one - Turn it off and on again
The very first thing that any PC player should do when they are experiencing freezing or crashing while playing Zenless Zone Zero is to shut everything down. Force stop the game through Task Manager if it won't let you close it normally, close and exit any launcher programs from your tray, and restart your PC or laptop.
Once your machine has restarted, open Zenless Zone Zero back up and see if a simple turn-it-off-and-on-again fix has done the job.
In the event that it hasn't, it's time to deep-dive this issue.
PC fix two - Change how the game launches
Navigate to Game Settings from the HoYoPlay launcher (bottom right, three lines), and open the Directory for the game.
Scroll down, and you'll find the game program in your files - right-click, and open Properties.
Highlight the text on that shows you where the game's Location is, and copy it.
Go to your Desktop, right-click in an empty space, go to New, and Create a Shortcut.
Paste the copied Location line, and add "\zenless-zone-zero.exe" to the end of it.
If you're using Windows 11, you'll need to add "\zenless-zone-zero.exe -force-d3d12" to the end of the Location line, instead.
Click Next, name the Shortcut "Zenless Zone Zero," and open your PC's Graphics Settings.
Click Browse, and find ZenlessZoneZero.exe (the same file from earlier). Click Add.
Now, you'll need to click on Options and select your PC's graphics card under "High Performance."
Click Save, and you're done! That's fix number one.
PC fix three - Run as an Administrator
The second fix is to try running the game as your PC's Administrator.
If you're playing using HoYoPlay, open the launcher, click on the menu in the bottom right corner, select Game Settings, and open the directory.
If you're using the Epic Games launcher, open it, go to Library, and click the three dots under Zenless Zone Zero. Click Manage, and go to the Folder icon (next to the uninstall option).
Click on ZenlessZoneZero.exe (yes, the same file from earlier), select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check the box next to "Run this program as an administrator."
Apply, click Okay, and launch the game from the installation folder, rather than the launcher program you're using.
If this method still causes freezing/crashing, you should try checking the "Disable fullscreen optimization" option in the Properties of the game. You can see it in the screenshot above, just under the administrator option.
A third option you can try in this fix is to also check the box under Compatibility mode and see if running the program for Windows 7 or Windows 8 makes any difference.
PC fix four - Lower your game graphics
Time to start messing with your graphics settings. If you have an underpowered GPU, lowering the graphics may help the game run better on your machine, which should lead to less crashes and/or freezes.
You can do this by loading Zenless Zone Zero, clicking on the gear icon on the right (Settings), and reducing the graphics setting you have. Set the image quality to low, lower the texture quality, disable anti-aliasing, etc.
PC fix five - Update your Graphics Card Driver
Whether you're running AMD or NVIDIA, go to the relevant website linked, select your Graphics Card Driver, and update it from the official sites.
PC fix six - Check for updates
If your game isn't updated to the newest version, this could be causing the issues you're having.
Open the HoYoPlay launcher, click the menu button, and click Check for Updates.
If there's no update, you'll get a pop-up box saying so.
Other PC fixes to try
- Disable any overlays you have, which you can go by checking your NVIDIA settings from the NVIDIA GeForce Experience application.
- Check that Zenless Zone Zero isn't being blocked by your firewall or antivirus program.
- Check for conflicting software and hardware. Use your Task Manager to end any programs that you don't need open to run ZZZ, and unplug any USB equipment.
- Close your browser.
- Try using the Repair Now option in the HoYoPlay settings - it's under Check for Updates.
- Verify your ZZZ files if you're using the Epic Games launcher - go to the Library, click those three dots under Zenless Zone Zero, click Manage, and then click Verify.
- Check for Windows updates.
- Uninstall and reinstall ZZZ.
Fixes for Zenless Zone Zero crashes and freezes on PlayStation 5
It's significantly less complicated to fix crashes on a console, and it doesn't require me to post multiple screenshots as you mess with your settings. Here are some fixes for your PlayStation 5:
- Rebooting your console can solve the issue most of the time, and the same is true for players experiencing Zenless Zone Zero crashes.
- Try updating the game.
- Check for PS5 system software updates.
- Clear your PlayStation 5 game cache - you can do this by turning off your PS5, unplugging the console, waiting 30 seconds, and plugging the console back in.
- Check your storage space - Zenless Zone Zero is an oddly huge game. MiHoYo recommends that you have 55GB of space available for Zenless Zone Zero.
- Disable rest mode - Go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Set Time Until PS5 Enters Rest Mode. Select "Don't put in rest mode" for both available settings.
- Reinstall ZZZ.
- Consider that your PlayStation5 might be overheating - is it in a well-ventilated area? Is there dust? Try raising your console off of whatever shelf you have, putting it out into the open, or even buying an external fan for it.
Fixes for Zenless Zone Zero crashes and freezes on Android and iOS
The main issue that players seem to be having when using their mobile is that their devices have become incompatible with the game. This isn't something you can fix. The game requires a lot of storage space and older devices just can't handle running it.
If you navigate back to the Google Play Store or the Apple Store, you'll see whether your device has become incompatible or not.
Here are some other fixes to try for your mobile device:
- Check that your smartphone meets the minimum system requirements for Zenless Zone Zero.
- Try updating your game - you can check this in the Google Play Store or the Apple Store.
- Close other applications you have open on your phone.
- Consider buying an external smartphone fan if your phone is overheating.
- Reinstall Zenless Zone Zero.
- Check for system updates in your settings.
That's all of the potential fixes I have for now, but I'm hopeful that one of them will work for you! Just a quick note: If your PC is running Intel, there is a known issue with those graphics cards. People with Intel Graphics Cards don't seem to be having any luck with the game, so it's best to add to the numbers and report this bug to miHoYo, along with any other issues you're having.
They can't fix the game without knowing what the problems are.
Looking to read more about Zenless Zone Zero at Pro Game Guides? Try Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Codes (June 2024) or How to redeem pre-registration milestone rewards in Zenless Zone Zero.
