F125 crash on startup

Learn about F125 crash on startup


Updated October 19, 2025

If you’re stuck with an F125 crash on startup, you’re not alone—and it’s incredibly frustrating. In F1 25, launch crashes usually come from driver conflicts, anti-cheat issues, corrupted settings, or problem peripherals. This guide gives you a clean, step-by-step path to get the game launching reliably on PC, PS5, or Xbox.

Quick Answer

Most F125 crash on startup issues are fixed by: updating GPU drivers (clean install), disabling overlays (Discord/RTSS/GeForce/Xbox Game Bar), repairing EA anticheat, verifying game files, resetting the game’s config in Documents, and unplugging extra USB devices (especially wheels) for first launch. Console players: clear cache, rebuild database (PS5), power-cycle Xbox, and resync saves.

Why F125 crash on startup Feels So Hard at First

Launch crashes feel opaque: the game just closes or black-screens with no clear error. F1 25 uses modern graphics features and an anti-cheat driver; both are sensitive to outdated drivers, overlays, aggressive overclocks, old config files, or conflicting software. The good news: a systematic reset almost always works.

What F125 crash on startup Actually Means in F1 25

Common symptoms you might see:

  • Instant close after the EA splash or anti-cheat screen
  • Black screen, then desktop
  • Freeze during “compiling shaders”
  • Windows error like 0xc0000005 (access violation) or DXGI_DEVICE_HUNG (driver timeout)
  • EA anticheat prompt or “Service encountered a problem” message

All of these point to the same root areas: graphics drivers, anti-cheat/service permissions, corrupted game settings, overlays, or a conflicting device/driver.

Before You Start (Prerequisites)

Have these ready:

  • PC: Windows fully updated; admin rights; stable internet for EA sign-in; GPU that meets F1 25’s requirements; latest GPU driver downloaded.
  • Console: Latest system firmware and game patch downloaded.
  • Optional peripherals: Steering wheel or controller firmware/software up to date.
  • Access to:
    • PC: Your game platform’s file verification tools (Steam, EA app, or Epic).
    • PC: Your Documents folder (usually Documents > My Games > F1 25 or similarly named).
    • PS5 Safe Mode and Storage settings; Xbox Network & Storage settings.
  • Always back up your saves before deleting any folders.

Step-by-Step: How to Fix / Improve F125 crash on startup

Follow these in order. Test the game after each major step.

A) PC (Steam / EA app / Epic)

  1. Update Windows and restart
  • Open Settings > Windows Update, install all updates (including optional .NET/driver framework updates).
  • Restart the PC.
  1. Clean-install your GPU driver
  • Nvidia: Download the latest Game Ready Driver. Run installer > choose Custom > Perform a clean installation.
  • AMD: Use the latest Adrenalin driver. During install, choose Factory Reset if offered (backs up profiles first).
  • Restart after install.
  1. Disable overlays and capture
  • Turn off: Steam Overlay, EA app in-game overlay, Xbox Game Bar, Discord overlay, GeForce Experience In-Game Overlay, AMD ReLive, MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner (RTSS), OBS/Game Capture hook, and third‑party RGB/audio suites that inject (Nahimic, Sonic Studio, SteelSeries Sonar).
  • Tip: Close them from the system tray and ensure they don’t auto-start.
  1. Unplug non-essential USB devices
  • For the first launch, keep only keyboard/mouse and your main display.
  • Unplug wheels, button boxes, hubs, extra controllers, VR headsets, and capture cards. You’ll add them back later.
  1. Repair EA anticheat
  • In your F1 25 install folder, run the EA AntiCheat installer (EAAntiCheat_Installer.exe) and choose Repair/Install for F1 25.
  • Right‑click your launcher (Steam/EA app) > Run as administrator once.
  • If you previously saw an EA anticheat error, ensure BIOS Secure Boot is enabled and that you don’t have other kernel anti-cheats or debuggers active.
  • Restart the PC.
  1. Verify/repair game files
  • Steam: Library > F1 25 > Right‑click > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity.
  • EA app: My Library > F1 25 > Manage > Repair.
  • Epic: Library > F1 25 > … > Manage > Verify.
  1. Reset graphics config and cache
  • Go to Documents > My Games > F1 25 (folder name may vary by region/patch).
  • Back up this whole folder.
  • Delete these inside it if present:
    • hardwaresettings/hardware_settings_config.xml
    • Any cache or shader subfolders
  • Launch the game. Success looks like: it opens in safe/default graphics with a fresh config.
  1. Force a safe first run (optional)
  • Add launch options to start gently:
    • Steam: Right‑click F1 25 > Properties > Launch Options: enter: -windowed -noborder
    • EA app/Epic: Use the game’s advanced launch options, add the same flags.
  • If prompted by the game, accept Safe Mode.
  1. Fix audio device conflicts
  • Right‑click the speaker icon > Sound settings > More sound settings > Playback tab.
  • Set your main output device to 16-bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality).
  • Disable unused audio devices and disable Spatial sound temporarily.
  • Uninstall or close Nahimic, Sonic Studio, or virtual audio drivers for a test.
  1. Remove overclocks and stabilize power
  • Return CPU/GPU to stock clocks; disable GPU undervolts.
  • In BIOS, temporarily disable aggressive memory/XMP profiles if you suspect instability.
  • In GPU software, set Power Management to Normal/Balanced for testing.
  1. Clean boot to find conflicts
  • Press Win+R, type msconfig. On Services, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” then Disable all. On Startup, open Task Manager and disable third‑party startup items.
  • Reboot and try launching. If it works, re-enable items one at a time to find the culprit.
  1. Reinstall EA app and anticheat (if errors persist)
  • Uninstall EA app, reboot, reinstall the latest EA app.
  • Run the EA AntiCheat installer again and choose Install/Repair.
  1. Repair runtimes
  • Install/repair Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 x64 redistributables.
  • Run Windows Disk Cleanup and clear the DirectX Shader Cache.
  • Run dxdiag to confirm no DirectX errors.
  1. Reconnect your wheel/controller the smart way
  • Once you can reach the main menu, connect your wheel.
  • Update firmware via Logitech G HUB, Thrustmaster Control Panel, Fanatec Control Panel, MOZA Pit House, etc.
  • If plugging the wheel before launch causes a crash, plug it in at the main menu instead.
  1. Reinstall the game or move it to another drive (last resort)
  • Uninstall F1 25, reboot, reinstall—preferably on an internal SSD with plenty of free space.

B) Consoles (PS5 / Xbox Series X|S)

PS5

  1. Update PS5 system software and F1 25, then fully power off (not Rest Mode).
  2. Clear cache and rebuild database:
    • Boot to Safe Mode (hold power until second beep).
    • Choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database > Clear System Software Cache. If still crashing, repeat and Rebuild Database.
  3. Restore licenses: Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses.
  4. Delete and resync saves (only if corruption suspected):
    • Settings > Storage > Saved Data > PS5 Games > F1 25, delete local save (keep cloud copy).
    • Relaunch to regenerate, then optionally resync cloud data.
  5. Reinstall F1 25 if needed.

Xbox Series X|S

  1. Full power cycle: hold the console power button 10 seconds > unplug 60 seconds > plug back in.
  2. Clear Blu‑ray persistent storage: Settings > Devices & Connections > Blu‑ray > Persistent Storage > Clear.
  3. Clear alternate MAC address (if networking oddities): Settings > General > Network Settings > Advanced Settings > Alternate MAC Address > Clear.
  4. Delete local save (cloud remains): My games & apps > F1 25 > Manage game and add‑ons > Saved data > Delete from console.
  5. Move the game to internal storage or reinstall.

Common Mistakes and Myths About F125 crash on startup

  • “It’s always the game.” Most launch crashes are local conflicts (drivers, overlays, anti-cheat, peripherals).
  • Leaving MSI Afterburner/RTSS or Discord overlay running. These are top crash culprits—disable them.
  • Deleting your entire Documents folder without a backup. Always back up saves first.
  • Trying to force DirectX 11. F1 25 runs on modern APIs; stick with defaults.
  • Ignoring EA anticheat warnings. If the anti-cheat can’t initialize, the game won’t launch.

Troubleshooting and “What If It Still Feels Wrong?”

  • Crash immediately after the anti-cheat splash:

    • Likely cause: EA anticheat install/permission issue.
    • Fix: Run the EA AntiCheat installer as admin and choose Repair/Install; ensure Secure Boot is enabled; avoid running debuggers/VMs; temporarily uninstall other kernel anti-cheats.

  • Black screen then desktop, or DXGI_DEVICE_HUNG:

    • Likely cause: unstable GPU driver/overclock.
    • Fix: Clean-install the driver; revert GPU to stock; limit frame rate in driver to 60 for the first run; launch in -windowed.

  • Freeze on “Compiling Shaders” the first time:

    • Likely cause: corrupted cache.
    • Fix: Delete the game’s config/cache in Documents and clear Windows DirectX Shader Cache; verify files and try again—first compile may take several minutes, let it finish.

  • Game opens only with wheel unplugged:

    • Likely cause: USB power/driver conflict or old wheel firmware.
    • Fix: Update wheel firmware; try a different USB port (rear panel), avoid unpowered hubs; launch to main menu first, then plug in.

  • “You don’t have access” in EA app:

    • Likely cause: account entitlements.
    • Fix: Sign out/in; clear EA app cache; verify you’re using the right linked account; Repair the game.

  • Nothing seems to apply:

    • Make sure you restarted after driver or anti-cheat changes, and you truly disabled overlays (check the system tray).

Note: Don’t download “DLL fix packs,” run registry cleaners, or disable core security features. These often make things worse.

Pro Tips Once You’re Comfortable

  • Re-enable overlays one by one to identify the offender; keep the rest off while racing.
  • Keep a backup of Documents > My Games > F1 25 after a successful launch so you can restore clean configs quickly.
  • Create a clean “Racing” startup profile: disable RGB/audio suites and monitoring tools before you play, then re-enable later.

How to Know It’s Working (Definition of Done)

  • The game launches to the main menu twice in a row without crashing.
  • You can load into a Time Trial session and sit in the garage for 5–10 minutes without a CTD.
  • Plugging in your wheel at the main menu doesn’t crash; inputs map correctly.
  • No new crash dumps appear in your Documents F1 25 folder or Windows Event Viewer after a session.
  • Now that your F1 25 launches reliably, boost performance and smoothness with our F125 PC performance and stutter fix guide.
  • Dial in your hardware next: see our F125 steering wheel setup and force feedback guide.
  • Ready to go racing? Check out our F125 beginner car setup and handling tips to build confidence on track.

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