Zwift Crashing/Exiting - Windows 11

Bugs and Support
1

Any recommendations appreciated - its the worst thing to be mid-workout and the game to exit.

Sometimes it crashes during loading, sometimes on ride/workout selection, sometimes in game. Started crashing after a recent zwift update.

Have tried -

  • Deleting all folders/files in my documents assocated with zwift and then reinstalling zwift.
  • Optimizing PC (removing items from startup, removing all user saved files (its just SW applications and windows on the PC)
  • Made user windows is updated
  • Made sure Graphics card firmware is updated
  • Turn off / removed Asus gaming optimizations (screen captures)

After reinstalling - here is the most recent crash - this happened in the ride / workout selection part of the app before loading into a ride.

Log json output below
{
“environment” : “rc”,
“hardware_info” :
{
“client_version” : “1.90.0”,
“cpu_model” : "AMD RYZEN 9 4900HS WITH RADEON GRAPHICS ",
“device.storage_type” : “SSD”,
“device_name” : “Windows”,
“gpu_api” : “OPENGL”,
“gpu_firmware” : “4.6.0 NVIDIA 555.97”,
“gpu_memory_mb” : “6144”,
“gpu_model” : “NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 WITH MAX-Q DESIGN/PCIE/SSE2”,
“gpu_vendor” : “NVIDIA CORPORATION”,
“os_name_versioned” : “Windows 11”,
“performance_group” : “ULTRA”
},
“machine_id” : “1-ee3d83ca-16dc-4b5b-ba2a-a7a844bbc181”,
“release” : “zwift-game-client@1.90.0+146371”,
“session_id” : “a8ecf5f9-206e-43ca-a377-69e647cadc7b”,
“timestamp_utc” : “2025-05-30 17:41:43.4039856”,
“user.analytics_id” : “e9ca7513-8e78-45db-bd0c-613a9124d0a4”,
“user_id” : 2063954
}

2

Hi @Peterjohn_Butterwort.

Welcome to the forums, this is Haziel from Zwift. I saw your post and I wanted to participate by sharing some steps that might help you.

I appreciate that you share all the details. After reviewing the troubleshooting that you have confirmed, please try these steps:

  • Manually create a new prefs.xml file by copying one from your working laptop and placing it in the Zwift Documents folder on your main PC.
  • Check file permissions – Right-click the prefs.xml file > Properties > Security tab. Make sure your user account has “Full Control.”
  • Ensure Zwift is not being blocked by antivirus or controlled folder access (some security software can block writing to Documents\Zwift).

Your logs show issues with TCP connection errors

  • Try launching Zwift with a clean network start: Reboot your router and PC before launching Zwift.
  • Run Zwift as Admin to ensure it has full access to networking components.

If All Else Fails, “Windows Reinstall & Zwift Fresh Start” could isolate the matter or test on another admin user as well to narrow down.

I truly appreciate your patience, and I’m here to help every step of the way. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Support@zwift.com. We will be happy to assist you further.

1 Like
3

Hi @Peterjohn_Butterwort welcome to Zwift forums.

Shuji at Zwift HQ here. In addition to what my colleague @Haziel_P suggested, we have a support page that can help identify issues that may / may not apply in your case.

Your case is interesting because it’s not strictly during the launch phase and it sounds like it can happen quite deep into your ride. For something like this - I wonder if you have a cloud sync service (OneDrive, Dropbox, etc) syncing your Documents folder to the cloud?
If yes - try disabling the cloud sync.

4

I am experiencing the same thing on PC windows 10, typically after KB5058379 update.
I am using 1.90.0 build 146371

It happened to me twice. Zwift would crash 5 minutes in or 10 minutes without any warning or error message.