Windows computer shuts down while gaming

While playing games on PC, if your Windows 11/10 computer shuts down automatically, then these suggestions will help you identify and troubleshoot the problem. There could be several reasons apart from the overheating, and this article explains most of the causes and solutions in detail.

Windows computer shuts down while gaming

If Windows 11/10 computer shuts down while gaming, follow these suggestions to resolve the issue:

1. Check if your PC meets the game’s system requirements
2. Close unnecessary apps
3. Check RAM
4. Check UPS
5. Verify Scheduled shut down settings
6. Scan PC with adware removal tool
7. Verify graphics card
8. Find the cause of an Unexpected Shutdown.

To learn more about these steps, continue reading.

1] Check if your PC meets the game’s system requirements

You need to first check if your PC meets the game’s system requirements. Go to the game’s website and note the minimum hardware requirements.

Then use one of these methods to find the hardware specs of your PC and see if you meet or exceed the requirements.

Read: Microsoft Surface Studio overheating while gaming

2] Close unnecessary apps

It is probably the first thing you must do when your PC shuts down automatically while playing games. Suppose you have an aged computer and often run multiple heavy-weight apps simultaneously. If so, there is a chance of getting your computer hung and lagged at times. That is why running the Task Manager and closing all the unnecessary apps is recommended before starting the game.

Pro Tip: Don’t add unnecessary apps at startup. You might not be able to notice them, but some of the apps might consume a lot of resources unknowingly. You can follow this guide to remove apps from running at startup.

3] Check RAM

RAM, or Random-Access Memory, is one of the most important parts of your computer. It helps you perform almost anything, from starting up your computer to shutting down. Everything depends on your RAM. If you have an old RAM, it may require cleaning.

If you recently installed a second or third RAM, your PC might have the same problem. Let’s assume that you had 2400 MHz RAM and installed 3200 MHz RAM. In that case, your computer may shut down automatically. At such moments, it is recommended to verify the RAM speed before installing it.

Read: How to check how much Video RAM (VRAM) you have

4] Check UPS

Most home computer users use a UPS to keep their computers on during power cuts. The problem with using a UPS is that it must be running all the time to power up your computer. If there is an issue with the UPS, your computer won’t turn on. Similarly, the same problem can cause a sudden shutdown. That is why it is recommended to check if your UPS is fully functioning.

Read: How to prevent Overheating issues in your computer

5] Verify Scheduled shut down settings

There could be numerous reasons why your computer can turn itself off at times. For example, if a restart is pending for installing Windows Update, and it is already scheduled, your PC might not take permission to shut it down even when you play games. Alternatively, there are other ways to schedule a shutdown of Windows computers, e.g., Command Prompt, Task Scheduler, etc. If you used any of the methods, that could cause the same problem.

Read: How to check the GPU Temperature in Windows.

6] Scan PC with adware removal tool

Adware can be irritating in many ways, and it is one of them. That is why you can use any adware removal tool to scan your PC. For example, you can use AdwCleaner, Ultra Adware Killer, etc.

Related: Windows computer shuts down when playing or watching videos

7] Verify graphics card

It is probably the last thing you want to check. If your graphics card has issues processing the data, your computer might shut down automatically. Also, the same problem might occur when you have an aged graphics card. Dust can also be a reason why your graphics card or motherboard is not functioning well.

Read: How to increase dedicated Video RAM.

8] Find the cause of an Unexpected Shutdown

If nothing helps, you need to find the cause of an Unexpected Shutdown on Windows using Event Viewer, PowerShell or Command Prompt.

That’s all! Hope these solutions worked.

How to fix if computer randomly shuts down while running a game?

If your computer randomly shuts down while running a game, you must follow the abovementioned solutions. Apart from these, overheating can also cause the same problem. However, you must close unnecessary apps, remove apps from startup, check the RAM, verify the graphic card, etc.

What to do if computer shuts off while playing games?

You must check the RAM first if your computer shuts off while playing games. However, if you have new RAM, you might want to check if the UPS is running well. Also, a faulty or unsupported graphics card can cause the same problem on your PC.