Stop Rust Crashing: Troubleshooting Guide for Server Join Issues

Are you excited to dive into the harsh, survival world of Rust, ready to gather resources, build your base, and engage in thrilling PvP encounters? However, instead of the game loading smoothly, are you facing frustrating crashes every time you attempt to join a server? It’s incredibly disheartening when technical issues prevent you from even starting to play, especially when you’re eager to avoid in-game lag and enjoy a seamless experience from the get-go.

Many players encounter this problem, and fortunately, there are several common solutions that can resolve Rust crashing upon server join. Having personally navigated these issues, I’ve compiled five effective methods to help you get back into the game and eliminate those frustrating crashes. Let’s explore these solutions step-by-step.

5 Proven Solutions to Fix Rust Server Crashing

Rust crashes when joining a server can stem from various underlying issues, often related to your system’s configuration or game file integrity. Here are five troubleshooting steps that address the most frequent causes and can help you get back to enjoying Rust without interruptions.

Solution 1: Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers are a primary culprit behind game crashes, not just in Rust, but across many graphically demanding titles. Keeping your drivers current ensures compatibility with the latest game updates and can significantly improve performance and stability. The update process is straightforward and can often resolve crashing issues, while also potentially boosting the visual fidelity and smoothness of your gameplay.

For NVIDIA Users:

NVIDIA provides a user-friendly application called GeForce Experience that simplifies driver updates. If you don’t have it installed, you can download it from the NVIDIA website.

1. Install GeForce Experience: Download and install the application.
2. Open and Log In: Launch GeForce Experience and either create a new account or log in with your existing credentials.
3. Check for Updates: Navigate to the “Drivers” tab, typically located at the top of the application window. Click on the “Check for Updates” button to initiate a scan for the latest drivers.

For AMD Users:

AMD users can utilize the AMD Auto Detect and Install tool to streamline the driver update process. This tool automatically detects your AMD graphics card and recommends the appropriate drivers.

1. Download AMD Auto Detect and Install: Visit the official AMD support website and download the “AMD Auto Detect and Install” tool.
2. Install and Launch: Install the downloaded tool and launch it.
3. Initiate Driver Detection: Click “Install” within the application. The tool will automatically detect your AMD graphics card and identify available driver versions.
4. Select and Install Recommended Driver: Choose the “Recommended Version” driver, as it offers the most stable and tested performance. Click “Install” to begin the driver update process.

Solution 2: Increase Your Virtual Memory Limit

Virtual memory acts as a supplementary form of RAM, utilizing your hard drive space to handle processes when your physical RAM is fully utilized. Rust, being a memory-intensive game, can sometimes crash if it runs out of memory, especially during server loading. Increasing the virtual memory limit can provide the game with more resources and potentially resolve crashes. This solution requires a system restart to take effect.

1. Access Advanced System Settings: Open File Explorer, right-click on “This PC” (or “My Computer”), and select “Properties”. In the System window, click on “Advanced system settings” on the top right corner.
2. Performance Settings: In the System Properties window, under the “Performance” section, click on the “Settings” button.
3. Advanced Performance Options: In the Performance Options window, navigate to the “Advanced” tab.
4. Virtual Memory Change: Under the “Virtual memory” section, click on the “Change” button.
5. Customize Paging File Size: Uncheck the box labeled “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives”.
6. Select Custom Size: Select your system drive (usually C:) and choose the “Custom size” option.
7. Calculate and Input Values: Note the “Currently allocated” amount displayed. Add 2048 MB (2GB) to this value. Enter the resulting number into both the “Initial size (MB)” and “Maximum size (MB)” fields. For example, if the currently allocated amount is 4096 MB, enter 6144 in both fields.
8. Set and Apply Changes: Click “Set”, then click “OK” on all open windows to save the changes. Finally, click “Apply” in the System Properties window.
9. Restart Your System: Restart your Windows system for the virtual memory changes to be applied. After restarting, attempt to launch Rust and join a server again.

Solution 3: Run Rust in DirectX 9

DirectX is a collection of APIs that handle tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. While Rust is designed to run on newer DirectX versions, launching it in DirectX 9 mode can sometimes bypass compatibility issues that might be causing crashes, particularly on older systems or those with specific hardware configurations. While there might be a slight performance decrease, for many players, the difference is negligible, and it can be a worthwhile trade-off for stability.

1. Open Steam Library: Launch the Steam client and navigate to your “Library” where your installed games are listed.
2. Rust Properties: Locate “Rust” in your game library, right-click on it, and select “Properties” from the context menu.
3. Set Launch Options: In the Rust Properties window, go to the “General” tab. Click on the “Set Launch Options…” button.
4. Enter DirectX 9 Command: In the text field that appears, type -dx9 (without the quotation marks).
5. Launch Rust: Click “OK” to save the launch option and close the Properties window. Launch Rust and attempt to join a server.

Solution 4: Opt Out of Steam Beta Participation

Steam Beta program allows users to test upcoming features and updates before their official release. However, beta builds are inherently less stable than the regular Steam client and can sometimes introduce unexpected issues, including game crashes. If you’re enrolled in the Steam Beta program, opting out can revert your Steam client to a stable version and potentially resolve crashing problems.

1. Open Steam Settings: Start the Steam client and click on “Steam” in the top-left corner of the window. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
2. Account Settings: In the Steam Settings window, navigate to the “Account” tab, typically the first tab on the left.
3. Beta Participation: Look for the “Beta Participation” section. If it indicates that you are participating in a Steam Beta program, click on the “CHANGE…” button.
4. Opt Out of Beta: In the “Beta Participation” dropdown menu, select “NONE – Opt out of all beta programs”.
5. Restart Steam: Click “OK” to confirm your choice and close the Settings window. Steam will prompt you to restart the client to apply the changes. Restart Steam and then try running Rust again.

Solution 5: Verify Integrity of Game Files

Game file corruption can occur due to various reasons, such as incomplete downloads, disk errors, or software conflicts. Corrupted game files can lead to a range of issues, including crashes and instability. Steam’s “Verify Integrity of Game Files” tool scans your local game files and compares them against the files on Steam servers. If any discrepancies or corruptions are detected, Steam automatically redownloads and replaces the faulty files.

1. Access Rust Properties: Find “Rust” in your Steam Library, right-click on it, and select “Properties”.
2. Local Files Tab: In the Rust Properties window, navigate to the “Local Files” tab.
3. Verify File Integrity: Click the “Verify Integrity of Game Files…” button.
4. Steam File Verification: Steam will initiate a process to verify the integrity of your Rust game files. This process may take some time depending on your system and internet speed.
5. Launch Rust After Verification: Once the verification process is complete, Steam will report if any files were corrupted and reacquired. Launch Rust and try joining a server.

If, after trying all these solutions, you still encounter Rust crashing when joining a server, it’s important to consider whether your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Rust. Check the official Rust Steam page for the minimum and recommended specifications to ensure your hardware is capable of running the game smoothly.

Remember, the minimum requirements are just a baseline, and for optimal performance and a smoother experience, aiming for the recommended specifications is advisable. If your system meets the requirements and the issue persists, consider reaching out to Facepunch Support, the developers of Rust, for further assistance.

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