Palworld Keep Crashing on Steam Deck (Fix)

Palworld is an exciting open-world survival crafting game that allows up to 32 players to embark on thrilling adventures. With over 100 types of pals to gather, train, and fight with, Palworld offers a unique gaming experience. While the game has been verified by Steam to be compatible with Steam Deck, some players have reported encountering crashes during launch. If you’re facing similar issues, don’t worry. In this troubleshooting guide, we’ll explore various solutions to help you fix the Palworld crashing problem on Steam Deck.

1. Reboot Steam Deck

The first step in troubleshooting the Palworld crashing issue on Steam Deck is to reboot the device. This will help eliminate any temporary glitches or cache data issues that might be causing the problem. To reboot your Steam Deck, follow these steps:

1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck.
2. Select Power and then choose Restart.
3. Wait for the device to reboot and then check if the issue persists.

2. Force Reboot Steam Deck

If rebooting didn’t resolve the crashing problem, you can try force rebooting your Steam Deck. This method can help clear out any potential glitches or system-related conflicts that might be causing the crashes. To force reboot your Steam Deck, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Power button for at least 3 seconds.
2. If the device remains unresponsive, try long-pressing the Power button for around 10 seconds to force reboot the system again.
3. After the device restarts, check if the Palworld crashing issue is resolved.

3. Check for SteamOS Updates

An outdated SteamOS version can cause various issues, including crashes and stability problems. It’s important to ensure that your Steam Deck is running the latest SteamOS version. To check for updates manually, follow these steps:

1. Press the Steam button on the left side of your Steam Deck.
2. Go to Settings and navigate to the System tab.
3. Select Check for Updates on the right side and tap on Apply if an update is available.
4. Wait for the software update to complete and then restart your Steam Deck to apply the changes.

4. Check for Palworld Updates

Outdated game versions can sometimes conflict with the system and cause crashes. It’s crucial to check for updates for the Palworld game. Follow these steps to ensure you have the latest version:

1. Open your Steam Library and go to the Palworld library page.
2. Select Manage and then choose Properties.
3. In the Updates tab, make sure the Automatic updates option is selected.
4. Reboot your Steam Deck, and it will automatically install any available updates for Palworld.

5. Check Onboard Storage Space

Low disk space can lead to performance issues and cause crashes while launching Palworld. It’s essential to check the available storage space on your Steam Deck. Follow these steps to check the storage:

1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck.
2. Go to Settings and select Storage.
3. If the available storage space is low, consider deleting or uninstalling unnecessary apps/games to free up some space.

6. Reinsert the MicroSD Card

A corrupted MicroSD card can also contribute to crashes during Palworld startup. Make sure to properly insert the MicroSD card into the memory slot on the bottom of your Steam Deck. If you suspect the card is corrupted, follow these steps to format it:

1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck and go to Settings.
2. Choose System and select Format SD Card.
3. Wait for the formatting process to complete. Note that only UHS-I (class 3 or better) microSD cards are supported, and UHS-II cards are not compatible.

If your MicroSD card is older or frequently gets corrupted, consider replacing it with a new one.

7. Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization

If you have previously disabled Steam Cloud Synchronization, it’s important to enable it to ensure proper syncing of the game with the servers. Follow these steps to enable Steam Cloud Synchronization:

1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck and select the Steam menu.
2. Go to Settings and navigate to the Cloud tab.
3. Checkmark the Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization box.
4. Select OK to save the changes.
5. Restart your Steam Deck to apply the changes.

8. Force Change Proton Version on Steam Deck

Changing the Proton version on your Steam Deck can have a significant impact on the game’s performance and launching. Follow these steps to forcefully change the Proton version:

1. Select Palworld from your Library.
2. Go to Settings of the game and choose Properties.
3. In the left sidebar, select the Compatibility option.
4. Tick mark the checkbox and select Proton Experimental.
5. Choose the version you want to test out.

9. Ensure Palworld is Verified on Steam Deck

Make sure that your Steam Deck is verified for Palworld game compatibility. The Steam ‘Deck Verified’ system has four categories to indicate game compatibility. Check the Steam Deck Compatibility section on the game’s Steam Store page to see if any requirements are not met. The categories are as follows:

• Verified: The game works great on Steam Deck without any additional modifications.
• Playable: The game works but may require manual configuration.
• Unsupported: The game is currently not considered playable on Steam Deck.
• Unknown: The game hasn’t been tested for compatibility yet.

10. Reinstall Palworld

If the previous steps didn’t resolve the crashing issue, consider uninstalling and reinstalling Palworld on your Steam Deck. This can help resolve conflicts or issues with the game’s launch. Follow these steps to reinstall Palworld:

1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck and open Settings.
2. Scroll down in the sidebar and select Storage.
3. Choose the Palworld game you want to uninstall.
4. Press the X key to uninstall the game.
5. Wait for the game to be completely deleted.
6. Once done, reinstall Palworld from the Steam Store.

11. Factory Reset Steam Deck

Performing a factory reset on your Steam Deck can reset all settings and data to the default state. This may help in resolving crashing issues with Palworld. Follow these steps to perform a factory reset:

1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck and open Settings.
2. Scroll to the bottom under the System menu and select Factory Reset.
3. Confirm and proceed if prompted.
4. The process may take some time to complete.
5. After the reset, go through the initial setup process.

12. Contact Steam Deck Support

If none of the previous methods resolve the crashing issue, it’s recommended to contact Steam Deck Support for further assistance. They can provide personalized support and help troubleshoot the problem effectively. Visit the Steam Support website to create a support ticket.

Conclusion

We hope this troubleshooting guide has helped you resolve the Palworld crashing issue on your Steam Deck. If you have any further queries or need additional assistance, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy gaming!