For many PC players, nothing’s more frustrating than loading up Forza Horizon 6 and having it crash immediately or freeze mid-race. Luckily, most of these issues are linked to Windows settings, background apps, or corrupted game files—and they can often be fixed without reinstalling the game. Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to get you back on the road.
Primary Troubleshooting Steps

1. Disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)
   This Windows feature can sometimes conflict with the game, especially on systems with modern GPUs.
   How to disable:
   • Open Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics
   • Click Change default graphics settings
   • Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to Off
   • Restart your PC before launching the game again
2. Close or Uninstall Overlay and Overclocking Software
   Programs like MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) are known to trigger crashes at startup due to conflicts with the game’s anti-cheat system.
   • Use Task Manager to close them completely, or uninstall if necessary
   • In RTSS, you can also set App detection to “None” to prevent interference
3. Unplug Extra USB Peripherals
   High-end racing wheels (Moza, Simucube, Asetek) or virtual controller software (vJoy, DSX) can cause error codes like FHE01 or FHC01.
   • Disconnect them temporarily
   • Launch the game with a keyboard or standard controller
   • Reconnect peripherals once you’re in the main menu
4. Force Windowed Mode on Startup
   Black screen crashes often occur in full-screen mode, particularly on multi-monitor setups.
   • When the splash screen appears, press Alt + Enter to force windowed mode
   • You can adjust display settings once the game loads properly

Software and File Verifications
If crashes happen mid-race or after loading, your game files or drivers may be corrupted. Follow these steps:

1. Verify Game Files
   • Steam: Right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files
   • Xbox App / Game Pass: Click the three dots next to the game > Manage > Files > Verify and Repair
2. Clean Graphics Driver Installation
   • Download the latest drivers directly from Nvidia or AMD
   • Select Custom Installation and check Perform a clean installation
   • This removes corrupted shader cache files that can cause crashes
3. Update Gaming Services
   • For Xbox App users, open Microsoft Store > Library > Get Updates
   • Alternatively, use the Gaming Services Repair Tool in the Xbox App under Profile > Support

Additional Tips

• Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes a pending OS update can cause game conflicts.
• Disable Background Recording or Streaming Software: Apps like OBS, ShadowPlay, or Xbox Game Bar can interfere with performance.
• Lower Graphics Settings Temporarily: If crashes happen during gameplay, reducing settings can help isolate GPU or memory issues.

Following these steps solves most Forza Horizon 6 crashes on PC, whether it’s a startup black screen, random mid-race crash, or error code FHE01/FHC01. Start with HAGS and overlay apps—they’re the most common culprits—and then move on to verifying files and drivers.