General Troubleshooting Guide

1. Verify your client's content
If any of the client content has become corrupted it can cause a variety of problems, from visual anomalies to crashes. The process for fixing this depends on the type of client you are running:

• PC (stand-alone): Run PackCheck.exe from your Path of Exile install directory
• Steam:
  
  • 1. Right click on Path of Exile in your Steam library
  • 2. Click "Properties"
  • 3. Click "Local Files"
  • 4. Click "Verify integrity of game files..."
• Epic: In your Epic library, click the "..." next to Path of Exile and then click "Verify".
• macOS (beta): PackCheck will soon be available with the macOS client.

2. Clear your client's cache
If any cached client data has become corrupted it could also cause a variety of problems, from visual anomalies to crashes.

To clear your client's cache, go to "%AppData%\Path of Exile" on your computer and delete the cache folders.

Clearing your client's cache will clear out several temporary storage locations that Path of Exile uses for things like downloaded images and graphics shaders. After clearing cached shaders your client performance will be temporarily degraded while the client regenerates the shaders it needs. For this reason we recommend only clearing your client's cache as a last resort when troubleshooting a crash or other graphical problem, or if the size of the caches has become a problem.

3. Clear your client's config files.
It is possible some non-default setting is causing your problem. Removing the client config files will restore default settings. The config files are located in the below locations:

• PC (all types): %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile
• macOS (beta): ~/Library/Caches/com.GGG.PathOfExile/

The easiest option is to move the entire folder to a backup location to test this solution. Moving the folder will also clear the client's cached data (see above).

If none of the above has helped, try checking the PC Known Issues or macOS Known Issues threads.

1. Make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware specs:

OS: Windows 10
Processor: Quad core 2.6GHz x86-compatible
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 650 Ti or ATI Radeon™ HD 7850
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 40 GB available space

OS: macOS 10.13
Processor: 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Radeon Pro 450
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 40 GB available space

2. Restart your computer.
This can sometimes fix problems, and is simple to try.

3. Exclude Path of Exile from anti-virus real-time scanning (including Windows Defender).
Real-time scanning can have a significant impact on game performance on some systems.

4. Ensure your Path of Exile client is installed on an SSD.
While an SSD is only recommended, it is strongly recommended as it should improve loading times and reduce stuttering and graphical pop-in.

5. Ensure your drivers are up to date.
Modern operating systems are generally pretty good at this on their own, but it may still help to at least get the latest graphics drivers directly from your GPU manufacturer's website.

6. Ensure your OS is up to date.
If your OS is not up to date you may be missing important performance fixes.

If none of the above steps have helped, you may need to consult a qualified computer technician to check for hardware problems.

Advanced PC troubleshooting:

• Check if your computer is overheating. Modern systems will throttle performance to prevent overheating. Dusting out your PC case and/or reapplying CPU thermal compound may help.
• Run memtest or Windows Memory Diagnostic to check if your CPU or RAM are faulty.
• Run GPU benchmark software to see if your GPU overheats or is unstable.
• Monitor your voltages while running Path of Exile or some benchmark software to see if your power supply is dying.
• If the above tests reveal any faulty components, try swapping them out to see if it fixes the problem (this of course requires having access to spare parts).

1. Restart your router.
This can sometimes fix problems, and is simple to try.

2. If you're using wifi, try using a network cable instead.
Wifi is not always suitable for latency sensitive applications such as online gaming.

3. If you're using a network cable, try using a different network cable and/or plugging the cable into a different port on your router.
Cables and ports sometimes become faulty. Replacing a network cable is one of the cheaper hardware faults to fix.

4. Make sure Path of Exile is allowed through your firewall.
The client does not listen on incoming ports - port forwarding is not required. If you have an outgoing firewall, allow your Path of Exile client through it.

If none of the above has helped, you may need to contact your ISP and have them help troubleshoot your connection.

Advanced connection troubleshooting:

• You can find a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting your connection with MTR tools here:
  MTR and Connectivity Issue Primer
• Try playing over a VPN. There are many VPNs available, some of them are even free. If an MTR reveals a problem in the public internet, you may be able to get around it by using a VPN.