How to Fix The Finals Crash and Error Codes on PC (2026)

The Finals is one of the most explosive multiplayer shooters on PC, but its Unreal Engine 5 foundation and always-online requirements create a perfect storm of potential errors. If The Finals is crashing on startup, throwing error codes, or refusing to launch, here’s how to fix every known issue in 2026.

Quick Fix Checklist

Before diving into specific errors, run through these universal fixes that solve 80% of crash issues:

1. Update GPU drivers — Visit NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel for the latest Game Ready/Recommended drivers
2. Verify game files — Steam > Right-click The Finals > Properties > Installed Files > Verify Integrity
3. Run as Administrator — Right-click Steam > Properties > Compatibility > Run as Administrator
4. Close Razer Synapse — This is a known conflict (details below)
5. Restart your PC — Yes, really. A clean boot resolves more issues than you’d think.

Error Code TFGE0001 — Connection Error

This is the most common error in The Finals and it’s almost always a connection issue.

Fixes:

1. Restart the game — The simplest fix works more often than you’d expect. Close The Finals completely and relaunch.
2. Disable crossplay — Go to Settings > Gameplay > Network > Set Crossplay to “Off.” Cross-platform matchmaking can trigger this error.
3. Reset your network connection — Close The Finals, unplug your router for 30 seconds, plug it back in, wait for full reconnection, then relaunch.
4. Disable VPN — If you’re using a VPN, turn it off. VPNs can interfere with The Finals’ server authentication.
5. Switch DNS — Change to Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1):
6. Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi/Ethernet > Hardware Properties > DNS Server Assignment > Manual
7. Set Preferred DNS to 8.8.8.8 and Alternate to 8.8.4.4

Error Code TFLA0002 — Launch/Authentication Error

This error blocks you from getting past the main menu and is related to your Embark ID.

Fixes:

1. Sign into your Embark ID manually — Go to the game menu and manually link or sign into your Embark account
2. Clear Embark cache — Navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA%\TheFinalsPlaytest (or The Finals folder), delete the cache folder, and relaunch
3. Check Embark server status — Visit Embark Studios’ social media or status page. If servers are down, no client-side fix will work.
4. Disable VPN — Same as TFGE0001, VPNs interfere with authentication
5. Restart Steam — Sign out of Steam completely and sign back in, then launch The Finals

Error Code TFMR0002 — Matchmaking Error

You can get into the game but can’t find a match.

Fixes:

1. Update the game — This error often appears when your client is outdated. Check for updates in Steam.
2. Change server region — Settings > Gameplay > Server Region > Try a different region
3. Wait and retry — During peak hours or after a new update, matchmaking servers get overloaded. Give it 10-15 minutes.
4. Disable crossplay — Reducing the matchmaking pool to your platform can sometimes resolve queue issues

EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION Crash

This crash happens on startup or during gameplay and is a generic Unreal Engine 5 crash.

Fixes:

1. Update GPU drivers (clean install) — This is the #1 fix. Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) for a completely clean driver reinstall.
2. Disable overlays — Turn off Discord overlay, Steam overlay, NVIDIA GeForce Experience overlay, and any other overlay software
3. Lower virtual memory/pagefile — If your RAM is under 16 GB, increase your pagefile:
4. System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Set custom size (Initial: 8192, Maximum: 16384)
5. Run in DirectX 11 mode — Add -dx11 to Steam launch options (right-click > Properties > General > Launch Options)
6. Disable Razer software — See below

The Razer Software Conflict

This is a widespread issue that many players don’t know about. Razer Synapse and related Razer processes can cause The Finals to crash on launch or during gameplay.

Fix:

1. Close Razer Synapse completely
2. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
3. End ALL Razer processes:
4. Razer Synapse
5. Razer Central
6. RazerIngameEngine.exe
7. Any process with “Razer” in the name
8. Launch The Finals

If this fixes your crashes, you have two ongoing options:
– Set Razer Synapse to not start with Windows (Synapse > Settings > Turn off “Launch when Windows starts”)
– Or close it manually before every gaming session

This conflict has been reported since the latest major patch and affects players with Razer mice, keyboards, and headsets.

General Performance Crash Fixes

If The Finals runs but crashes mid-match:

Lower graphics settings — The Finals on Unreal Engine 5 can be demanding. Lower:
– Shadow Quality to Low
– Effects Quality to Medium
– Post-Processing to Low
– Set DLSS/FSR to Balanced mode

Cap your frame rate — Uncapped FPS can cause driver timeouts on some GPUs. Cap at your monitor’s refresh rate.

Monitor temperatures — Use MSI Afterburner to check GPU temps during gameplay. If your GPU exceeds 90C, it may be thermal throttling and crashing. Improve case airflow or repaste your GPU.

Check Windows updates — The February 2026 Windows update (KB5077181) fixed a critical dxgmms2.sys crash that affected many games including The Finals. Make sure you have it installed. See our Windows 11 gaming crash fix guide for details.

Antivirus and Firewall Issues

Some antivirus software blocks The Finals’ executables or network connections:

1. Add The Finals’ install folder to your antivirus exclusions
2. Add The Finals to Windows Firewall’s allowed apps list:
3. Windows Security > Firewall > Allow an app through firewall > Add The Finals
4. Temporarily disable third-party antivirus to test if it’s the cause

If disabling antivirus fixes the crash, add permanent exclusions rather than leaving it disabled.

When Nothing Works

If you’ve tried everything:
1. Completely uninstall and reinstall The Finals (delete the install folder manually after Steam uninstall to ensure no corrupted files remain)
2. Report the issue to Embark Studios via their official support channels with your system specs and crash logs (found in %LOCALAPPDATA%\TheFinalsPlaytest\Saved\Crashes)

For more general PC gaming optimization, check our FPS optimization guide.

Final Thoughts

Most The Finals crashes come down to three things: outdated drivers, Razer software conflicts, or connection issues. Start with the quick fix checklist at the top, identify your specific error code, and apply the targeted fix. The game is worth the troubleshooting — once it runs, The Finals delivers some of the best multiplayer chaos on PC.