Before troubleshooting further, check if your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Civilization 7. If your hardware doesn't meet the game’s needs, it may crash, freeze, or struggle to launch. For those wondering, the game requires you to have at least a GTX 1050 / AMD RX 460 / Intel Arc A380 paired with an Intel Core i3-10100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 for 1080p low settings. If you have hardware that is weaker than this, the game will either not launch or crash after a few minutes of gameplay.

Corrupted or missing game files can prevent Civilization 7 from launching or cause frequent crashes. Both Steam and Epic Games offer built-in repair tools that allow you to verify and restore any damaged files without needing to reinstall the entire game. This method is quick and often resolves major problems.

On Steam 

• Open Steam and go to your Library.
• Right-click on Civilization 7 from the list of installed games.
• Select Properties from the menu.
• Navigate to the Installed Files tab.
• Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.

On Epic Games

• Launch Epic Games and sign in to your account.
• Go to the game library and click on the three horizontal dots below Civilization 7.
• Select Manage.
• Now click on ‘Verify’ next to Verify Files.

Steam or Epic will then scan your game's installation and replace any missing or corrupted files. This process might take a few minutes, depending on the game size and your internet speed. Once done, restart your PC and try launching the game again.

A power cycle is different from a normal restart, as it completely shuts down your PC and drains any residual power, which helps clear temporary system errors. This method is particularly effective if a software glitch is preventing Civilization 7 from launching or causing it to crash mid-game.

• Shut down your computer completely.
• Unplug the power cable from the wall socket.
• Press and hold the power button for about 10-15 seconds.
• Wait for 5-10 minutes to let any residual power drain.
• Plug the power cable back in and turn on your PC.

This method forces the system to refresh and can help eliminate minor software conflicts. Once your PC is back on, launch the game to see if the issue is resolved.

Running Steam or Epic Games with administrator privileges can solve issues related to permission restrictions. Sometimes, Civilization 7 might not have the necessary rights to access system files, leading to launch failures or crashes. Running the clients as an administrator will give the game full access to necessary files and prevent issues caused by Windows security restrictions.

1. Close Steam or Epic Games completely.
2. Right-click on the Steam or Epic Games shortcut (from the desktop or file location).
3. Select Run as Administrator.
4. Confirm the action if prompted by Windows.

For a permanent fix, you can set Steam or Epic Games to always run as an administrator:

1. Right-click on the Steam or Epic Games icon.
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
4. Check the box that says Run this program as an administrator.
5. Click Apply and OK.