When QGIS crashes, the first step is always to identify whether a plugin, a specific dataset, or the QGIS core is causing it. The Shift key trick below takes 10 seconds and rules out plugins immediately.
Diagnose crash
Identify the cause of the crash
- 1
Hold Shift on launch to disable plugins
Hold Shift while clicking the QGIS shortcut. If QGIS launches without crashing, a plugin is the cause. Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins and disable them one by one.
- 2
Try opening without your project
If QGIS crashes when opening a specific project: open QGIS first (empty), then File → Open Project. QGIS will warn about missing layers instead of crashing.
- 3
Check the QGIS log
# In QGIS: View > Panels > Log Messages# Or check the log file after a crash:C:\> type "%APPDATA%\QGIS\QGIS3\profiles\default\qgis.log"# Look for WARNING or CRITICAL lines near the crash
Common causes
Common QGIS crash causes on Windows
Crash when loading a raster layer
Large raster exceeds available RAM or corrupted file
Load a smaller tile first; check RAM usage in Task ManagerCrash when running a Processing algorithm
Insufficient memory or GDAL error during processing
Run on a smaller test dataset first; check GDAL error in logCrash after Windows Update
DLL mismatch or Wacom/tablet driver conflict
Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributable; disable tablet drivers temporarilyRandom freeze then crash during editing
Autosave or undo buffer overflow
Reduce undo history: Settings > Options > General > Undo historyCrash when printing / exporting map
Print layout with complex renderer or memory issue
Reduce layer complexity; disable labels temporarily when exportingGPU crashes
OpenGL / GPU-related crashes
QGIS uses OpenGL for map rendering. GPU driver issues can cause crashes, especially with complex symbology or 3D views:
# Disable OpenGL acceleration:
# Settings > Options > Rendering
# Uncheck "Enable OpenGL map shading"
# Or set environment variable before launch:
C:\> set QGIS_DISABLE_OPENGL=1 && qgis-ltr.bat
FAQ
Crash questions
QGIS crashes every time I open a specific .qgs file
Open QGIS without the project, then open the .qgs file as text in a text editor — it is XML. Look for references to very large or corrupt data sources. Remove those layer references and save, then reopen in QGIS.
QGIS crashes on Windows 11 but not Windows 10
Check if your GPU driver is up to date. Windows 11 uses a different display driver model. Update your GPU driver from the manufacturer site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel), then reinstall QGIS if needed.