Identify where the launch fails

“It crashes on startup” covers several different failures. Match the last thing you see before changing more settings.

Elytra or WD-L codeStart with file verification and Elytra repair. Record the exact code.
Shader compilationUpdate the GPU driver, remove any GPU overclock and test a 60 FPS cap.
Login screenCheck the service state and test another connection before treating it as a graphics crash.
Whole PC restartsStop testing. Check Windows reliability history and hardware stability before relaunching.

Follow the official repair order

1. Verify the game files

In Steam, open Library → WARDOGS → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. Let Steam finish before opening the game.

2. Update the graphics driver

Use NVIDIA, AMD or Intel's normal stable release channel. Restart after installation. Do not combine a driver update with several unrelated Windows changes—the result becomes impossible to diagnose.

3. Repair Elytra

Open WARDOGS' local files, find the Elytra folder, run its setup program and select Repair. Do not download a replacement installer from a file-sharing link.

4. Return clocks to stock

Team17 specifically recommends disabling CPU and GPU overclocking while diagnosing launch crashes. That includes automatic tuning profiles you did not set manually.

If the game still crashes

Change one variable at a time and test after each step:

  • Set the frame-rate limit to 60 for the next launch.
  • Check whether antivirus, Windows Security or the firewall blocked WARDOGS or Elytra.
  • Try a mobile hotspot once to separate a login/network failure from a local crash.
  • Confirm the PC meets the minimum requirement: Windows 10 64-bit, 16 GB RAM, i5-8600/Ryzen 5 3500 and GTX 1660/RX 590 or better.

What not to do

  • Do not download “fixer” executables from videos, Discord attachments or forum replies.
  • Do not delete random anti-cheat folders before using the supplied repair tool and Steam verification.
  • Do not remove Windows updates casually. A beta-era report is not proof that the same update causes your current crash.
  • Do not change five system settings together. You will not know which one mattered or which one created a new problem.

Common questions

What do WD-L004, WD-L006 and similar codes mean?

Team17 lists WD-L004, WD-L006, WD-L007, WD-L010, WD-L014 and WD-L020 among launch problems under investigation, but has not published a complete public code dictionary. Record the exact code and follow the pinned support sequence.

Should I reinstall the whole game?

Not first. Verification and Elytra repair are faster and preserve the evidence you need. Reinstall only after the official sequence fails.

Why does it crash after compiling shaders?

That symptom does not prove a single cause. Driver state, unstable clocks and the game's current GPU crash work can all be relevant. Start with the official sequence and avoid treating an old community workaround as universal.

Sources and verification

Sources are separated by authority. Community observations are useful for diagnosis, but they do not replace current developer guidance.

  1. Team17 Support: WARDOGS crashesPinned developer support thread, updated 18 September 2026. Primary source for the repair order and known launch codes.
  2. WARDOGS on SteamOfficial requirements and Early Access status.