5 ways to fix Stardew Valley crashing error on Mac/Windows/Android/iOS

Stardew Valley is one of the most played farming simulation video games which gives it a high rating on Steam. The game can be played on almost all operating systems. But if Stardew Valley has started crashing or not launching on your device then this guide will help you solve the issue. 

In this article, I will show you 6 different steps to fix the crashing issue of Stardew Valley for all platform resolutions.

How to fix Stardew Valley not launching for Windows users

1. Update the game

In the latest Stardew Valley game update its developers fixed the issue of needing an active audio source to play the game. So if Stardew Valley suddenly starts crashing on your device updated to the latest version of the game this should solve the issue. The latest version of Stardew Valley on PC is 1.5.4. 

If you still wish to play on the older version you can try to solve the crashing issue by plugging in speakers or headset on your pc system

2. Delete the startup preferences folder

Stardew Valley stores the startup preferences for users on a single file, so if this file gets corrupted it could be the potential cause of the not working/ not launching issue. Simply delete the startup preferences file to fix the problem.

Here’s how to do it

1. Simultaneously press and hold the Windows logo key + R to open the Run box.
2. Then use the command %appdata% and press Enter.
3. Now search for the Stardew Valley folder and open it
4. Now search for the startup_preferences folder and delete it.
5. Go back to the homepage and Launch the game to check.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to verify the Steam Files.

1. First open Steam client then go to the LIBRARY tab, now right-click on Stardew Valley and click on Properties.
   
2. Now open the LOCAL FILES tab, then click VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME CACHE. After this DO NOT click anything else directly CLOSE it.

If Stardew Valley still crashes move on to the next fix.

3. Install XNA installer

The video game Stardew Valley video uses the Microsoft XNA framework. So to ensure smooth functionality you need to install this framework and make sure it is running properly. 

Here is how you can run the installer.

1. Simultaneously press and hold the Windows logo key + R to open the Run box.
2. Type the command %appdata% then press Enter.
   
3. Now scroll till you find the Stardew Valley folder and open it.
4. Now search for the _Redist folder, then click on xnafx40_redist installer.
   
5. Once you have completed the above steps go back to the upper folder then right-click on Stardew Valley and select Run as administrator.
   
6. After this the game should launch without any glitches.

Update: Microsoft has taken down the Microsoft XNA framework from its official website so do not download it.

4. Update d3d9.dll

The latest update of Stardew Valley is not compatible with d3d9.dll which is why the game is not launching on your device. But before you decide to perform this step ensures that the DLL file you download from the internet does not contain any viruses or malware. Here’s how to do it:

1. Take a back up of your data.
2. Download the latest version of d3d9.dll from the internet.
3. Copy the DLL file then open C:\Windows\System32.
4. Now paste the new DLL file to replace the old one.
5. Then Right-click on the 32-bit files and type Ctrl+C.
6. Now open C:\Windows\SysWOW64 and type Ctrl+V to replace the old file with the new one.
7. Run Stardew Valley a few times to confirm if the issue is fixed.

5. Set Launch Options in Steam

Another quick fix for launching Stardew Valley is by setting up the Steam Launch options. Here’s how to do it

1. First go to the Steam Library,then right-click on Stardew Valley, and select Properties.
2. Then click on SET LAUNCH OPTIONS from the general tab.
   
3. Now click OK to save the changes but ensure that the pop-up window’s box is empty.
4. Run Stardew Valley and see if it is launching.

If the above-mentioned fixes do not solve the issue, go back to the basics that are to shut down firewall or antivirus, reboot or reinstall the game, and verify the game files, but if these fixes still fail which is a rare possibility then you will need an expert to intervene. The easiest way to do so is to contact the Stardew Valley developer team via their forum to receive feedback.

How to Fix Stardew Valley not working for Mac users

The game requires access to your Apple folder else it is bound to crash. Follow these steps to give access to Stardew Valley on your Mac:

1. Simultaneously press and hold the Command button and the space bar to launch the Spotlight Search.
2. Then type Terminal and search.
3. Now you have to open Terminal.
4. Now use this command “sudo chown -v “$USER” ~/.config” in Terminal and press the Enter key.
   Note: Ensure USER is running on your username.
5. You may need to enter your password to prompt the command.
6. Run Stardew Valley a few times to check if the issue is solved

How to fix Stardew Valley not working for mobile users

Stardew Valley does not crash on many mobile phones as it is compatible with many software versions of iOS, Android, and Windows. But if you encounter this error on your phone then follow these steps to solve it. 

These steps are applicable for both Android and iOS handsets:

1. Update Stardew Valley to its latest version
2. Stop all background apps that are running on your phone.
3. If you are using mobile data then switch to WiFi and vice versa.
4. If the game still crashed then report it as a bug to the forum support make sure to attach the saved file.

Save file location:

• Android: Your Phone > Internal Shared Storage > Stardew Valley
• iOS/ Mac: Your Phone > Apps > Stardew Valley > Documents

If you have made it this far in the article then chances are you still did not find a fix for the Stardew Valley won’t launch issue. If that is the case feel free to comment below and we will reach out to you with a solution.