How to troubleshoot common Hearthstone issues on a Windows PC?

Hearthstone couldn’t have been created by anyone other than Blizzard. You can grasp the fundamentals of this deceptively simple card game within an hour and still be surprised hundreds of matches later. Innumerable small touches and a keen eye for balance conspire to help Hearthstone dominate your free time.

Unfortunately, we have received reports from users that the game is lagging and having some black screen issues. Here are some of the reports that players sent to us:

• What if Hearthstone is not working on a PC – The most likely reason why Hearthstone is not working on your PC is due to outdated or missing drivers. To find this problem, simply update your graphics drivers to the manufacturer-recommended versions.
• Hearthstone lag, connection, and latency issues – Your DNS is usually the culprit; in this case, we suggest that your switch to Google’s DNS to fix this problem.
• Hearthstone is not loading – If the game is not loading at all, you should make sure that your antivirus is not blocking it from running. To do this, you should add the game to your antivirus exception list.
• Hearthstone freezes on my PC – The process priority or affinity may be the reason why your game is freezing. You can fix this problem from the Task Manager.

In this article, we are going to show how to fix Hearthstone issues on Windows 10. Make sure you go through all the solutions until you find the one that works for you.

Table of Contents

1. Check your antivirus
2. Make sure that your display drivers are up to date
3. Add Hearthstone to the Windows Defender Exclusion list
4. Remove the Hearthstone folder from AppData
5. Turn off Switchable graphics from BIOS
6. Check your network connections
7. Change your DNS settings
8. Change Hearthstone priority and affinity

Solution 1. Check your antivirus

Your antivirus may sometimes be the cause of why your game is having issues. The job of the antivirus is to protect your system from the invading threats. Hackers and cybercriminals use viruses to steal important information from your computer. When your computer detects your game files as potential threats to its system, it blocks them from running. This will cause the game to stop functioning.

To fix this issue, you need to add Hearthstone to the exception lists of your antivirus and firewall. Adding the game to the exception list of the antivirus varies depending on the antivirus you are using. If this does not work, then you will have to disable your antivirus. Note that disabling the antivirus leaves your system unprotected. That is why we suggest that you switch to another one. We recommend you to download and install Auslogics Anti-Malware. This tool will not interfere with the normal function of your game. It will protect your system from incoming viruses and will let you surf the internet in a safe and protected environment. It also schedules regular scans for your system to eliminate viruses which are lurking around. The virus definition of this tool is updated on a regular basis. This helps protect you from newly created viruses.

Solution 2. Make sure that your display drivers are up to date

One of the first things to check when your display starts stuttering is the graphics driver. So, to fix this problem, we recommend that you update the driver. We are going to show you three of the best methods to do so:

Method 1. Download and install Auslogics Driver Updater

The Auslogics Driver Updater is a tool which can update all your drivers in one click. It is very fast and reliable. This tool scans your computer for outdated or missing drivers and installs the latest manufacturer-recommended versions. It is perfect for users who are not very versed with updating drivers. While using this tool, you will not be required to know the individual names and versions of your hardware and devices. So, you don’t have to worry about downloading the wrong driver.

Method 2. Download your driver from the manufacturer ‘s site

This is also another reliable way to get your drivers. Drivers are usually located in the support section of the website. There you will be able to download your drivers based on your operating system and its architecture. One of the many issues about this method is downloading the wrong driver. This occurs when you do not know the exact name and version of the device whose driver you want to update. Popular manufacturers like AMD and NVidia have solved this problem by creating clients which notify the user when a driver needs updating.

Method 3. Download and install your drivers, using Device Manager

The Device Manager is a system tool which manages all the hardware which is connected to your computer. You will also be able to update your drivers, using this tool:

• Right-click on the Start or Home button and select Device Manager from the pop-up menu.
• In the Device Manager window, double-click on Display adapters to view the graphics device which is installed on your PC.
• Here, right-click on your graphics device and select Update driver.
• In the next window, choose the option to download your driver from the internet.
• Windows will now download the best driver for your device.

Solution 3. Add Hearthstone to the Windows Defender Exclusion list

Windows Defender can also be the cause of the stuttering issues in Hearthstone. That is why we also recommend you to add Hearthstone to the exception list of Windows Defender. Use the following steps to add Hearthstone to the exception list:

• Press the Windows logo key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
• Click Update and Security from the list of options present.
• Navigate to the Windows Security tab and click Virus and threat protection icon.
• Now click Virus and threat protection settings.
• Under the Exclusions option, select Add or remove exclusions.
• Now, click Add exclusion and select Folder. Choose the Hearthstone folder from your Program Files

Solution 4. Remove the Hearthstone folder from AppData

Many players have reported that removing the AppData folder will fix the stuttering issues in Hearthstone. Use the following steps to move the Hearthstone folder:

• Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Input %localappdata% in the search area and press Enter
• Now, navigate to the Blizzard/Hearthstone directory and move the Hearthstone folder to another location.
• Launch your game and check if the issue persists.

Solution 5. Turn off Switchable graphics from BIOS

Disabling the switchable graphics from BIOS is also capable of fixing the Hearthstone stuttering issue.  Here is how to disable the Switchable graphics:

• Depending on the manufacturer of your motherboard, press Delete or one of the Function keys to get into BIOS.
• Now, look for the Switchable graphics and turn it off.
• Save the changes and exit the BIOS.
• This process will work only for those who have dedicated and integrated graphics cards installed

Solution 6. Check your network connections

You may be experiencing issues with Hearthstone due to a poor internet connection. If this is the case, then the first thing you need to do is restart your router.  Press the power button on your router and wait for thirty seconds before turning it on again. If this does not help, then you need to call your Internet Service Provider to check if the problem is from their end.

Solution 7. Change your DNS settings

Many users have also suggested that your DNS settings can be the reason for the Hearthstone issues. In this case, you have to switch to Google ‘s DNS and check if the problem is resolved. Here is how to do it:

• Click the network icon on the taskbar and select your network.
• Click Change adapter options.
• Here, you will see a list of network connections, right-click on your connection and select Properties.
• Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
• Under the General tab, click Use the following DNS server addresses, then input the following figures:

1. Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
2. Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

• Click OK to save the changes you have made.
• Now, your Hearthstone issue should be resolved.

Solution 8. Change Hearthstone priority and affinity

Issues with your CPU can also be the cause of the freezing or crashing of Hearthstone. The crashing can also be because the game is not well optimized. To fix this issue, many users have suggested changing the affinity and priority of the Hearthstone process. Here is how to do it:

• Launch Hearthstone.
• Minimize the game by pressing the Alt + Tab on your keyboard.
• Now, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on the keyboard.
• Navigate to the Details tab, locate the Hearthstone process, right-click on it, select Set priority, and increase its priority.
• Right-click on the Hearthstone process again and select Set Affinity. Check the CPU 0 box and click OK.
• Once this is done, return to your game and check if everything works well.

We hope that this article has shown you how to fix Hearthstone lags. Share it with others who encounter similar problems.

We appreciate your ideas and comments, and we are ready to answer all your questions regarding the above topic.