How To Fix The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Freezing on PC/PS4/PS5

Solve freezing issues by updating game and removing corrupted saved or cache data.

M. Mateen
May 14, 2023

Players have reported that they are experiencing freezing issues while playing The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt on their PC, PS4, or PS5.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt freezing issue can occur due to various reasons. Some of the most common reasons we found from different tech forums include outdated graphics drivers, Overheating, corrupted game files, and inadequate system requirements.

In this article, we have explained tested solutions to fix Witcher 3 Wild Hunt freezing issue on PC/PS4/PS5.

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Freezing on PC/PS4/PS5

If you are experiencing freezing issues while playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, there are several ways to fix it. Here are some of the most effective solutions:

1. Check Game Requirements and System Updates

Checking the game requirements or system updates can be helpful in resolving performance issues with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, particularly if the freezing issues are caused by insufficient system requirements or outdated drivers.

Updating your Console and other system drivers can also help resolve freezing issues that are caused by outdated drivers.

Go to the Settings menu on the PlayStation console.
Select System Software Update.
After the update, reboot the system to apply changes.

2. Delete Game Data and Cache

Deleting save game data and cache can potentially help in resolving freezing issues with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, particularly if the issue is caused by corrupted game data or cache files.

To delete cache files on a PC:

Go to the game’s installation folder, usually located in
- “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Witcher 3“
Delete the “cache” folder.

On a PlayStation console:

Go to the Settings menu.
Select Storage.
Select Saved Data.
Select The Witcher 3.
Press the Options button on the controller.
Select the saved game data files.
Press Delete and confirm the task to complete it.

3. Rebuild Database

Rebuilding the database on a PlayStation console can help resolve freezing issues with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, particularly if the issue is caused by corrupted system files or data. To rebuild the database on a PlayStation console, follow these steps:

Turn off your PS5 by pressing and holding the power button on the front of the console until it turns off.
Once the PS5 is turned off, press, and hold the power button again, but this time keep holding it until you hear two beeps. This will put the PS5 into Safe Mode.
Connect your controller to the PS5 using a USB cable.
Select “Rebuild Database” from the Safe Mode menu.
Once the process is complete, restart your PS5 and launch MLB The Show 23 to see if the issue is resolved.

4. Reset the Console

Resetting your console to its factory settings can potentially help in resolving freezing issues with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, particularly if the issue is caused by corrupted system files or data.

On a PlayStation console, you can reset the console to its factory settings by following these steps:

Go to “Settings” on the PlayStation dashboard.
Scroll down and select “Initialization“.
Select “Initialize PS4” and then “Full“.
Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the reset process.

5. Close Unnecessary Background Tasks

Closing unnecessary background programs can potentially help in resolving freezing issues with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, particularly if the issue is caused by a lack of system resources or conflicts with other programs.

To close background programs on PC:

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager.
In the Processes tab, you can see a list of running processes and the amount of resources they are using.
Select any unnecessary programs and click “End Task” to close them.

To close background programs on the console:

You can close any background applications by pressing the PS button on your controller to bring up the Quick Menu.
From there, select “Close Application” to close any open applications.

6. Reinstall The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Reinstalling The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can potentially help in resolving freezing issues with the game, particularly if the issue is caused by corrupted game files or incomplete installation.

To reinstall the game on a PC, follow these steps:

Go to your computer’s Control Panel and select “Programs and Features.”
Find The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in the list of programs and select it.
Click “Uninstall” and follow the on-screen prompts to remove the game from your computer.
Once the game has been uninstalled, restart your computer.
Reinstall the game from the original installation media or download it again from the official website.

On a PlayStation console, you can reinstall The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt by following these steps:

Highlight The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on the PlayStation dashboard.
Press the Options button on your controller and select “Delete.”
Confirm that you want to delete the game and wait for the game to be uninstalled.
Once the game has been uninstalled, restart your console.
Reinstall the game from the original installation media or download it again from the PlayStation Store.