How to Fix Project Zomboid Errors, Crashes, Issues, Lag

This guide is to Fix Project Zomboid Errors, Crashes, Issues, Lag, Freezes, and Black Screen on Windows. These are the most common errors that players are experiencing with Project Zomboid. You can fix these problems with the tutorial below.

Error log：

Error log “console.txt” location

> C:\Users\username\Zomboid\console.txt

Disable error log

As it stands there is no way to disable the error box in game. The red box isn’t exactly a bad thing, it’s the way people deal with it that makes it a bad thing. If you look through the error messages, you can see that most of them are in fact harmless. Some people think that the error messages are the end of the world, but most of the time, they’re just the game trying to stop itself from crashing.

Which mod is causing the “unexpected error” ?

Project Zomboid has many mods for players to choose from, which greatly improves the gameplay. However, the different compatibility of different mods may be causing errors that may eventually corrupt your save. Here is a guide that will help identify which mods are causing these errors and how you can disable them.

World dictionary error

The error means that there are some issues with the Zomboid world, you can try to fix this by disabling the mod in the save, and update all your mods.

You can just go to the steam workshop and go to your subscribed items, unsubscribe them, it will delete the files related to the mods, then subscribe again. This should re-download your subscribed mods.

Error subscribing to workshop item

If you install a mod that are no longer in the workshop, you may need to manually remove it.

Workshop Item Version Is Different

If your workshop ID is messed up, the first thing you’re going to want to do is open up Steam and go to your Library. Under Project Zomboid, you’ll find Workshop. This is where you can install mods, but what we’re interested in right now is the Subscribed Items list.

Under Subscribed Items, you’ll see all of the mods that you’re subscribed to (it defaults to the date subscribed, but if you sort by date updated it’ll put the last most recent updates all the way at the top). For example, on 27 Jun some mods were recently updated so those are the ones I need to update.

To update a mod, first unsubscribe from it (if necessary), Then subscribe to it again (forcing it to update). Let Steam’s Download Manager finish downloading and installing it.

Some users had problems because the game itself is not compatible with updates. The update for the game’s Steam workshop module fails. However, the system has determined that these files have been updated and are complete. In this case, it requires manually deleting the game’s files and reinstall PZ in order to resolve the issue.

Error 1,2,3,4,5…. lua error

You may experience errors when using mods in Single Player mode, particularly if you see an Error X (number) message displayed in the lower right corner. The X indicates how many errors are currently being caused.

The first thing you should do was to identify which mod is causing the “error x”

p2p error & can’t connect to server

If you are getting the p2p connect error, the first thing you should do is make sure your files are up-to-date. This can be done by verifying the integrity of your local files. Next, you should check to see if Steam is starting the server on its own. If not, then you will need to start the server manually and open it from within Steam. Finally, make sure that your computer are connected to the internet, and also check Steam’s server status.

use wired connections instead of wifi if you are the server host.

make sure that UDP ports 16261, 8766, 8767 are open in an outbound direction.

Use a VPN to improve your connection to the server, it may have solved the problem.

Car gone after crash

The car might be down the street from where you spawned back into the game, but it’s position was probably recalculated differently. So try check along the road to see if it’s there.

Crashing on startup

• Right-click on Project Zomboid in your Steam library and select Properties.
• Disable both the steam overlay and the desktop game theater.
• Local files -> browse local files
• Find the project zomboid batch file in the root folder
• Double click on the project zomboid batch file (ProjectZomboid64.bat or ProjectZomboid32.bat )
• That will start the game

Resolution issue

If you are on fullscreen mode, go to the resolution settings in your game and change it to the resolution you want. Normal resolutions should be 1920x1080 or 2560x1440. Borderless mode always sets the resolution to your native one.

One option to try is to disable DPI scaling for only Project Zomboid. This may resolve the issue for you.

To disable DPI scaling on PZ, first locate the .exe files for the game(Check the "Crashing on startup " section on this web page). Right click on the file and select “Properties”. Under the Compatibility tab, check the box next to “Disable display scaling on high DPI settings”.

In Windows 10 Version 1703 and later versions of Windows, the text of the Disable display scaling on high DPI settings option is changed to Override high DPI scaling behavior. This allows you to specify how applications should behave when displayed on a device with a high DPI setting. Scaling will be performed by the application.

Kick fast player issues

Set KickFastPlayers to false

2 screen issues

Check the “Resolution issue” section on this page.

Car Lag Issues:

When driving, the Black Wall can sometimes occur when the server is overloaded trying to load new tiles for the player. This usually isn’t an issue on highways, but can happen in main towns if the server has a higher "speed limit." If this happens, players may be trapped between the Black Wall and zombies. A general fix could be found by adjusting the “speed limit” option on the server.

Based on the information provided, it appears that when multiple people are driving and one person has a slow connection, the other drivers are limited to the speed of that person’s connection.

it is best to stay close to your friend’s car in order to minimize the load on the server.

Also Check “p2p error & can’t connect to server” section on this page

Graphics settings reduce lag & Performance issues

STEPS FOR FIXING LAG PROBLEM:

1. Change graphic to low performance

1. Disable some mods

2. Edit ProjectZomboid64.json file Open your game directory(Check “Crashing on startup” section on this page), open ProjectZomboid64.json with a text editor, and find the line that says “Xmx…”

increasing it appropriately

1. Try to change the power option to high performance.

2. Update Graphics Card driver

• I’m on Nvidia Graphics Card. So I don’t know how to fix it on AMD. Hopefully they do it the same thing as me.
• First go to your Nvidia website -> http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
• Figure out what kind of your Nvidia Graphics Card is.
• There will be many options which one is perfect I don’t know fix yourself.

Disk write error

Try basic troubleshooting by using the advice at “Basic Steam Troubleshooting” on

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2274-IFLV-5334.

Also try added project zomboid and Steam to the exception list of anti-virus software.

Check record device frequency

• 1. Go into your device’s Sound settings. (Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Recording )
• 2. Click on the ‘Microphone’ icon, check the Properties.
• 3. Change the ‘Frequency’ from 44100Hz (CD Quality) to a lower frequency, such as 22050Hz or 11000Hz if necessary.
• 4. Restart your device if you have not already done so in order for these changes to take effect.

Java.Lang.Outofmemory

Right click on Project Zomboid in your Steam library and select Properties. Press Local Files button > Browse.

Find the ProjectZomboid64.bat file

Change the -Xms and -Xmx settings to -Xms2G and -Xmx4G, then use this batch file to start the game.

Corrupted save files - world version is zero

I’ve been playing a lot of hours (like, a lot), and I don’t want to lose my lovely character. What can I do?

If you have a friend who has the same save game as you(multiplayer), and you’re experiencing this issue, ask them for their map_ver file. This is usually found in C:\Users\YourUserName\Zomboid\Saves" , replace it with yours, and most likely it will work fine

Or make a new save with the same map you used for the corrupted save file, copy the map_ver from the new save, copy it into the corrupted save and replace the old map_ver with the new one.

Save Your Character:

If the above method does not work, you can try copying your character data to a new save：

• create and enter your new world using the same mods as your old world.
• exit game.
• go back to the original old world save folder.
• you can see that the old save folder has a players.db and players.db-journal file
• copy and paste this two file across to the new world save folder.
• visit the new world you created

Addition：

If you want to copy your entire base with vehicles and ** items**, You need to copy the map_xxx_xxx.bin file that corresponds to the safe house you want to copy.

For example, if your safe house is located at the RoseWood Fire Department, open RoseWood online map and click on the Grid button.

We found that the grid includes coordinates 812,1172–815,1172 , 1173–815–1173 , and 812,1174–815,1174.

So we will need to copy:

map_812_1172.bin map_812_1173.bin map_812_1174.bin map_813_1172.bin map_813_1173.bin map_813_1174.bin map_814_1172.bin map_814_1173.bin map_814_1174.bin map_815_1172.bin map_815_1173.bin map_815_1174.bin

As well as copying and pasting the following files into the new world safe folder.

vehicles.db WorldDictionary.bin WorldDictionaryLog.lua WorldDictionaryReadable.lua

You now have your old safe house in your new world.

Conclusion:

This post mainly introduces how to fix common Project Zomboid Errors and Crashes. I hope it can help you.