Common technical issues in Funnel Runners and how to fix them. Crash fixes, stuttering solutions, connection troubleshooting, and known bugs with workarounds for the Early Access version. This guide covers the most frequently reported technical problems and their verified solutions, organized by issue category for quick reference.
Whether you are dealing with startup crashes, in-game stuttering, or co-op connection failures, this troubleshooting resource will help you resolve the most common Funnel Runners technical issues and get back to surviving storms.
Startup and Launch Issues
Startup problems are the most common category of issues reported in the Early Access version. Here are the verified fixes:
Game Crashes on Launch
If Funnel Runners crashes before reaching the main menu, work through these solutions in order:
| Step | Solution | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verify game files through Steam | 40% |
| 2 | Update GPU drivers to latest version | 25% |
| 3 | Add -dx11 to launch options | 15% |
| 4 | Delete AppData/Local/FunnelRunners/Saved/ folder | 10% |
| 5 | Disable antivirus temporarily during launch | 5% |
| 6 | Run as Administrator | 5% |
Launch option -dx11: This forces the game to use DirectX 11 instead of DirectX 12. UE5 defaults to DX12, but some GPU driver versions have stability issues with DX12. The visual quality is nearly identical, but DX11 may have slightly lower performance on modern hardware.
Black Screen on Startup
A black screen with audio playing typically indicates a resolution or refresh rate mismatch. Fix by:
- Navigate to
AppData/Local/FunnelRunners/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor/GameUserSettings.ini - Set
ResolutionWidth=1920andResolutionHeight=1080 - Set
FullscreenMode=1(exclusive fullscreen) - Save and relaunch
If the black screen persists, try adding -windowed to launch options, then switch to fullscreen from within the game's settings menu.
Stuck on Loading Screen
Extended loading screens (over 60 seconds) usually indicate storage or memory issues:
- On HDD: Expected loading time is 30-45 seconds. If significantly longer, defragment the drive.
- On SSD: Expected loading time is 8-18 seconds. If stuck, verify game files and check SSD health.
- With 8GB RAM: Loading screens are extended because the engine must page assets to disk. Close all background applications.
In-Game Performance Issues
Frame Rate Drops During Weather Events
Funnel Runners' weather system is the most demanding aspect of the game. If FPS drops during tornado or storm phases:
Immediate fix: Reduce VFX Quality to Medium or Low before weather events begin. The game provides a brief warning period before severe weather hits — use this window to adjust settings if needed.
Persistent low FPS during weather: This indicates a GPU bottleneck. Check your VRAM usage — if it exceeds 90%, lower texture quality. The weather particle system cannot be fully disabled as it is core to gameplay, but reducing VFX Quality significantly decreases the particle count.
| Weather Phase | Typical FPS Drop | Best Setting to Reduce |
|---|---|---|
| Calm / Clear | Baseline | None |
| Rain / Wind | -5 to -10 FPS | Shadow Quality |
| Hail Storm | -10 to -15 FPS | VFX Quality |
| Funnel Cloud | -10 to -20 FPS | VFX Quality |
| Tornado (EF2-EF3) | -15 to -25 FPS | VFX Quality + Lumen |
| Tornado (EF4-EF5) | -20 to -35 FPS | VFX Low + Lumen Low |
Stuttering During Building Collapses
Building collapses are the second most demanding event in the game. Stuttering during collapses typically indicates one of three issues:
CPU bottleneck: If your CPU usage hits 100% during collapses, the physics engine is overwhelmed. Lower Nanite quality and close background applications. The i7-7700K minimum spec is tight for collapse physics — older quad-core CPUs will struggle.
VRAM exhaustion: If your GPU VRAM is at capacity, the streaming system causes hitches as it loads and unloads debris textures. Lower texture quality one level. The GTX 1060 6GB is particularly susceptible during multi-building collapses.
RAM paging: If system RAM exceeds 14GB usage, Windows begins paging to disk. This causes severe stutters. Close background applications or upgrade to 32GB for comfortable headroom.
Audio Crackling and Desync
Audio issues in UE5 games often stem from sample rate mismatches or buffer underruns:
- Set Windows audio output to 48000 Hz (Settings > Sound > Device properties > Additional device properties > Advanced)
- Disable all audio enhancements (spatial sound, Dolby, etc.)
- Close applications competing for audio device access (Discord voice, Spotify)
- If using Bluetooth headphones, switch to wired — Bluetooth audio adds latency that compounds with UE5's audio processing
Co-Op Connection Issues
Cannot Connect to Host
Connection issues in Funnel Runners co-op are common during Early Access. Try these solutions:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Connection Failed" error | Host must forward UDP ports 7777-7780 on their router |
| "Session Not Found" | Ensure both players are on the same game version |
| High latency / rubberbanding | Host should use wired Ethernet, not Wi-Fi |
| Disconnection during tornado | Network bandwidth spike — reduce in-game VFX quality |
Port forwarding guide: Funnel Runners uses UE5's default networking ports. Forward UDP 7777 (game), 7778 (steam), 7779 (beacon), and 7780 (query) to the host machine's local IP address. Check your router's documentation for port forwarding setup instructions.
Difficulty Scaling Desync
In rare cases, co-op difficulty scaling can desync — one player experiences stronger weather than the other. This is a known bug in Early Access. Workaround: both players should restart the run simultaneously. The developer has acknowledged this issue and is investigating a server-side fix.
Known Early Access Bugs and Workarounds
As of the current Early Access version, these bugs have been reported and verified:
| Bug | Symptom | Workaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van parts disappear | Repair progress resets randomly | Save and reload before repairing | Under investigation |
| Tornado path prediction inaccurate | APEX shows wrong direction | Trust visual cues over APEX during EF4+ | Known, fix planned |
| Night mode flicker | Lights flash rapidly | Disable Lumen during night runs | Patch in testing |
| Co-op gadget sharing fail | Shared gadgets not appearing | Re-equip gadget at van | Fixed next patch |
| Achievement unlock delay | Completed achievements show as locked | Play one more run; achievement retroactively unlocks | Server-side tracking issue |
| Stuck in terrain | Player falls through map after collapse | Use "Unstuck" in pause menu or reload | Under investigation |
Reporting bugs: If you encounter a bug not listed above, report it on the official Funnel Runners Discord in the bug-reports channel. Include your system specs, what you were doing when the bug occurred, and a screenshot or video if possible.
Driver-Specific Issues
NVIDIA Driver Problems
Certain NVIDIA driver versions cause specific issues with UE5:
| Driver Version | Issue | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 535.xx and earlier | DX12 instability | Update to 550+ or use -dx11 |
| 545.xx-549.xx | Micro-stutters in UE5 | Update to 551+ |
| 550+ | Generally stable | Keep updated |
NVIDIA Reflex: If available on your GPU, enable NVIDIA Reflex in the game settings. This reduces input latency by up to 30%, which is particularly valuable at low frame rates where input delay is most noticeable.
AMD Driver Problems
| Driver Version | Issue | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-23.12.1 | Random UE5 crashes | Update to latest Adrenalin |
| 24.1.x | Shadow flickering | Disable Virtual Shadow Maps in config |
| 24.3+ | Generally stable | Keep updated |
AMD-specific tip: Disable Radeon Chill and Radeon Boost for Funnel Runners. These features dynamically adjust frame rates based on input, which conflicts with the game's dynamic weather system that legitimately causes frame rate variation.
System-Level Troubleshooting Checklist
Before reporting a bug, work through this checklist to rule out common environmental causes:
- GPU drivers updated to latest version
- Game files verified through Steam
- Windows updates installed (particularly .NET and VC++ redistributables)
- Antivirus/Windows Defender has an exclusion for the game directory
- Background applications closed (browsers, RGB software, launchers)
- Power plan set to High Performance
- Running from SSD (not HDD)
- RAM meets 16GB minimum
- VRAM not exceeded (check with MSI Afterburner overlay)
Frequently Asked Questions
The game crashes on startup — what should I do?
First, verify game files through Steam. Then update your GPU drivers to the latest version. If crashes persist, try adding -dx11 to the launch options to force DirectX 11 mode. UE5 instability on certain driver versions is a known cause of startup crashes. If still failing, delete the Saved config folder to reset all settings to defaults.
Why is my FPS dropping during tornado scenes?
Tornado sequences feature intensive particle effects and destruction physics. Lowering VFX quality and disabling motion blur provides the biggest FPS recovery during storm phases. If FPS drops persist, reduce texture quality — UE5's high-resolution textures consume significant VRAM during destruction events. See the weather-phase FPS table above for targeted setting adjustments.
How do I fix audio crackling?
Set your Windows audio output to 48000 Hz and disable any audio enhancements. If the issue persists, verify the game files and check for background applications competing for audio device access. Switching from Bluetooth to wired headphones often resolves the issue completely.
My game runs fine solo but lags in co-op — why?
Co-op sessions with difficulty scaling increase particle counts, physics complexity, and network bandwidth. Three optimizations help: reduce VFX Quality one level, ensure the host has a wired Ethernet connection (not Wi-Fi), and close bandwidth-consuming background applications. If lag persists, the host should verify their upload speed meets at least 5 Mbps.
Where should I report bugs I encounter?
Report verified bugs on the official Funnel Runners Discord in the bug-reports channel. Include your system specs, a description of what you were doing, steps to reproduce if possible, and a screenshot or video. The developer actively monitors this channel during Early Access.
Fix and Play
Troubleshooting gets you back in the game faster. For deeper optimization, see our UE5 Optimization guide and System Requirements page to ensure your hardware meets the minimum thresholds. For low-end hardware specifically, check our Low-End PC Guide.
This guide references information from the official Steam page and the official Funnel Runners Discord.