Forza Horizon 6 players encountering the game crash code FHE01 on startup or during gameplay are facing an error typically rooted in corrupted game files or software conflicts with the game’s anti-cheat system. This crash code has been reported to appear when certain background applications—such as Citrix Workspace, MSI Afterburner, or RivaTuner—interfere with the game’s integrity checks, and in some cases, even an attached Xbox or PlayStation controller can trigger the failure. Fortunately, the FHE01 error is resolvable through a series of targeted troubleshooting steps. This guide will walk you through each verified solution, including verifying the integrity of your game files via Steam, disconnecting controllers before launch, and removing conflicting software to restore stable performance.
What Is Crash Code FHE01?
Crash code FHE01 in Forza Horizon 6 typically appears during game startup or shortly after launching. The error prevents the game from loading properly and may close the application without warning. Based on player reports and official troubleshooting patterns, this crash is most commonly triggered by one of two root causes:
- Corrupted or missing game files – One or more essential files required to launch Forza Horizon 6 have been damaged during download, installation, or an update.
- Software conflicts with the anti-cheat system – Background programs running on your PC may interfere with the game’s anti-cheat service, causing it to terminate the process.
Understanding these two causes is essential because they require different solutions. This guide covers both scenarios in depth.
Step 1: Verify the Integrity of Game Files (Steam)
The first and most important step is to check whether any of your Forza Horizon 6 game files are corrupted or missing. Steam includes a built-in tool that compares your installed files against the official version and repairs any discrepancies.
How to Verify Game Files on Steam
Follow these steps carefully:
- Open your Steam Library.
- Locate Forza Horizon 6 in your game list.
- Right-click on the game title.
- Select Properties from the dropdown menu.
- In the Properties window, click on the Installed Files tab (sometimes labeled Local Files depending on your Steam version).
- Click the button labeled Verify integrity of game files (or Verify integrity of game cache on older Steam versions).
- Wait for the scan to complete. This process may take several minutes depending on your hard drive speed and the size of the game.
What Happens During the Verification
Steam will:
- Scan every file in the Forza Horizon 6 installation directory.
- Compare each file against a master list of checksums.
- Identify any files that are missing, corrupted, or modified.
- Automatically download and replace any problematic files.
After the Scan Completes
Once the verification is finished, Steam will display a message indicating whether any files were repaired. If files were downloaded and replaced, launch Forza Horizon 6 again to test if the FHE01 crash persists.
Important note: If no files were repaired but the crash continues, move to Step 2 below. The issue is likely caused by software conflicts rather than file corruption.
Step 2: Disconnect Xbox or PlayStation Controllers Before Launch
A surprising number of Forza Horizon 6 players have reported that connected game controllers can trigger the FHE01 crash specifically during the startup sequence. This appears to be related to how the game initializes input devices before fully loading.
How to Test This Fix
- Disconnect any wired Xbox or PlayStation controller from your USB ports.
- Turn off any wireless controller (Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, or dongle-connected).
- Restart your PC to ensure no lingering driver processes remain active.
- Launch Forza Horizon 6 using only your keyboard and mouse.
- If the game starts successfully, you have identified the cause.
Permanent Workaround
If disconnecting the controller resolves the FHE01 crash, you have two options:
- Option A: Launch the game first, wait until you reach the main menu or enter the game world, then connect your controller. Most players report that connecting the controller after the game has fully loaded does not trigger the crash.
- Option B: Check for firmware updates for your controller and driver updates for your motherboard’s USB or Bluetooth controllers. In some cases, outdated drivers cause the initialization conflict.
Step 3: Identify and Remove Conflicting Software
The anti-cheat system used by Forza Horizon 6 is sensitive to certain background applications that hook into game processes or monitor system performance. Three programs have been repeatedly identified as triggers for the FHE01 crash.
Known Conflicting Programs
| Program | Purpose | Why It Causes Conflicts |
|---|---|---|
| Citrix Workspace | Remote work and virtual desktop application | Installs display and input drivers that interfere with the game’s anti-cheat detection |
| MSI Afterburner | GPU overclocking and hardware monitoring | Hooks into DirectX and game rendering pipelines to display on-screen statistics |
| RivaTuner Statistics Server | Frame rate limiter and performance overlay | Often installed alongside MSI Afterburner; injects code into game processes |
How to Check If These Programs Are Installed
- Open Windows Settings (press Windows key + I).
- Go to Apps → Installed apps.
- Search for each name: Citrix Workspace, MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner.
- If any of these appear in the list, they must be uninstalled.
Complete Uninstallation Instructions
For Citrix Workspace:
- Click on the program in the Installed apps list.
- Select Uninstall.
- Follow the on-screen prompts.
- Restart your computer when prompted.
For MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner:
- Uninstall RivaTuner Statistics Server first (if present).
- Then uninstall MSI Afterburner.
- Restart your PC after both are removed.
Why Uninstalling Is Necessary
Simply disabling these programs or closing them from the system tray is often insufficient. Background services and kernel-level drivers may remain active even when the main application is closed. A complete uninstall followed by a system restart ensures that all associated components are removed.
Step 4: Restart Your PC and Test the Game
After completing the steps above, restart your computer even if you were not explicitly prompted to do so. A fresh boot clears temporary files, resets driver states, and ensures that no remnants of conflicting software remain in memory.
- Click Start → Power → Restart.
- Wait for Windows to fully reboot.
- Launch Forza Horizon 6 without connecting any controllers (if you are testing the controller fix).
- Observe whether the FHE01 crash still occurs.
Additional Troubleshooting (If the Crash Persists)
If you have completed all four steps and the FHE01 error continues to appear, consider the following advanced solutions:
Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated GPU drivers can cause compatibility issues with new game releases. Visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer:
- NVIDIA: Download from nvidia.com/drivers
- AMD: Download from amd.com/en/support
- Intel: Download from intel.com/drivers
Temporarily Disable Antivirus Software
Some third-party antivirus programs may mistakenly flag Forza Horizon 6 or its anti-cheat system as suspicious. Temporarily disable your antivirus and test the game. If this resolves the crash, add Forza Horizon 6 and its entire installation folder to your antivirus exclusion list.
Run Steam as Administrator
Running Steam with administrative privileges can resolve permission-related crashes.
- Close Steam completely.
- Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop or Start menu.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Launch Forza Horizon 6 from within Steam.
Reinstall Forza Horizon 6
As a last resort, completely uninstall and reinstall the game.
- In Steam Library, right-click Forza Horizon 6.
- Select Manage → Uninstall.
- After uninstallation, restart your PC.
- Download and install the game again.
This ensures a completely fresh set of files and eliminates any hidden corruption that the verification tool may have missed.
Summary Checklist for FHE01 Crash
Use this checklist to quickly resolve the error without re-reading the entire guide:
- Verify integrity of game files in Steam (Properties → Installed Files → Verify)
- Disconnect all Xbox and PlayStation controllers
- Restart your PC
- Launch the game with keyboard and mouse only
- Check for Citrix Workspace, MSI Afterburner, and RivaTuner
- Uninstall any conflicting software found
- Restart your PC again
- Launch Forza Horizon 6 and test
If the crash still appears after all steps, proceed to advanced solutions: update GPU drivers, disable antivirus temporarily, run Steam as administrator, or reinstall the game.
The FHE01 crash code in Forza Horizon 6 is frustrating but rarely indicates a permanent problem with your system or the game itself. In the vast majority of cases, the error is resolved by either repairing corrupted game files through Steam’s verification tool or removing software that conflicts with the anti-cheat system. The controller disconnect fix has also proven effective for many players.
If you have tried all the solutions in this guide and the crash persists, consider reaching out to official Forza support channels or the Steam community forums for your specific hardware configuration. Providing them with details about your system, background applications, and the exact timing of the crash will help identify any remaining edge cases.
