Krita keeps frequently crashing, but the cause is inconsistent. Please help

I’ve been using Krita for years now, but the latest steam update has been quite unstable for me recently. I’ve had it crash multiple times over the past few weeks.

Some of the triggers:

  • Using hotkeys to Duplicate, merge and/or group layers.
  • Changing the selected brush.
  • Transforming a layer.
  • Clearing a layer using the delete key.
  • Filling an entire layer with the fill tool.
  • Applying filters.
  • Changing layer blend mode.

It might’ve also crashed when using ctrl+s to save for the first time but right now that’s only happened once. All the triggers I’ve mentioned have been inconsistent in causing crashes as sometimes they’ll just work. While this has been training me to save more often, I don’t think I should be saving after every single change I make to my art.

Should I roll back a version on Steam or is this potentially a hardware issue?

When Krita crashes it normally writes something to the crash log. If Krita still starts they’re accessible through the Help menu.

Without logs it’s almost impossible to tell what’s the reason.

Noted, the next time it happens I’ll be sure to check the logs

If you did not reset Krita, they are still there, just do ‘‘Help’’ >> ‘‘Bug Report’’.
It may be needed to post them at a paste bin site like Pastebin.com or similar because these reports can be of vast sizes.

Michelist

In Krita go to Help → Show crash log for bug reports and there is also Help → Show Krita log for bug reports. This will open a Window with the log inside. It should still contain your crashes. Mine still has entries from 2023. You don’t have to give us all the logs just the parts that are specific to the crash. Normally they’re at the very bottom of the file (assuming it happend just recently).

I have them now, should I close this thread and make a new one with it attached at the start? Or is it ok if I just include it in the replies?

Post them here.

Michelist

Here are all the relevant and recent crash logs, I removed a few from the total as they were from years ago and wouldn’t be relevant.

https://pastebin.com/a9KmH4Q2

In Krita’s Settings, for the canvas acceleration, do you have OpenGL active? If so try another one (Probably Direct3D via Angle).

I’m not a programmer, but since it’s different modules that are crashing, I wonder if you might have memory problems?
Does Krita’s memory usage indicator (Memory & Size Widget) in the status bar happen to be colored for you? I don’t consider green tones to be critical, but if it’s yellow, orange, red, or even deep purple, you’re working on the edge of disaster due to a lack of memory.

Michelist

Just checked it, it’s set to auto and has been using Direct3D 11 via ANGLE. Should I set it to only use it?

When in the file that’s crashed the most it’s orange so that might be the problem, it does have a lot of layers so I might want to do a purge of sorts by moving groups of stuff to their own individual files as it’s a sketch document with lots of different drawings everywhere.

You can try to merge the groups which you consider finished, or maybe put ready parts in file-layers.

Michelist

…I just tried to open the file and it crashed Krita… twice… gonna add those new crashes to the pastebin file and then try to open it again.

I don’t really know how to use file layers yet, but since you’re recommending using them I guess now’s the time to learn.

It is a way to “reduce the weight” of your file.

Michelist

You know how I said the memory bar was orange… turns out that was dark orange… NOW it is orange after compartmentalising everything to their own files

So you’re working on the brink of disaster …

Michelist

I was, realised I had a few folders hidden still and got them split off into their own files, now it’s back into the green. Thanks for the help, I’ll have to remember not to get too many layers in the one krita again.

And if you work in Krita, terminate all programs you don’t need, it will help too.

By the way, in the case you consider this now solved, can you mark the topic as such? The checkbox to do so is found below each post in this topic. Thank you!

Michelist