How To Fix Valheim Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC

Fix Valheim Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: Have you been experiencing the issue of Valheim not launching when you try to start it up? If so, you are not alone. The game’s popularity has surged in recent months and many players have encountered this issue as a result. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to fix this issue so that you can go back to playing your favorite game without any more problems. In this article, we will cover how to fix Valheim won’t launch at startup, as well as how to troubleshoot other potential issues. Read on to find out more!

Valheim is a survival game that is available on Steam and has been popular since its release in February 2024. However, some players have reported issues with the game not launching or crashing at startup. To fix these issues, there are several troubleshooting steps that can be taken.

Fix Valheim Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC
Fix Valheim Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC

Why Doesn’t Valheim Launch?

Why Doesn’t Valheim Launch?
Why Doesn’t Valheim Launch?

When you encounter the “Valheim Won’t Launch” error, there are several possible explanations. The most common cause is that your computer doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements to run the game. Other causes can include outdated graphics drivers, problems with Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables, or issues with your Steam installation.

If you’re unsure of what might be causing the problem, we recommend checking out the official Valheim support page for more information. However, if you’d like to try and fix the problem yourself, here are a few troubleshooting steps you can take:

Random game bug

Random game error
Random game error

If you’re having trouble getting Valheim to launch at startup, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure that your graphics card drivers are up to date. You can do this by going to the manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest drivers.

If that doesn’t work, try verifying the game files through Steam. To do this, right-click on Valheim in your Steam library and select “Properties.” In the “Local Files” tab, click “Verify Integrity of Game Files.” This will check for any corrupted or missing files and attempt to fix them.

Finally, if all else fails, try deleting the “options.txt” file in the Valheim folder. This will reset all of your settings, so you’ll need to set them up again after doing this. However, it may fix whatever issue was causing the game to not launch at startup.

PC does not meet Valheim system requirements

PC does not meet Valheim system requirements
PC does not meet Valheim system requirements

If your computer does not meet the minimum system requirements for Valheim, you will need to upgrade your computer or lower your game settings.

The minimum system requirements for Valheim are as follows:

Minimum Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 7 or later
  • Processor: 2.6 GHz Quad-Core or similar
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7970
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 1 GB available space

Recommended Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 7 or later
  • Processor: i5 3GHz or Ryzen 5 3GHz
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 1 GB available space

If you are still having trouble launching Valheim, try updating your drivers or verifying the game files through Steam.

Outdated video card graphics

Old or outdated graphics card drivers.
Old or outdated graphics card drivers.

If you’re trying to launch Valheim and it won’t start up, it could be because your video card is outdated. Here’s how to fix that:

First, try updating your video card drivers. You can do this by going to the manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest drivers for your card.

If that doesn’t work, try setting your graphic settings to Low or Medium in the game’s settings menu. This will help the game run more smoothly on older hardware.

Finally, if nothing else works, you may need to upgrade your video card. A new graphics card can be a pricey investment, but it will definitely improve your gaming experience in Valheim.

Antivirus issue

Antivirus issue
Antivirus issue

If you’re having trouble getting Valheim to launch at startup, it could be due to an antivirus issue. Try adding Valheim to your antivirus exceptions list and see if that fixes the problem. If not, you may need to temporarily disable your antivirus software while you launch the game. Keep in mind that disabling your antivirus protection can leave your computer vulnerable to malware, so only do this as a last resort.

Corrupted game files

Corrupted game files.
Corrupted game files.

If you’re experiencing issues launching Valheim, it’s possible that your game files may be corrupted. There are a few ways to fix this issue:

1. Try verifying your game files through Steam. To do this, right-click Valheim in your Steam library and select ‘Properties’. From here, go to the ‘Local Files’ tab and click ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’.

2. If that doesn’t work, try deleting your player data folder. This is usually located at C:/Users/[Your Username]/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim. Deleting this folder will reset your progress, so make sure to back it up first!

3. If you’re still having issues, try reinstalling the game. Sometimes, simply deleting the game files and reinstalling can fix corruptions.

We hope these tips help you get Valheim up and running again!

Incorrect Steam launch options

Incorrect Steam launch options
Incorrect Steam launch options

If you’re having trouble launching Valheim, it might be because you have the wrong launch options set in your Steam client. To fix this, open the Steam client and go to the “Library” tab. Right-click on “Valheim” and select “Properties”. Under the “General” tab, click on “Set launch options…” and remove any incorrect launch options that are set.

Valheim Not Responding or Launching; how to Fix?

If you’re having trouble launching Valheim, or the game is crashing or freezing after you launch it, there are a few things you can try to fix the issue.

First, make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the game. If your system doesn’t meet the requirements, it’s likely that the game will have performance issues or won’t be able to run at all.

If your system does meet the minimum requirements, try verifying the game files to ensure that they’re intact and not corrupt. This can be done through Steam by right-clicking on Valheim in your library and selecting “Properties,” then going to the “Local Files” tab and clicking “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”

If you’re still having trouble, try disabling any mods or third-party software you have running. Sometimes these can cause conflicts with games and prevent them from launching properly.

Finally, if none of these solutions work, you may need to contact Valve customer support for further assistance.

1. Check System Requirements

Check System Requirements
Check System Requirements

If you’re wondering why Valheim won’t launch at startup, there are a few things you can check. First, make sure that your system meets the minimum requirements for the game. Second, try verifying the game files to see if there are any corrupt or missing files. And finally, if all else fails, you can try reinstalling the game.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 7 or later
  • Processor: 2.6 GHz Quad-Core or similar
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7970
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 1 GB available space

Recommended Requirements:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 7 or later
  • Processor: i5 3GHz or Ryzen 5 3GHz
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 1 GB available space

If your system doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, Valheim won’t be able to run properly. In this case, you’ll need to upgrade your hardware before you can play the game.

To verify the game files, open up Steam and navigate to your library. Right-click on Valheim and select “Properties.” From here, go to the “Local Files” tab and click “Verify Integrity of Game Files.” This will scan your files and replace any that are missing or corrupted.

If neither of these solutions works, you may need to uninstall and then reinstall Valheim. Be sure to back up your saves first!

2. Run the game as an Administrator

Run the game as an Administrator
Run the game as an Administrator

If you are having trouble launching Valheim, it may be because you do not have administrator privileges. To fix this, follow these steps:

  1. Open Steam and go to your game library.
  2. Right-click on the game you want to run as administrator and select Properties.
  3. In the Properties window, select the Local Files tab.
  4. Click on Browse Local Files.
  5. Locate the game’s executable file and right-click on it.
  6. Select Properties and then go to the Compatibility tab.
  7. Check the box that says “Run this program as an administrator” and click OK.
  8. Start the game through Steam and it should now run as administrator.

It’s also possible to run Steam as administrator by right-clicking on the Steam shortcut or executable file and selecting “Run as administrator”. This should ensure all games launched through Steam are also run as administrator.

3. Verify the Integrity of Game Files

Verify integrity of game files
Verify integrity of game files

If you’re having trouble getting Valheim to launch, one thing you can try is verifying the integrity of your game files. This process will check your files against the official versions to see if anything is corrupted or missing.

To verify the integrity of your game files:

1. Open the Steam client and log in to your account.
2. Navigate to the LIBRARY tab.
3. Right-click on Valheim and select “Properties”.
4. Click on the “LOCAL FILES” tab.
5. Click on “VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES…”
6. Wait for the process to complete – this may take a few minutes.
7. If any files are found to be corrupt or missing, they will be downloaded automatically by Steam.
8. Once the process is complete, try launching Valheim again and see if the issue has been resolved.

4. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

The Visual C++ Redistributable is a library of components that are required to run C++ applications. These components are included with the Visual Studio development environment and are also available as standalone redistributable packages that can be installed on a computer to run C++ applications that were built with Visual Studio. Different versions of Visual C++ Redistributable are available for different versions of Visual Studio, and different versions of Windows. Some of the versions of Visual C++ Redistributable that are available include Visual C++ 2015, Visual C++ 2013, and Visual C++ 2010. To resolve issues related to missing runtime components of Visual C++ Libraries, you can try downloading and installing the appropriate version of the Visual C++ Redistributable package for your system.

1. First of all open the below given path on your PC:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\vcredist

2. Now you will see The Below Given folders:

  • 2012\vc_redist.x64.exe
  • 2013\vc_redist.x64.exe
  • 2024\vc_redist.x64.exe

3. Now run all the Files that are Present.

Now Restart your Pc and check if the issue is solved or not.

5. Update DirectX

Re-install DirectX
Re-install DirectX

If you’re having trouble launching Valheim, one potential fix is to update your DirectX installation. DirectX is a set of APIs used by games and other software to communicate with your hardware, and it’s possible that an outdated version of DirectX could be causing problems with Valheim.

To update DirectX, you’ll need to download and install the latest version from Microsoft. You can find links to the latest DirectX releases on Microsoft’s website. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the updates, restart your computer and try launching Valheim again.

6. Update GPU Drivers

Update GPU Drivers
Update GPU Drivers

If you’re playing Valheim on PC, you might need to update your GPU drivers to the latest version in order to fix the “Valheim Won’t Launch” issue. You can do this by visiting your GPU manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest drivers for your graphics card.

To update your graphics driver on Windows 7 or Above, you can use the Windows Update feature found in the Control Panel.

  • Open the Start menu and go to the Control Panel.
  • Click on System and Security and Windows Update, then click Check for Updates.
  • This will check for regular Windows updates as well as new driver updates for your graphics card.

Alternatively, you can visit the website of the manufacturer of your graphics card, such as NVIDIA or ZOTAC, and download the latest driver from there.

You can also use the Device Manager to update your graphics driver. Go to the Device Manager and expand the Display adapters category. Right-click on your graphics card and select Update Driver Software.

Select Search automatically for updated driver software. This will automatically search for and install the latest driver for your graphics card.

Once you’ve downloaded the new drivers, install them and restart your computer. After that, try launching Valheim again and see if the issue has been resolved.

7. Disable Overlay Apps

Disable Overlay Apps
Disable Overlay Apps

Assuming you have Steam installed and Valheim downloaded:

1. Right-click on Valheim in your Steam Library.
2. Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu that appears.
3. In the “General” tab, select “Set launch options”.
4. A pop-up window will appear; enter “-novid” (without the quotation marks) into the field and click “OK”.
5. Close the Properties window and launch Valheim as normal.

8. Install All Pending Windows Updates

Install All Pending Windows Updates
Install All Pending Windows Updates

If you’re still having issues with Valheim not launching, the next thing to check is whether you have any pending Windows updates. To do this, open the Start menu and type in “check for updates”. Select the “Check for updates” result.

If there are any pending updates, Windows will download and install them automatically. Once the updates are installed, restart your computer and try launching Valheim again. If it still doesn’t work, move on to the next solution.

9. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program

Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program
Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program

If you are having trouble launching Valheim, you may need to disable your antivirus and firewall program. Here’s how:

It is possible to temporarily disable Windows Defender or Windows Security antivirus and firewall protection on a Windows computer.

One way to do this is through the Windows Security app, by going to the Home Tab and turning off Firewall and Network Protection. Another way is by modifying the Registry Permissions and disabling Defender Antispyware and Antivirus Protection through the Registry Editor.

Users can also turn off protection through the Windows Security settings, by selecting a network profile and turning off Firewall and Network protection. Additionally, some antivirus and firewall programs will allow users to disable protection by right-clicking on the system tray icon and selecting “Turn Off” or “Disable.”

However, it is important to note that antivirus software can help protect a computer against viruses and other security threats, and in most cases, it should not be permanently disabled or uninstalled. If temporary disabling is necessary for installing other software, it should be re-enabled as soon as possible.

10. Launch the Game in Windowed Mode (Steam)

Launch the Game in Windowed Mode
Launch the Game in Windowed Mode

If you’re having trouble getting Valheim to launch on Steam, one potential fix is to try launching the game in windowed mode.

1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.

2. Right-click on Valheim and select Properties.

3. In the General tab, under Launch Options, enter “-window” (without the quotes).

4. Click OK and launch the game.

This will launch the game in windowed mode with a set resolution. Some games might have a different command to run in windowed mode, you can try different options as mentioned in the tutorials

11. Perform a Clean Boot

Perform a Clean Boot
Perform a Clean Boot

If you’re having trouble getting Valheim to launch at startup, one potential fix is to perform a clean boot. This means starting Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help if there’s a conflict with another program that’s interfering with Valheim.

To do a clean boot in Windows 10, type ‘msconfig’ into the search box on the taskbar and press Enter. In the System Configuration window that opens, go to the ‘Services’ tab and check the ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ box at the bottom. Then, go to the ‘Startup’ tab and click ‘Open Task Manager’.

In Task Manager, select each item in the ‘Startup’ tab one by one and click ‘Disable’. Once you’ve disabled all of the items, close Task Manager and click ‘OK’ in the System Configuration window. Restart your computer and try launching Valheim again.

12. Close Background Processes

Close Background Processes
Close Background Processes

If you’re having trouble launching Valheim, one thing you can try is closing any background processes that might be running. This can help free up system resources and allow the game to launch more smoothly.

To close background processes, first open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard. Then, click on the “Processes” tab and look for any processes that are related to Valheim. Right-click on each of these processes and select “End Task” to close them.

Once all of the Valheim-related processes have been closed, try launching the game again. If it still won’t launch, you may need to try some other troubleshooting steps.

13. Reset Valheim

Reset Valheim
Reset Valheim

If you’re having trouble launching Valheim, you may need to reset the game. To do this, simply delete the “Valheim” folder in your Documents folder. This will reset all of your game’s settings and data, so make sure to back up any important files first! After deleting the folder, relaunch Valheim and see if the game works properly.

14. Reinstall Valheim

Delete and reinstall
Delete and reinstall

If you’re still having issues with Valheim not launching, try reinstalling the game. To do this, head to your Steam Library and right-click on Valheim. Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.

In the Properties window, go to the “Local Files” tab and click on the “Verify Integrity of Game Files…” button.

Steam will now scan your Valheim installation and replace any corrupt files it finds. Once the process is complete, try launching Valheim again and see if the issue has been resolved.

Restart Valheim or game launcher

If you’re having trouble getting Valheim to launch at startup, there are a few things you can try. First, try restarting the game launcher. If that doesn’t work, try restarting your computer. If you’re still having trouble, you can try reinstalling the game.

Turn off Steam overlay

To turn off the Steam overlay for a specific game, right click on the game in your Steam library and select “Properties”. Under the “General” tab, uncheck the “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” box.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, fixing Valheim won’t launch at startup can be a tricky process. However, with the help of this guide, you should now have the tools necessary to troubleshoot any issues that might be preventing your game from launching. Remember to always update your drivers and keep an eye out for game patches that may fix any lingering problems. With these steps in mind, you should have no problem getting back into the wonderful world of Valheim!

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