Among Us is a popular multiplayer social deduction game, but some players can’t play because of startup issues. For example, a player’s Reddit post says this about that game not starting, “So I got this game [Among Us] as a present to play with my friends, but after I press play on Steam, it opens the launcher and, after loading like 3/4 of the loading bar, it closes the game.” This is how you can fix Among Us not launching on a Windows PC.
Verify Among Us
First, try selecting the verification troubleshooting option for Among Us, which repairs corrupted game files. Epic Games and Steam include Verify options you can select to scan and repair game files. These Epic Games or Steam support pages include instructions for how you can select those options.
The Verify integrity option in Steam
If you’ve installed the Among Us MS Store app, you can select a Repair troubleshooting option for the game in Windows. That is an equivalent verification option for the MS Store Among Us game app. This Microsoft webpage explains how users can select the Repair and Reset options for apps.
Delete the InnerSloth Folder and Reinstall Among Us
Some players have confirmed that deleting the InnerSloth folder and reinstalling the game can fix Among Us not launching. This particular resolution is particularly recommended for fixing blackscreen startup issues and is more applicable for the Steam version of the game. These are the steps for applying this troubleshooting method:
- Go to the C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\ folder in File Explorer.
- Select the InnerSloth folder by clicking on it.
- Click Explorer’s Delete option.
- Open the Steam Library tab.
- Right-click Among Us in the sidebar to select the Manage and Uninstall context menu options.
The Uninstall option
- Click Uninstall to remove the game.
- Next, click on the Among Us game to select Install.
If you can’t find the InnerSloth folder, click the three-dot menu button in Windows 11 File Explorer to select Options > View. Then, select the Show hidden files, folders, and drives radio button. Click Apply and OK to set the settings.
The Show hidden files, folders, and drives option
Uninstall RivaTuner
Is RivaTuner Statistics Server installed on your PC? If so, try uninstalling RivaTuner, because that software is known to conflict with Among Us. You can remove RivaTuner with a standard uninstallation method covered in this Microsoft guide.
The Program and Features uninstaller
Select Compatibility Options for Steam
There are three compatibility options you can select that set Steam to run in compatibility mode with admin rights enabled and fullscreen optimization disabled. Players confirm that setting those options for the Steam launcher can be a viable way to fix Among Us not launching. This is how you can select those compatibility options:
- Click your Steam desktop shortcut with the right mouse button to select Properties > Compatibility.
- Select the Run this program in compatibility mode setting for Windows 8.
- Click the Disable fullscreen optimizations checkbox to select it.
- Finally, select Run this program as an administrator for elevated privileges.
The Run this program as an administrator checkbox
- To set the options selected options, click Apply and OK.
Temporarily Turn Off Firewalls
Firewalls can block Among Us from establishing required connections. So, try turning off the Windows Defender Firewall as instructed on this Microsoft page. Or disable third-party firewalls on your PC. Then, start your Among Us game.
Turn off Windows Defender Firewall settings
Turn your firewall back on after playing Among Us. Then, you can temporarily disable the firewall before playing Among Us if this troubleshooting method works. Alternatively, add the game to the allowed list for your firewall.
Apply a Clean Boot
RivaTuner is one third-party app that can conflict with Among Us, but there might be more. Clean booting your PC will disable all third-party startup apps and services. Check out this Microsoft support page for further details about how to apply this troubleshooting method.
The System Configuration window
Other Potential Ways to Fix Among Us Not Launching
There are quite a few more potential ways to fix Among Us not launching beyond those suggested above. If the game still doesn’t start, try applying these additional troubleshooting methods:
- Right-click the Among Us process in Task Manager’s Details tab to select Set priority > High.
- Temporarily disable antivirus shields before starting Among Us.
- Restart your router/modem.
- Install the latest driver that’s available for your graphics card with a method from this KeenGamer post.
I hope you fix Among Us not launching without the troubleshooting methods above. We don’t promise guaranteed solutions for everybody, but the potential fixes above have worked for some players. You can also ask the Among Us help desk for more potential fixes from submit a request page.
