6 Ways to Fix EA Sports FC 26 Not Launching on a Windows PC

EA Sports FC 26 is the latest football game from Electronic Arts, for which many players have already reported technical startup issues. For example, one player said this about that game not starting, “FC26 just not launching [PC]… Anyone’s FC26 simply not launching on Steam? 70 euros down the drain for a game that doesn’t even work.“ FC26 can fail to launch on Windows PCs for a variety of reasons. This is how you can fix EA Sports FC 26 not launching on Windows PCs.

Verify the EA Sports FC 26 Game Files

First, try running a verification (repair) scan for your EA Sports FC 26 game. Players who’ve installed EA Sports FC 26 with Steam and Epic can apply this potential fix by selecting the Verify options in these gaming clients. These Epic Games and Steam help pages provide user instructions for verifying games.

The Verify integrity of game files button

Install or Repair Visual C++ Runtime Libraries

Some players confirmed that repairing (or installing) the Visual C++ runtime libraries can fix EA Sports FC 26 not launching. Some of the required C++ runtime libraries for EA Sports FC 26 might be missing or corrupted. This is how you can install/repair Visual C++ files:

1. Go to this Microsoft page within your browser.
2. Click the Visual Studio 2015-2022 download links for the X86 (32-bit) and X64 (64-bit) packages.
   
   

   The Visual Studio 2015-2022 download page

3. Next, double-click the VC_redist.x64.exe file in the folder that includes it, which will probably be Downloads.
4. Click I agree to select that checkbox. 
5. Select Repair or Install within the Microsoft Visual C++ installer window that opens.
   
   

   The Microsoft Visual C++ installer

6. Repeat the previous three steps for the 32-bit VC_redist.x86 file downloaded.
7. Restart Windows to finish applying this potential resolution.

Rename the Fcsetup File and Folder

Renaming the fcsetup file for EA Sports FC 26 will reset the game’s setup files. Note that you’ll also need to rename the fcsetup folder, which erases custom game progress. You can rename the fcsetup file and folder for EA Sports FC 26 like this:

1. Open a File Explorer window to go to the Users\<user folder>\AppData\Local\EA Sports FC 26 folder path.
2. Right-click the fcsetup file to select Rename.
3. Input fcsetup.old to change to the file name.
4. Next, right-click the fcsetup folder and select the Rename context menu option.
5. Enter fcsetup.old for the folder’s new title and hit Return.
   
   

   The renamed fcsetup file

6. Right-click the settings folder to select its Rename option.
7. Input settings.old and press the Enter keyboard button.

Repair EA Javelin

Repairing the EA Javelin anti-cheat software for the game is another troubleshooting method that some players confirm can fix EA Sports FC 26 not launching. You can do that by running the EA Javelin installer file and selecting a Repair option in it. These are the steps for repairing the EA Javelin:

1. Open this EA Javelin page.
2. Click the EA Javelin anticheat installer download link.
3. Open Explorer and the folder in which the EAAnti.Installer.exe file was downloaded.
4. Double-click the EAAnti.Installer.exe to run it.
5. Select (Installed) FC 26 in the Javelin drop-down menu.
6. Click on Repair and OK.
   
   

   The Repair option for EA Javelin

7. Navigate to the EA Sports FC 26 installation directory in the Select Folder window that opens.
8. Click Select Folder to select the EA Sports FC 26 folder.
9. Then, wait for the repair to complete.

Launch the Game With the EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher.exe File

Rather than starting EA Sports FC 26 from its gaming client software, try launching it with the EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher.exe file instead. This is how you can start the game with the EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher.exe file:

1. Click the Windows Explorer folder navigator taskbar shortcut.
2. Browse to and open the EA Sports FC 26 installation directory for the game.
   
   

   The EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher file

3. Right-click the EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher file and select Run as administrator.

Disable Faceit and Riot Vanguard Anticheat

Some players have also managed to fix EA Sports FC 26 not launching by disabling the Faceit and Riot Vanguard anticheat software, which can conflict with EA Javelin. If you play games like Valorant, Fortnite, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and League of Legends, Faceit and Riot Vanguard will be installed on your PC. Try disabling those anti-cheat packages like this:

1. Click on the Search in the Windows 11 taskbar or the magnifying glass button.
2. Find the Command Prompt by entering cmd into the search utility.
3. Launch the Command Prompt by right-clicking that app and selecting Run as administrator.
4. Input and execute the sc stop vgk command for disabling Vanguard.
   
   

   The sc stop vgk command

5. Enter a sc stop faceit command and press Return.

Those potential resolutions are among the most effective ways to fix EA Sports FC 26 not launching on Windows PC. Try applying all those potential fixes before contacting the game’s help service. You can send a support ticket to the support service for EA Sports FC 26 by clicking the Contact Us button on this EA Help page.