There has been a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive resurgence since Valve restored a legacy version of CS:GO on Steam. However, CS:GO doesn’t start on some players’ PCs. For example, one CS:GO player said this in a Reddit post, “When launching the ‘csgo_legacy’ version, it shows a black screen for a second and then crashes without error to the desktop.” This is how you can fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive from not launching on a Windows PC.
Disable the WMI Service
Players confirm that disabling the WMI service can fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive not launching. WMI is a service you can disable with the System Configuration tool. These are the steps for disabling the WMI service:
- To open the tool for file searching, press the Windows logo + S key combination.
- Enter msconfig into the file search box.
- Click System Configuration to open that tool.
- Select Services to view that tab.
- Deselect the Windows Management Instrument checkbox.
The System Configuration tool
Disable Joystick and Controller Support
Another confirmed way to fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive not launching is to set a -nojoy launch parameter for the game. The -nojoy parameter disables joystick and controller support. This is how you can set a -nojoy launch setting for CS:GO:
- Open your Steam gaming client and click on Library.
- Right-click the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive game to select Properties.
- Input -nojoy into the launch text box on the General tab.
The launch option text box in Steam
Erase the Autoexec.cfg File
Autoexec.cfg is a configuration file for the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive game. Deleting that autoexec.cfg file might fix incorrect game settings. So, try erasing that file like this:
- Activate File Explorer by using the Windows logo + E keyboard shortcut.
- Go this folder directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\[STEAM ID folder]\730\local\cfg.
The cfg folder
- Right-click the autoexec.cfg file to select the Delete option.
Rename the Videos Folder
Renaming the videos subfolder in the CS:GO game directory is another way to fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive not launching. Applying this troubleshooting method disables animated background videos from the game’s menu. This is how you can rename the videos subfolder for CS:GO:
- Open the Steam\SteamApps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\panorama\ folder path in File Explorer.
- Right-click the videos subfolder and select Rename.
- Input videos.bak for the new file name and press Enter.
Run a Verification Scan for CS:GO
Running a verification scan is a recommended troubleshooting method for any game that’s not launching. If there are corrupted or missing CS:GO game files, applying this potential fix might make a difference. You can repair corrupted game files by selecting the Verify option for CS:GO as instructed on this Steam page.
The Verify integrity button
Temporarily Turn Off Firewalls
Firewalls can block server connections for games that aren’t allowed through them. Try disabling Windows Defender Firewall as outlined on this Microsoft help page. Or turn off firewalls within third-party antivirus programs before starting Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
If this troubleshooting method works, turn the firewall back on after playing CS:GO. Alternatively, consider adding the game to the allowed list for Windows Defender Firewall or third-party alternatives. This page on Microsoft’s site tells you how users can add apps to Windows Defender Firewall’s allowed list.
The Windows Defender Firewall settings
Reinstall Steam and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Reinstall Steam as a last resort to fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive not launching. You will also need to reinstall CS: GO, because uninstalling Steam will remove that game. This Steam support page provides guidelines for uninstalling Valve’s gaming client.
When you’ve uninstalled Steam, you can reinstall that gaming client by clicking Install on this page. Open the folder that includes the installer file for Steam. Double-click that setup file to run it and select the install option.
The Programs and Features Control Panel applet
Other Potential Ways to Fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Not Launching
There are other potential ways to fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive not launching. You can try applying. These are some additional potential fixes that might kick-start CS:GO.
- Set CS:GO to run with administrator rights.
- Install a new graphics card driver with a method in this KS guide.
- Update Windows 11 as instructed on this Microsoft page.
- Turn off enabled overlays in software like Steam, Discord, and NVIDIA App.
The troubleshooting methods here are some of the best ways to fix Counter-Strike: Global Offensive not launching. So, there’s a good chance one of those potential fixes might kick-start your CS:GO game. Players who’ve found other good ways to kick-start CS:GO are most welcome to share their troubleshooting methods in the comments below.
