Fallout 76 is a game known to have its fair share of technical hiccups, and it doesn’t start for some players. A player’s Reddit post about that game not starting says, “Yesterday, my Fallout 76 crashed while playing, and I haven’t been able to launch it since.” Some players say Fallout 76 doesn’t start after clicking Play without showing any error messages. This is how you can fix Fallout 76 not launching on Windows PCs.
Close MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner
Numerous players confirm that closing MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner can fix Fallout 76 not launching. Is MSI Afterburner and its connected RivaTuner software installed on your PC? If so, try closing those background apps before starting Fallout 76 like this:
- To access Task Manager, right-click a part of the taskbar and select its shortcut from the menu.
- Look for MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner programs within the Processes tab.
The End task option
- Right-click the MSI Afterburner process to select End task.
- Select the RivaTuner process and click End task.
I also recommend removing those apps from the Windows startup. Click Startup in Task Manager to see if MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner are enabled there. If they are, select MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner and click Disable.
Clear the Fallout 76 Data Folder
Erasing everything in Fallout 76 data folder is another way to fix Fallout 76 that has worked for some players. This might work because it can reset corrupted settings and files. You can clear out the Fallout 76 data folder like this:
- Open This PC > Documents > My Games > Fallout 76 in File Explorer.
The Fallout76 data folder
- To select all files in that folder, press the Ctrl + A hotkey.
- Right-click and select Delete on Explorer’s context menu.
Run Steam and Fallout 76 as an Administrator
Try setting both Steam and Fallout 76 to run with administrator rights. Doing that will ensure the game and its client software have full system access. This Bethesda page provides instructions for how you can set Steam and Fallout 76 to run with elevated privileges.
The Run this program as administrator option
Run Fallout 76 in Compatibility Mode
A few players say running Fallout 76 in compatibility mode has kick-started that game for them. Applying this fix will configure the game to run as it would for an older Windows 8 or 7 platform. You can run Fallout 76 in compatibility mode:
- Open the Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > Fallout 76 folder.
- Right-click the Fallout76.exe to select Properties and Compatibility.
- Select Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 7 from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can also try selecting Windows 8.
The compatibility mode checkbox
- Click Apply > OK inside the Fallout76 Properties window.
Apply a Clean Boot
Applying a clean boot will probably disable most third-party apps that can conflict with Fallout 76. Windows has Task Manager and System Configuration tools with which you can disable third-party startup apps and services to apply this possible resolution. Go through the steps on this Microsoft page to set a clean boot and restart your PC.
The Services tab in System Configuration
Verify Fallout 76
Verifying is a potential way to fix Fallout 76 not launching because it might repair corrupted or missing game files. Steam has a Verify integrity troubleshooting option you can select to repair specific games. So, try selecting that option for Fallout 76 as instructed within this Steam help page.
The Verify integrity of game files option
Unplug Unnecessary Controllers
Bethesda support also recommends players unplug superfluous controllers, such as gamepads, joysticks, and racing wheels, before starting Fallout 76. Do you have any such controllers connected to your PC? If so, unplug all such controllers, and then try starting Fallout 76 without them connected.
Those ways to fix Fallout 76 not launching have worked for some players. Bethesda also has a support service you can contact to ask for more troubleshooting methods that might fix Fallout 76 not starting. Click Fallout 76 > Technical Support > Windows > I can’t launch the game > Continue to Submit Ticket from this page to talk with the game’s help service.
