Payday 2 is still a popular co-op shoot ‘em up more than 10 years since its release. However, players have frequently reported they can’t play Payday 2 because of variable launch issues. For example, a player’s Reddit post described a Payday 2 startup issue as follows, “I cannot launch the game, when I press play, it says launching, and it returns to the play button again.” Thus, sometimes nothing happens when players try to start Payday 2. However, the game can also throw up error messages when it doesn’t start. This is how you can fix Payday 2 not launching on a Windows PC.
Set Payday 2 to Run as an Administrator
Setting Payday 2 to run as an administrator is quite a generic potential resolution for fixing game startup issues. Doing this will give Payday 2 full admin privileges, ensuring it can access everything it needs. This is how you can set Payday 2 to run with an administrator.
- Open File Explorer (click the folder library taskbar shortcut), and the Payday 2 game folder.
- Click the payday2_win32_release.exe file with the mouse’s right button and select Properties.
- Click on the window’s Compatibility tab and select Run this program as an administrator.
The Run this program as an administrator option
- To save the option selected, click on Apply > OK.
Verify Payday 2 Not Launching
Players confirm verifying Payday 2’s files can resolve launch issues that throw up error messages. However, try repairing the game’s files even if you don’t see an error message when Payday 2 doesn’t start. These Steam support and Epic help webpages have guidelines for verifying game files with the different game launchers.
Verify integrity of game files option
Delete the WSOCK32.dll File for Payday 2
Many players have said that erasing a WSOCK32.dll file can fix Payday 2 not launching. Erasing that file updates the SuperBLT mod-loading hook for the game. You can delete the WSOCK32.dll file as follows.
- Open the Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > PAYDAY 2 folder in File Explorer.
- Click on the WSOCK32.dll file to select it.
- Press Delete on Explorer’s command bar or Home tab.
The WSOCK32.dll file
Set a New Steam Launch Option for Payday 2
Another confirmed method for fixing Payday 2 not launching is to set a -steamMM launch option for the game. This is how you can set that launch option in Steam.
- Run Steam and select its game Library tab.
- Right-click Payday 2 and select Properties.
- Next, select General to access the Launch Options box.
- Input -steamMM into the Launch Options.
The Verify integrity of game files option
- Restart Steam and try starting Payday 2 with its new launch parameter.
Delete Mods
Corrupted or incompatible mods can sometimes cause Payday 2 startup issues. To address this potential cause for Payday 2 not launching, try clearing the mods folder. You can delete the mods folder as follows.
- Activate File Explorer to access the Payday 2 installation directory.
- Click the mods folder to open it.
- Press Ctrl + A to select all contents and click Explorer’s Delete option. Alternatively, erase the mods folder by right-clicking on it and selecting Delete.
The Mods folder
Set a Windowed Renderer Setting
If Payday 2 doesn’t start because of a black screen issue, try enabling a windowed renderer setting for the game. Players confirm starting the game in windowed mode can resolve a Payday 2 black screen startup issue. This is how you can set a windowed setting with the renderer_settings file.
- Start Run with the Windows logo + R hotkey for activating that accessory.
- Input %localappdata% inside the Open box and click Run’s OK option.
- Click the PAYDAY 2 data folder to open it.
- Double-click the render_settings file to open it in Notepad.
- Find the windowed = “false” setting in the render_settings file.
- Change the windowed setting to windowed = “true” in Notepad.
The windowed setting
- Click File on Notepad’s menu bar to select its Save option.
Uninstall Epic Games
Some Steam users say uninstalling Epic Games fixed Payday 2 not launching on their PCs. Do you have both Steam and Epic Games installed? If so, try uninstalling Epic Games via Control Panel, as covered on this Microsoft help page. Select to start Payday 2 with your Steam gaming client after removing Epic Games.
The Uninstall option
Other Possible Ways to Fix Payday 2 Not Launching
If Payday 2 still doesn’t start, there are more possible ways you can fix it beyond those outlined above. Here are some further potential fixes for Payday 2 not starting:
- Disable fullscreen optimization for Payday 2.
- Select to clear Steam’s download cache.
- Turn off the Steam overlay setting.
- Reinstall Payday 2 via Steam or Epic Games.
You may need to apply numerous resolutions above to find one that fixes Payday 2 not launching on your PC. They are potential solutions that have kick-started Payday 2 for many players. So, try applying all suggested fixes here if necessary.
