Cyberpunk 2077 is a cracking sci-fi RPG some players can’t play on their Windows PCs because of startup technical issues. For example, a player’s Steam post reported, “Every time I try to launch Cyberpunk from the launcher, it completely closes everything and doesn’t launch.” Some players report that the game doesn’t start without showing messages. However, there are also some widely reported Cyberpunk startup error messages. These are some ways to fix Cyberpunk 2077 not launching on Windows 11/10 PCs.
Repair Cyberpunk 2077’s Game Files
Corrupted game files could be the reason Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t start on your PC. To remedy this potential cause, try repairing Cyberpunk 2077’s files with the verify options in Steam, Epic Games, or GOG Galaxy. These GOG, Steam, and Epic help pages include instructions for verifying game files with those gaming clients.
- Verify with GOG Galaxy
- Verify with Steam
- Verify with Epic Games
The Verify option in Epic Games
Set the Cyberpunk2077 File to Run With Admin Rights
Numerous players confirm they’ve fixed Cyberpunk 2077 not launching by setting that game to run with administrator rights. Those players also ran the game from its installation folder. This is how you can set the Cyberpunk2077 EXE file to run with elevated privileges.
- Click on the folder library shortcut on the taskbar that opens File Explorer and go to the Cyberpunk 2077 installation folder.
- Open the bin > x64 subfolder within the Cyberpunk folder.
- Right-click the Cyberpunk2077 file and select its Properties context menu option.
The Cyberpunk2077 file
- Click inside the checkbox for Run this program as an administrator to place a checkmark there.
- Select Apply to save the selected setting.
The Run this program as an administrator option
- Closing the window by pressing OK.
- Double-click the Cyberpunk2077.exe file within the x64 folder.
If that doesn’t work, try setting the REDprelauncher file to run with elevated rights. Repeat the steps above for the REDprelauncher file in the Cyberpunk 2077 folder. Try starting the game by double-clicking that file.
Run the Compatibility Troubleshooter for Cyberpunk 2077
Windows has a Program Compatibility Troubleshooter that can address compatibility issues for PC games. This troubleshooter will apply recommended compatibility settings to fix Cyberpunk 2077 not launching. You can run that troubleshooting tool for Cyberpunk 2077 as follows.
- Open the game’s installation folder that includes the Cyberpunk2077.exe file.
- Click Cyberpunk 2077.exe with the right mouse button and select Properties.
- Press Run compatibility troubleshooter on the Compatibility tab.
- Click Try recommended settings > Test the program to see if the game starts.
The compatibility troubleshooter
- Select Next to view further options.
- If this potential resolution works, select Yes, save these settings for the program.
Erase the Tweakdb.bin File
Players have reported on Reddit that erasing the Tweakdb.bin file in the modded folder can fix Cyberpunk 2077 not launching. This is how you can erase the Tweakdb.bin file.
- Navigate to and open the Cyberpunk 2077 installation directory in File Explorer.
- Next, click the r6 > cache > modded subfolders inside the Cyberunk 2077 folder.
- Right-click the Tweakdb.bin file in the game’s modded subfolder to select Delete.
Delete the UserSettings File
Deleting CP’s UserSettings file has worked for some users who’ve needed to fix Cyberpunk 2077 not launching. Erasing that file will reset the in-game settings for Cyberpunk. This is how you can delete the UserSettings file.
- Open File Explorer to access this folder: C:Users<user folder name>AppDataLocalCD Project RedCyberpunk 2077.
- Select the UserSettings file.
The UserSettings file
- Click Explorer’s Delete button on its command bar or Home tab.
- Start Cyberpunk 2077 to see if it launches.
Disable Overlays
CD Projekt Red’s technical support page says disabling overlay features can potentially fix Cyberpunk 2077 not launching. Steam, Discord, Ubisoft Connect, GOG Galaxy, and GeForce Experience are some of the more widely utilized software packages with overlays. If any of those apps are installed on your PC, try disabling overlay features in them via their settings before starting Cyberpunk 2077.
The In-Game Overlay option in GeForce Experience
Repair or Install Visual C++ 2015-2022
Installing (or repairing) Visual C++ 2015-2022 runtime libraries is a player-confirmed way to fix Cyberpunk 2077 not launching. Cyberpunk 2077 can fail to launch because required Visual C++ libraries are missing or corrupted. You can remedy that by downloading and opening a Visual C++ Redistributable package like this.
- First, start the Edge browser that comes with Windows 11/10 to go to this Microsoft webpage.
- Click the x86 and x64 links to download the 32 and 64-bit Visual C++ 2015-2022 packages.
The Visual C++ Redistributable download page
- Activate the file download list in Edge by simultaneously pressing Ctrl + J.
- Double-click the VC_redist.X64 file to open the window for installing or repairing Visual C++ 2015-2022 libraries.
- Select I agree to the license terms.
- Press the Install or Repair button available.
The Install option
- Next, click on the VC_redist.X32 file and select Install/Repair for that Visual C++ package.
- Restart Windows 11/10 after updating or repairing the Visual C++ libraries on your PC.
Update Your Graphics Card’s Driver
Players also confirm they’ve fixed Cyberpunk 2077 not launching by updating graphics card drivers on their PCs. It’s important to have up-to-date graphics drivers installed to ensure your PC’s video card can handle all the latest graphical technologies. These are the steps for manually updating NVIDIA/AMD graphics drivers on a Windows PC.
- Start Run with the Windows logo key + R key combination, type dxdiag into the Open box, and select OK. Click on Display to view info for your PC’s graphics card.
- Next, open the AMD or NVIDIA graphics driver download page in Edge.
The Search option for NVIDIA drivers
- Select the graphics card for your PC shown in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool and Windows platform.
- Click on Submit/Search on the AMD or NVIDIA webpage.
The Download option for a NVIDIA driver
- Press Ctrl + J and click the downloaded NVIDIA/AMD driver file.
- Next, select to install the driver from the AMD/NVIDIA installer window. If installing an NVIDIA driver, select Custom > Perform a clean installation.
- Click on the Restart option in Windows.
Other Possible Ways to Fix Cyberpunk 2077 Not Launching
The potential solutions above are more widely confirmed to work, but they’re not the only ways you can fix Cyberpunk 2077 not launching. Here are some further troubleshooting suggestions that are worth trying:
- Add the Cyberpunk 2077 game folder to your antivirus tool’s exclusion list.
- Reinstall your Cyberpunk 2077 game.
- Apply the clean boot troubleshooting method to disable superfluous background apps and services starting with Windows 11/10.
- Erase the basegame_no_intro_videos.archive file at this directory location: Cyberpunk2077archivepcmod.
Those possible fixes for Cyberpunk 2077 not launching have kick-started that game for many players. So, maybe, just maybe, one could work for you. However, you can contact the CD Projekt support service from this help page if further possible fixes for Cyberpunk 2077 not starting are required.
