Fix: COD Black Ops 3 Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is a popular multiplayer zombie action first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch and published by Activision. Despite being released in 2015, the game continues to attract a large player base. However, many PC gamers have encountered various issues with the game, including crashes, lags, stutters, and frame drops. In this article, we will explore some common issues with Call of Duty: Black Ops III on PC and provide effective solutions to fix them.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III not launching on PC

One of the most frustrating issues that many players encounter is the game not launching at all. This problem can occur regardless of the PC’s power and can be caused by various factors. Here are some possible solutions to fix this issue:

Solution 1: Run the Launcher as an Administrator

Running the game launcher as an administrator can often resolve issues related to launching games. To do this:

1. Right-click on the Steam launcher exe shortcut file on your PC.
2. Select Properties and click on the Compatibility tab.
3. Check the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox.
4. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.
5. Double-click the game exe file to launch it.

You can also follow the same steps for the Black Ops III game executable file to ensure it has the necessary access.

Solution 2: Update your Graphics Driver

An outdated graphics driver can cause various issues with game launching. To update your graphics driver:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Device Manager.
2. Double-click on Display adapters to expand it.
3. Right-click on your dedicated graphics card and select Update driver.
4. Choose the option to search automatically for drivers.
5. If an update is available, download and install it.
6. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

If you can’t find an update through the automatic search, visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer and manually search for the latest driver version.

Solution 3: End Background Processes

Unnecessary background processes can consume system resources, leading to issues with game launching. To end these processes:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab and select the tasks you want to close individually.
3. Click on End Task for each selected task.
4. Once done, close the Task Manager and restart your PC.

Solution 4: Disable Steam Overlay

Running Steam overlay in the background can sometimes interfere with game launching. To disable Steam overlay for Call of Duty: Black Ops III:

1. Open the Steam client and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Black Ops III and select Properties.
3. In the General section, uncheck the “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” checkbox.
4. Go back to Library and launch Black Ops III to check if the game launches successfully.

Solution 5: Disable Steam Input

Disabling Steam Input can also help resolve game launching issues. To do this:

1. Launch the Steam client and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Black Ops III and click on Controller.
3. Set “Override for Black Ops III” to “Disable Steam Input”.
4. Try launching the game again to check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 6: Run the game in Windowed Mode

Running the game in Windowed Mode instead of Full Screen can sometimes prevent crashes. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Click on the Windows icon to open the Start Menu and type “%LOCALAPPDATA%” in the search bar.
2. Open the %LOCALAPPDATA% folder and search for the “Prospect” folder.
3. Navigate to Saved > Config > WindowsNoEditor directory.
4. Open the “GameUserSettings” file using a text editor.
5. Change “FullscreenMode=1” to “FullscreenMode=0” to set the game to Windowed Mode.
6. Save the changes and try launching the game again.

Solution 7: Disable DirectX 12

If you are using DirectX 12 and experiencing issues with game launching, disabling it may help. Here’s how:

1. Open the game’s settings menu and go to Video.
2. Set “Enable DX12” to “Off”.
3. Restart the game after applying the changes.

Solution 8: Set Correct Rendering Device

Setting the correct rendering device can sometimes fix game launching issues. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Steam client and launch Black Ops III.
2. Go to the Video Settings menu.
3. Under “Selected Rendering Device,” select your dedicated GPU instead of leaving it on “Default.”
4. Reboot the game to save the changes.

Solution 9: Disable Multi-Threaded Rendering

Disabling the multi-threaded rendering option can resolve game crashing issues. If you have an AMD processor, turn off this option and restart the game:

Additional Information: AMD processor users should disable multi-threaded rendering to fix game crashing issues.

Solution 10: Turn Off Antivirus Protection

Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with game files and prevent them from running properly. Temporarily turning off antivirus protection can help resolve this issue. Here’s how:

1. Press Windows + I to open the Windows Settings menu.
2. Click on Update & Security and then click on Windows Security from the left pane.
3. Click on the “Open Windows Security” button.
4. Go to Virus & threat protection and click on Manage settings.
5. Turn off the Real-time protection toggle.
6. If prompted, click Yes to confirm.
7. If you are using another antivirus program, turn it off as well. Alternatively, you can whitelist the game files in your antivirus software.

Solution 11: Repair Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can cause various issues, including game launching problems. Repairing the game files can help resolve this issue. Here’s how to do it:

For Steam:

1. Launch the Steam client and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Black Ops III and select Properties.
3. Go to the Local Files tab.
4. Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
5. Wait for the process to complete and then restart your computer.

For Battle.net:

1. Open the Battle.net client and go to the library.
2. Click on COD Black Ops III and select Options.
3. Choose Scan and Repair and click on Start Scan.
4. Wait for the process to complete, and then you’ll be able to play the game properly. Restart the client to apply the changes immediately.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III not loading on PC

Another common issue that players face is the game not loading properly. This issue seems to be more prevalent among Steam users. Here are some solutions to fix the Call of Duty: Black Ops III not loading issue:

Solution 1: Run the Launcher as an Administrator

Running the game launcher as an administrator can help resolve loading issues as well. Follow the steps provided in the previous section to run the launcher as an administrator.

Solution 2: Update your Graphics Driver

An outdated graphics driver can cause issues with the game loading. Make sure to update your graphics driver by following the steps mentioned earlier.

Solution 3: End Background Processes

Ending unnecessary background processes can improve the game loading performance. Open the Task Manager using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut and close any unnecessary tasks.

Solution 4: Disable Steam Overlay

Disabling Steam overlay can also help with the game loading issue. Follow the steps mentioned earlier to disable Steam overlay for Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

Solution 5: Disable Steam Input

Disabling Steam Input can potentially fix the game loading problem. Refer to the instructions provided earlier to disable Steam Input for Black Ops III.

Solution 6: Run the game in Windowed Mode

Running the game in Windowed Mode instead of Full Screen can sometimes resolve loading issues. Follow the steps mentioned earlier to set the game to Windowed Mode.

Solution 7: Disable DirectX 12

If you are using DirectX 12 and experiencing issues with game loading, disabling it may help. Change the DirectX 12 setting to Off in the game’s settings menu.

Solution 8: Set Correct Rendering Device

Make sure to select the correct rendering device in the Video Settings menu. Choose your dedicated GPU instead of leaving it on the default setting.

Solution 9: Disable Multi-Threaded Rendering

Disabling multi-threaded rendering can potentially fix the loading issue. Refer to the instructions provided earlier to disable multi-threaded rendering.

Solution 10: Turn Off Antivirus Protection

Temporarily turning off antivirus protection or whitelisting the game files can help resolve loading issues. Follow the steps mentioned earlier to turn off antivirus protection or add the game files to the whitelist.

Solution 11: Repair Game Files

Repairing the game files can fix loading issues caused by corrupted or missing files. Follow the repair instructions provided earlier for your respective game client.

Conclusion

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is a fantastic game, but like any other PC game, it can encounter issues. Whether you’re facing problems with the game not launching or not loading, the solutions provided in this article should help you get back in the action. Remember to always keep your graphics driver up to date, close unnecessary background processes, and try the various troubleshooting steps mentioned here. With these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy the thrilling multiplayer zombie action of Black Ops III without any hindrances.

Additional Information: It’s important to note that these solutions are not guaranteed to work for every player, as PC configurations and software setups can vary. If the issues persist, it may be helpful to consult official support forums or reach out to the game’s customer support for further assistance.