Fix: Paladins Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC

Paladins: Champions of the Realm is a popular free-to-play online hero shooter game developed by Hi-Rez and Evil Mojo. However, many PC players have reported encountering issues with the game not launching or crashing on startup. If you’re also facing this problem, don’t worry. In this troubleshooting guide, we’ll walk you through various solutions to help you fix the Paladins not launching issue on your Windows PC.

Why Won’t Paladins Launch?

Paladins has had its fair share of bugs and connectivity errors since its release, and these issues can occur on any gaming platform. While some problems may be related to the game itself, others can be attributed to issues with your PC or its configuration. Outdated game patches, graphics drivers, Windows builds, missing or corrupted game files, and conflicts with system components like the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable can all contribute to the game not launching or crashing on startup.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Paladins Not Loading on PC

To resolve the Paladins not launching issue, follow these troubleshooting steps:

Check System Requirements

Before diving into the troubleshooting process, ensure that your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Paladins. Incompatible hardware can cause various issues with game launching. Here are the minimum and recommended system requirements:

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 64-bit or newer
• Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or Athlon X2 2.7 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT
• Storage: 30 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX compatible sound card

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 8/10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.67 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or ATI Radeon HD 7950
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 30 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX compatible sound card

Make sure your PC meets these requirements to ensure smooth gameplay.

Run the Game as an Administrator

Running Paladins with administrator privileges can help resolve various issues, including game launching problems. To do this:

1. Right-click on the Paladins 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.

By running the game as an administrator, you give it the necessary permissions to function properly.

Verify Integrity of Game Files

If your Paladins game files are missing or corrupted, it can prevent the game from launching. Verifying and repairing the game files using the game launcher can help fix this issue. Here’s how to do it:

For Steam Client:

1. Launch Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Paladins from the list of installed games.
3. Select Properties and go to Local Files.
4. Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
5. Wait for the process to complete.
6. Restart your computer and try launching the game again.

For Epic Client:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher.
2. Go to your Library and click on the gear icon next to Paladins.
3. Select “Verify” from the drop-down menu.
4. Wait for the verification process to finish.
5. Restart your computer and try launching the game.

Verifying the game files ensures that any missing or corrupted files are replaced, allowing the game to launch properly.

Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable is a component required for running certain applications, including Paladins. Outdated or missing versions of this component can cause issues with game launching. To update the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, follow these steps:

1. Go to the following path on your PC:C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonSteamworks Shared_CommonRedistvcredist.
2. You should see folders like2012,2013, and2019.
3. Run all thevc_redist.x64.exe files present in these folders. If you have additional folders, run thevc_redist.x64.exe file in those folders as well.
4. Restart your PC to complete the update.

Updating the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable ensures that you have the necessary components to run Paladins.

Update DirectX

DirectX is another crucial component for running games on Windows. Outdated or missing DirectX files can cause issues with game launching. To update DirectX, follow these steps:

1. Go to the following path on your PC:C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonSteamworks Shared_CommonRedistDirectX.
2. Run theDXSETUP.exe file to reinstall or update DirectX.
3. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Updating DirectX ensures that your PC has the latest version of the graphics APIs required to run Paladins properly.

Update GPU Drivers

Outdated graphics card drivers can cause compatibility issues with Paladins, leading to game launching problems. To update your GPU drivers, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Double-click on Display adapters to expand the category.
4. Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that’s active.
5. Select Update driver and choose to search automatically for drivers.
6. If an update is available, the system will download and install it.
7. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Updating your GPU drivers ensures that your graphics card is compatible with Paladins and can run the game without issues.

Disable Overlay Apps

Overlay apps like Xbox and Discord can sometimes interfere with game launching. Disabling these apps can help resolve the issue. Here’s how to disable overlay apps on Windows:

1. Open the overlay app that you want to disable, such as Xbox or Discord.
2. Look for the settings option related to overlay or in-game overlay.
3. Disable the overlay feature in the settings.
4. Restart your computer and try launching Paladins again.

Disabling overlay apps prevents them from interfering with the game’s processes or system resources.

Install All Pending Windows Updates

Installing the latest Windows updates can resolve compatibility issues and fix bugs that may be causing Paladins not to launch. To install pending Windows updates, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.
4. If there are any updates available, click on Download and install.
5. Wait for the updates to install.
6. Restart your PC to apply the changes immediately.

Installing all pending Windows updates ensures that your system is up to date, reducing the likelihood of compatibility issues with Paladins.

Disable Antivirus and Firewall Programs

Sometimes, antivirus and firewall programs can interfere with game launching. Temporarily disabling these programs can help identify if they are causing the issue. Here’s how to disable Windows Firewall and Windows Defender:

Disable Windows Firewall:

1. Click on the Start menu and type Control Panel.
2. Open Control Panel and search for Firewall.
3. Click on “Windows Firewall” from the search results.
4. Click on “Turn Windows Firewall on or off.”
5. Select “Turn off Windows Firewall” for Private, Domain, and Public Network Settings.
6. Restart your PC and check if the issue persists.

Disable Windows Defender:

1. Go to Windows Settings > Privacy and Security.
2. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
3. Click on Manage settings.
4. Turn off the Real-time Protection option.
5. Restart your PC and check if the issue persists.

If you are using a third-party antivirus program, make sure to disable it as well.

Launch the Game in Windowed Mode (Steam)

Running Paladins in windowed mode instead of fullscreen can help resolve display-related issues that may prevent the game from launching. Here’s how to launch the game in windowed mode on Steam:

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Paladins and select Properties.
3. In the General section, click on Set Launch Options.
4. Copy and paste the following command-line argument:-windowed -noborder
5. Save the changes and try running the game again.

Launching the game in windowed mode allows for easier troubleshooting and can help resolve display-related issues.

Perform a Clean Boot

Performing a clean boot helps identify if any third-party software or services are causing conflicts with Paladins. Here’s how to perform a clean boot:

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Typemsconfig and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. Go to the Services tab and enable the “Hide all Microsoft services” checkbox.
4. Click on Disable all.
5. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.
6. Go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
7. Under the Startup tab in Task Manager, disable any high-impact startup programs.
8. Restart your PC to apply the changes.
9. Check if the Paladins not launching issue has been resolved.

Performing a clean boot helps identify if any conflicting software or services are preventing Paladins from launching properly.

Close Background Processes

Background processes can consume system resources and interfere with game launching. Closing unnecessary background processes can help improve game performance and resolve launch issues. Here’s how to close background processes:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the Processes tab.
3. Select the task you want to close.
4. Click on End Task. Repeat this step for each task you want to close.
5. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Closing background processes frees up system resources, allowing Paladins to launch without issues.

Reset Paladins

Resetting Paladins can help fix any corrupted game settings or files that may be causing the game not to launch. Here’s how to reset Paladins:

1. Press the Windows (Start) + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
2. Select Apps and Features.
3. Click on Paladins from the list of installed programs to select it.
4. Click on Advanced options.
5. Select Reset.
6. Restart your computer and try launching the game.

Resetting Paladins restores the game to its default settings, resolving any issues caused by corrupted settings or files.

Reinstall Paladins

If none of the previous methods worked, reinstalling Paladins can help resolve any issues with the game installation. Here’s how to reinstall Paladins:

1. Launch the Steam client on your computer.
2. Go to your Library and right-click on Paladins.
3. Select Manage and choose Uninstall.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Open the Steam client again and install Paladins using your existing Steam account.
7. Launch the game and check if the issue has been resolved.

Reinstalling Paladins ensures a fresh installation of the game, eliminating any issues caused by corrupted files or settings.

Conclusion

The Paladins not launching issue can be frustrating, but by following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you can resolve the problem and get back to enjoying the game. Make sure to check your system requirements, run the game as an administrator, verify the integrity of game files, update the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable and DirectX, update GPU drivers, disable overlay apps, install Windows updates, disable antivirus and firewall programs, launch the game in windowed mode, perform a clean boot, close background processes, reset Paladins, or reinstall the game if necessary. By systematically trying these solutions, you should be able to overcome the Paladins not launching issue on your PC and get back into the action. Happy gaming!