How to Fix Starfield Won’t Launch on Steam/Xbox

Starfield is definitely one of the most anticipated games these days. And now it’s been out! However, the issue of Starfield not launching is driving some users up the wall. Some also receive some error codes, preventing them from enjoying the gameplay. If you’re one of them, don’t fret! We’ve gathered some methods for you to identify the root cause and resolve your problems.

Before going any further…

Before we dive into troubleshooting, let’s begin by ensuring your system is up to the challenge of running Starfield. Bethesda’s epic space exploration game offers a breathtaking experience, but it requires a certain level of hardware capability to truly shine.

Minimum System Requirements

First, make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements as provided by Bethesda.

Recommended System Requirements

For a smoother and more immersive gaming experience, it’s highly recommended to meet or exceed the recommended system requirements.

Then check your PC specs and compare them with the requirements listed above.

If you don’t know how to find your PC specs, take the steps below.

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo + R keys simultaneously to invoke the Run box.
2. Enter msinfo32 and hit Enter.
   
   
3. In the left navigation menu, click System Summary and review the information displayed on the right-hand side.
   
   

If your game still isn’t launching even though your computer meets the system requirements, follow the troubleshooting steps below to identify and resolve the issue.

Try these fixes

You may not need to try them all; simply work your way down the list until you find the one that works.

• Update graphics drivers
• Update Windows
• Disable antivirus and firewall
• Verify the integrity of game files (Steam users)
• Update the Xbox and Gaming Services apps
• Uninstall and reinstall the game

1. Update graphics drivers

Graphics drivers act as a bridge that allows your operating system and applications, such as Starfield, to interact effectively with your graphics hardware.

When Starfield or any other game fails to launch, outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can often be a leading cause of the problem. To ensure that your system is equipped with the latest software to support your game’s requirements, enhance performance, and maintain compatibility, you should update your graphics drivers.

Option 1: Manually update graphics drivers

You can update your graphics driver by clicking on the link below based on your exact graphics card model. Then find the latest driver, and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it for your system.

• Nvidia
• AMD
• Intel

If you have no idea what kind of graphics card your PC is packing,

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo + R keys simultaneously to open the Run box.
2. Enter taskmgr and press Enter.
   
   
3. Select the Performance tab. In the left sidebar, select GPU to view GPU-related information. Then you’ll see information about your graphics card, including its name and model. The name displayed here corresponds to your graphics card.
   
   

Option 2: Automatically update graphics drivers (recommended)

Frustrated with the complexity of manually updating your graphics driver? Try using Driver Easy – your ultimate solution for hassle-free driver updates!

Driver Easy is a useful tool that helps you automatically identify any missing or outdated driver, and install the most updated one, direct from the manufacturers. With Driver Easy, having driver updates is just a matter of a few mouse clicks.

Below is the simple three-step guide.

1. Download and install Driver Easy.
2. Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any devices with outdated drivers.
3. Click Update All. Driver Easy will then download and update all your outdated and missing device drivers, giving you the latest version of each, direct from the device manufacturer.
   
   This requires the Pro version which comes with full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All. If you don’t want to upgrade to the Pro version, you can also update your drivers with the FREE version. All you have to do is download them one at a time and manually install them.
   
   

After driver updates, it’s a good practice to reboot your device.

After the reboot, relaunch Starfield. If it still fails to start, proceed to the next fix.

2. Update Windows

To ensure Starfield opens without interruptions, it’s crucial to keep your Windows updated. Windows updates often include bug fixes, make sure your system is compatible with application requirements, and enhance system stability, reducing conflicts that can hinder game launches.

To download and install the latest Windows updates, take these steps:

On Windows 11

Press the Windows logo + I keys simultaneously to open Settings. Then go to Windows Update and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest updates.

On Windows 10

Press the Windows logo + I keys simultaneously to open Settings. Then go to Update & Security > Windows Update.

3. Disable antivirus and firewall

Your firewall and antivirus are diligent gatekeepers, which is great for overall security. However, they can occasionally misinterpret Starfield’s actions as threats. By turning them off briefly, you can check if they’re blocking the game’s launch.

Note: Only disable them temporarily for testing, and remember to re-enable them afterward. Otherwise, your system could be put at risk.

To temporarily disable the Windows Firewall:

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo + R keys simultaneously to open the Run box.
2. Type or paste control firewall.cpl and hit Enter.
   
   
3. Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
   
   
4. Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) for Domain network, Private Network, and Public network. Then click OK.
   
   

To temporarily turn off your antivirus software:

1. In the system tray, look for your antivirus.
2. Right-click it and find an option to disable or pause protection.
3. Then launch Starfield and see if it works.

4. Verify the integrity of game files (Steam users)

Over time, your game files can become corrupted, incomplete, or missing, causing issues such as Starfield not launching, crashing on startup, or various errors.

To make sure your game files are intact and have a smooth gaming experience, follow the steps below to verify the integrity of your game files on Steam.

1. Launch Steam.
2. Either right-click your game in your Library or click on the gear icon from the game’s Library page on the far right.
3. From the drop-down menu, select Properties….
4. Select the Install Files tab and click on the Verify integrity of game files button.
   
   
5. Steam will verify the game’s files – this process may take several minutes. When the process is complete, try to launch Starfield and see if it works.

5. Update the Xbox and Gaming Services apps

Keeping your Xbox and Gaming Services apps updated should significantly enhance your overall gaming experience.

Follow the steps below to do this.

1. On the taskbar, press the Start button. Then type store, find the Microsoft Store app, and open it.
2. Select Library.
3. Under Updates & download, check if there are any updates available for the Xbox app or Gaming Services app. If an update is available, select Update.

For Xbox users, you should also check if the services are up and running. Sometimes the issue is not on your end.

To do this, simply go to this page. If it says Limited or Major outage, maybe you need to patiently wait for the repair.

6. Uninstall and reinstall the game

If none of the above methods work, you should consider uninstalling and reinstalling the game.

After having the latest version of Starfield installed on your system, launch it and see if you can get into the gameplay.

However, if you still have difficulty launching Starfield, try this last resort – run a full scan on your PC. Your issue may be due to the corruption of your system files.

To make sure those files are intact, you can use the System File Checker (SFC), a utility in Windows that helps check any problematic files and repair them if there are any. Below is the simple step-by-step guide.

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type cmd. Find Command Prompt from the list of results and right-click it. Then select Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes when you receive a prompt. 
3. Copy and paste the following commands in Command Prompt, then press Enter.
   
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
4. Wait until you see a message saying “The operation completed successfully.”
   
   
5. Now type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Then it’ll start scanning the integrity of all protected operating system files and replace incorrect, corrupted, changed, or damaged versions with the correct versions.
   
   When you see a message that says “Verification 100% complete”, type exit and press Enter.
   
   

However, this tool may not help you with a 100% guarantee. Sometimes it fails to fix an underlying problem. If that’s your case, you can try Fortect, a powerful tool that specializes in Windows repair.

Fortect can help users replace damaged Windows files with healthy ones. With regular use of Fortect, you are expecting to have a PC that has its greatness.

Below is how you can benefit from the use of Fortect.

1. Download and install Fortect.
2. Launch Fortect and it will run a free scan of your PC. Upon completion of the scan, the software will conduct a diagnosis and show you a summary of system issues. This will take a few minutes.
3. If it detects any issues on your PC, click Start Repair to let it start the repairing process.
   
   

After the repair, try to launch Starfield and you should be able to load into your gameplay. Embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery!