6 Ways to Fix the “Unable to Update the Minecraft Native Launcher” Error

Many players have encountered the “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” error when they try to play Minecraft. A player described that gaming issue on Reddit like this, “I attempted to open Minecraft, and I got the normal update screen, but then it got stuck and I got a pop-up that said ‘Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher.’” Consequently, the launcher cannot update and players can’t play Minecraft. This is how you can fix the “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” error on Windows 11/10 PCs.

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Run Minecraft Launcher With Admin Rights

First, try starting the Minecraft Launcher with administrator rights to give it elevated privileges. To do that, press the Windows logo + S key combination and input Minecraft Launcher. Right-click Minecraft Launcher there to select Run as administrator. Alternatively, right-click a desktop shortcut for the launcher and select Run as administrator there.

The Run as administrator option

Select to Repair Your Minecraft Launcher

Selecting to repair the Minecraft Launcher is a potential fix for “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” some players confirm has worked for them. You can apply this potential solution by selecting the Repair option for the Minecraft Launcher app like this.

1. Click the file finder button or search box on the taskbar.
2. Enter Minecraft Launcher and right-click the matching search result to select App settings.
3. Press the Repair button.
   
   

   The Repair option

4. Click Reset to finish.

You can also try applying this potential resolution from the Control Panel for the Minecraft Launcher desktop app. To do that, press the Windows logo + R hotkey, input appwiz.cpl, and select OK. Right-click Minecraft Launcher in Programs and Features to select Repair.

Flush DNS and Reset Winsock

This potential resolution addresses network issues that can cause the “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” error to arise. It involves executing commands that will flush the NDS and reset Winsock. These are the steps for executing those commands.

1. Search for Command Prompt on your PC by clicking the Type here to search button or taskbar search box and inputting a cmd keyword.
2. Right-click the Command Prompt result in the search tool and select Run as administrator to start it with elevated privileges.
3. Input and execute these network commands:

ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /renew

The ipconfig /flushdns command

Uninstall Old Minecraft Launchers

Conflicts between old and new Minecraft Launcher apps installed on users’ PCs can also cause the “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” to occur. So, check if there’s any additional old app for launching Minecraft on your PC. You can uninstall an old Minecraft Launcher like this.

1. Activate the tool for file searching, and input Apps & features in its text box.
2. Type Apps & features into the search tool and select the result that matches.
3. Next, type Minecraft in the search box within Apps & features.
4. If you see two different Minecraft Launcher apps, select the older one and click Uninstall to remove it.

Reinstall the Minecraft Launcher

Players confirm they’ve fixed the “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” error by reinstalling the Minecraft Launcher app via MS Store on their PCs. Doing this effectively ensures you’re utilizing the latest Minecraft app. This is how you can reinstall Minecraft Launcher.

1. Go through steps one to three of the previous resolution to find your Minecraft Launcher app.
2. Click Minecraft Launcher and select Uninstall.
   
   

   The Uninstall option for Minecraft Launcher

3. Next, click Start (on the taskbar) and select to open Microsoft Store from the menu.
4. Type Minecraft Launcher into the MS Store’s search box.
5. Click Minecraft Launcher in the search results.
   
   

   The Get option for Minecraft Launcher

6. Press Get to install the launcher.

Other Potential Fixes for the “Unable to Update the Minecraft Native Launcher” Error

The potential resolutions above are the more widely confirmed methods for fixing the “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” issue. However, you can also try fixing that error with these potential resolutions:

• Set a Google DNS on your PC with the 8.8.8.8 preferred and 8.8.4.4 alternative DNS addresses.
• Temporarily disable antivirus shields before starting the Minecraft Launcher.
• Change the launcher_profiles_microsoft_store.json file name to launcher_profiles.json by renaming it. You can find that file in C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft.

Many players have resolved the “Unable to update the Minecraft native launcher” error by applying the potential solutions in this troubleshooting guide. Running the launcher with admin rights or reinstalling it will usually do the trick. If you still need more potential fixes for this issue, send a support ticket to Minecraft’s help service from this contact form page.