7 Ways You Can Fix Apex Legends Not Launching on a Windows PC

Apex Legends is among the most popular team-based battle royale games for Windows PCs. So, it’s disheartening when that game doesn’t start on some players’ Windows PCs. Many players have reported on the Steam, EA, and Reddit sites that they can’t launch Apex Legends because of variable startup issues. That game can crash at startup in different ways, with or without error messages, but players can’t play it irrespective of how it fails to start. These are some ways you can fix Apex Legends not launching on Windows 11/10 PCs.

Read also: 6 Ways to Fix the Apex Legends Infinite Loading Screen Bug on a Windows PC

Verify the Apex Legends Game Files

Verifying (repairing) the Apex Legends files is a solution that has worked for some players who’ve needed to fix Apex not launching. This is a potential solution both Steam and EA desktop app users can apply. Steam users can apply this resolution by following the guidelines on this official support page. EA app users can verify the Apex Legends game files like this:

1. Run the EA gaming client and go to its Library tab.
2. Select Apex Legends to click on its Manage button.
   
   

   The Repair option in the EA app

3. Click on the Repair option.

Set Apex Legends to Run as an Administrator

Running Apex Legends is recommended to ensure it has full system access to files and folders. Startup issues can sometimes occur because games don’t have elevated privileges. So, try selecting the Run this program as an administrator launch option for Apex Legends as follows.

1. Press the Windows logo + E keyboard key combination to utilize File Explorer and navigate to the Apex Legends installation folder.
2. Right-click the r5apex.exe file that launches Apex to select Properties.
3. Next, select Compatibility to access the required options.
4. Click the checkbox for Run this program as an administrator to select that option.
   
   

   The Run this program as an administrator option

5. Don’t forget to press Apply to save the settings and click OK.

Repair the Easy Anti-Cheat Software

Apex Legends often fails to launch because of issues with the mandatory Easy Anti-Cheat software installed with the game. Selecting to repair Easy Anti-Cheat is a way to fix Apex Legends not launching widely confirmed to work. That’s especially likely to work if you see any error message referencing the anti-cheat software. This is how you can repair Easy Anti-Cheat:

1. Bring up the Apex Legends installation directory in File Explorer. The default Steam installation directory path for that game is C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Apex Legends.
2. Open the EasyAntiCheat subfolder in the game’s installation folder.
3. Double-click on Easy Anti-Cheat_Setup to access an Easy Anti-Cheat Service Setup window.
4. Select Apex Legends on the drop-down menu.
   
   

   The Repair Service option

5. Click Repair Service to fix the Easy Anti-Cheat software.
6. Then click on Finish.

Remove Reticle Color Launch Options in Steam

Some players confirm they could fix Apex Legends not launching by deleting a +reticle_color launch option set in Steam. Have you set that launch option for Apex Legends in Steam? If so, try removing the reticle color launch option like this.

1. Start your Steam app and click Library in its tab bar.
2. Right-click on Apex Legends in your games list to select Properties.
3. Click on the General tab to view the Launch Options section.
   
   

   The launch options in Steam

4. Delete +reticle_color within the launch options box if entered there.

Disable All Third-Party Startup Apps and Services (Clean Boot)

The Services tab in MSConfig

Players confirm applying the clean boot troubleshooting method can fix Apex Legends not launching. Setting Windows to clean boot disables third-party apps and services from automatically starting. This can eliminate apps or services that conflict with Apex Legends or its gaming client software. Microsoft’s guide to clean booting includes full instructions for how to disable all third-party startup items.

Disable the Windows Firewall or Alternatives

Apex Legends is an online game that firewalls can block from establishing server connections when it’s not allowed through them. Disabling the Windows Defender Firewall, or any other third-party alternative, before starting Apex Legends will ensure it’s not preventing the game from starting. Go through the steps within this Microsoft help page to turn off Windows Defender Firewall and then try starting Apex.

The Turn off Windows Defender Firewall radio button

I don’t advise permanently disabling your PC’s firewall should this resolution work. Turn the firewall back on when you’ve finished playing the game. Alternatively, add Apex Legends to its allowed list.

Turn off the Real-Time Protection Setting

Windows Security’s Real-time protection setting is the option for turning the Microsoft Defender antivirus component on/off. This antivirus component can sometimes cause Apex Legends startup issues by wrongly flagging some of that game’s files (otherwise called false positives). So, try temporarily turning off the Real-time protection option as outlined in this Microsoft Windows help page. Then start Apex Legends to see if it launches with the antivirus disabled.

The Real-time protection option

Don’t leave the Windows antivirus disabled even if that fixes Apex Legends not launching. Always turn it back on when you’re done playing Apex Legends. Or try adding the game’s installation directory to Microsoft Defender’s exclusion list.

Other Possible Ways to Fix Apex Legends Not Launching

There are more potential ways to fix Apex Legends not launching going beyond the possible solutions above. These troubleshooting methods are also worth a shot:

• Update the graphics driver installed on your PC manually or with NVIDIA or AMD software.
• Reinstall Apex Legends and its client software (Steam or EA app).
• Select to disable fullscreen optimization for Apex Legends via the Compatibility tab for that game’s r5apex.exe file.
• Execute the netsch winsock reset and ipconfig /flushdns commands in the Command Prompt.

I can’t promise those fixes are going to fix Apex Legends not launching for all players because there are many variable startup issues for that game. Yet, those potential resolutions can fix many Apex Legends launch issues that prevent the game from starting on Windows 11/10 PCs. So, give them a try, and maybe one will kick-start that game on your PC.