7 Ways You Can Fix Crusader Kings 3 Not Launching on a Windows PC

Crusader Kings 3 is a great strategy game for Windows PCs when it works. However, some players can’t get into that game because of startup issues. Players have reported issues with starting Crusader Kings 3 on their PCs. For example, one CK3 player said this on Reddit, “Basically the game (Crusader Kings 3) will boot up as normal, but as soon as it’s done loading it crashes, sometimes even a little before.” This is how you can fix Crusader Kings 3 not launching on a Windows PC.

Verify the Crusader Kings 3 Files

Crusader King 3 could be failing to start because the game has corrupted files. If you’ve installed the game with Steam, you can repair missing files by selecting the Verify option for CK3 within that gaming client. Follow the instructions on this Steam help page to verify Crusader Kings 3’s files.

The Verify integrity of game files option

Reset and Repair the Crusader Kings 3 App

Players who’ve downloaded and installed Crusader Kings 3 via Microsoft Store can try fixing startup issues for that game with the Reset and Repair options. Those troubleshooting options are available within the Settings apps. This is how you can reset and repair the Crusader Kings 3 MS Store app.

1. Click on the taskbar’s Start icon with the right button on your mouse and select Search.
2. Input an Apps & features keyword and select the matching result in the search tool.
3. Next, click Advanced options for Crusader Kings 3 in the Windows 10 Settings app. If you’re a Windows 11 user, you’ll need to click the three-dot menu button for CK3 and select Advanced options.
   
   

   The Advanced options navigation option

4. First, click the Repair option. Then try starting Crusader Kings 3 after selecting that option.
   
   

   The Repair and Reset buttons

5. If the Repair option doesn’t fix Crusader Kings 3 not launching, try clicking the Reset button just underneath it. That troubleshooting option will clear the game’s data.

Set Crusader Kings 3 to Run With Admin Rights and Launch From Folder

If you’re a Steam user, try starting Crusader Kings 3 outside of that gaming client from its installation directory. You can also set the game to run with administrative rights from the Crusader Kings 3 folder. This is how you can set the game to run with admin rights and launch from its installation folder.

1. Activate a File Explorer window and go to the Crusader Kings III installation directory.
2. Next, open the binaries subfolder in the Crusader Kings III folder.
3. Right-click the ck3.exe file to run the game and select Properties.
4. Select the checkbox labelled Run this program as an administrator within the Compatibility tab.
   
   

   The Run this program as an administrator checkbox

5. Click on Apply to save the new administrator setting.
6. To close the window, click on OK.
7. Double-click the ck3.exe file you set to run with admin rights to (hopefully) start the game.

Install Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Libraries

Some CK3 players have confirmed installing Visual C++ runtime libraries can fix Crusader Kings 3 not launching. Doing this will ensure your PC has all the C++ libraries the game needs. These are the steps for installing Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 packages.

1. Open this Microsoft download page for MS Visual C++ Redistributable packages.
2. Click on the download links for the X64 and X86 2015-2022 Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages.
   
   

   The download links for the 2015-2022 Microsoft Visual C++ packages

3. Go to whatever folder contains the downloaded Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages by simultaneously pressing the Windows logo + E keyboard buttons.
4. Double-click VC_redist.x64.exe to access a Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 window.
5. Click I agree to accept user terms.
6. Press Install to proceed with installing missing Visual C++ libraries. If you see an alternative Repair option, click on that button instead.
   
   

   The Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 window

7. Select Close to exit.
8. Next, double-click the VC_redist.x86 file and repeat steps five and six.
9. Select to restart Windows 11/10 and try playing Crusader Kings 3 after that.

Clear the Crusader Kings 3 Data Folder

Clearing the CK3 data folder is a widely confirmed way to fix Crusader Kings 3 not launching. Note that this folder contains saved game data, so consider backing up its save game subfolder. This is how you can clear the Crusader Kings 3 data folder.

1. Open File Explorer to bring up this CK3 data folder: This PC > Documents > Paradox Interactive > Crusader Kings III.
2. Select everything in that folder by holding the left mouse button and dragging or pressing Ctrl + A.
3. Right-click and select Delete on File Explorer’s context menu.

Disable Third-Party Antivirus Tools

CK3 players have also said they’ve been able to fix Crusader Kings 3 not launching by disabling third-party antivirus software, such as Avast Antivirus. Doing this will ensure the antivirus shield cannot flag legitimate CK3 game files.

The disable options for Avast Antivirus

So, try right-clicking the icon in the system tray for any third-party security app installed on your PC and selecting a context menu option to disable its shield. Run Crusader Kings 3 with the antivirus shield disabled. If this works, I recommend uninstalling your third-party antivirus software and utilizing Windows Security (Microsoft Defender) instead. Or you could try adding Crusader Kings 3 to your antivirus app’s exclusion list.

Reinstall Crusader Kings 3

Reinstalling Crusader Kings 3 is a potential solution for many game startup issues because it will refresh all CK3’s files. It won’t take long to download and reinstall it because CK3 isn’t a particularly big game in terms of storage size. However, consider utilizing the Steam Backup feature to back up saved game progress before reinstalling. You can reinstall Crusader Kings 3 like this.

Steam

1. Open Steam and click Library to access your games collection.
2. Right-click on the Crusader Kings 3 game to select its Manage and Uninstall options.
3. Click Uninstall again.
   
   

   The Uninstall option in Steam

4. To reinstall CK3, select the Install option for Crusader Kings 3 in Steam.

Microsoft Store

1. Open Apps & features in Settings as instructed for steps one and two of this guide’s second resolution.
2. Scroll down and click Uninstall for the Crusader Kings 3 game. Windows 11 users will need to click the ellipses menu button for CK3 to select that option.
   
   

   The Uninstall option in Settings

3. Open the Microsoft Store app page for Crusader Kings 3 from which you purchased the game.
4. Click the Get option to reinstall Crusader Kings 3.

Other Ways to Fix Crusader Kings 3 Not Launching

The potential resolutions above can fix Crusader Kings 3 not launching but aren’t guaranteed solutions. These troubleshooting methods might also fix CK3 not starting.

• Disable third-party apps and services starting with Windows by clean booting, as covered in this Microsoft guide page.
• Install a new driver for your PC’s graphics card if it needs one.
• Turn off Steam’s overlay feature if you’ve installed Crusader King 3 with Valve’s game client.

The possible solutions above may or may not fix Crusader Kings 3 not launching on your Windows PC. There isn’t a guaranteed fix, but many players have fixed CK3 not starting by applying those troubleshooting methods. Players who’ve found other ways to fix Crusader Kings 3 when it doesn’t start not mentioned above are most welcome to share their solutions in the comments below.