7 Ways You Can Fix Genshin Impact Not Launching on a Windows PC

Many players can’t play Genshin Impact because of startup issues that prevent the game from launching. For example, this is what one player’s Reddit post says, “When I press the launcher button in the Genshin Impact launcher, it doesn’t launch the game at all, and it only goes back to the hidden icon, and nothing is launched.” There are many ways Genshin Impact can fail to start with and without showing error messages. This is how you can fix Genshin Impact not launching on a Windows 11/10 PC.

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Repair Genshin Impact’s Files

First, try repairing corrupted Genshin Impact game files. The Genshin Impact launcher includes a troubleshooting option you can select for this purpose. This is how you can select that option to repair files.

1. Run the Genshin Impact launcher.
2. Click the gear button in the launcher window.
3. Select Repair Now on the Repair Game Files tab.

The Genshin Impact launcher

Alternatively, you can verify Genshin Impact’s files with the Epic Games client. That software package has a Verify troubleshooting option. This Epic Games page for verifying files provides instructions for selecting that option.

Start Genshin Impact From its Folder

Starting Genshin Impact from its installation folder is more of a workaround than a fix that some players confirm to have worked for them. So, that could be worth trying, and you can also set up a desktop shortcut for the game’s EXE file if it works. You can start Genshin Impact from its folder like this.

1. Activate File Explorer by pressing the Windows and E keyboard keys.
2. Open the Genshin Impact installation directory.
3. Double-click the GenshinImpact.exe file.

The GenshinImpact.exe file

If you’re not sure where Genshin Impact is installed, try opening its folder from Epic Games. To do that, you’ll need to press the menu (three-dot) button for Genshin Impact in the Library tab. Then select Manage and click the folder button. 

Run Genshin Impact’s Visual C++ Runtime Installer Files

Many players confirm that installing or repairing Visual C++ runtime libraries can fix Genshin Impact not launching. Genshin Impact has a folder that includes installer files for Visual C++ runtime libraries. This is how you can run those Visual C++ installer files.

1. Navigate to the Genshin Impact installation folder. If you have a desktop shortcut for the game, you can right-click it and select Open file location to access its folder.
2. Double-click the vc_redist.x64 file in that folder to run it.
   
   

   The vc_redist.x64 file

3. Next, add a tick to the I agree to the license terms box by clicking on it.
4. Press the Install or Repair button.
5. Repeat the previous steps for all vc_redist files in the Genshin Impact folder.
6. Restart your Windows PC.

Clear the Temp Folder

Some players say they were able to fix Genshin Impact not launching by clearing the Temp folder The Temp directory includes temporary file data that’s safe to delete. You can clear that temporary folder like this.

1. Click Start with the right button on your mouse to select Run.
2. Type %temp% inside Run and press the Return key on your keyboard.
3. Select everything in the Temp folder that opens by pressing Ctrl + A.
   
   

   The Temp folder

4. Right-click and select Delete to erase (clear) the files in the Temp folder.

Uninstall Faceit Anti-Cheat

FaceIt Anti-Cheat is an anti-cheat program for the discontinued Counter-Strike Global Offensive known to conflict with Genshin Impact. Numerous players confirm removing FaceIt can fix Genshin Impact not launching. Do you have that anti-cheat program on your PC? If so, try uninstalling FaceIt Anti-cheat via the Control Panel’s Programs and Features applet as outlined on this Microsoft help page.

The Programs and Features Control Panel applet

Apply a Clean Boot

Players have also said they’ve been able to fix Genshin Impact not launching by applying a clean boot. Applying this troubleshooting method will disable non-essential third-party apps and services starting with your PC. Disabling such apps from automatically starting can eliminate potential software conflicts with Genshin Impact. Go through the steps on this Microsoft support webpage to perform a clean boot.

The Services tab in MSConfig

Allow Genshin Impact Through Windows Defender Firewall

Allowing Genshin Impact through Windows Defender Firewall is another way to fix that game not launching some players confirm to have worked for them. The Windows firewall might be blocking your game from connecting to servers. To remedy this, select to add the GenshinImpact.exe file to the Windows Defender Firewall as instructed on this Microsoft page. In addition, select the Public/Private boxes for the Genshin Impact game added to the allowed list for that firewall.

The Allowed apps settings for Windows Defender Firewall

Other Possible Ways to Fix Genshin Impact Not Launching

Try applying all the potential solutions above to fix Genshin Impact not launching. If they’re not enough, these are some additional possible fixes you can try:

• Install a new graphics driver for your GPU (graphical processing unit). Check out our guide to updating graphics drivers for details about how to apply this potential fix.
• Uninstall and reinstall the Genshin Impact game.
• Disable fullscreen optimizations for your Genshin Impact game.
• Turn off the Windows Security Real-time protection setting or third-party antivirus shields before playing Genshin Impact. This page on Microsoft’s site provides instructions for turning off the Real-time protection setting.

Those are some of the best ways to fix Genshin Impact not launching on Windows 11/10 PCs. You may need to apply more than one of those potential fixes to find one that works on your PC. If that game still doesn’t start, you can send an email to the Genshin Impact support service at

ge********@ho*******.com











for further potential fixes.