8 Ways You Can Fix Forza Horizon 5 Not Launching on a PC

Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best racing games for Windows 11/10 PCs. However, players often report startup issues for that game on forums. Sometimes Forza Horizon 5 might throw up an error message when it doesn’t start. However, many players have reported that FH5 doesn’t launch without showing any error message. Either way, players can’t play the great FH5 racing title when it doesn’t start. Here are some ways you can fix Forza Horizon 5 not launching on a PC with Windows 11/10 platform.

Verify the Forza Horizon 5 Game Files

Corrupted game files could be the reason why Forza Horizon 5 isn’t starting on your PC. Steam users can select to repair (otherwise verify) FH5’s files within that gaming client to remedy this possible cause. This Steam support webpage provides details for how players can verify games’ files.

The Verify Integrity of game files option

Select the Repair Option for the Horizon 5 UWP App

Some FH5 players say they fixed Forza Horizon 5 not launching on a PC by selecting to repair that game. This potential solution applies to players who’ve downloaded and installed FH5 via Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass subscribers. If you’ve installed the Forza Horizon 5 UWP app, try repairing it as follows.

1. Open the Windows 11/10 search tool, which you can access by pressing the folder library button on the taskbar.
2. Type Apps & features into the file search box and select the matching result found.
3. If you’re a Windows 10 user, select Forza Horizon 5 in the apps list and click Advanced options. Windows 11 users can select Advanced options by clicking the three-dot menu button for FH5 in Apps & features.
   
4. Next, click on the Repair button.
   
   

   The Repair option

Correct the Date/Time on Your PC

Players have also confirmed correcting date and time settings in Windows 11/10 can fix Forza Horizon 5 not launching on a PC. If Windows date and time settings on your PC are set to manual, changing them to automatic could resolve the issue. This possible resolution will more likely be effective for Xbox Game Pass players. To apply this potential solution, change the Time settings on your PC like this.

1. Bring up your Windows file search box and input a change date and time keyword in it.
2. Click the Change the date & time search result.
3. Turn on the Set the time automatically option. If that option is already on, try toggling that setting off and back on.
4. Next, click the toggle switch for the Set time zone automatically option if it’s off.
   
   

   The Date & time settings

5. Press the Sync now button.

Update Visual C++ 2015-2022 Packages on Your PC

Another possible cause for Forza Horizon 5 not launching on a PC is missing Visual C++ runtime libraries. FH5 won’t start if a required Visual C++ Redistributable package is missing on your desktop or laptop. You can fix that by updating Visual C++ on your PC as follows.

1. Start Edge and open this Microsoft Visual C++ page within that web browser.
2. Click the X64 architecture link to download Visual Studio 2015-2022.
3. Simultaneously press Ctrl + J in Edge to bring up a list of downloaded files.
4. Click the VC_redist.x64.exe file to access a Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable window.
   
   

   The X64 download option for Visual Studio 2015-2022

5. Select the I agree license term checkbox.
6. Press Install to continue.
   
   

   The Install option for Visual C++ 2015-2022

7. Click Restart after installing the missing Visual C++ runtimes.

Run Forza Horizon 5 at High Priority

A few FH5 players confirm they fixed Forza Horizon 5 not launching on PC by setting the game to run with a higher priority. To do that, you’ll need to quickly open Task Manager shortly after selecting to run FH5 and set it to run at a higher priority from there. This is how you can select to run Forza Horizon 5 at a higher priority.

1. First, select to run the Forza Horizon 5 game.
2. Simultaneously press Task Manager’s Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination for quick access.
3. Click on Details inside the Task Manager’s tab bar.
4. Right-click the Forza Horizon 5 game process and select Set priority.
   
   

   The Set priority option

5. Select Above normal or High on the submenu, but don’t select the highest Realtime option.

Note that the selected priority option is not permanently applied. So, you’ll need to set the game to run with higher priority every time you start FH5.

Reinstall Gaming Services

Gaming Services is an important app to have installed for playing Xbox Game Pass titles. If you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, reinstalling Gaming Services could be a potential fix for Forza Horizon 5 not launching on PC. You can reinstall Game Services as follows.

1. Press the Windows logo + S keys to activate a file search box and type in a PowerShell keyword.
2. Right-click the matching Windows PowerShell search result to select a Run as administrator option to run that app with elevated privileges.
3. Input the get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage -allusers command and press Enter.
   
   

   The remove Gaming Services app command

4. Next, input start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN and press Return to open Microsoft Store on the Gaming Services app.
   
   

   The Gaming Services app in Microsoft Store

5. Click Install to reinstall the uninstalled Gaming Services app.

Allow Forza Horizon 5 Through Windows Defender Firewall

Forza Horizon 5 startup issues can occur when Windows Defender Firewall is blocking that game’s internet connectivity. The game needs to be allowed through the Windows firewall. So, try adding Forza Horizon 5 to that firewall’s allowed list by following the guidelines on this Microsoft help page. The Private and Public checkboxes for FH5 within the allowed apps list must also be selected.

The Allowed apps list for Windows Defender Firewall

Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Software

FH5 players also confirm uninstalling third-party antivirus software packages can fix Forza Horizon 5 not launching on PC. You could try adding FH5 to an antivirus utility’s exception list. However, uninstalling security software will guarantee it cannot conflict with Forza Horizon 5 in any way. These are security apps the Forza support team confirms can cause FH5 startup issues:

• Avast Antivirus
• Bitdefender Firewall
• AVG
• Sophos
• Comodo Antivirus
• Trend Micro Maximum Security
• Avira
• Emisoft Anti-Malware

Uninstall any of those antivirus software packages if one is installed on your PC. You can remove most security apps with the standard methods for uninstalling Windows software included in this Microsoft support webpage.

The Programs and Features applet

Other Possible Ways to Fix Forza Horizon 5 Not Launching on a PC

There are potentially many more ways to fix Forza Horizon 5 not launching on a PC beyond those covered above. These are some other recommended troubleshooting methods that could kick-start that game:

• Completely reinstall Forza Horizon 5.
• Install the latest driver for your GPU (graphics card).
• Set Windows to clean boot, and restart your PC as instructed on this Microsoft Windows help page.
• Reset Microsoft Store by executing a WSRESET command within the Command Prompt.
• Install all available Windows 11/10 patch updates. Check out this MS support page for details about how to update Windows 11/10.

It’s not always easy to fix Forza Horizon 5 not launching on a PC because there are many potential causes for FH5 startup issues. So, you may have to try applying numerous Windows 11/10 troubleshooting methods to get Forza Horizon 5 up and running again. FH5 also has a support service you can contact for further potential solutions by clicking Create Ticket on this Forza support page.