7 Ways You Can Fix PUBG: Battlegrounds Not Launching on a Windows PC

PUBG: Battlegrounds is still one of the most popular battle royale games for Windows PCs. Yet, some players can’t play PUBG because of numerous startup issues. For example, many players reported PUBG: Battlegrounds not starting because of a black screen issue. Other players report nothing happens when they click PUBG’s Play button in their game launchers. This is how you can fix PUBG: Battlegrounds not launching on Windows 11/10 PCs.

Update Your Windows PC

Some players say they’ve been able to fix PUBG: Battlegrounds not launching by installing Windows 11/10 updates (patches). So, try updating your Windows 11/10 platform by installing all available patch updates as follows.

1. Click Check for updates on this Microsoft webpage.
2. Select Open Settings to bring up a Windows Update tab.
3. Click Check for updates to find available patches.
   
   

   The Check for updates button

4. Select to install all available updates from there.

Verify the Integrity of the PUBG: Battlegrounds Files

PUBG: Battlegrounds startup issues often occur because of corrupted or missing game files. You can fix PUBG’s files by running a repair (otherwise verify) scan for the game within Steam or Epic Games. You can verify PUBG’s game files by following the guidelines on these Epic Games or Steam support pages.

The Verify button in Epic Games

Disable Antivirus Software Before Playing

Disabling antivirus software is a widely confirmed way to fix PUBG: Battlegrounds not launching on Windows PCs. If your PC has a third-party antivirus app installed on it, such as Avast, AVG, or Bitdefender, right-click the system tray icon for that security software and select a context menu option for disabling its antivirus shield. Then run PUBG: Battlegrounds with the antivirus shield disabled.

Users without third-party antivirus apps can try turning off Windows Security’s Real-time protection setting. This Microsoft help page tells you how users can turn off Microsoft Defender.

I don’t recommend users leave antivirus shields permanently disabled. Turn your antivirus shield back on after playing PUBG: Battlegrounds. Alternatively, add PUBG’s installation folder to your antivirus utility’s exclusion list.

The Real-time protection option

Disable CPU or GPU Overclocking

Overclocking CPUs or GPUs with software like MSI Afterburner can cause PUBG startup issues to arise. Have you applied any overclocking to your PC? If so, try undoing the overclocking by restoring your PC to default settings.

Delete all Contents in the Movie Folder

A widely confirmed way to fix the PUBG black screen startup issue is to erase all files within a PUBG Movies folder. This is how you can delete all contents in that Movie folder.

1. Open File Explorer on your PC and open this Movies folder path: C:\Program Files (x86) \Steam\steamapps\common\PUBG\TslGame\Content\Movies.
2. To select all files in the Movie folder, press the Ctrl + A hotkey.
3. Click Explorer’s Delete option on the Home tab or command bar.

Repair Visual C++ Redistributables

Corrupted Visual C++ runtime libraries on your PC could be causing the PUBG startup issue. Or your PC might be missing some required C++ libraries. You can repair Visual C++ Redistributable packages for the PUBG game as follows.

1. Open the Library tab in Steam.
2. Right-click on PUBG: Battlegrounds to select Properties.
3. Click Local Files inside the Steam properties window for PUBG.
4. Press the Browse option to access a PUBG folder.
   
   

   The Browse button

5. Click the CommonRedist > vcredist subfolders.
6. Next, open the 2017 folder in the vcredist directory.
   
   

   The 2017 folder

7. Double-click the vc_redist.x64 file to bring up a Microsoft Visual C++ window.
8. Click the Repair or Install option available in the Microsoft Visual C++ window.
   
   

   The Repair option for a Visual C++ Redistributable package

9. Return to the vcredist directory and open the 2015 folder from there.
10. Double-click the vc_redist.x64 file in the 2015 folder and select its Repair/Install option.

Apply a Clean Boot

Clean booting means disabling third-party apps and services that automatically start with Windows. Applying this troubleshooting method might prevent a background app or service that’s conflicting with PUBG from automatically starting. For example, software with overlay features like Discord and MSI Afterburner can cause PUBG startup issues.

To apply this possible fix, you will need to disable third-party startup items and services with Task Manager and System Configuration (the MSConfig tool). Try starting PUBG immediately after clean booting. This Microsoft help page has step-by-step instructions for how users can perform a clean boot.

The Services tab in System Configuration

Other Possible Ways to Fix PUBG: Battlegrounds Not Launching

There are other ways you may be able to fix PUBG: Battlegrounds not launching if the potential solutions above aren’t enough. These additional troubleshooting methods are worth a try.

1. Reinstall the Steam or Epic Games client software and PUBG.
2. Install a new graphics card driver on your PC.
3. Scan system files by running an SFC scan with the Command Prompt, as instructed on this Microsoft Windows support page.
4. Set your Steam or Epic Games gaming client to run as an administrator.
5. Turn off the Steam overlay by right-clicking PUBG in the Library tab to select Properties > General and deselect the Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game checkbox.

Many PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds players have been able to fix PUBG: Battlegrounds not launching by applying the fixes outlined above. So, one of those troubleshooting methods will probably kick-start the PUBG game on your Windows PCs. Alas, I can’t promise they’ll work for all players; and you can submit a support request from this PUBG help page for further troubleshooting guidance.