Battlefield 2042 Launch Error 0xC0020015? Try these fixes

When you try to launch Battlefield 2042, the game freezes for a short time and then closes automatically. At the same time, Easy Anti-Cheat shows error code 0xC0020015 in its logs. This error usually means that Easy Anti-Cheat can’t start because it’s missing a file, a service is blocked, or there’s a conflict with your system.

The most common causes are interference from antivirus software, Windows Defender, or overlays like Discord. Corrupted Easy Anti-Cheat files and programs such as Windhawk can also trigger this issue.

With that said, let’s go over the different methods you can use to fix this error, step by step.

1. Run Battlefield 2042 as Administrator

The first thing you should try is running the game as an administrator. This gives the game all the permissions it needs to start correctly, and can fix several common issues where Battlefield 2042 fails to launch.

1. First, open File Explorer on your computer.

   

2. Navigate to the folder where you installed Battlefield 2042.
3. Right-click on the main Battlefield 2042 executable file, and choose Properties from the menu.

   

4. In the Properties window, go to the Compatibility tab.

   

5. Check the box that says Run this program as an administrator.
6. Do the same for the BF2042_launcher file, if it exists.
7. Once you’ve made these changes, try launching the game again to see if the problem is resolved.

2. Disable Spybot Live Protection

Many users have noticed that Spybot’s live protection feature can cause this problem. Spybot – Search and Destroy is an antivirus tool that protects your computer from malware and unwanted software. Its live protection feature scans every app before it starts, which can sometimes interfere with launching games.

If you use Spybot and the game won’t start, try turning off the live protection feature.

1. Open Spybot as an administrator. You can find it in your Start Menu. Right-click and select Run as administrator.
2. In Spybot, click on Live Protection status in the Start Center.

   Spybot Start Center

3. This will open the Live Protection Settings.
4. Untick the box next to Scan programs before they start, then click Deactivate Live Protection. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

   

5. Now, try launching Battlefield 2042 again and see if the error is gone.

3. Perform a Clean Boot

If the above steps haven’t worked, another background program may be interfering with the game. You can test this by performing a clean boot, which starts Windows with only essential services running. This helps you figure out if one of your other programs is causing the problem.

If the error no longer appears after a clean boot, then a third-party service is likely the cause. You can then enable the services one at a time to find out which one is responsible.

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter.

   Opening up System Configuration

3. In the System Configuration window, switch to the Services tab.
4. Check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services.

   Hiding Microsoft Services

5. Click Disable all, then click Apply.

   Disabling Third Party Services

6. Next, go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.

   System Configuration Startup Tab

7. In Task Manager, select each startup item and click Disable at the bottom right.

   Disabling Third Party Apps

8. Restart your PC.
9. Once your computer starts up, try launching Battlefield 2042 to check if the error code appears.