How to Fix Cyberpunk 2077 Not Launching or Opening on PC

Cyberpunk 2077 often fails to launch due to insufficient permissions or interference from the Windows Firewall. The game’s executable file may be blocked by the Windows Firewall upon launch attempt, which is a common issue for many games and third-party programs. Additionally, if Cyberpunk 2077 lacks the necessary permissions to access redistributable files, the game will become unlaunchable.

Interference from third-party software aside, other contributing factors may include missing game files, absent redistributable components, and outdated device drivers.

1. Run Cyberpunk 2077 as an Administrator

DLL files are crucial for games as they contain instructions for proper game operation. If Cyberpunk 2077 is unable to access these files, it will not launch unless the game is configured to run with administrator permissions.

1. Right-click on Cyberpunk 2077 and select ‘Properties’. If you do not have a shortcut, navigate to where Cyberpunk is installed, and right-click the Cyberpunk2077.exe file to select ‘Properties.
   
2. Go to the Compatibility tab and check the Run this program as an administrator box.
3. Click Apply followed by OK.
   
4. Try launching Cyberpunk 2077 to see if the issue is resolved.

2. Allow Cyberpunk 2077 through Windows Firewall Settings

Configure Windows Defender Firewall to permit Cyberpunk 2077, thereby ensuring the firewall does not prevent the game from launching.

1. Open the Start Menu and type ‘Control Panel’. Press Enter to navigate there.
   
2. Navigate to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
   
3. Select ‘Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall’ from the left sidebar.
   
4. Click Change settings followed by Allow another app.
   
5. Browse to where Cyberpunk 2077 is installed.
6. Select the Cyberpunk2077.exe file and click Open, then click Add.
7. Ensure both the Public and Private checkboxes for Cyberpunk 2077 are selected under Allowed apps and features.
   
8. Try launching Cyberpunk 2077 to determine if the problem has been solved.

3. Launch the Game Directly from the Executable File

You can start Cyberpunk 2077 directly from the executable file, which can be particularly helpful if it doesn’t launch from a desktop shortcut or the Steam app.

4. Verify the Integrity of Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can prevent Cyberpunk 2077 from launching. To fix this, verify the integrity of the game files to replace damaged files or retrieve any missing ones.

1. Open Steam and access your Library.
2. Right-click Cyberpunk 2077 and select Properties.
   
3. Visit Local Files and choose Verify integrity of game files.
4. Wait until the verification process completes.
   
5. Try launching the game again.

5. Move the Game to an SSD

A solid-state drive (SSD) is recommended for optimal performance of Cyberpunk 2077, which requires at least 70GB of disk space. If the game is installed on a hard disk drive (HDD), transferring it to an SSD may improve functionality due to the faster read/write speeds of SSDs.

1. In Steam, go to your Library.
2. Right-click Cyberpunk 2077, head to Properties, and select the Local Files tab.
3. Choose Move Install Folder.
4. Select the SSD drive and click Move.
5. Attempt to launch Cyberpunk 2077 after the move.

6. Download and Install Microsoft Visual C++

Game crashes or launch failures are often caused by missing or incorrectly located Microsoft Visual C++ DLL files. It is advisable to download and install the latest version of Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables.

1. Using the provided link, download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ package.
2. Install by double-clicking the downloaded file.
   
3. Verify whether resolving the issue has been successful.

7. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Fullscreen optimizations, which combine the benefits of Full-Screen Exclusive (FSE) mode and borderless windowed mode, can sometimes collide with a game’s built-in optimizations, leading to crashes or launching problems. Disabling Windows’ fullscreen optimizations might solve the issue:

1. Right-click on Cyberpunk 2077 and open Properties.
   
2. Select the Compatibility tab and check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
3. Click Apply and then OK.
   
4. Launch Cyberpunk 2077 to check for the issue.

8. Clean Install Your Graphics Driver

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers often cause games to fail to launch. To address this, perform a clean installation of the graphics driver using an application like DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller), which removes drivers along with their registry entries.

1. Download Display Driver Uninstaller.
2. Extract the DDU zip folder and open it.
   
3. Execute the Display Driver Uninstaller application and select your GPU and the GPU vendor.
4. Choose Clean and restart.
   
5. Following the removal, visit the official manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver.
6. Reboot your PC and attempt to launch Cyberpunk 2077.

9. Update Windows

Cyberpunk 2077 might also resist launching due to outdated device drivers or if your version of Windows is incompatible. The game requires Windows 10 version 1909 or later; hence, updating Windows is crucial.

1. Hit the Windows key and type ‘Check for updates’, then press Enter.
   
2. Select Download and Install for pending updates.
   
3. After downloading, restart your system to finalize the updates.

10. Temporarily Disable Windows Defender Firewall or Third-Party Antivirus

Sometimes, Cyberpunk 2077 encounters launch issues due to the Windows Defender Firewall or third-party antivirus applications. Temporarily disabling them can be a potential workaround. Remember to reactivate the firewall and antivirus protections after troubleshooting.

10.1 Windows Defender Firewall

To turn off Windows Defender:

1. Press the Windows key and enter ‘Windows Security’.
   
2. Choose Virus & Threat Protection.
   
3. Under Virus & Threat Protection Settings, select Manage Settings.
4. Toggle off Real-time protection.
   
5. Check if the issue has been resolved.

10.2 Third-Party Antivirus Software

To disable antivirus software:

1. Access the antivirus application or right-click the icon in the system tray.
2. Find and select the option for disabling the antivirus, often available as a temporary disablement.
3. Confirm whether the issue is now resolved.

If none of these methods resolve the issue, consider reinstalling the game as a last resort. Although it is unlikely that the problem persists after the application of the aforementioned procedures, reinstalling is sometimes a necessary final step.