Fix: Escape from Tarkov Failed to Launch Game

Escape from Tarkov may fail to launch due to conflicting applications or outdated system drivers. Lack of administrative privileges or corrupt Windows installation can also cause the issue.

When an affected user launches the game, the game pops up but nothing happens. Sometimes, either a black screen or blue spinning wheel (after clicking the play button) is shown. In some cases, the PC freezes, and users have to forcefully restart the system to get rid of the black screen or blue spinning wheel.

Before moving on with the solutions to fix Escape from Tarkov, make sure that your antivirus/firewall applications are updated. If you are a participant of Windows Insider, then leave the program and try to launch the game. Moreover, try to use another in-game server to rule out the overloading of regional servers. Furthermore, if an install button is shown (even when the game is installed), then click on the option of “set the path to existing game installation” (usually located just above the install button) and point it to the installation directory of the game. It may take 10 to 15 minutes to verify the game files and then the game may launch without any issue.

Solution 1: Open the Game and Launcher as Administrator

To safeguard its users, Microsoft implemented different methods and techniques in the latest versions of the Windows OS. One such thing is the implementation of user rights to access essential system resources. If the launcher/game does not have the required privileges to access essential system/network resources, then the game may fail to launch.  In this case, opening the launcher/game with administrative privileges may solve the problem.

1. Right-click on the shortcut of the launcher and in the menu shown, click on Run as Administrator.

   

2. Now open the game and check if it is operating fine.
3. If not, exit the game and launcher. Again, open the launcher with administrative privileges.
4. Then minimize the launcher and navigate to the location of the exe file (escapefromtarkov.exe). Usually, the location is the following:

   C:\Program Files\Escape_From_Tarkov
5. Now, right-click on escapefromtarkov.exe and then click on Run as Administrator.

   

6. Then check if the game is working fine.
7. If not, exit the game, launch the game through the launcher (after switching to it) and see if this does the trick.

Solution 2: Open the Game in Window Borderless

Escape from Tarkov can be configured to use different display modes. If the display mode of the game is not optimal for your system, then the game may fail to launch. Given the conditions, launching the game in Windows borderless mode may solve the problem.

1. Open the launcher with administrative privileges and navigate to the Settings tab.
2. Now, click on the dropdown box of Display and select Borderless.

   

3. Then open the game and check if it has started to operate fine.

Solution 3: Clearing Cache and Temp Files

The issue you are encountering could be caused by a communication glitch caused by cache/temp files. To rule out any such issue, it will be a good idea to log out of the game, clear the cache/temp folder, and then log back in.

1. Open the launcher and click on the arrow just below the user name.
2. Then in the menu shown, click on Logout.

   

3. Now exit the launcher. Then right-click on the Taskbar and in the menu shown, click on the Task Manager.

   

4. Now, End Process all the processes belonging to the launcher and game.
5. Then sign out of the Windows user account.

   

6. Now sign back into the Windows user account.
7. Then delete temp files of your system.
8. Now open the following location in your file explorer:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Battleye

9. Then delete all the files of the Battleye folder.
10. Now open the launcher with administrative privileges and log in the launcher. Expand the arrow button under the user name and in the menu shown, click on Clear Cache.

    

11. Now navigate to the Settings tab of the launcher and under the option of When I Launch the Game, open the dropdown box and select Keep the Launcher Window Open.

    

12. Now launch the game and check if it is clear of the error.

Solution 4: Update System Drivers and Windows to the Latest Build

Windows and system drivers are continuously updated to cater to new technological developments and patch known bugs. If you are using outdated system drivers or Windows version, then the game may fail to launch. In this scenario, updating Windows and system drivers may solve the issue.

1. Update your system drivers.
2. Update your Windows to the latest build as well.
3. Then open the launcher/game with administrative privileges and check if it is operating fine.

Solution 5: Clean Boot Your System to Check for Software Conflict

Applications share system/network resources in the Windows OS and coexist. If a resource essential for the operation of Escape from Tarkov is not available due to a 3^rd party application, then the game may fail to launch. To rule out any such software conflict, clean boot your system.

1. Clean boot your system.
2. Then launch the game and check if it is working fine. If so, then try to find out the problematic application. Nvidia GeForce Experience has created this type of issue in the past for the game.

Solution 6: Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus/Firewall Applications

There is no deniability in the importance of your Antivirus/Firewall applications in the security of your device and data. But these applications have a history of creating issues for games, especially online games. To rule out any issues by these applications, it will be a good idea to temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall.

Warning: Proceed at your own risk as disabling your antivirus/firewall applications may expose your system to threats like viruses and trojans etc.

1. Temporarily disable antivirus of your system and turn off the firewall of your system. Keep an eye on the Windows Defender if it takes over antivirus/firewall operation.
2. If Windows Defender has taken over antivirus/firewall operation, then either add an exception for the launcher exe and EscapeFromTarkov.exe in the settings of Windows Defender or turn off Windows Defender as well.
3. Then open the launcher and game to check if the game is clear of the error.

Solution 7: Check Integrity of the Game Files

Bad sectors on the hard disk of your system or sudden power failure are common causes of the corruption of the game files. If the game files are corrupt, then the game may fail to launch. To rule out any such thing, it will be a good idea to check the integrity of the game files.

1. Open the launcher and expand the arrow just below your name.
2. Then click on the “Integrity Check” in the menu displayed.

   

3. Then wait for a few minutes for the process to finish (usually it takes 10 to 15 minutes).
4. Then open the game and check if the game is clear of the error.

Solution 8: Reset the Game/Launcher Settings to Default

Every gamer customizes different game settings as per his requirements. If you misconfigured an essential setting of Escape from Tarkov, then the game may fail to launch. In this case, resetting the game settings to their default may solve the problem.

1. Exit the game/launcher and kill all related processes through the Task Manager.
2. Now press Windows + R keys to bring out the Run command box.
3. Then type “Documents” and press the Enter key.
4. Now, open the Folder “Escape from Tarkov” (This is the default location if you have placed the folder on a different location, then open that location).
5. Then delete Local.ini and Shared.ini files.

   

6. Now open the launcher and game to check if it is clear of the error.

Solution 9: Delete the Game Logs

Nearly every software application uses logs to store different types of information. If any of the previous logs of the game/launcher have corrupted, then the game may encounter the error under discussion. In this case, deleting the logs may solve the problem.

1. Exit the game and launcher.
2. Press Windows + R keys to bring out the Run command box. Then type the following path in it:

   %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Battlestate GamesBsg\BsgLauncher\Logs

3. Now delete all the files in the Logs folder.

   

4. Then open the launcher/game with administrative privileges and check if it is clear of the error.

Solution 10: Create a New Windows User Profile

Corrupted entries associated with the current user profile of Windows could be the root cause of the issue under discussion. In this scenario, creating a new user profile and opening the game/launcher through the new user profile may solve the issue.

1. Create a new Windows user profile.
2. Then open the launcher/game with administrative privileges to check if it is clear of the error.

Solution 11: Disable Overclocking of CPU/GPU

Overclocking your CPU/GPU is a common norm in the gaming world. But it is known to be the root cause of many gaming issues. To check if the issues are caused by overclocking, it will be a good idea to revert to the stock speeds of your system.  You can get guidelines from how to Overclock Your GPU to set the clock speeds of your system back to stock.

Solution 12: Uninstall the Game/Launcher and then Reinstall

If nothing has helped you so far, then a corrupt installation of the launcher/game is the root cause of the issue. In this case, uninstalling the game/launcher and then reinstalling the game/launcher may solve the problem.

1. Logout and exit of the game/launcher.
2. Open your file explorer and navigate to the installation directory of the launcher. Usually, it is:

   C:\Battlestate Games\BsgLauncher

3. Now launch the uninstall file (uninstall.exe or unins000.exe).

   

4. Then follow the prompts on your screen to complete the uninstallation process.
5. Upon completion of uninstallation, open your file explorer and navigate to the Documents folder of Your system.
6. Now find and delete the “Escape from Tarkov” folder.
7. Again, open the installation drive of the launcher. Usually C drive.
8. Now find and delete the Battlestate Games folder. This will remove things in those directories like backup saves or configuration files.
9. Then restart your system.
10. Upon restart, install the game/launcher and hopefully, the game is clear of the error.

If you are still having issues, then either try to reset your system or perform a clean installation of Windows.