How to Fix Geometry Dash Not Launching on Steam?

While launching Geometry Dash through Steam on Windows, the game may briefly show as Running for a few seconds before closing and returning to the Play button. In some cases, you might see error codes such as 0xc00000fd (stack overflow) or 0xc0000005 (access violation). These errors often point to a corrupted or incompatible libcocos2d.dll file, damaged save data, or missing runtime libraries.Other triggers include outdated Visual C++ redistributables, driver conflicts, or leftover mod files that no longer work with the latest build.

Whatever the root cause, you can usually resolve the problem by following a series of structured fixes starting from the simplest to the most advanced.

1. Remove Mods and Verify Integrity of Game Files

Outdated or incompatible mods are one of the most common reasons Geometry Dash refuses to launch. Clearing all files, including mods, and then letting Steam re-verify ensures you have a clean build without conflicts.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to:

   C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Geometry Dash

2. Delete all files and folders inside this directory.
3. Open Steam, right-click on Geometry Dash, and select Properties.
4. Go to Installed Files and click Verify integrity of game files.
5. Steam will automatically scan and restore the missing files.
   

2. Delete Corrupted Save Files (Backup First)

Corrupted saves can block Geometry Dash from loading. These files are located in your AppData folder. It is strongly recommended to back them up before deleting, in case you want to restore your progress later.

1. Press Windows + R, type:

   %localappdata%

2. Open the Geometry Dash folder.
3. Copy the files CCGameManager.dat and CCLocalLevels.dat to a safe backup location.
4. Delete the originals from the folder.
5. Restart the game, new clean files will be generated automatically.

3. Disable Compatibility Mode

Windows compatibility mode may cause DLL mismatches or permission errors for modern games. Ensure Geometry Dash is running in the native Windows environment.

1. Navigate to your installation folder:

   C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Geometry Dash

2. Right-click GeometryDash.exe → Properties.
3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
4. Uncheck Run this program in compatibility mode for.
5. Click Apply → OK, then relaunch the game.

4. Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributables

Geometry Dash requires MSVCP140.dll and VCRUNTIME140.dll from the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package. If these files are missing or corrupted, the game will not launch.

1. Go to the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable page.
2. Download both x86 and x64 versions.
3. Run the installer and choose Repair.
4. Restart your PC and try launching the game again.

5. Close Stuck Steam Processes

Sometimes Steam background processes get stuck and prevent games from starting. Restarting them forces Steam to reload correctly.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Locate all Steam-related tasks (like steamwebhelper.exe).
3. Right-click each and select End task.
4. Restart Steam and launch Geometry Dash again.
   

7. Perform a Clean Reinstall

If none of the above works, perform a full clean reinstall to eliminate corrupted leftovers.

1. Uninstall Geometry Dash from Steam.
2. Reboot your PC.
3. Reinstall Geometry Dash from Steam.