How to Fix Palworld Stuck on Loading Screen?

When Palworld gets stuck on the loading screen, you will certainly be unable to enjoy the gameplay. This can happen when launching the game, opening a particular world on a server, and may occur on any game-supported platform, including both official and dedicated servers. Occasionally, the single-player mode will work without any issues.

Palworld Loading Screen Stuck
Palworld Loading Screen Stuck

1. Basic Troubleshooting

Let’s begin with some fundamental troubleshooting steps before we explore more technical solutions.

  1. Restart: Power off your system, server, and router. Wait for a minute before powering them back on.
  2. Update: Ensure that all relevant software components are updated. This includes Palworld, its server, launcher, system drivers, operating system (OS), or console firmware.
  3. Network Type: Set your system’s network type to Private rather than Public.
  4. VPN: To eliminate potential network issues, try playing Palworld using a VPN.
  5. Frame Rate: Limit the game’s FPS to 60 to see if there’s an improvement.
  6. Single Player: Enter a single-player world, perform some simple tasks, then exit to the title screen and attempt to load the problematic world.
  7. Hit Ctrl or Roll: If the issue arises after taking a fast travel journey, press Ctrl or Roll to cancel the grapple.
  8. Windowed Mode: Launch the game in Windowed Mode instead of full screen.
  9. Install an Older Graphic Driver: Sometimes, installing an older graphics driver may resolve compatibility issues with the game.

2. Open as an Administrator and Disable Full Screen Optimization

Lack of administrator privileges or Windows optimizing the game for full screen can result in the game getting stuck on the infinite loading screen. Addressing these two issues can fix the problem.

2.1. Open Launcher as Administrator

  1. Right-click on the game launcher (Epic or Steam) and select Run as Administrator.
    Open Steam as Administrator
    Open Steam as Administrator
  2. Confirm to open the app and then launch Palworld.

2.2. Disable Full Screen Optimization for Palworld

The following steps pertain to Steam:

  1. Open the Steam Library and right-click on Palworld.
  2. Navigate to Properties > Local Files.
  3. Click Browse to access the game’s installation directory.
  4. Right-click on Palworld.exe and select Properties.
  5. Go to the Compatibility tab and check the following options:
    Disable Full Screen Optimization
    Run as Administrator
    Disable Full Screen Optimization for Palworld
    Disable Full Screen Optimization for Palworld
  6. Click Apply and then OK.
  7. Launch Palworld and check if the issue with the loading screen is resolved.
  8. If the problem continues, use the Compatibility Troubleshooter for the game and see if it resolves the issue.

2.3. For Xbox App

Since the Xbox app cannot launch in administrator mode, use the following steps to execute Palworld as an administrator within the Xbox app.

2.3.1. Run Through the Start Menu

  1. Press the Windows button and search for Palworld.
  2. Select Palworld using the arrow keys and, in the right panel, click on Run as Administrator.
    Open Palworld as an Administrator
    Open Palworld as an Administrator
  3. Click Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt and check if the game loads correctly.

2.3.2. Create Shortcut of Palworld

  1. Launch the Xbox app and select Palworld.
  2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and choose Manage.
  3. Select Create Desktop Shortcut and press the Windows + D keys to show the desktop.
    Create a Desktop Shortcut of Palworld in the Xbox App
    Create a Desktop Shortcut of Palworld in the Xbox App
  4. Right-click on the Palworld shortcut and choose Run as Administrator.

3. Edit the Hosts File

If Epic’s online services or IP addresses are blocked in your system’s hosts file, it can prevent Palworld from connecting to its server, and the game may get stuck on the loading screen. To resolve this, you can edit the hosts file to comment out the lines related to Epic, effectively allowing the game to connect.

  1. Click on the Windows button and search for Notepad.
  2. Right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.
  3. On the User Account Control (UAC) prompt, select Yes, then in Notepad, click on File > Open.
  4. In the address bar, enter the following path and press Enter:
    C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\
  5. At the bottom-right, change ‘Text Documents (*.txt)’ to All Files (*.*).
  6. Select the Hosts file, then add the # symbol in front of the lines related to Epic to comment them out. This will prevent those lines from affecting the game’s connectivity.
    Open Hosts File in Notepad
    Open Hosts File in Notepad
  7. Save the changes and launch Palworld to check if the issue has been resolved.

4. Clear Reserved Space of Palworld on Xbox

The reserved space for the game on Xbox contains important game updates, cache, and other data. If this reserved space has invalid configurations or data, the game may fail to load. Clearing the reserved space for Palworld on Xbox could solve the issue.

  1. Access My Games & Apps on the Xbox.
  2. Navigate to Games > Palworld > Manage Game > Saved Data.
  3. Highlight Reserved Space and press the menu button on your controller.
  4. Select Clear Reserved Space. Once done, restart your console.
    Clear Reserved Space of Palworld on Xbox
    Clear Reserved Space of Palworld on Xbox
  5. Try launching Palworld again to see if it loads properly.

5. Verify the Integrity of the Game Files of Palworld

Palworld may get stuck on the loading screen if some of its crucial files are missing or corrupted. Verifying the integrity of the game files in Palworld can often resolve this problem.

The following steps are specific to Steam users:

  1. Go to your Steam Library and right-click on Palworld.
  2. Click on Properties > Local Files.
  3. Choose Verify Integrity of Game Files and wait for the validation process to complete.
    Verify the Integrity of Game Files of Palworld
    Verify the Integrity of the Game Files of Palworld
  4. Restart your system and open Palworld to see if the problem has been fixed.

6. Delete the Xbox Key in the Credential Manager

If the Xbox app on your PC fails to correctly retrieve the game-related key from the Credential Manager, Palworld may not load properly as it cannot communicate with the servers. Deleting the Xbox key in the Credential Manager could resolve this issue.

  1. Hit the Start Menu button and type Credential Manager.
    Open Credential Manager in Windows
    Open Credential Manager in Windows
  2. Open it and switch to the Windows Credentials tab.
  3. Find and expand the XblGrts|DeviceKey entry and click Remove.
    Remove XblGrts DeviceKey in the Credential Manager
    Remove XblGrts DeviceKey in the Credential Manager
  4. Confirm the removal and restart your PC.
  5. Launch the Xbox app and try running Palworld.

7. Use Custom Launch Options for Palworld

If Palworld is failing to launch with its default settings, customizing the launch options might help the game load successfully.

7.1. On Steam or Steam Deck

  1. Open Steam and go to the Library section.
  2. Right-click on Palworld and select Properties.
  3. In the General tab, find the Launch Options textbox and enter the command:
    -ngxdisableota
    Launch Palworld on Steam with Custom Launch Options
    Launch Palworld on Steam with Custom Launch Options
  4. Close the properties window and launch Palworld.

7.2. For the Xbox App

  1. Create a desktop shortcut for Palworld using the Xbox app, as instructed previously.
  2. Right-click the Palworld shortcut on the desktop and choose Properties.
  3. Locate the Target textbox and append the following command after the quotation marks (include a space before the dash):
     -ngxdisableota
    Launch the Shortcut of Palworld for the Xbox App with Custom Launch Options
    Launch the Shortcut of Palworld for the Xbox App with Custom Launch Options
  4. Apply the changes and try starting Palworld from the shortcut.

8. Enable and Repair the Required Game Services

If services critical for Palworld are disabled, the game may be unable to get past the loading screen. This can happen when a user tries to manually optimize the system or uses a particular software tool. Enabling these services could address the issue.

8.1. Enable Services

  1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
  2. Switch to the Services tab and right-click on Xbox Live Auth Manager.
    Start Xbox Live Auth Manager in the Task Manager
    Start Xbox Live Auth Manager in the Task Manager
  3. Select Start, and repeat the same steps to enable the following services:
    Xbox Live Game Save
    Xbox Live Networking Service
    Windows Event Collector
    Parental Control
    Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
    Downloaded Maps Manager
    Connection Manager
    IP Helper
    Gaming Services
  4. Once all the necessary services are running, close the Task Manager and try launching Palworld.

8.2. Use the Gaming Services Repair Tool

  1. Open your web browser and visit the official Gaming Services Repair Tool page on the Xbox website.
    Download the Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC
    Download the Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC
  2. Download the tool and right-click the downloaded file.
  3. Select Run as Administrator and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the repair process.
  4. Restart your computer and try running Palworld again.

8.3. Repair Microsoft Store and Its Services

The Microsoft Store is vital for Palworld’s cross-platform authentication on a Windows PC.

    1. Press the Windows key and search for Microsoft Store.
    2. Right-click on it and opt for App Settings.
      Repair and Reset the Microsoft Store
      Repair and Reset the Microsoft Store
    3. Click on Repair and confirm your choice to repair the Microsoft Store.
    4. If needed, select Reset and confirm the reset.
    5. After the repair or reset, open the Microsoft Store, log in, and attempt to launch Palworld.

9. Reinstall Palworld

If Palworld’s installation has become corrupt, due to antivirus interference or a crash, it could prevent the game from loading past the initial screen. Reinstalling Palworld can often resolve such issues.

Before uninstalling, be sure to back up any important data (such as screenshots) and remember that any unsynced progress could be lost.

The steps below illustrate how to uninstall and then reinstall Palworld on Steam. The exact process may vary depending on your gaming platform.

  1. In Steam, go to the Library and right-click on Palworld.
  2. Select Manage > Uninstall.
    Uninstall Palworld in the Steam Library
    Uninstall Palworld in the Steam Library
  3. Confirm to uninstall the game. After the uninstallation is complete, restart your system.
  4. Reinstall Palworld through Steam and launch it to see if the loading issue has been resolved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Muhammad Zubyan


Muhammad Zubyan is a certified Google IT Support Professional with over 7 years of extensive experience. He has worked on more than 1500 computers, gaining valuable insights that enable him to detect and troubleshoot any complicated root cause of Windows-related issues and errors. In addition to managing Appuals as a Senior Editor, he is currently developing his own Game Optimization program that caters to both gamers and casual users alike.