Dark Souls 3 Won’t Launch: How To Fix It & Run Smoothly

Dark Souls 3 is a popular game with stunning visuals, unique designs, and thrilling storylines. However, many players report the game won’t launch, especially after the most recent update. The game loads and quits, so players can’t access and enjoy Dark Souls 3. If you’re facing the Dark Souls 3 won’t launch problem, we’ve compiled this troubleshooting guide for you. Keep reading to find simple solutions to help fix it.

Why won’t Dark Souls 3 launch?

If your Dark Souls 3 won’t launch, it may be caused by:

• Lack of system files: If you’ve recently updated the game, system files may be missing from the update, preventing the game from launching.
• Incompatibility issues: Your PC may not have the system configurations required to run Dark Souls 3.
• GPU driver issues: If your GPU drivers are corrupt, out of date, or missing, they’ll likely prevent Dark Souls 3 from launching.
• Game files corrupted or missing: Some Dark Souls 3 files may be missing or corrupt, triggering the launch issues.
• Administrative permission problems: Some games require administrative privileges to launch and run smoothly.
• Outdated DirectX: If your DirectX is out of date, it may be to blame, or the Dark Souls 3 won’t launch issue.

How do I fix Dark Souls 3 won’t launch?

✅ Perform the following pre-checks before jumping into our troubleshooting guide:

• Confirm your PC meets the minimum and recommended specifications to run Dark Souls 3 smoothly. If it doesn’t, consider upgrading your PC.

If Dark Souls 3 won’t launch, try the following fixes:

1. Delete installed mods
2. Update graphics drivers
3. Force close Dark Souls 3
4. Uninstall and reinstall Dark Souls 3

1. Delete installed mods

If you’ve installed mods on your PC, they’ll likely trigger launch issues in Dark Souls 3. We recommend deleting installed mods to ensure the game launches successfully. Here’s how to do this:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the run box.
2. Type %AppData%\DarkSoulsIII and click OK to open the Dark Souls 3 save file location.

3. Once you’re here, locate mods you’ve installed, such as dinput8.dll. Select all of them and hit delete on your keyboard.
4. Be sure to empty our recycle bin to eliminate all mods.
5. Try launching Dark Souls 3 to see if the game starts.

2. Update graphics drivers

Save time and effort by updating your graphics drivers manually with Outbyte Driver Updater. This tool automatically updates your graphics drivers, ensuring your PC has the latest drivers.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Force close Dark Souls 3

Dark Souls 3 may not launch because the program is already running in the background. In this case, force close the game in task manager to prevent interference during launch. Here’s how to do this:

1. Press CTRL + Shift + ESC on your keyboard to open Task Manager.
2. Find the Dark Souls 3 game under the processes tab.
3. Right-click and select End Task to force close the title.

4. Now, try launching the game to see if it starts.

4. Uninstall and reinstall Dark Souls 3

If Dark Souls 3 won’t launch after a recent update, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the game. This clean installation removes temporary bugs and glitches from your PC. We only recommend doing this if all the other fixes mentioned failed. To do this:

1. In the Windows start menu, type Settings and click to open.
2. Select Apps.

3. Locate the Dark Souls 3 app, click it and select Uninstall.
4. After the process is complete, install Dark Souls 3 from the official website and launch it to see if it starts.

Other fixes to try:

• Verify the integrity of Dark Souls 3 files to ensure none are missing or corrupt.
• Run Dark Souls 3 as an administrator to give the game the necessary permissions to launch.
• Update DirectX. We have a guide on how to update DirectX.

Related articles:

• Dark Souls 3 Crashing: How to Fix It Fast
• How to Fix Dark Souls 3 FPS Issues: FPS Drop & Low FPS

Conclusion

The Dark Souls 3 won’t launch issue prevents gamers from starting and playing the game, which can be frustrating. Luckily, you can fix it by deleting installed mods and updating graphics drivers. Additionally, force close Dark Souls 3 and uninstall and reinstall the game. Let us know if these fixes work in the comment section below.