Baldur’s Gate 3 Crashing on Startup or Not Launching (PC): Larian’s Fixes

Step 1｜Close background apps, verify files and switch between DirectX 11 and Vulkan

These checks come first in Larian’s list. Review any software-removal step before proceeding.

Time: 10–15 min

1. Close nonessential graphics-tweaking tools, monitoring overlays and chat apps one at a time. Keep antivirus and firewall protection enabled; if protection history identifies an official game file, ask the security provider or game support what to do.
2. If you use ASUS Sonic Studio Virtual Mixer, disable or uninstall it (a known issue listed by Larian).
3. In your Steam Library, right-click “Baldur's Gate 3” → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.
4. In the launcher, switch between DirectX 11 and Vulkan and try again.

Step 2｜Skip the launcher and run the executable as administrator

Exit Steam or GOG GALAXY and start the game from the bin folder.

Time: About 3 min

1. Exit Steam (or GOG GALAXY).
2. Open “…\SteamApps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin” (or in Steam: right-click the game → Manage → Browse local files).
3. Right-click bg3.exe (Vulkan) or bg3_dx11.exe (DirectX 11) → Run as administrator.
4. Larian also suggests holding Shift after right-clicking, choosing Run as administrator and keeping Shift held until the splash screen appears.

If you get a Visual C++ DLL error, install the latest 64-bit Visual C++ redistributable from Microsoft.

Step 3｜Remove old mods completely

Mod files left over from an earlier patch can crash the game on startup.

Time: About 5 min

1. Exit the game and the launcher.
2. Paste “%LocalAppData%\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\Mods” into the File Explorer address bar and move its contents somewhere else.
3. If the install folder “…\Baldurs Gate 3\Data” contains “Mods” or “Public” folders, move them too (Larian says both are safe to delete).
4. Check whether the game starts without mods.

Step 4｜Rename the profile folder so the game rebuilds it

This makes the game create fresh saves, settings and cache folders. Renaming means you can undo it.

Time: About 5 min

1. First, delete the contents of “%LocalAppData%\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\LevelCache” and try again (official).
2. If that does not help, open “%LocalAppData%\Larian Studios” and rename the “Baldur's Gate 3” folder (for example, add _old to the end).
3. If the game now starts, check that you can begin a new game, save and load.
4. To restore the original profile, close the game and launcher, keep the newly created folder separately, then rename the old folder back. Do not overwrite any saves you want to keep.

With Steam Cloud enabled, Steam may download your cloud data when the game starts. Larian suggests turning off Steam Cloud for this game temporarily if needed.