So, you are all geared up and pumped to drive around the scenic routes in Forza Horizon 5. As you might already know, the game is absolutely stunning when it comes to visuals. It has definitely taken the racing genre by storm as of late. But like any other game, Forza Horizon 5 is not free from bugs, errors, crashes, and a host of other issues. One such issue is when the game refuses to launch. As devastating as it may sound, this issue has been faced by a lot of players recently. If you are encountering the same problem, consider reading this guide for all the details.
We all know that Forza Horizon 5 is an exciting racing game that offers thrilling experiences on virtual roads. However, encountering launch issues can be frustrating. And since you clicked on this article, you’re likely facing problems launching Forza Horizon 5 on your system. Well, in that case, we’ve compiled a list of potential solutions to help you get back on track.
Forza Horizon 5 Not Launching Issue: How to fix it
Now, folks, before we move ahead with the potential fixes, remember that the key word is “potential” which means that these workarounds are not guaranteed to work for everyone. But they have been successful for some players and are hence worth a shot. With that out of the way, here are some potential fixes for you to try:
Verify Game Files:
Start by verifying the integrity of the game files through the Steam client. To do this, open Steam and then right-click on Forza Horizon 5 in your Steam library, go to “Properties,” navigate to the “Local Files” tab, and select “Verify Integrity of Game Files.” It will take some time, but if there are any files or corrupted files, they will be replaced, hopefully solving the launch issues.
Update GPU Drivers and Windows:
If you are a responsible gamer, you must be aware of the importance of keeping your GPU drivers up to date. Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues with games. Visit the official websites of your GPU manufacturer, select your Graphics card model, and download the latest drivers for it. While you are at it, you can also check whether your Windows operating system has any pending updates. If there are, make sure to install them.
Reinstall Windows (Soft Format):
We know it sounds like a drastic solution, but this has worked for some players, so why not give it a try? As you might have guessed, this workaround involves reinstalling Windows while keeping your files intact. To perform this workaround, follow these steps:
- Go to Windows Settings.
- Select “Windows Updates and Security”.
- Choose the “Recovery” option.
- Under the “Reset this PC” section, click on Get Started, and then select the Keep my files option.
Now this is important. During the reset process, select the option to reinstall Windows while preserving your files. This will initiate a full reinstallation of Windows, which may resolve any conflicts causing the game to crash. The reinstallation process typically takes around 15 minutes.
Disable Interception Drivers:
If you have any interception drivers installed on your system, try temporarily uninstalling them. If you do not know what these programs are, they are basically related to your input devices like controllers, mice, etc. Interception drivers can sometimes interfere with game launches. If you have any mouse acceleration drivers or any other related software, now is the time to uninstall them. You can head to this directory: C:\Windows\System32\drivers and delete the mouse.sys and keyboard.sys files (if present).
Run as Administrator:
Another possible solution is to give the game administrator privileges. Why? Well, running the game with administrative privileges can resolve certain permission-related issues. To do this, just right-click on Forza Horizon 5’s executable file shortcut and select “Run as Administrator.” After this, launch the game via the shortcut only, not via Steam.
Disable Steam Overlay:
If you are someone who does not make use of the overlay features provided by a number of apps like Steam, Spotify, etc., you can choose to disable them altogether. Of course, you will have to go to the app settings for each app to turn off its Overlay. To give you an idea, we will walk you through the same process but for Steam. So, to begin with, open the Steam client, go to “Steam” in the top-left corner, select “Settings,” navigate to the “In-Game” tab, and uncheck the box that says “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.” Disabling the Steam Overlay has resolved the launch issues in FH5 for some players. Disable the overlay feature in any other application and launch the game to see if everything goes smoothly.
Close Background Processes:
Close any unnecessary background processes that could be conflicting with Forza Horizon 5. Use the Task Manager to identify and terminate non-essential programs running in the background. However, when you are doing this, be cautious and make sure that you are not terminating critical system processes.
Check Third-Party Applications:
Folks, games are supposed to be tough and challenging. If you are making use of third-party applications to make things easier in the game, they might be the culprit behind this error. It is well known that certain third-party applications like Wemod or Cheat Engine can interfere with game launches and lead to a lot of other errors and crashes. So, if you have any such programs installed, try disabling or uninstalling them temporarily to see if it resolves the issue. If you are using Wallpaper Engine, disable it too.
Antivirus:
Your antivirus program could be another reason why the game isn’t launching on your system. Sometimes, it may happen that the antivirus you are using is blocking the game’s functioning. So, to fix this, either add the game’s .exe file to the exclusion list of the antivirus program or disable it before launching the game.
Reinstall the game, and contact support:
If nothing works out for you, consider reinstalling the game altogether. Hopefully, a fresh installation will get rid of all the underlying issues. Alternatively, reach out to the Forza Horizon 5 support team for further assistance. Provide them with detailed information about the issue, including your system specifications and the steps you’ve already taken to troubleshoot.
Well, there you have it! Some potential workarounds for you to try to fix the launching issues in Forza Horizon 5. If a more substantial/official fix drops in the future, we will make sure to add it to this guide. To avoid missing that, don’t forget to bookmark this page and keep checking Digistatement regularly. Read more: Forza Horizon 5 Barbie Cars (Barbie Corvette EV & Ken Hummer EV): How to get & unlock
