Palworld Crashing, Won’t Launch, or Not Responding on PC (Resolved)

Palworld, the exciting open-world survival crafting game that allows up to 32 players to embark on thrilling adventures, has captured the attention of gamers worldwide. With over 100 types of pals to gather, train, and fight with, the game offers a unique and immersive experience. However, like many PC games, Palworld can encounter issues such as crashing, launch failure, and unresponsiveness. These problems can be frustrating, but fear not – we have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve these issues. In this article, we will explore the reasons for Palworld crashing and provide practical solutions to get the game up and running smoothly on your PC.

Let’s dive into the solutions for Palworld crashing, not launching, or being unresponsive on your PC.

1. Restart the PC

Before diving into complex solutions, it’s always a good idea to start with a simple step: restarting your PC. This basic troubleshooting method can refresh temporary glitches or cache data issues that may be causing conflicts with game launching. Simply restart your computer and try launching Palworld again.

If the issue persists, proceed to the next set of methods to troubleshoot further.

2. Check the System Requirements

One common reason for Palworld crashing or not launching on your PC could be incompatibility with your hardware or software. It’s essential to ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements for running Palworld smoothly. Here are the minimum and recommended system requirements for Palworld:

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 or later (64-Bit)
• Processor: i5-3570K 3.4 GHz 4 Core
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 40 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 or later (64-Bit)
• Processor: i9-9900K 3.6 GHz 8 Core
• Memory: 32 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce RTX 2070
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 40 GB available space

Ensure that your PC meets these requirements to avoid any compatibility issues.

3. Run Palworld as an Administrator

Running Palworld as an administrator can help resolve issues related to permissions and access rights on your PC. Follow these steps to run Palworld as an administrator:

1. Go to the installed game directory on your PC.
2. Right-click on the “RiskofRainReturns.exe” application file.
3. Click on “Properties” and then navigate to the “Compatibility” tab.
4. Enable the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox.
5. Click on “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

Now try launching Palworld again to see if the issue is resolved.

4. Update Palworld

It’s crucial to keep Palworld updated to ensure that you have the latest bug fixes, patches, and improvements. The developers frequently release updates to address stability issues and provide a smoother gaming experience. Here’s how you can update Palworld through the Steam client:

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Palworld from the list of games.
3. Click on “Manage” and then select “Properties.”
4. In the Properties window, go to the “Updates” tab.
5. Enable the “Automatic Updates” option.
6. Once enabled, the game will update automatically whenever a new version is available.

Make sure you have a stable internet connection while updating Palworld, as larger updates may require significant download sizes.

5. Verify and Repair the Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can often lead to crashing or launch failure issues. Verifying and repairing the game files can help resolve these problems. Follow these steps to verify and repair the Palworld game files:

1. Launch Steam and click on your Library.
2. Right-click on Palworld from the list of games.
3. Click on “Properties” and navigate to the “Local Files” tab.
4. Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
5. Wait for the verification and repair process to complete.
6. Once done, restart your PC to apply the changes.

After the restart, try launching Palworld again and check if the issue persists.

6. Turn Off the Steam Overlay

The Steam Overlay feature can sometimes conflict with certain games and cause crashing or launch failure. Disabling the Steam in-game overlay for Palworld can help resolve these issues. Here’s how you can turn off the Steam Overlay:

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Palworld.
3. Click on “Properties.”
4. In the Properties window, go to the “GENERAL” tab.
5. Turn off the “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game” option.
6. Click on “Apply” and then close the window.

Now try launching Palworld to see if the issue is resolved.

7. Check for Graphics Driver Updates

Outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers can often lead to crashing or launch failure in games. Keeping your graphics drivers up to date is essential for optimal performance. Here’s how you can check for graphics driver updates:

1. Press the Win+X keys and click on “Device Manager” from the list.
2. Double-click on “Display adapters” to expand the category.
3. Right-click on the dedicated graphics card you’re currently using.
4. Click on “Update driver” and choose “Search automatically for drivers.”
5. If a newer update is available, Windows will automatically download and install it.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.

Alternatively, you can manually download the latest graphics driver from the official websites of your graphics card manufacturer, such as Nvidia, AMD, or Intel.

8. Close Background Apps

Running unnecessary background apps can consume system resources and potentially cause performance issues with games. Closing these apps can help improve system performance and resolve crashing or unresponsive behavior in Palworld. Follow these steps to close background apps:

1. Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the “Processes” tab and select any unnecessary tasks that consume CPU or memory.
3. Click on “End Task” to close the selected task.
4. Repeat this process for other unnecessary third-party tasks as well.
5. After closing the background apps, restart your system to apply the changes.

9. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Disabling fullscreen optimizations can help resolve issues related to fullscreen display conflicts in Palworld. Follow these steps to disable fullscreen optimizations:

1. Right-click on the Palworld application on your PC.
2. Select “Properties” and navigate to the “Compatibility” tab.
3. Click on “Disable fullscreen optimizations” to enable it.
4. Click on “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

Now try launching Palworld again and see if the issue persists.

10. Update Windows

Outdated system software can sometimes cause conflicts with game performance. Keeping your Windows system up to date is crucial, especially for resource-intensive programs like Palworld. Here’s how you can update Windows:

1. Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
2. Click on “Update & Security” and then “Check for updates” under Windows Update.
3. If a new update is available, click on “Download and Install.”
4. Wait for the system to update and reboot your PC.

After updating Windows, try launching Palworld to see if the issue is resolved.

11. Turn Off the Antivirus Protection

Antivirus programs can sometimes interfere with game applications and cause issues with launching or running smoothly. Temporarily turning off your antivirus protection can help identify if it’s causing conflicts with Palworld. Here’s how you can turn off Windows Defender, the built-in antivirus program:

1. Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
2. Click on “Update & Security” and then “Windows Security” from the left pane.
3. Click on the “Open Windows Security” button.
4. Go to “Virus & Threat Protection.”
5. Click on “Manage Settings.”
6. Turn off the “Real-time Protection” toggle.
7. If prompted, click on “Yes” to proceed.
8. Now check if the game crashing issue is resolved.

If you’re using a third-party antivirus program, make sure to turn off the real-time protection feature as well.

12. Perform a Clean Boot

Conflicts with third-party startup programs can sometimes cause issues with game launching. Performing a clean boot and disabling conflicting startup apps can help resolve these conflicts. Here’s how you can perform a clean boot:

1. Press the Win+R keys to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Type “msconfig” and hit Enter to open System Configuration.
3. Go to the “Services” tab and enable “Hide all Microsoft services.”
4. Click on “Disable all” and then click on “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
5. Now go to the “Startup” tab and click on “Open Task Manager.”
6. In Task Manager, go to the “Startup” tab.
7. Disable any tasks with a high startup impact.
8. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

After the restart, check if Palworld launches without any issues.

13. Update DirectX and VCRedist

Outdated versions of DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables can cause conflicts with program launching and system processes. Updating these components can help resolve the crashing or launch failure issues. Here’s how you can update DirectX and VCRedist:

1. Visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest DirectX installer.
2. Run the installer and complete the DirectX installation process.
3. Next, visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
4. Install the Visual C++ Runtime on your PC.
5. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

After updating DirectX and VCRedist, try launching Palworld again to check if the issue is resolved.

14. Contact Pocketpair Support

If none of the methods mentioned above help resolve the crashing, not launching, or unresponsive issues in Palworld, it’s recommended to reach out to Pocketpair Support for further assistance. You can create a support ticket to provide detailed information about the problem you’re facing. Submitting a support ticket will enable the developers to investigate the issue more effectively. Additionally, you can follow @PocketpairJapan on Twitter to stay updated on any known issues and official announcements.

Conclusion

Palworld is an exciting game that offers a unique open-world survival crafting experience. However, encountering issues such as crashing, launch failure, or unresponsiveness can be frustrating. By following the troubleshooting methods outlined in this guide, you can resolve these issues and get Palworld up and running smoothly on your PC. Remember to restart your PC, check the system requirements, update Palworld, verify and repair game files, disable the Steam overlay, update graphics drivers, close background apps, disable fullscreen optimizations, update Windows, turn off antivirus protection, perform a clean boot, update DirectX and VCRedist, and contact Pocketpair Support if needed. With these solutions, you’ll be able to enjoy Palworld without any interruptions. Have a great gaming experience!