Lost Ark, a highly anticipated action role-playing game, has generated substantial excitement with its captivating gameplay and mesmerizing visuals. Yet, what good is this anticipation if you’re unable to launch it on your Steam app? Lately, a number of users have run into an issue where they can’t seem to open the game. In this article, we will explore how to fix the problem of Lost Ark not launching.
How to Fix Lost Ark Not Launching
When you launch Lost Ark on your PC, you might encounter instances where it becomes stuck on the loading screen or displays a black screen. In this article, we have curated all the potential solutions, fixes, or workarounds to address this frustrating problem and get it fixed. So, read till the end.
Quick Answer
Get Lost Ark working again by repairing anti-cheat installation using these steps:
1. In Steam, right-click on Lost Ark in the LIBRARY and choose Properties.
2. Navigate to the LOCAL FILES tab and click Browse.
3. In Binaries, select Win64 and open EasyAntiCheat.
4. Run EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe and click on Repair Service.
Why Is Lost Ark Not Launching?
Several factors can contribute to Lost Ark failing to launch as expected. These include:
- Inadequate System Requirements
- Corrupt Game Files
- Corrupt Easy Anti-Cheat
- Firewall Interference
- Outdated Graphics Driver
- Outdated DirectX Version
- In-Game Overlay Interference
- Overclocking Effects
Method 1: Preliminary Troubleshooting Fixes
Before attempting any advanced fixes, let’s ensure we’ve tried preliminary methods. It’s because sometimes a very simple fix can solve the issue.
- Verify System Requirements: Verify if your system meets the game’s minimum requirements by checking Steam or the official website, and upgrade hardware if needed.
- Close Background Applications: Close all visible apps on your taskbar if the game lags.
- Wait for a Few Minutes: Several users have mentioned that simply waiting for about 10 minutes has led to the game eventually launching on its own; consider trying this before exploring advanced solutions.
- Start Steam in Administrator Mode: Launching Steam in Administrator mode can help bypass permission-related issues. Simply open the Start menu, search for Steam, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
- Network Connection: Also, if Lost Ark takes long to launch, you must check and resolve network issues on your device.
Now that you’ve tried all the preliminary fixes, you can move on to the advanced fixes if your previous basic methods didn’t work. We’ll make every step easier for you, so just keep reading.
Method 2: Verify Game Files
If you’re using a platform like Steam, utilize its built-in feature to verify the integrity of game files. This can help identify and resolve corrupted or missing files. You can read our guide on How to Verify Integrity of Game Files on Steam and fix Lost Ark not launching.
Method 3: Deactivate Steam Overlay for Lost Ark
To tackle launch difficulties caused by overlays (e.g., Steam, Discord, etc.), disable the Steam Overlay for the game. To perform this method and fix Lost Ark not launching, refer to our guide on How to Disable Steam Overlay in Windows 10.
Also Read: Fix MultiVersus Not Launching in Windows 10
Method 4: Adjust Launch Options in Steam
To address Lost Ark not launching, consider modifying its launch options in Steam. This can help force the game into Fullscreen mode and direct it to run on DirectX 9.
1. Launch Steam. Right-click on Lost Ark in your LIBRARY and choose Properties.
2. Within the GENERAL tab, input -fullscreen in the LAUNCH OPTIONS box to enforce Fullscreen mode.
Note: Optionally, you can add -force-d3d9 to run Lost Ark using DirectX 9.
3. On the left side, click on the LOCAL FILES tab and then click Browse.
4. Navigate to Binaries and select Win64.
5. Right-click on LOSTARK.exe in the Win64 folder and access Properties.
6. Open the Compatibility tab and check the Disable fullscreen optimizations box.
7. Click on Apply and then OK.
Method 5: Repair Easy Anti-Cheat Installation
If Lost Ark’s failure to launch is tied to a problematic Easy Anti-Cheat installation, repairing it can resolve the issue.
1. Access Steam and right-click on Lost Ark in the LIBRARY. Choose Properties.
2. Navigate to the Local Files tab and click Browse.
3. Find Binaries, select Win64, and open EasyAntiCheat.
4. Run EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe and click on Repair Service.
5. Complete the process by clicking Finish.
Method 6: End the led.exe Process
Users who employ MSI applications might find a process named LEDaccess.exe or something similar in their Task Manager. Ending this process before attempting to launch the game might resolve the issue. You can proceed to fix Lost Ark not launching using this method with the help of our guide on How to End Task in Windows 10.
Also Read: Fix Star Wars Battlefront 2 Not Launching
Method 7: Remove PhysX Updater
This particular fix proved effective for many players, especially those with AMD graphics cards. If you launch Lost Ark and encounter the Easy Anti-Cheat screen, only for the game to never launch and subsequently receive an error message mentioning the physxupdateloader64.dll, follow these steps:
1. Launch Lost Ark and observe the Easy Anti-Cheat screen.
2. If the game doesn’t launch and you receive the error message, navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA\Corporation\PhysX\Common.
Note: Please note that this directory might slightly vary based on your system.
3. Locate the physxupdateloader64.dll file and delete it.
Attempt to launch Lost Ark again. For players encountering the same issue, deleting this file has successfully allowed them to launch the game without any further problems.
Method 8: Update DirectX Version
Updating DirectX, which enables software-hardware communication, can resolve compatibility conflicts causing Lost Ark startup issues by ensuring the game effectively uses your system’s resources. So make sure it is up to date with the help of our guide on How to Update DirectX in Windows 10.
Method 9: Update Graphics Driver
Outdated graphics card drivers can contribute to startup issues. If you’re experiencing problems, check if your graphics card driver is up to date. A simple update might be all it takes to get Lost Ark running. To update it through Device Manager, follow our guide on 4 Ways to Update Graphics Drivers in Windows 10.
Method 10: Disable Antivirus and Firewall (Not recommended)
Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall software to fix Lost Ark not launching. This is because sometimes these security measures can mistakenly block game files from launching.
We hope this article has assisted you in learning how to resolve the issue of Lost Ark not launching. If you’ve found success with any of the fixes mentioned, please let us know. Your experience could be valuable in helping others facing similar challenges. If you have any additional questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to share them in the comments section.
