Overwatch is the popular new generation shooter game available around the globe. However, there are a few common errors which the users commonly encounter. “Overwatch not launching” is one of them. If this is the error you are stuck with and searching for what to do next, then, you can read this article further. This article covers all the important causes and fixes for this launching issue of the Overwatch game on Windows 10 PC. So, check them out.
What Results in Overwatch Not Launching Error?
According to the report from the expert’s survey, these below are the probable causes which are responsible for the Overwatch not launching error:
- A specific virus attack/attacks.
- Another program gets conflicted with Overwatch video game
- A slow internet connection
- Corrupt or incomplete Overwatch shooter game files
Methods to Solve Overwatch Not Launching Windows 10 Error Quicker than you might Think!
Here, in this section of this article, you will get to learn effective solutions for the problem regarding the Overwatch not launching error. If you are a good learner, then a single thorough study will be sufficient for you to learn the methods. But, before you proceed with any of the below methods, it is better to run a complete virus scan. A few of the times it is found that the virus scan is enough to fix the error. So, let’s do it at first.
Run a Virus Scan
There are several antivirus software are available on the internet, you need to use the most trusty one, to scan your computer. However, if you are a user of the Windows 10 OS, then, you can run a scan with the help of the default security tool, that is, the Windows Defender. And the steps to “Full” scan the computer using the Windows Defender tool is very simple and are as follows.
At first, move the pointer on to the four flag symbol Windows logo. And then right-click on it. After that, from the open menu window, select the “Settings” option. Next, click on “Update & Security”, which you will get as the extreme option under the Settings window. Further, from the left-hand panel available options, select “Windows Defender”. And then click on the “Open Windows Defender Security Center” button from the right-hand side of this open window. Next, click on the shield symbol icon, which you will get at the left-hand side panel of the window. This will get you the Virus and Threat Protection window on the screen. After that, navigate the pointer on to the right-hand side of the window and click on the Advanced scan link, which you will get below the Quick scan button. Then, enable the checkbox for “Full” and click on the “Quick scan” button to start the virus scanning process. Now, you need to wait, until the scanning is done. Once, it’s over, now, try to launch Overwatch to check if the problem gets resolved. If it gets fixed then fine, otherwise, try the methods as explained below.
Method 1: Detect and Uninstall the Conflicting Software with Overwatch Shooter Game
Many of the times it was detected that a conflict issue with the Overwatch application is the main factor of the “Overwatch not launching” error. If this is the case, then, at first, you need to identify the conflicting application and then uninstall it to get the issue resolved. And the overall process to do this method are as explained below. So, check it out:
Steps to Detect the Conflict Application
First of all, open the search bar by tapping the Windows button. After that, on the search bar type “taskmgr.exe”. And then press the Enter button, this will get you the Task Manager window open. On the Task Manager window, you will able to see the currently running programs on your device. Now, you need to stop all these running programs one by one. And for this purpose, the steps which you need to follow are as below.
Firstly, you need to click on a program from the list. After that, click on the “End Process” button, which you will locate at the extreme bottom right-hand corner of the Task Manager window. That is the overall process, you need to follow for all the running programs, which you get enlisted on the Task Manager window.
After that, restart your device, so that the essential functions gets to run automatically. And then, try to launch the Overwatch video game. Hopefully, this time you will not get any problem. Then, open the other installed programs one by one to identify the conflicting application which is causing the Overwatch not launching error. Once you identify the conflict application with Overwatch shooter game by following these above-said steps, it is better to uninstall it. And the further steps to follow to uninstall an application are as follows.
Uninstall the Conflict Application with Overwatch
At first, you need to open the Run bar, and for this, press both the Windows and the letter R key at a time. Then, on the Run bar type “control”. After that, click on OK, to get the Control Panel window open. Now, check the “View by” portion, is it set to Category or not. And if not, then you have to drop-down menu list for View by, at first. And then select “Category” among the available options. Next, from the Control Panel window, click on Programs> Programs and Features. Then, from these installed programs window, locate the program which is creating the issue. After that, right-click on the program and then select the Uninstall option, which gets open for you. Again, select the Uninstall option on the next window, to confirm. Once the conflicting program gets uninstalled, restart your device to get the total effect of this method.
Now, hopefully, you will be able to play the Overwatch game without any further problem.
Note: In most of the times, it is found that the antivirus software is the main culprit causing to stop launching the Overwatch action game.
Method 2: Remove the Game Cache to Fix Overwatch Not Launching Error
After trying the above method, if you get no result in solving the Overwatch not launching error, then, you can try this effective method. The steps to follow to execute this method is very simple and are explained below.
To begin with, at first, you need to press both the below said keys at a time. This will get you the Task Manager window open directly on the screen:
- Ctrl
- Shift
- Esc
Now, click on the “More Details” button, which is present at the below left-hand side corner. After that, from the Task Manager window under the Processes tab, check whether you get a file named as “agent.exe” or “Blizzard Update Client” or not. And if you find any of the files (agent.exe or Blizzard Update Client), then, select it at first, and then click the “End task” button.
Next, press both the Windows and the letter R at a time, to get the Run bar window, for the further steps as below.
Type “%Programdata%” on the Run bar, without using quotations as given here. And then press the Enter button, this will get you the Windows Explorer window open, navigating you to the “ProgramData” section folder. Now, from the available folders get the one which is named as “Blizzard Entertainment” and right-click on it. Next, select the Delete option. After that, restart your computer and then run the game, to verify if the issue gets sorted.
Method 3: Disable the Game DVR
This is another and one of the best methods which you can try further if you do not get the solution by following these above-described methods. Check out the thorough steps of this method, so that, you can proceed with.
At first, navigate the mouse pointer on to the Windows logo, which is present at the extreme below left-hand side corner, and then click on it. Next, on the left-hand side, you will get a cog symbol icon, click on it, to get the Settings window open. After that, from the available options under the Settings window, click on the “Gaming” option. Further, select the “Gaming bar” option, under the Gaming sidebar. Next, you need to disable all the option inside it.
Moreover, you have to disable all the options present under “Game DVR” from the Gaming section. After that, navigate to the “True Play” section under Gaming and then turn it off.
Further, run the Overwatch game, and check if the issue gets fixed or not. If yes, then you would again be able to play the game without any restrictions.
Method 4: Run System File Checker
System File Checker is the default tool present in Windows, with the help of which many of the problems get sorted. If you are stuck with the Overwatch not launching error then you can try this method as well. According to many of the users they are able to solve the problem very easily with the help of these below-said tasks.
At first, you need to open the search bar by pressing the Windows button. And then, on the search bar type “cmd”, without using quotations. After that, you need to right-click on cmd or Command Prompt, that is the top-most search result. Then, select the “Run as administrator” option. Further, on this Administrator: Command Prompt window, enter the command as given below. Next, press the Enter button to execute.
- sfc /scannow
Now, you need to wait, until the scanning process is done successfully and that is the percentage value under the Administrator: Command Prompt turns to 100. Once, the scanning is done, close the Administrator: Command Prompt window. After that, restart your computer and then try to launch the game and check if the issue gets solved. Hopefully, this time your answer will be Yes.
Method 5: Uninstall and Reinstall the Overwatch Game as well as its Client
If any of the above methods doesn’t able to fix the Overwatch not launching error then it may be an incomplete presence of the file problem. If this is the case, then the better option to fix the matter is to uninstall and reinstall the Overwatch game as well as its client. And the steps to follow to uninstall the game application is very simple and are as follows:
Steps to Uninstall Overwatch Game as well as its Client
Firstly, you need to open the Control Panel window. And for this press down the Windows button, at first. And then, on the activated search bar type “control” and press down the Enter key. This is the overall task, by following which you will get the Control Panel window open. Next, check the top-right hand side section, where you will get the “View by” option, see if it set as Category or not. And if not, then, drop-down menu list for View by and set it as Category. Next, from the Control Panel window list, select the “Programs” option. After that, click on “Programs & Features”, this will get you the window open, where you will find all the installed programs list on it. From the installed programs list, locate the Overwatch game as well as its client.
Next, you need to select the game at first and then click on Uninstall from the top portion of the Control Panel window. Once the game gets uninstalled successfully. You can proceed to uninstall the game client as well, to get the more chance of getting the positive result.
Download and Reinstall Game Client as well as Overwatch
After that, restart your computer. And then, connect it with the internet and using a browser navigate to the client downloading page. In the client download page, you need to verify the requirements according to your system configuration. Once you get the matching client, download it. After that, go for installing the client, following the onscreen instructions. Furthermore, using the client home page download Overwatch and then check if it works properly.
Additional Method: Check the Internet Connection
Internet Connection is one important factor to play an online video game like Overwatch. If there is any issue with the internet connection then this can result in Overwatch not launching error. If this is the case, then you can try this method, which may fix the glitch. So, check it out.
At first, shut the computer down. Next, switch off the power supply for all the including (network device, computer) devices. After that, take the cables out which can be removed. Also, remember the locations, before you do this aforesaid task.
Next, wait for a few minutes. After that, plug in back the cables to its actual locations. And then, turn on the power supply for both of the devices. Next, connect your computer with the internet, if the process is not done automatically. Further, try to launch the game to check the existence of the problem, which is a very rare case, after following this task.
All these above the effective methods with the help of which you will able to fix the Overwatch not launching error. So, if you are facing any problem in executing any of the above methods, then, you can leave a comment in the section as given below.
