ACT Not Working In FFXIV | Quick Fixes And Safe Settings

Why You See ACT Not Working In FFXIV

When act not working in ffxiv shows up as a blank meter or frozen overlay, it usually points to one of a few repeat offenders. The game updated, the plugin did not. Windows blocked network access. ACT runs with different rights than the game. Or the overlay plugin crashed quietly in the background.

None of these issues are permanent. ACT and the FFXIV plugin read live network and memory data, and both sides must match the current game version. After every major patch, opcodes and memory locations change, and the plugin needs an update to understand the new packets again. Until that update lands, parsing either breaks or becomes unreliable.

You also rely on a handful of Windows pieces: firewall rules, antivirus, .NET, and the overlay component. Once any of those blocks ACT or strips access, you get the classic symptom where ACT says a log is active, yet no combat data appears in the main window or on your overlay.

Common Symptoms And What They Usually Mean

Before you start flipping options, match what you see on screen to the most common patterns. That narrows the list of fixes you need to try.

What You See	Likely Cause	First Fix To Try
ACT shows “Log Active” but no DPS numbers	Plugin mismatch or wrong parsing mode	Update FFXIV plugin and restart ACT before the game
Overlay window appears, stays at zero	OverlayPlugin or cactbot issue	Update overlays through Get Plugins, reload ACT
“Network data is received but not processed” message	Game patch ahead of plugin update	Wait for plugin update or install matching plugin version
No data at all, even in test fight	Firewall, antivirus, or admin mismatch	Set same admin level for ACT and FFXIV, add security exclusions

If your symptom fits more than one row, move through the fixes in order. Start with safe checks, then move to plugin updates and fresh installs only when light touches do not solve it.

Fixing ACT Not Working In FFXIV On Windows

This section walks through a clean path that solves most cases where act not working in ffxiv shows up after a patch or a new PC. Work through each step once, test in a training dummy pull, then move on only if ACT still refuses to show data.

Step One: Update ACT And The FFXIV Plugin

ACT itself updates slowly, while the FFXIV_ACT_Plugin moves more often to catch up with new game versions. When the game jumps to a new minor or major patch, the plugin may log a warning about network data that arrives but cannot be processed. That message usually means the game and plugin versions do not match yet.

• Open The Plugins Tab — Start ACT, go to Plugins, and select the FFXIV plugin entry.
• Use Get Plugins — Click Get Plugins and check for an updated FFXIV plugin and OverlayPlugin entry. Install any newer version that matches your region.
• Restart ACT First — Close ACT fully, reopen it, then launch FFXIV and log in. Loading ACT first helps the plugin hook the game cleanly once the character appears.

Many plugin authors publish quick fixes shortly after a game patch. If you still see a warning about network data that is not processed, check the plugin issue tracker or guide for notes about which game builds each release targets and any temporary downgrade steps.

Step Two: Refresh OverlayPlugin And Cactbot

Even when ACT reads combat data correctly, the overlay layer can still fail and leave you with a blank meter. OverlayPlugin and cactbot both live in the same Plugins page and follow the same update flow.

• Remove Old OverlayPlugin Entries — In the plugin list, delete any outdated OverlayPlugin entry that no longer reports a version or throws an error.
• Reinstall Through Get Plugins — Add OverlayPlugin again through Get Plugins instead of copying random files by hand. That keeps all dependencies in sync.
• Check Overlay Log Output — Open your overlay settings and look for error lines about JSON libraries or missing files. Version issues there stop the overlay from drawing even when ACT tracks damage under the hood.

If the overlay still refuses to show data, switch to a simple preset overlay as a test. If that works while a fancy theme fails, the theme files are out of date rather than ACT itself.

Step Three: Verify Log File Activity

When ACT says a log is active but no fights appear in the main window, confirm that log files actually grow on disk. If they do, parsing still happens somewhere and the issue only affects how results show up.

• Check Log Folder Location — In FFXIV Settings inside ACT, confirm the log folder path. Open it in File Explorer and sort by modified time.
• Watch A Dummy Pull — Hit a training dummy for a minute, then refresh the folder view. A recent log file with a new timestamp means data is flowing from the game to ACT.
• Import Into A New ACT Profile — If logs grow but the main window stays empty, create a fresh ACT configuration, then import one of those log files to see whether a corrupt profile caused the blank view.

Check Game Rights, Admin Level, And Firewall Rules

ACT reads FFXIV traffic either through memory or a helper injection method. Both patterns sit on top of Windows, so rights and security tools matter a lot. You want the game and ACT to run at the same admin level so they can talk freely.

Match ACT And FFXIV Permissions

Older setup guides often suggested always running ACT as an administrator. Newer guides for the current injection method point out that mixing admin and standard rights causes hooks and overlays to fail. The safest path is to run both programs without admin rights unless a plugin author states otherwise for a specific build.

• Turn Off Run As Administrator — Right click your ACT shortcut, open Properties, and clear any setting that forces elevated rights.
• Launch Game And ACT Normally — Start both with their regular shortcuts. If you must run one as admin due to another tool, run both that way.
• Retry Test Game Connection — In the FFXIV plugin panel, use the test feature. A clean success message without errors confirms basic communication.

Add ACT To Security Exclusions

Defender and third party antivirus suites often flag the temporary files and plugin folders ACT uses. That can block new plugin versions or strip the injection helper the FFXIV plugin expects.

• Exclude ACT Folders — Add the ACT install folder, the roaming ACT data folder, and the temporary ACT folder to your antivirus exclusions list.
• Exclude FFXIV Folder — Add the FFXIV install path too, so packet helpers and log files are not scanned mid fight.
• Retest After A Reboot — Restart Windows once, then repeat a short combat test while watching ACT for new data.

Check Firewall And Network Parsing Settings

Some players rely on network parsing, others on memory mode or the new injection helper. Firewall rules matter more for network modes, yet they can still interrupt helper traffic in other paths.

• Allow ACT Through Firewall — In Windows Security, confirm ACT can communicate on private networks. Grant the same rights to any helper exe that shipped with the plugin.
• Confirm Parsing Mode — In FFXIV Settings, pick the parsing mode that current guides recommend for your region, and avoid enabling legacy network features you no longer need.
• Avoid Mixed VPN Routes — If you use a VPN to reach a different data center, test ACT once with the VPN off. Some network drivers interfere with packet reads.

When ACT Breaks After A New FFXIV Patch

Patch days are the most common time for ACT to stop working. FFXIV does not expose a native plugin API for combat logs, so every update shifts packet layouts and memory offsets. Plugin developers must capture live data again, update their code, and ship a new build before parsers return to normal.

During that window, ACT may show messages that network data arrives but cannot be processed, or it may simply show no new encounters even though the log file grows. This is normal while the plugin catches up and does not mean your setup is broken.

• Check Plugin Issue Tracker — Visit the official plugin repository or its issue page to see whether a new version is already under review for the current patch.
• Avoid Random DLLs From Strangers — Stay with releases linked from the official site or well known guides. Random files can include malware or break the parser even more.
• Be Patient With Cross Region Coverage — Global and regional FFXIV builds may sit on different sub versions. Plugin authors often add notes about which build each DLL targets.

Once a compatible plugin version ships, install it through ACT, close both ACT and the game, then bring ACT up first before logging in. That sequence gives the plugin a clean chance to attach to the game process.

Safe Use, Logs, And When To Reinstall

One more layer sits around every technical fix: game policy. ACT and its plugins are third party tools. Square Enix reserves the right to act against any unapproved tool, even when players keep overlays off stream and avoid harassment. You should always treat ACT as optional and play as if it could stop working for long stretches or change status without warning.

With that in mind, keep your install tidy so problems stay easy to trace. Good housekeeping also reduces the chance that an old plugin lingers in the background and breaks a new setup.

Tidy Up Logs And Old Profiles

Large log folders and piles of old configuration files slow ACT down and confuse fresh installs. A short clean up every few patches keeps things light and easier to repair when parsing stops.

• Archive Old Logs — Move older log files to a separate folder or drive if you still want them for FFLogs, and leave only recent patches in the active log path.
• Prune Old ACT Configs — Remove ancient profiles that you no longer use so current ones load faster and carry fewer conflicting settings.
• Document Working Settings — Take screenshots of plugin pages and overlay layouts once everything runs well. That makes rebuilds faster after a wipe.

When A Fresh Install Makes Sense

At some point you may reach a state where every fix works for someone else, yet nothing revives your meter. That is when a clean reinstall of ACT and the FFXIV plugin is worth the extra time.

• Backup Overlays And Triggers — Export any custom overlays and trigger sets so you can bring them back after the reinstall.
• Remove ACT Completely — Uninstall ACT, delete leftover plugin folders, and clear any stray temp folders under your user profile that still carry ACT files.
• Install Fresh From Official Links — Download ACT and the FFXIV plugin again from their official pages, then repeat the standard setup guide for a clean base.

After that clean start, ACT either begins reading data again or you know the remaining issue sits outside your PC, such as a missing plugin update for the current game patch or a regional build that still waits for a matching plugin release.