When Call of Duty won’t launch on Steam, verify files, update drivers, and disable overlays to start the game.
You click Play, the button flips to “Running,” then drops back to Play with no window. Or the splash screen flashes and disappears. This guide gives a clear fix order that works for most PC setups, with safe steps and quick checks before deeper tweaks.
Call Of Duty Won’t Launch On Steam: Proven Fix Order
Work from top to bottom. Test the game after each step. Stop when it launches.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fast Check |
|---|---|---|
| Play button loops back | Corrupt files or blocked process | Verify files, reboot, try again |
| Crash at splash | Overlay or overclock tool conflict | Kill MSI Afterburner, Razer, NZXT, Steam Overlay |
| No error, no window | Driver issue or stale cache | Clean install GPU driver, clear Steam download cache |
| “App already running” | Hung process | End task in Task Manager, reboot if needed |
| Shader loop or freeze | Cache bug or outdated driver | Let shaders finish, update driver, then relaunch |
| Disk write error | Storage or permission problem | Run Steam as admin once, check free space |
| Easy Anti-Cheat prompt | Service blocked | Run the EAC installer from the game folder |
Step 1: Reboot, Then Launch From Steam
Start simple. Reboot the PC. Open Steam first. Launch Call of Duty from your Library, not a desktop shortcut. If you see “App already running,” end any leftover Call of Duty or SteamWebHelper tasks, then try again.
Step 2: Verify Game Files
File corruption is common after a patch or a crash. In Steam, open the game page, click the gear icon, choose Properties → Installed Files, then run Verify integrity. Let it finish, then launch.
Step 3: Clear The Steam Download Cache
If the client cached a bad build or partial update, launches can fail. In Steam Settings → Downloads, click Clear Download Cache, confirm, sign back in, and test the game.
Step 4: Close Overlays And Tuner Apps
Overlays and GPU tools hook into the game at launch. That hook can trip a crash. Close Steam Overlay for this title, then exit MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner, NZXT CAM, Discord overlay, and GeForce overlay. Leave only Steam and the launcher.
Step 5: Update Graphics Drivers (Clean Install)
Use a clean install to remove stale profiles. Grab the latest Game Ready or WHQL driver from your vendor. During setup, pick the clean install option. Reboot when done. If you use a laptop, prefer the OEM package when the vendor asks for it.
Step 6: Run As Administrator Once
Right-click Steam, choose Run as administrator, then launch the game again. This single run can repair file rights or services. Close Steam and relaunch normally after the test.
Step 7: Check Shader Preloading
On first boot after an update, the game compiles shaders. Let the bar reach 100% before quitting. If the bar stalls, update your GPU driver, start a private match to load a 3D scene, and let the process complete. Relaunch once it finishes.
Step 8: Do A Clean Boot Test
Use a clean boot to rule out background apps. Disable third-party startup items, restart, then try the game. If it launches, re-enable tools in batches to find the culprit.
Quick Reasons Call Of Duty Does Not Open On Steam
Launch failures usually trace back to one of a short list of triggers. Keep these in mind while you work through the steps.
Corrupt Or Partial Files
Interrupted updates leave gaps. Verifying the install repairs missing or damaged files and syncs the build with Steam. If the client reports replaced files, test right away.
Overlay Conflicts
Multiple overlays can stack hooks and break the start sequence. Disable the Steam Overlay per-game, then turn off Discord and GPU overlays. Keep OSD tools closed during testing.
Driver Mismatch Or Stale Profiles
New releases ship with fresh shader paths and driver flags. Old drivers or leftovers can crash the renderer at launch. A clean install resets those bits.
Cached Download Data
A stuck cache breaks patching and launch checks. Clearing it forces Steam to rebuild the cache and fetch clean manifests.
Service Or Permission Gaps
Anti-cheat or file rights can block the hand-off from Steam to the game. A single admin run often flips the needed permission and lets future runs work under normal rights.
Deep Fixes For Stubborn Launch Issues
If the game still refuses to open on Steam, move through these deeper checks. Each item targets a common blocker seen on PC builds.
Repair Easy Anti-Cheat
Open the game’s install folder, run the EasyAntiCheat setup, and choose Repair. If a service failed to start, this step can restore it.
Recreate The Config And Cache Folders
Close Steam. In the Call of Duty folder under Documents, back up the players folder, then delete it. Start the game to rebuild clean config files. If this helps, copy only keybinds or sens lines from the backup.
Move The Game To A Healthy Drive
Install issues can stem from a failing drive or a file system glitch. In Steam, open Properties → Installed Files → Move Install Folder, and shift the game to another SSD with enough free space. Test again.
Set Windows To High Performance Mode
Open Power & Battery settings, pick the high performance plan, and retest. Games can hang during launch if the CPU parks cores too aggressively.
Reset Windows Gaming Components
Corrupt gaming components can affect Steam titles that use shared APIs. Repair the Gaming Services package from Windows settings, then reboot and try again.
Reinstall The Visual C++ Runtimes
Install the latest x64 and x86 Visual C++ redistributables from Microsoft. These libraries are common launch dependencies.
Table Of Settings And Services To Toggle During Tests
| Toggle | Where | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Overlay (off) | Game → Properties → General | Removes a hook that can crash at start |
| Shader Preload (complete) | In-game → Graphics | Pre-compiles shaders to prevent boot stalls |
| Clean GPU Driver | NVIDIA/AMD installer | Resets profiles and DLLs |
| Easy Anti-Cheat Repair | Game folder tool | Restores the service hand-off |
| Clean Boot | System Configuration | Rules out overlay and tuner conflicts |
| Move Install | Steam → Installed Files | Bypasses disk quirks or path issues |
When The Issue Is On The Publisher Side
Server outages and launcher changes can block the first start after an update. If servers are down, the game might open late or fail an ownership check. Wait for services to stabilize, then test again.
Notes For Recent Call Of Duty Builds On Steam
Some recent updates shifted content between Call of Duty HQ and standalone downloads. A large content move can leave stale files in the main folder. If you moved from HQ to a separate install, run a full verify and a cache clear to remove leftovers.
Safe Order To Apply Everything
This sequence blends quick wins with deeper fixes. It also avoids confusion when several changes happen at once.
- Reboot PC; launch from Steam Library.
- Verify integrity of game files.
- Clear the Steam download cache; sign in again.
- Disable overlays; close tuner apps.
- Clean install GPU driver; reboot.
- Run Steam as admin once; test.
- Let shaders finish; try a private match if the bar stalls.
- Clean boot; test again.
- Repair Easy Anti-Cheat; retest.
- Recreate config cache; retest.
- Move install to another SSD; retest.
- Repair Windows gaming components; retest.
FAQ-Style Myths That Waste Time
These tips float around forums and videos. They rarely fix launch problems and can add risk. Skip them unless directed by a vendor.
Random Registry Tweaks
Registry edits can lock you out of updates and cause rollbacks. Keep the registry alone unless an official guide asks for a specific key.
Deleting System DLLs
Removing system files to “fix” a crash can break other games and apps. Stick to verifiable steps and vendor tools.
Overwriting Game Folders With Old Copies
Dragging old builds over a new patch almost always makes things worse. Use Steam’s repair tools instead.
Helpful Links You Can Trust
To run a file repair, use the official Steam guide on Verify Integrity Of Game Files. For COD-specific PC steps, Activision’s page on Modern Warfare PC Troubleshooting lists known app conflicts and launch tips.
When To Reinstall
If none of the fixes help and storage space allows it, a clean reinstall can clear bad paths and dead assets. Uninstall the game in Steam, delete the leftover Call of Duty folder in steamapps\common if it remains, reboot, and install fresh to a different SSD. Launch before adding mods or overlays.
What To Capture For A Publisher Ticket
If you need to contact the publisher, grab these in one pass: a DxDiag report, a screenshot of the crash or no-window state, the last 100 lines of the game log, and your Steam build info. List the steps you tried in the order above. Clear, reproducible notes speed up the fix.