Cyberpunk 2077 — How to Fix "Crash on startup"
What causes the Crash on startup error in Cyberpunk 2077, and the fixes in the order that works.
Last updated 2026-09-25 · evergreen reference
The "Crash on startup" failure in Cyberpunk 2077 has a specific cause, and knowing it saves you from working through a dozen unrelated fixes. This page covers what the error actually looks like, why it happens, and the fixes ranked by how often they work.
What the error looks like
Confirm you are dealing with the same failure.
Recognising "Crash on startup"
The game closes immediately on launch, flatlines before the main menu, or fails before the CD Projekt Red launcher fully opens.
Why it happens
The cause determines the fix.
Cause 1
A corrupted REDlauncher installation — the launcher itself fails before the game is ever reached.
Cause 2
Outdated mods. Phantom Liberty and subsequent major patches broke thousands of older Nexus mods, including script frameworks, UI edits, vehicle handling changes, ReShade presets and archive mods.
Cause 3
Missing or partially overwritten Visual C++ and DirectX runtime components, especially after a Windows reset, failed update, driver cleanup or drive migration.
Fixes, in the order that works
Cheapest and most reversible first.
Delete the REDlauncher folder
Press Win + R, type %localappdata%\Programs\CD Projekt Red\ and press Enter, then delete the REDlauncher folder. Launch the game — the launcher rebuilds its own files.
Test with mods disabled
Remove all mods and launch clean. A clean test is the fastest way to separate game instability from a mod conflict. If it starts, re-enable mods one at a time, restarting between each.
Repair the Visual C++ redistributables
Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for Microsoft Visual C++, then select each 2015-2022 entry and choose Modify > Repair. Do this for both x64 and x86, then restart.
Clear launch options and test a safe display mode
Remove any launch options, set Windowed Borderless at native resolution, disable VSync for testing and keep advanced effects off. On NVIDIA cards leave DLSS frame generation off until basic stability is confirmed.
Check display configuration
Unplug secondary monitors temporarily, confirm the correct monitor is primary, and verify scaling, refresh rate, HDR and resolution in Windows display settings. A mismatched refresh rate or unstable HDR mode makes the game fail during initialisation.
How to confirm it is fixed
One successful launch is not proof.
Retest properly
Launch twice in a row from the store client rather than a desktop shortcut. A single successful launch does not prove the fix — repeat it after a full reboot.
If none of this works
What to do after the list is exhausted.
Gather evidence before asking
Collect your crash log, a DxDiag and the list of fixes you already tried. For Cyberpunk 2077, support will ask for all three, and a report with evidence gets a far better response than "it crashes".
Reinstall last, not first
A reinstall is the most time-consuming fix and repairs the same files that verification and cache repair handle in minutes. Try it only after the targeted fixes above have failed.
Related pages
This is an independent player reference and is not official documentation for Cyberpunk 2077. GameRulePro does not host or link to copyrighted assets. Modding guidance is for single-player use only — never use mods in online multiplayer. Verify current requirements, prices and policies with the publisher before acting.
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