Top 20 Fixes for Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Start Issue

Sledgehammer Games and Activision have released Call of Duty: Vanguard, a first-person shooter set in 2021. PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S were released on November 5th. Some players have reported a problem with Call of Duty: Vanguard not starting.

One of the popular games is Call of Duty: Vanguard. While some players have no issues with the game, others are reporting Call Of Duty: Vanguard: Vanguard Won’t Launch Error, Dev Error or other crash issues that are blocking them. You also had issues with CoD Vanguard crashing. The top 20 solutions to this problem are listed below.

How to fix Call of Duty: Vanguard won’t start?

Perform a clean boot
Check system requirements
Delete Game Cache COD (Xbox One / Xbox Series Only)
Clear more space (Console only)
Optimizing settings for Vanguard
Run Vanguard as Administrator
Whitelist the game or disable your antivirus
Reinstall Intel Management Engine
Link game console account to Activision account
Reinstall the game
Disable Nvidia Overlay and Discord Experience
Force DirectX 11 to launch
Update your GPU drivers (video card driver)
Link Blizzard Account and Activation Account
Set Power Options to High Performance
Set your Windows system to the best performance
Disable SysMain Service
Close background apps
Check for current server issues
Disable Xbox Game Bar

1. Perform a clean boot

Windows PC

When the system boots, some applications and their services may start automatically. These applications or services will undoubtedly consume a significant amount of Internet bandwidth and system resources.

If you’re experiencing the same symptoms, try performing a clean boot on your computer to rule out the possibility of a problem.

To open the Run dialog, press Windows + R.
To open System Configuration, type MSconfig and press Enter.

Check the “Hide all Microsoft services”box in the “Services”tab.
Select Disable All. Then, to save your changes, click Apply and then OK.

Now select the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
The Task Manager window will appear. Click the “Startup”tab here.
Then select the task that has the most impact on launch.
Once selected, click Disable to remove them from the startup process.
Repeat the procedure for each program with a large initial impact.
After you’re done, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

Xbox and PS4

Press and hold the box button on the Xbox system (in the center of the Xbox controller to open the power center).
Select “Restart Console”then “Restart”to confirm your decision.
If you’re on PS4 and are having trouble, press and hold the PS button (on your controller).
In the context menu that appears, select Power. After that, select “Restart PS4″and wait for it to complete.
To enter the Power menu on your Playstation 5, press the PS button on your controller and then use the options menu at the bottom.
Select “Restart PS5″from the list of available options.
Launch the game again after restarting the platform you are trying to play COD: Vanguard on.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

2. Check the system requirements

If your computer does not meet the system requirements for the game, it may crash. To make sure your computer is powerful enough to run the game, compare your system to the official specs before trying anything more complex.

It’s time to upgrade if your computer doesn’t meet any of the following standards, or if a hardware component shows clear signs of wear and tear.

Minimum

OS: Windows 10 64-bit (latest update)

CPU: Intel Core i3-4340 or AMD FX-6300

RAM: 8GB RAM

MEMORY (at launch): 36 GB (Multiplayer and Zombies only), 177 GB for all game modes.

HD ASSET CACH: up to 32 GB

VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470

VIDEO RAM: 2 GB

GRAPHICS DRIVER: NVIDIA 472.12 or AMC 21.9.1

3. Delete COD game cache (Xbox One / Xbox Series only).

The problem of Call Of Duty: Vanguard won’t launch if you try to play the game on Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S is a corrupted game cache. Xbox users commonly report this issue after a pending Call of Duty: Vanguard update crashes.

Delete the game-related cached data from the Settings menu on your Xbox controller (under Saved Data).

Select My games & apps from the menu on the left by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.

Select the “Games”tab from the left menu once you enter the next menu.
Locate the Call of Duty: Vanguard installation in your library by scrolling down.
Select it and press the menu button on your controller to open the context menu when you see it.
Access the Manage game and add-ons option from the context menu that opens.

Scroll to the category at the bottom of the screen.

Clear the cache option in the Save Data category, restart your console, then reinstall Call of Duty Vanguard.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

4. Free up more space (Console only)

Call of Duty: Vanguard doesn’t know how to let you know if you don’t have enough resources to install an upcoming update. Users on both Xbox and Playstation are reporting that they are unable to launch the game because there is not enough space on their system to apply the shader update.

To prevent this issue from affecting your system, make sure you have at least 90-100 GB of free space on your hard drive.

On Playstation 4

If you have a Playstation 4, go to the Settings menu and then System Storage Management.
Check the currently available free space after entering the system storage management menu.
Take the time to clean up apps if their total size is less than 100 GB.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

On Playstation 5

Open “Settings”from the home screen, then click “Storage”to check and free up space on your Playstation 5 computer.
Once inside, delete game items (entire games, parts of games, or add-ons) until you have at least 100 GB of space left.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

On Xbox One/Xbox Series X

On your Xbox console, go to the My Games & Apps tab, then the Manage tab.
Select the Free up space tile and use the various options to free up at least 100 GB of space.
Restart the game to check if the issue is resolved.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

5. Optimize settings for Vanguard

Let’s say you’re having this issue on a PC with an Nvidia GPU. You may be able to restore it by using Nvidia Experience to optimize the game for your PC’s graphics capabilities, or by resetting the game to its original settings.

Many Windows 10 and Windows 11 users have successfully completed this simple repair. This will resolve the issue if the game fails to launch due to a graphical setting that is incompatible with the rendering of the game.

Press the Windows key to expand the start menu, type “GeForce”and select GeForce Experience from the list of results.

Select Call of Duty Vanguard from the Games menu in the Ge-Force Experience.
Then click the Optimize button and wait for the settings to change.
Restart the game to check if the issue is resolved.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

6. Run Vanguard as Administrator

To avoid issues with User Account Control and privileges, run the Vanguard.exe file as an administrator. You must also run the battle.net client as an administrator on your PC.

On your computer, right-click the shortcut file COD Vanguard.exe.
Now go to Properties and select the Compatibility tab.
Make sure that the Run this software as an administrator check box is selected.

To save your changes, click Apply and then OK.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

7. Whitelist the game or disable your antivirus

If Call Of Duty: Vanguard won’t start on your computer, you might be dealing with a classic case of an overprotective firewall. In your antivirus settings, whitelist COD Vanguard + launcher (BattleNet). Disable real-time protection of your antivirus.

Follow these steps to whitelist Call of Duty Modern Warfare + launcher if you’re using Windows Defender:

To get started, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
To open the classic Windows Firewall interface, type “control firewall.cpl”in the text box and press Enter.

Allow an app or service through Windows Defender Firewall can be found in the left menu of Windows Defender Firewall.

Select “Change Settings”under “Allowed Applications”to grant administrator rights, then “Yes”in the “User Account Control”(UAC) field.
Check the allowed apps list to see if Call of Duty Vanguard and its launcher (Battle.net) are enabled.

Before clicking “OK”to save your changes, double check that both “Private”and “Public”are checked.
If Call of Duty Vanguard and Battle.net are not already on this list, go to the “Allow another program”section and add them manually.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

8. Reinstall Intel Management Engine

An inconsistency in using the Intel Management Engine interface can also cause the Call Of Duty: Vanguard won’t start (PC) issue. Users reported that they can fix the problem by using Device Manager to force uninstall the existing driver and then manually reinstalling the latest driver.

To open the Run dialog box, press the Windows key + R. To open the Apps and Features menu, type “appwiz.cpl”and press Enter.

Scroll down to find and select the Intel Management Engine Components installation, then click Uninstall to uninstall it.
To completely uninstall the driver, select Uninstall again.

Do not restart your computer after uninstalling the driver.
Instead, open your preferred browser and go to the Intel Obtaining Center to download the Management Engine Interface driver.
Select the Intel Management Engine driver for Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11.
Select “Download”and wait for the driver to load properly.
Double-click the MEISetup.exe file, grant administrator rights, complete the installation by following the on-screen instructions, and then restart your computer.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

9. Link your game console account to your Activision account

If you’re trying to play a game on a console and you’re having trouble signing in, make sure your Blizzard and Activision accounts are linked.

Register the Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo account you want to connect.
Sign in with your Activision account using this page in your browser.
Select the account you want to link in the Account Linking section.
When you click Continue, you will be taken to the Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo website to complete the account linking process.
Return to the console after the connection process is complete to see if you can play the game.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

10. Reinstall the game

The next step is to look for a potential game file corruption issue. Specific methods for reinstalling Call of Duty: Vanguard depend on your platform.

To reinstall Call of Duty: Vanguard and fix the game file corruption issue, follow the sub-guide applicable to your platform of choice for Call Of Duty: Vanguard won’t launch issue:

Windows PC

Start by uninstalling the game from the Programs and Features screen of your PC. This method should be used instead of running a Repair Install of the Game Launcher (Integrity Check).

Press Windows key + R. Type “appwiz.cpl”to open the Run dialog box.
To open the Programs and Features menu (in Windows 10 and earlier) or Installed Programs, press Enter (in Windows 11).
Locate the entry associated with installing Call of Duty: Vanguard in the Programs and Features or Installed Applications menu.
To uninstall a game, right-click it (or press the action button), then select Uninstall.
Complete the installation by following the prompts on the screen, then restart your computer.
Reinstall COD: Vanguard using the official channels by opening the launcher of the game you currently own the game.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

PlayStation 4

Scroll through the games you have installed on the home screen of your PlayStation 4 system until you find Call of Duty: Vanguard.
Click Options to enable the controller when the game is selected, then choose Uninstall from the context menu that appears.
After you have uninstalled the game and returned to the PlayStation 4 home screen,
Swipe left on your controller’s left stick until you reach the Library menu. Once you find it, select it and press the X button.
Select “Purchased”from the vertical menu on the left when you’re in the “Library”menu.
Find the game you want to reinstall in the right menu.
Select Call of Duty: Vanguard, then hold down the Options key and select Download from the context menu to uninstall the game.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

Playstation 5

Select Call of Duty: Vanguard on the home screen of your PlayStation 5 system using your left thumb (or arrow keys), then press the Options button on your controller.
Select Uninstall, confirm your decision and wait for the game to be uninstalled.
Access your game library from the home screen of your PS5 system after the game has been successfully uninstalled.
Look for Call of Duty: Vanguard and choose it. Select “Download”; immediately after that, the installation of the game will begin.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

Xbox One / Xbox Series S and X

Press the Xbox button on your controller, and then select My Games & Apps from the menu on the left.
Select the “Games For”tab from the menu on the left and scroll down the library until you find the Call of Duty: Vanguard installation.
To access the context menu, press the menu button on your controller while the game is selected.
Access the Manage game and add-ons option from the context menu that opens.
Select the Delete All option from the menu on the left.
Confirm the operation and wait for it to complete.
After uninstalling the game, go to your library from the home screen, then to the All Owned Games section to reinstall Call of Duty: Vanguard.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

11. Disable Nvidia and Discord App Experience Overlay

If the game won’t launch when you try to use software like OBS or Nvidia Highlights, the cause of COD: Vanguard crashing could be a conflict in screen recording or screen overlay detection.

You should be able to fix the problem by disabling the unnecessary in-game overlay or completely uninstalling the program. Either OBS and Nvidia Experience, or OBS and the in-game Discord overlay are contradictory.

Nvidia overlay is disabled.

If you’re having this issue while using the Nvidia overlay, you should disable it in the options menu.

Start by closing the game instance and also launch.
On the left side of Nvidia Experience, select the General tab.

Turn off the toggle associated with the game overlay in the left menu.

Save changes and exit Nvidia Experience as soon as they are implemented.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

Disable the Discord overlay.

If you’re using Discord’s overlay feature, you’ll need to go into the app’s settings and turn off the overlay option in your user settings.

Start by closing all instances of the game and the launcher you used to launch it.
Then launch the Discord program.
Open the system tray and then double-tap the icon to bring the Discord window to the front.
Go to user settings (gear icon) basically at the bottom of the window when you are in the Discord program.
Click the Overlay tab in the vertical menu on the left in the User Settings menu (under Application Settings).

Turn off the toggle associated with “Enable In-Game Overlay”in the “Overlay”menu.

Save your changes to Discord before launching the game.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

12. Force launch DirectX 11

If you are using the latest version of DirectX, now called DX12, your game may not work properly. While launching and playing Call of Duty Vanguard, try to force install the DirectX 11 version on your PC. T

Launch the Battle.Net client on your PC.
Go to the library and get the COD Vanguard game.
Check the “Additional command line arguments”checkbox in “Options”.
To save your changes, type -d3d11 and exit the client.
Finally, run the Vanguard game to make sure it runs correctly and without crashes.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

13. Update your GPU drivers (video card driver)

It’s also possible that your graphics driver hasn’t been updated in a while. If this is the case, make sure your graphics drivers on your PC are up to date to avoid possible issues.

To access the quick link menu, press Windows + X.
Select Device Manager from the list, then double-click Display Adapters.

Right-click the dedicated graphics card you are using.
Select “Update Driver”, then select “Search for Drivers Automatically”.

If there is an update, the system will download and install it automatically.
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect immediately.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

14. Link Blizzard Account and Activation Account

Make sure your Blizzard and Activision accounts are properly connected or linked. Since the accounts are not linked, this may be the reason for the game to crash on startup.

Go to this official Activision support page to link your activation account to your Blizzard account.
If you receive an “Error: disconnected from server”error message, please try again.
Use the same account you currently use or used to purchase the game.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

15. Set the power options to High Performance.

Call of Duty games are too large and their high-quality visuals or processes require the use of all available system resources when launching or running. It is highly recommended that you set your Windows system to “High Performance”mode so that system resources are not limited while playing Cash on Delivery Vanguard.

Click Windows or click Start, then type Power Options to access it.
Turn on the “High performance”switch after clicking on the “Advanced power options”option.

After you’re done, restart your computer to see the changes.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

16. Set your Windows system to maximum performance

Even if you don’t use high-quality apps or games, your Windows PC may experience performance issues. If your hardware configuration is sufficient, disable any additional features or visual enhancements in Windows and switch to best performance mode.

Search “Performance”in Windows search and then open it.
Change the appearance and performance of Windows by clicking on it.
For best results, simply enable the Adjust for Optimal Performance option.
When you enable the best performance setting, the graphical quality of the system user interface is reduced, and user interface elements and even font design change.
If this option doesn’t help, just switch back to the recommended mode or the last option.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

17. Disable SysMain Service

Make sure the SysMain service, commonly known as SuperFetch, is disabled as this can create issues with game launch and gameplay. To turn it off, follow the link:

To open the Run dialog, press Windows + R.
Put services.msc in the box and press Enter to open services.

Select the SysMain service from the list of services and right-click it.
Stop, then right-click SysMain and choose Properties from the menu.

Change the Startup type to Disabled, select Apply and OK to save the changes.
To apply the changes, restart your computer.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

18. Close background apps

You can also try closing any unwanted background apps. This is because constantly running third-party applications can compete for CPU and memory, which can cause Vanguard to crash.

Task Manager can be used to kill these resource intensive and potentially destructive background applications and services:
Press the Windows logo key to open Task Manager, then press Ctrl, Shift and Esc.
Select the Startup tab, then right-click and disable each item.
Start your computer again.
Check to see if the Vanguard crash issue has been resolved.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

19. Check for Current Server Issues

If the game crashes right after launch or you can’t get past the splash screen, it’s probably due to a server crash that is interrupting the match.

Take a few minutes to double check if this applies. Luckily, Activision has a dedicated status page where you can check if a game is currently having server issues.
When you get to the corresponding page, select Call of Duty: Vanguard from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
After selecting COD: Vanguard, check to see if Activision is reporting any ongoing issues.
A server issue is unlikely if every part of the game currently has a green check mark.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

20. Disable Xbox Game Bar

This error is only present in preview releases of Windows 11. Therefore, updating your PC should resolve the issue if this is the cause.

If you are unable to update for any reason, you may be able to avoid the conflict by disabling the Xbox Game Bar.

To launch the settings menu in Windows 11, use the Windows key + I.
Select the Games tab from the vertical menu to the left of the Settings menu.
Click the three dots icon (action button) in the upper left corner of the screen if this menu is not available by default.

To access all related settings, select Xbox Game Bar.
Now check if the problem with Call Of Duty: Vanguard Won’t Launch is fixed.

Conclusion

In this article, I have included fixes for bugs and issues causing Call of Duty Vanguard issues not starting users. I hope these solutions fix the “Call of Duty: Vanguard won’t start”issue.

FAQ

Why does Vanguard keep crashing on startup?

You will have to manually uninstall the current driver and let Windows Update replace it with a generic replacement. Corrupt game installation. Another possible cause for this issue on PC and consoles is that some game files are corrupted, causing the game to crash on launch.

How to fix COD Vanguard error?

If Vanguard keeps crashing on your computer, your graphics driver is most likely outdated or corrupted. As a result, you should update your drivers to check if the game is crashing.

How do I stop Vanguard from crashing PS4?

It helps keep the device up to date by reducing issues such as crashes, weird glitches and errors. In addition, gamers should regularly check for available game updates. These fixes address the most common issues in the game.

Why am I getting an error in Vanguard?

Game file corruption is a common source of Vanguard PC issues, so you might want to try scanning and repairing them to see if that fixes the issue. You will have to wait for this to finish and then restart your computer before playing the game to see if it succeeds.