Call Of Duty Vanguard Won T Launch Try These Fixes

The main cause is often a broken game or system file—especially problems with Vanguard.exe or ntdll.dll. Other causes include full‑screen optimizations, running the game as an administrator, or using overlay programs.

1. Check for ongoing server issues

Before trying other fixes, we recommend you check if the problem is simply due to a server outage affecting Call of Duty: Vanguard. If you can’t get past the initial screen or your game crashes right after launching, it may be a widespread online issue. This is especially likely if you had no problems before. Activision offers a dedicated status page where you can check for server disruptions. Once on the status page, use the drop-down menu at the top right and select Call of Duty: Vanguard. Look for any warnings or alerts from Activision about current problems. If everything is marked green, server issues are unlikely. Note: Sometimes, your gaming platform itself (Steam, Epic Games, Playstation, Xbox, or Battle.Net) might have ongoing issues. You can check this directly on Activision’s site under Server Status by Network. Tip: Cross-check with community outage sites, such as DownDetector or IsItDownRightNow , to see if other players are having the same problem right now. Important: If server issues are confirmed, you’ll just need to be patient—the fix is up to Activision.

2. Reboot PC or Console

Once you’re sure it’s not a server problem, try rebooting your device. This basic step can resolve many temporary bugs. After restarting, try launching the game again. If the problem persists, move to the next step below.

3. Delete game cache (Xbox One / Xbox Series Only)

If you’re on Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S, and server issues aren’t to blame, a corrupted game cache might be the problem. Note: Xbox consoles keep a game cache that can be cleared without uninstalling the game. This often happens after a failed or interrupted Vanguard update. If this didn’t resolve it, continue with the next potential fix.

4. Clear more space (Consoles Only)

Call of Duty: Vanguard may not warn you if there isn’t enough space to install updates, especially on consoles. Both Xbox and Playstation users have reported issues launching the game due to a lack of storage for shader or content updates. Note: This issue is mainly for consoles (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series), not PCs. To rule this out, make sure you have at least 100 GB of free space:

4.1. On Playstation 5

Go to Settings > Storage. Delete unneeded games, add-ons, or files until you have at least 100 GB free. Then try starting the game again.

4.2. On Playstation 4

From Settings, go to System Storage Management, and check Free Space. If it’s under 100 GB, clear out Applications or other files as needed.

4.3. On Xbox One / Xbox Series X

In My games and apps, open the Manage tab, choose Free up space and delete old games or files until you have at least 100 GB free. Try launching the game once more.

5. Reinstall the Game (PC and Consoles)

If nothing so far has worked, it may be a corrupted installation. Many users have solved launch issues with a fresh install. Instructions differ by platform, so follow the steps for your device:

5.1. Reinstall the game on PC

Open Programs and Features (or Installed Apps on Windows 11), find Vanguard, and uninstall it. This is better than using the “repair” tool because it clears all files.

5.2. Reinstall the game on PlayStation 4

From your home screen, select Vanguard, press Options, and choose Delete.

5.3. Reinstall the game on PlayStation 5

These steps are slightly different from PS4 due to a new interface:

5.4. Reinstall the game on Xbox One / Xbox Series S & X

Steps are the same for both consoles due to a shared interface:

6. Optimize Settings for Vanguard (PC Only)

If you have an Nvidia GPU and problems persist, try letting Nvidia GeForce Experience auto-optimize the game settings. This resolves issues when game graphics settings are incompatible with your hardware.

7. Reinstall the Intel Management Engine

If you’re on a PC—especially with an Intel CPU—the Intel Management Engine driver may need updating. This is especially true after upgrading to Windows 11.

8. Force the game on DirectX 11

If you previously set Vanguard to run with DirectX 12 but encounter startup issues, switching to DirectX 11 may help—especially for newer GPUs.

9. Whitelist Game or Disable Antivirus/Firewall (PC Only)

On PC, some security programs (especially third-party antivirus or firewall tools) may incorrectly block Vanguard’s components.

Whitelist Vanguard and the Battle.net launcher in your antivirus/firewall settingsOr temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall real-time protection while launching the game

Note: Steps will vary for different third-party security software. See instructions for Windows Firewall here.

10. Link Console Account to Activision Account (Consoles Only)

If you’re on console and get a sign-in error, make sure your Blizzard or platform account is linked with your Activision account.

11. Disable Discord or Nvidia Experience Overlay (PC Only)

Screen overlays from Discord, Nvidia GeForce Experience, or apps like OBS may conflict with Vanguard and cause it to crash. While some fixes have been released, conflicts still occur for some users.