DOOM Eternal Won’t Launch? Check These Fixes

You can’t just forfeit playing a game entirely because you are having issues getting it to start. If you’re facing this problem with DOOM Eternal, we understand how frustrating it is. That said, you don’t have to endure the frustration anymore or request a refund because we have the solutions to the problem in this article.

In most cases, players found out that the crashing problem had been caused by an underlying system issue. The guides in this article will show you how to tackle underlying problems on your PC and get the game to start.

Make Sure Your Computer Can Play the Game

Before you start troubleshooting random crashes in the game, make sure you’ve installed it on the right computer. It’s not enough to have a powerful CPU and large system memory these days; other software and hardware components are critical to gaming too. That’s why every game comes with detailed information of what your computer must have to run it. This info is called the minimum requirements.

Below, you’ll find all of the game’s requirements and a guide on how to check if your computer has what it takes to play it.

Now, follow the steps below if you don’t know where to look for your system’s specs:

• Right-click on the Start button.
• From the Quick Access menu, click on File Explorer.
• You can also use the Windows + E keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer quickly.
• Once the File Explorer window appears, go to the left side and right-click This PC.
• Select Properties once the context menu appears.
• After the System window opens, you’ll find your system’s specifications on the main page under System.

To check your graphics card’s details, follow the guide below:

• Right-click on the Start button.
• From the Quick Access menu, click on Run.
• You can also press the Windows and R keys simultaneously to launch the Run dialog box.
• After Run opens, type dxdiag into the text box, and then hit the Enter key.

• Once the DirectX Diagnostic Tool shows up, switch to the Display tab.
• You’ll find all the information you need about your GPU under the Display tab of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Also read: The Most Demanding PC Games of 2024: Pushing Hardware to the Limits

DOOM Eternal Won’t Launch: Fixes

Fix one: Run the game as an administrator

Administrative privileges allow programs to do almost whatever they want. Most games, including DOOM Eternal, need these privileges to function properly. If they don’t have them, Windows will block their access to certain system resources, such as protected files and folders. This restriction could be the reason for the game’s struggle to launch.

Also read: Gaming Laptop vs. Desktop: Are Gaming Laptops Worth It?

So, the solution you’ve been looking for could be as easy as granting the game admin privileges. Remember, though, that to do that, you need to be logged into an admin user account.

If your account is the right one, then follow these steps to run the game as an administrator:

1. Follow these steps to locate DOOM Eternal’s installation folder:

• Launch the Steam client.
• After Steam shows up, click on Library at the top of the window.
• Once you see the list of games you downloaded, right-click on DOOM Eternal.
• From the context menu, click on Properties.
• After the Properties page shows up on the right side of the window, go to the Local Files tab.
• Next, click on the Browse Local Files button.

2. Once the game’s installation folder appears, head to its executable file and right-click it.
3. Click on Properties after you see the context menu.
4. Next, go to the Compatibility tab of the Properties dialog window.
5. Under the Compatibility tab, tick the box next to Run this program as an administrator, then click on OK.
6. Run the game and check if it launches without crashing to the desktop.

Fix two: Verify the game’s files

Your game files are your game. If they go missing or become corrupt for any reason, you can’t play. A lot of things affect these files: they can be corrupted by malware, damaged or deleted by your antivirus program, compromised by an incomplete installation or update, or affected by an unplanned system shutdown.

Also read: How to Find and Fix Corrupted Files in Windows 10?

Checking that your game files are not corrupt or missing is one of the troubleshooting measures that you should never pass up. You can use the Steam client to verify your game files. Steam will scan all the game’s files on your system and make sure they’re in the same state as those on its servers. If any file doesn’t match its counterpart, the client will automatically replace it. The steps below will show you everything you need to do:

• Launch the Steam client.
• After Steam shows up, head to the top of the window and click on Library.

• Once you see the list of games you downloaded, head over to DOOM Eternal, right-click it, and then click on Properties.
• After the Properties page shows up on the right, switch to the Local Files tab.
• Now, click on the VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES… button.
• Steam will now go through your game files to confirm that they correspond with those on its servers. The program will replace any file that doesn’t check out.
• Note that the duration of the verification process might be long, depending on the size and number of files being replaced, your system’s speed, and the strength of your internet connection. You have to give the client the time it needs to do its job.
• Once the game has been verified, restart Steam and check if the launching issue persists.

Also read: How to Uninstall Steam Games Safely and Easily?

Fix three: Prevent your antivirus program from blocking DOOM Eternal

The next troubleshooting step you should take is to make sure your antivirus program isn’t the culprit. Security programs don’t have good records with games. These applications tend to block video games like DOOM Eternal because they consider them to be malware or serious threats.

For some players, shutting down their antivirus programs resolved the problem. You can choose to go that route, but preventing the security program from blocking the game is a safer choice. To do that, you have to go to the Settings or Preferences environment, depending on the antivirus program you use, and look for the option that allows you to preclude an application from being scanned. The option goes by different names, again, depending on the program you use. They include:

• Exceptions
• Exclusions
• SafeList
• WhiteList
• Exemptions

Also read: [EXPLAINED] Does Windows 10 Need Antivirus?

If you use a third-party application and don’t know what to do, you can find a guide on the website of the app’s developer to walk you through the process. However, the guide below will be all you need if your main system protection program is Windows’ built-in security suite:

• Launch the Settings application. You can do this via the Start menu or by pressing Windows + I.
• After the home screen of the app shows up, go to the bottom and click on the Update & Security icon.

• Once the Update & Security interface opens, switch to the left pane and click on Windows Security.
• Under the Windows Security tab, you’ll see different options; locate Virus & threat protection and click on it.

• The Virus & threat protection page of the Windows Security app will now appear.
• Now, scroll down to the Virus & threat protection settings segment of the interface, then click on Manage settings under it.
• Once the Virus & threat protection settings interface opens, scroll down to the Exclusions area and click on Add or remove exclusions.

• Next, click on the Add an exclusion icon once the Exclusions page opens, then click on Folder in the menu.

• Once you see the Select Folder dialog, navigate to the installation folder of DOOM Eternal, left-click on it, and then click on the Select Folder button.
• After adding the game as an exclusion, open it and check for the launching problem.

Fix four: Disable Data Execution Prevention

Data Execution Prevention, DEP for short, is a security feature that comes with Windows 10 and is enabled by default. Its job is to prevent unrecognized and unauthorized scripts from loading in restricted areas of the system memory. The main reason Microsoft created this extra security layer is to make sure malicious programs don’t exploit and abuse your system memory, even if your antivirus program fails to catch them.

As it turns out, DEP might be preventing your game from using certain areas of your system memory that are critical to its proper function. So, try turning off DEP for DOOM Eternal and check if the game will launch without issues. Follow the steps below if you don’t know what to do:

• Right-click the Start button and click on File Explorer once the Quick Access menu shows up. You can also summon a File Explorer window by double-clicking any folder on the desktop or by hitting the Windows logo and E keys together.
• Once you see the File Explorer window, switch over to the left pane.
• Right-click on This PC and click Properties in the context menu.
• After the System window appears, navigate to the left sidebar and click on the Advanced system settings link.
• Under the Advanced tab of the System Properties dialog window, go to the Performance section and click on the Settings button.
• Head to the Data Execution Prevention tab once the Performance dialog box opens.
• Next, select the radio button for Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select, and then click on the Add button.
• Browse to the installation folder of DOOM Eternal.
• Select the folder and click on the OK button.
• Finally, click OK on each of the open dialog boxes, then launch the Steam client and check for the startup problem.

Fix five: Update your graphics card driver

Your graphics card driver’s job is to translate processing instructions for your GPU. It is responsible for telling the device how to operate and do its job. If the driver becomes outdated or encounters any issue, it will fail to carry out its functions. Such a problem could prevent the game from launching since the GPU is responsible for handling the bulk of graphics processes for games.

You have to make sure your driver isn’t problematic. The best thing to do when troubleshooting your display driver is to uninstall your current installation and install the updated version of the program. So, follow the steps below to use the Device Manager to remove the current driver:

• Click on the magnifying glass icon on the right side of the Start button to summon the search utility. You can also press the Windows and S keys simultaneously to do the same thing.
• After the search box opens, type “device manager” (no quotes), then click on Device Manager in the results.
• After the Device Manager appears, click on the arrow beside the Display adapters drop-down menu to reveal your graphics card.
• Right-click on your card, and then click on Uninstall device in the context menu.
• Once you see the Uninstall Device confirmation dialog, mark the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, then click on the Uninstall button.
• After Windows removes the driver, restart your PC.

After removing the program, go through the right steps to make sure you download and install the right updated driver for your GPU. You’ll find guides in this article that will show you what to do in case you don’t know the best way to update your display driver.

Use the Windows Update utility

Windows Update is designed to download and install driver updates for devices that are supported by Microsoft. So, if your GPU happens to be one of those supported devices, you can easily install its latest driver by running the Windows Update utility.

If you don’t know how to run Windows Update, follow the steps below:

• Click on the Start button or punch the Windows logo key, then click on the cogwheel in the Start menu. You can also press the Windows and I keys simultaneously to launch the Settings application.
• On the home page of Windows Settings, locate the Update & Security icon and click on it.
• After the Update & Security page shows up, click on the Check for updates button under the Windows Update tab.
• The Windows Update utility will now check for updates available for your PC.
• Allow the tool to download these updates. If your PC is up to date, move on to the next guide.
• Once the updates have been downloaded, click on the Restart now button to prompt the utility to begin the installation process.
• Clicking the Restart now button will override the Active Hours schedule, where Windows will wait for those hours when you’re not actively using your PC.
• Your system will now reboot several times as the utility performs the installation.
• Once the installation process completes, your PC will boot up normally.
• You can now launch the game and check for the problem.

Use the Device Manager

Updating any device driver via the Device Manager is quite easy, especially if you allow the tool to perform the update. Although you can download an update from the device manufacturer’s website and use the Device Manager to install it, we recommend that you allow the program to carry out the update for you.

The steps below will show you how to run the Device Manager and allow it to perform an online search for your driver:

• Go to your keyboard and punch the Windows and S keys together or click on the magnifying glass icon in the taskbar to open the search function next to the Start button.
• Once the search box comes up, type “device manager” (without the quotes).
• Click on Device Manager once it appears on the results list.
• After the Device Manager opens, find your way to the Display adapters menu and expand it.
• Go to your graphics card under Display adapters, right-click it, and then click on Update driver from the context menu.
• Next, click on the option that reads, “Search automatically for drivers” under How do you want to search for drivers after the Update Driver window appears.

• The tool will now search for your latest video card driver on the Internet and automatically download and install it.
• Restart your PC once the process is complete and check if the startup issue has been resolved.

Use a dedicated program

You can always rely on a third-party application, such as Auslogics Driver Updater, to help you download and install your graphics card driver. The great thing about using the program is that you won’t be limited to just your graphics card driver; you can also use it to update other device drivers.

Once installed, the tool will perform routine checks to pick out problematic device drivers. You can then go ahead and update these drivers. This way, you get to find out which devices have issues without having to first experience problems that come with these issues.

The tool is designed to only download and install signed driver updates. It can also keep backups of drivers that you updated so that you can roll back whenever you face compatibility issues in the future.

Also read: [EASY GUIDE] How to Update Device Drivers on a Windows 10 PC?

Fix six: Run the game on your dedicated GPU

Some computers that come with integrated and dedicated (or discrete) GPUs often force every application to run on the integrated adapter. This is common practice to conserve power; however, it’s one of the common causes of launching problems in games like DOOM Eternal. We’ll show you how to force the game to run on your dedicated card if you have such a set-up:

Using AMD Radeon Settings

1. Tap the Windows and S keys together or click on the magnifying glass icon in the taskbar.
2. Once you see the search bar, type “AMD” (without the quotes), and then click on AMD Radeon Settings in the search results list.
3. When the program shows up, navigate to the top-right corner of its interface and click on System.
4. Head to the top-left corner of the next screen and click on Switchable Graphics.
5. You’ll now be taken to the Running Applications view.
6. Locate DOOM Eternal and change its Switchable Graphics mode to High Performance.
7. If DOOM Eternal doesn’t show up in the Running Applications view, head to the top-left corner of the window and click on Running Applications, then click on Browse.
8. Navigate to the game’s installation folder and select its EXE file.
9. Now, change the Switchable Graphics mode for the game to High Performance once it shows up in the window.

Using the NVIDIA Control Panel

1. Right-click on the empty surface of your desktop and click on NVIDIA Control Panel in the context menu.
2. Once the application appears, go to the left pane, click on the plus (+) sign beside the 3D Settings drop-down, and then click on Manage 3D settings.
3. Move over to the right pane of the window.
4. Stay under the Global Settings tab and click on the High performance NVIDIA processor option under Preferred graphics processor.
5. Head over to the Program Settings tab.
6. Click on the Add button beside the Select a program to customize drop-down.
7. In the dialog that comes up, find your way to the installation folder of DOOM Eternal, and then double-click its EXE file.
8. Next, navigate to the Select the preferred graphics processor for this program drop-down menu and click on High-performance NVIDIA processor.
9. Click on the Apply button and launch the game to check if the issue persists.

Using the Settings app

1. Launch the Settings application by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Settings or by pressing Windows + I.
2. Click on the System label after the home screen of the app shows up.
3. Once the System interface appears, scroll down to the bottom of the Display tab and click on Graphics settings.
4. After the Graphics settings screen opens, click on the Browse button in the Choose an app to set preference drop-down menu.
5. Once you see the Open dialog window, navigate to the installation folder of DOOM Eternal.
6. Locate the game’s EXE file, click on it, and then click on the Add button.
7. Once you’re back on the Graphics settings screen, you should see the game; click on it, then click on the Options button.
8. After you see the Graphics specifications dialog, click on the radio button for High performance, and then click Save.
9. The game will now be forced to run on your dedicated display card whenever you launch it.

DOOM Eternal Won’t Launch: Fixed

Encountering launch issues with DOOM Eternal can be frustrating, but these common troubleshooting steps can help you resolve the problem and get back into action.

Make sure your system meets the game’s requirements, verify game files, run the game as an administrator, update drivers, and configure your GPU settings, and you should be back to playing DOOM in no time! If you still face issues, consider revisiting the steps or seeking further assistance from technical support. With a little patience and the right approach, you’ll be battling through DOOM Eternal’s intense world in no time. Happy gaming!