Cyberpunk 2077 — How to Fix "Crash on startup"
Crash on startup in Cyberpunk 2077: the fix path, and when it is grounds for a refund.
Last updated 2026-09-25 · evergreen reference
If Cyberpunk 2077 is failing with "Crash on startup", this page tells you which fixes are worth your time and when you should stop troubleshooting and go to the store instead. The causes are specific, so the fixes are too.
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Outdated mods.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.
When to ask for a refund instead
Troubleshooting has a deadline.
Know the window
Steam refunds within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours of playtime, and documented technical faults are sometimes accepted past that. Microsoft Store and Epic follow similar rules with store-specific exception paths.
Evidence changes outcomes
Attach crash logs, a DxDiag and the steps you already tried. A denied refund can sometimes be overturned when you can show the game is genuinely unplayable rather than simply disliked.
Bans are not refundable
If the failure follows an anti-cheat ban or a modified online client, no store will refund it. That is a separate category from a game that will not run.
Related pages
This is an independent player reference and is not official documentation for Cyberpunk 2077. GameFixPro 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.