COD Modern Warfare 2 Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC

COD Modern Warfare 2 Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: How to FIX

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COD Modern Warfare 2 Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II marks the latest installment in the FPS franchise developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision.

Serving as a direct sequel to the highly acclaimed 2019 title, Modern Warfare, this new edition has garnered praise for its impressive graphics, engaging gameplay, and captivating soundtrack.

However, following its release, many PC gamers have reported a variety of technical problems, including crashes, lag, stuttering, and frame rate drops.

One of the prevalent issues that players encounter is the game failing to launch or load properly on Windows PCs, affecting users regardless of their system’s specifications.

After a wait of a couple of years, players can now access the full version of the game for free on PC, which is a significant perk.

Nonetheless, this accessibility has led to an increase in reports of launch issues. Furthermore, it appears that the loading problems are particularly common among Steam users, as highlighted in various online forums.”

Fix: Modern Warfare 2 is Not Responding or Loading on PC

Luckily, some possible workarounds are mentioned below to easily fix the won’t launch or not loading issue. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it.

1. Run the Launcher as an Administrator

To ensure that your game launcher operates smoothly on Windows, it’s important to run it with administrator privileges. This step can help prevent issues such as crashes or problems launching the game that may arise due to User Account Control (UAC) restrictions. Here’s how to run your game launcher as an administrator:

  • 1. Locate the Steam Launcher executable file on your computer and right-click on its shortcut.
  • 2. From the context menu, select ‘Properties’ and then navigate to the ‘Compatibility’ tab.
  • 3. In this tab, find the option labeled ‘Run this program as an administrator’ and check the box next to it.
  • 4. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to confirm and save your changes.
  • 5. After completing these steps, you can simply double-click the game executable file to start it.

For optimal performance, you may also want to repeat these steps for the executable file of Modern Warfare 2, ensuring that the game has the necessary UAC access to run without issues.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

It’s essential to keep your graphics driver up to date on your PC, as using an outdated GPU driver can lead to various problems when launching games. To check for driver updates and install them if they are available, follow these steps:

  • 1. Right-click the Start Menu to access the Quick Access Menu.
  • 2. Select Device Manager from the list to open the interface.
  • 3. Locate and double-click on Display adapters to reveal the options.
  • 4. Right-click on the active dedicated graphics card.
  • 5. From the menu, select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for drivers.
  • 6. Your system will automatically look for any available updates.
  • 7. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version without further action required from you.
  • 8. After the installation is complete, remember to restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

If no updates are found through this method, you can visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer to search for updates manually. Should a new version be available, simply download the file to your PC and proceed with the installation. You can find the link to the manufacturer’s website below for your convenience.

3. End Background Processes

To ensure optimal performance of resource-intensive applications, it’s important to terminate any unnecessary background processes running on your system. If you notice your computer becoming sluggish or unresponsive, it may indicate that system resources are being depleted. To effectively eliminate unwanted processes, follow these steps:

  • 1. Open the Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard.
  • 2. Navigate to the Processes tab.
  • 3. Identify and select the individual task you wish to terminate.
  • 4. Click on the “End Task” button to close the selected process.
  • 5. Repeat these steps for any additional tasks you want to end.

After you have finished closing the unnecessary processes, exit the Task Manager and consider restarting your computer to refresh the system.

4. Disable Steam Overlay

Numerous players have begun to notice that the Steam overlay is active in the background, causing significant concerns. The in-game overlay applications can use additional system resources, potentially leading to problems when attempting to launch the game.

To address this issue, follow these steps:

  • 1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate Modern Warfare 2, right-click on it, and select Properties.
  • 3. In the General tab, uncheck the option labeled “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
  • 4. Return to your Library and try launching Modern Warfare 2 again to see if the game starts successfully.

5. Disable Steam Input

Some players have reported success in resolving issues with the game not launching or getting stuck on the loading screen by disabling the Steam Input feature. If you want to try this solution, follow these steps:

  • 1. Open your Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate Modern Warfare 2 and right-click on it.
  • 3. Select the “Controller” option from the menu.
  • 4. Change the setting for ‘OVERRIDE FOR Modern Warfare 2’ to ‘Disable Steam Input’.
  • 5. After making this adjustment, relaunch the game to see if the issue has been resolved.

6. Run the game in Windowed Mode

If you are experiencing frequent crashes while playing the game, consider switching the Display Mode from Full Screen to Windowed. Here’s how to do that:

  • 1. Click the Windows icon to access the Start Menu and type %LOCALAPPDATA% in the search bar, then press Enter.
  • 2. Once you’re in the %LOCALAPPDATA% directory, locate and open the ‘Prospect’ folder.
  • 3. Navigate to the following path: Saved > Config > WindowsNoEditor within the Prospect folder.
  • 4. In the WindowsNoEditor folder, find the file named ‘GameUserSettings’.
  • 5. Open this file with any text editor and change the line ‘FullscreenMode=1’ to ‘FullscreenMode=0’ to apply the changes.
  • 6. Save your modifications and relaunch the game to see if the crashing issue persists.

7. Disable DirectX 12

If you are utilizing DirectX 12 on your PC, consider disabling it to see if that resolves any issues. Since DirectX 12 is the most recent version for Windows, there might be compatibility challenges with your specific PC setup. To disable DirectX 12, follow these steps:

Navigate to Settings, then select Video, and change the option for ‘Enable DX12’ to ‘Off’. After making these adjustments, restart the Modern Warfare 2 game to apply the changes.

8. Set Correct Rendering Device

To ensure optimal performance, it’s important to choose the appropriate rendering device in the game settings. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client and start the Modern Warfare 2 game.
  • 2. Navigate to the Video Settings section within the game.
  • 3. Locate the option labeled ‘Selected Rendering Device’ and choose your dedicated GPU from the list. Avoid leaving it set to ‘Default.’
  • 4. After making this selection, restart the game to apply the changes.

9. Disable Multi-Threaded Rendering

The video settings menu within Modern Warfare 2 includes an option for multi-threaded rendering, which appears to be linked to frequent crashes in the game.

To address this problem, it is recommended that you disable the multi-threaded rendering feature. If you are utilizing an AMD processor, be sure to turn off this setting and restart the game to ensure the changes take effect.

10. Turn Off Antivirus Protection

To ensure that your gameplay is not hindered by antivirus interference, it’s advisable to disable Windows Defender on your PC temporarily. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows + I to access the Settings menu.
  • 2. Navigate to Update & Security, then select Windows Security from the left sidebar.
  • 3. Click on the Open Windows Security button.
  • 4. Go to Virus & threat protection and select Manage settings.
  • 5. Locate the Real-time protection toggle and switch it off.
  • 6. If you receive a confirmation prompt, click Yes to continue.

If you have an alternative antivirus application installed, make sure to disable it as well. However, if you prefer not to turn off your antivirus, you can add the game files to the software’s exceptions list. Here’s how:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client and head to your Library.
  • 2. Find Modern Warfare 2 in your list of games.
  • 3. Click the Settings icon next to the game title.
  • 4. Select Manage, then click on Browse local files.
  • 5. Open the Prospect folder followed by the Binaries folder, then the Win64 folder.
  • 6. In the Win64 folder, look for the file named ‘Prospect-Win64-Shipping.’
  • 7. Select this file and add it to your antivirus exceptions list.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you should be ready to play without interruptions.

11. Repair Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files on your PC can lead to various problems, including issues with launching the game or poor performance. Here’s how to check and repair your game files for both Steam and Battle.net:

**For Steam:

  • 1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate Modern Warfare 2 in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
  • 3. Select “Properties” from the context menu, then go to the “Local Files” tab.
  • 4. Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files” to initiate the scanning process.
  • 5. Allow the verification to complete, and once it’s finished, restart your computer.

**For Battle.net:

  • 1. Launch the Battle.net client and go to your library.
  • 2. Select COD Modern Warfare 2 from the list of games.
  • 3. Click on “Options,” then choose “Scan and Repair.”
  • 4. Select “Start Scan” to begin the repair process.

5. Wait for the scan to finish, and once it’s done, you should be able to enjoy the game without issues. Don’t forget to restart the client to ensure all changes take effect immediately.

12. Update Modern Warfare 2

If you’ve tried all other solutions without success, it might be time to check for updates for Modern Warfare 2.

Running an outdated version of the game can lead to various bugs and stability problems. If you haven’t updated your game recently, follow these steps to check for and install the latest updates.

**For Steam Users:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Select Modern Warfare 2 from the list on the left.
  • 3. Steam will automatically look for any available updates. If an update is found, be sure to click on the Update button.
  • 4. Allow some time for the update to install, and once completed, exit the Steam client.
  • 5. Finally, restart your PC to ensure the changes take effect, and then relaunch the game.

**For Battle.net Users:

  • 1. Open the Battle.net client and click on All Games.
  • 2. Select Installed, then find and click on Modern Warfare 2 in the left pane.
  • 3. Click on the Settings icon.
  • 4. Choose the option to check for updates. If an update is available, click on the Update button.
  • 5. After the update is finished, close the Battle.net client.
  • 6. Restart your PC to apply the changes, and then attempt to launch the game again.

We hope you find this guide useful. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to leave a comment below!

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