Fix: Starfield Error Code 0xc00000096

Error 0xc00000096 often occurs because of a problem with a required game component. Sometimes, these crucial parts are jeopardized due to corruption, out-of-date versions, or unexpected breakdowns.

Corrupted cache files and other game data can be obstacles in your quest for uninterrupted play. You may be surprised to find that corrupted cache files tucked away in your system’s dark corners are to blame for an unexpected error message.

The drivers on your PC, which are responsible for device connectivity, might sometimes be the source of Error Code 0xc00000096. In particular, outdated, unstable, or flawed graphics drivers might cause this gaming hiccup.

These drivers mediate between your hardware and software, and any hiccups in their operation can cause Starfield to become unreliable and also cause Error 0xc00000096.

Third-party services running in the background on your PC can interfere with your ability to focus on the game at hand. These services, in the course of doing their processes, may cause unintended complications for Starfield. As a result, the error may have arisen, leaving players to deal with the fallout.

While the aforementioned causes are common ones, it’s important to remember that the root of the problem isn’t always so obvious. Error 0xc00000096 can occur for a variety of minor, game-specific issues.

13 Ways to Fix Starfield Error Code 0xc00000096

Now that we have some insight into what the error code 0xc00000096 means and what could be the reasons behind the issue, we can proceed with the solutions. We have an extensive list of solutions that you can try. Just make sure to try all of them so you can easily find the solution that works for you.

Fix 1: Check your System Requirements

The first step in fixing the 0xc00000096 error is making sure your computer meets the system requirements and can run Starfield. The developers at Bethesda have shared a list of recommended and required hardware for Starfield.

If you make sure your PC meets these requirements, the game should run more smoothly. By doing so, you may eliminate potential sources of frustration and set the stage for a smooth and satisfying gaming experience. Here are the requirements:

Minimum:

OS: Windows 10 version 21H1 (10.0.19043)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 125 GB available space

Recommended:

OS: Windows 10/11 with updates
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
DirectX: Version 12
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 125 GB available space

Source: Bethesda

Fix 2: Install on an SSD

Installing Starfield on an SSD can greatly increase the game’s performance and help alleviate the 0xc00000096 error. In fact, it is one of the system requirements that Bethesda states.

SSDs are superior to HDDs in terms of speed and reliability, resulting in shorter load times and fewer data access failures. Making this change to your hardware will decrease the impact of the error on your gaming.

Fix 3: Close Background Apps

To fix Starfield error 0xc00000096, try ending any unwanted background applications or processes. Background processes that aren’t essential to Starfield have been known to cause issues on occasion. To end them, do as follows:

Press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. This displays a list of all currently active programs on your computer.
Go to the “Processes” tab on the left and select the “CPU” column to arrange the processes in order of their CPU consumption, with the most demanding ones appearing first.
Review the currently open programs and terminate those that aren’t absolutely necessary.
Find out whether there are any unused programs eating up your CPU’s resources. Select “End task” from the context menu of these applications and close them.
Do the same for GPU-hungry tasks.

After you have ended all other running programs and processes, restart Starfield to determine whether the problem still exists. If closing background applications is the problem, then doing so should free up system resources.

Fix 4: Disable Antivirus and Firewall

It’s possible that your antivirus and firewall software are to blame for the Starfield error code 0xc00000096 you’re experiencing. While these are essential for keeping your computer safe, they may cause issues when playing games. To temporarily turn them off, do as follows:

Antivirus:

Open the system tray (typically located in the lower right corner of your screen), and you should see the icon for your antivirus software.
Right-click on the antivirus icon and select “Disable” or “Pause Protection” (the exact wording may vary depending on your antivirus program).
This will take you to a page where you can temporarily turn off antivirus scanning.
Some antivirus software can prompt you to choose an inactive period of time. Pick a reasonable time frame, perhaps 30 or 60 minutes.

Firewall:

Press the Windows key + Q keys simultaneously on your keyboard and start typing “Firewall.”
Click “Windows Defender Firewall” in the search results to launch Windows’ built-in firewall.
If you want to disable Windows Defender’s firewall, go to the left sidebar and select “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.”
Select “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall” under both “Private Network” and “Public Network” to disable the firewall.
This will temporarily turn off the firewall protections.

There is a good chance that one of these safety programs was the root of the problem if the game continues to function without the error after enabling them. In order to keep your computer safe after you’ve finished playing, you need to turn on your antivirus or firewall again.

Fix 5: Update the Drivers

Fixing the 0xc00000096 error requires updating your drivers, particularly your graphics driver. Drivers allow your computer’s hardware and software to communicate with one another.

Therefore, problems such as game crashes might arise when drivers become corrupt or outdated. By keeping your drivers up to date, you decrease the likelihood of experiencing hardware-related issues when playing Starfield. Follow the steps below:

First, visit NVIDIA’s or AMD’s website and download the latest drivers for your GPU.
Now, press the Windows key + X keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Quick Access menu.
Click on Device Manager.
Expand the “Display adapters” section to reveal all your GPUs.
Right-click on your GPU and select “Update driver.” A window will pop up asking how you want to update the driver.
Select “Browse my computer for drivers” and select the driver file that you downloaded in step 1.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the driver installation.
Restart your PC once the installation is complete.

Fix 6: Update the Game

Updating the game is one of the simplest and most efficient ways to fix the Starfield problem code 0xc00000096. Bethesda developers regularly release new versions and patches to fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features. Here’s how to update the game:

Launch the Xbox application.
Enter your Starfield username and password here to access the game you paid for.
From the left pane, click on My Library.
Click on Starfield in the list of games.
Click on the Update button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to retrieve and install updates, if any are available. If the change is substantial, this could take some time.
Close the Xbox app and relaunch Starfield if the error still occurs after installing the updates.

If you want to avoid annoying glitches and blunders like the 0xc00000096 issue, updating your game is a must. If the issue persists after installing the latest version of the game, you can try some of the other solutions detailed below.

Fix 7: Repair the Game Files

The Starfield 0xc00000096 error could be the result of a problem with a required game file. In many cases, the problem can be fixed by repairing these files. Follow these steps to do so:

Launch the Xbox application.
From the left pane, click on My Library.
Click on Starfield in the list of games.
Now, click on the three horizontal dots and select Manage. A small window will pop up.
Go to the Files tab and select Verify and Repair. If there are any damaged or missing files, the program will attempt to fix them.
Confirm your action by clicking Yes.
After the repair is complete, close the Xbox app and try starting Starfield again to check if the error still appears.

Fix 8: Clear cache

Deleting Starfield-related cache files is a common troubleshooting step that often yields positive results. When cache files become outdated or corrupt, they might cause bizarre bugs in the game.

If you delete these files, the game will start over, and it will be able to access all of its data without any delays. In many cases, doing this will fix the 0xc00000096 error and make the game run more smoothly. Follow the steps below:

Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
From the left pane, select “System.”
Select “Storage.”
Now click on “Temporary files.”
Click on “DirectX Shader Cache” and select “Remove files.”
Confirm your action if prompted.
Restart your PC.

Fix 9: Limit the FPS

Putting a cap on your frame rate or turning on VSync may help fix the 0xc00000096 problem. Having a high frame rate can place a strain on your graphics card and CPU, which could lead to the game becoming unstable.

Capping the game’s performance to a level that your hardware can easily manage, say by lowering the FPS or turning on Vsync, will help reduce the occurrence of problems. Follow the steps below:

For NVIDIA GPUs:

Launch the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Choose “Manage 3D settings” in the left-hand menu.
Head to the “Program Settings” tab.
Within the “Global Settings” section, locate “Max Frame Rate.”
Adjust the frame rate to 60 by moving the slider.
Confirm the changes by clicking “OK” and then “Apply.”

For AMD GPUs:

Begin by installing the AMD FRTC software on your PC to manage your AMD GPU.
Launch the AMD Radeon Settings.
Select “Global Settings.”
Locate “Frame Rate Target Control” and set the frame rate to 60.

Fix 10: Update Windows

Fixing the 0xc00000096 problem often requires installing the latest updates for your Windows installation. Improvements in stability, security, and functionality are commonplace in updates.

By keeping Windows up-to-date, you reduce the likelihood of running into problems with Starfield and other programs, as it is the foundation of your PC. Follow the steps below to update your PC:

Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
If you are on Windows 10, click on “Updates & Security.” Otherwise, skip to the next step.
Now, select Windows Update from the left pane.
Click on “Check for updates” in the right pane.
If any updates are available, follow the on-screen instructions to finish installing them.
Once the updates are installed, restart your PC and see if the error has disappeared.

Fix 11: Re-install the Gaming Services

If you see the 0xc00000096 problem on the Xbox app, one possible solution is to re-install the gaming service. After this, you can rest assured that your gaming platform is free of any faulty files or settings that could be triggering the problem.

It’s like starting the gaming services over, and it usually fixes the problem. Other users on Reddit have reported that this has resolved the issue for them. Follow the steps below:

Press the Windows key + Q keys simultaneously on your keyboard and start typing “PowerShell.”
Right-click on PowerShell from the search results and select “Run as administrator.” This will open an elevated PowerShell window.
You might be prompted by UAC. Simply click Yes.
Now, type or copy-paste the following commands one by one and press Enter.

get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage -allusers

start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN

After you have executed these commands, restart your PC and see if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 12: Run the Game in Clean Boot Mode

Error 0xc00000096 occurs when Starfield cannot run as intended because of hardware failure or software incompatibility. Putting your computer into a “clean boot” state can help you find and fix such problems. Follow the steps below:

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to launch the Run dialogue box.
Type “msconfig” into the Run box and hit Enter. The System Configuration window will pop up.
In the System Configuration window, select the “Services” tab.
Select “Hide all Microsoft services” by clicking the corresponding box in the Services tab’s bottom section.
Click the “Disable all” button.
Now, go to the “Startup” tab.
Choose the option to “Open Task Manager.”
Select all startup programs in the Task Manager’s Startup tab and click “Disable.”
Once you’ve finished turning off services and startup programs, you can apply your changes by clicking “Apply” in the System Configuration window and then “OK.”
Restart your PC.
After your PC has restarted, open Starfield to see if Error Code 0xc00000096 persists.

Keep in mind that your PC may not perform normally when in clean boot mode since you have temporarily disabled various services and starting components.

To exit clean boot mode, follow the steps below:

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to launch the Run dialogue box.
Type “msconfig” into the Run box and hit Enter. The System Configuration window will pop up.
Go to the “Services” tab and select Normal Startup.
Now, go to the “Startup” tab and enable the startup items. When done, simply click “Apply” and then “OK.”
Restart your PC.

Fix 13: Reset your PC (Optional)

If nothing has resolved the issue, you should reset your PC. Many users have successfully resolved the issue by resetting their PC. The decision to reset your computer is a major one, as doing so will delete all of your data and programs.

So, make sure you have a backup of your data before attempting a reset. You can save your files by copying them to another computer, cloud storage, or an external hard drive. Once you have backed up all the data, follow the steps below to reset your PC:

Windows 10:

Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Click “Update & Security.”
From the left pane, select “Recovery.”
Under the “Reset this PC” section, click on “Get started.”
There are two choices available to you: “Keep my files” or “Remove everything.” Choose the latter option.
Selecting this option will delete all of your account information, including files, apps, and settings. It’s similar to starting Windows from scratch.
Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the reset. Windows may ask for your confirmation before beginning the reset process.

Windows 11:

Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
From the left pane, select “System.”
Select “Recovery” and click on “Reset PC.”
Follow Steps 5-7 from above.

Depending on the speed of your PC and the options you selected, the reset procedure may take some time. Throughout this procedure, your computer will restart multiple times.

After the factory reset is complete, you must walk through the Windows setup wizard to make any necessary settings and set up your user account.

Keep in mind that you should only reset your PC if you’ve exhausted all other troubleshooting steps and are still experiencing serious problems. It allows you to re-install Windows from scratch.

Final Words

That’s how you fix the pesky Starfield error code 0xc00000096. We hope that these solutions have helped you get rid of the error code 0xc00000096 and get back to exploring Starfield’s vast universe. If you are still having issues, consider getting a refund or contacting Bethesda support for better assistance.

It has been almost two weeks since the game was released, and the issues don’t seem to be coming to an end. This is extremely disappointing from Bethesda for Starfield fans.

Bethesda’s games have a history of having a ton of bugs and issues at launch. This is evident with the plethora of bugs that users are facing with Starfield. Many users have already opted for a refund and gotten their money back. These users are waiting for Bethesda to patch the game with an update. You can also do the same if you wish.

Lastly, if you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments section below. Also, let us know which one of these solutions worked for you. How is your experience with the game so far? Do you know of any other users facing similar issues? Let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading till the end!