Sons of the Forest Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC, How to Fix?
Sons of the Forest is an eagerly anticipated survival horror video game developed by Endnight Games and published by Newnight. The game was recently released...
Abd Razaaq
Last updated on October 6, 2025
Abd Razaaq
Author
I'm a Tech Content Writer and Full-Time blogger. Since I love Android and Google's device, I started my career in writing for Android OS and their features. This led me to start "GetDroidTips". I have completed Master of Business Administration at Mangalore University, Karnataka.
Sons of the Forest is an eagerly anticipated survival horror video game developed by Endnight Games and published by Newnight. The game was recently released on February 23, 2023, via early access for Microsoft Windows. As with any early-access game, it’s important to keep in mind that there may be some issues that need to be ironed out before the final release.
Despite the positive reviews, some players have reported experiencing issues with the game, such as the Won’t Launch issue in its initial days. If you’re encountering this problem, you’re not alone. Many players have reported similar issues with other early access games, which can be frustrating for those eager to dive into the game.
It’s important to remember that early access games are still in development, and issues are to be expected. However, developers are typically quick to address these issues and release updates to fix them. So, if you’re encountering a Won’t Launch issue or any other issue with Sons of the Forest, make sure to report it to the developers so they can work on fixing it.
By working together, we can help make Sons of the Forest the best possible game it can be. So, don’t let any initial issues discourage you from enjoying this exciting new game.
Like other PC games, the Sons of the Forest title also has some common issues players may encounter while launching or playing. One of the most frustrating issues is when the game fails to launch. There could be several reasons, including outdated graphics drivers, outdated game versions, missing or corrupted game files, unnecessary background tasks, etc.
Additionally, an outdated Windows version, issues with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, conflicts with startup services or antivirus software, incompatible PC hardware, overlay apps, overclocked CPU/GPU, DirectX-related issues, etc. can also cause the game not to launch properly on your Windows PC. This troubleshooting guide will provide some workarounds that should help you fix the issue.
Sons of the Forest Not Responding or Launching; how to Fix?
Now, without wasting any more time, let’s get into it. Make sure to follow all the methods until the problem gets fixed. If the game still bothers you to launch properly, you should contact support for further assistance.
1. Check System Requirements
First, you should check whether your PC configuration meets the system requirements of the game or not. Sometimes incompatible PC hardware can trigger multiple issues with the game launching. We’ve mentioned the game requirements so that you can cross-check with your configuration.
Minimum Requirements:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: INTEL CORE I5-8400 or AMD RYZEN 3 3300X
Processor: INTEL CORE I7-8700K or AMD RYZEN 5 3600X
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 1080Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 20 GB available space
Additional Notes: SSD (Preferred)
2. Run the game as an Administrator
If you’re not running your video game using an administrator privilege, it may cause issues with the game launching, startup crashing, or even the game not loading. So, it’s better to simply run the game exe file as an administrator on your Windows computer to check whether that fixes the problem. To do so:
Right-click on the Sons of the Forest exe shortcut file on your PC.
Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.
3. Verify the Integrity of Game Files
If in case your game files become corrupted or missing for some unexpected reasons, then verifying and repairing the game files using the game launcher can help you a lot. To do this:
Launch Steam > Click on Library.
Right-click on Sons of the Forest from the list of installed games.
Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
Just make sure to run all of these executable files that are present. (If you’ve different folders, then run the vc_redist.x64.exe file in those folders)
Finally, restart your PC to fix the issue.
5. Update DirectX
Go to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\DirectX folder path.
Next, run the DXSETUP.exe file to reinstall/update DirectX.
Once done, restart your computer to apply changes.
6. Update GPU Drivers
It seems that multiple affected players have reported about the outdated graphics driver. If you’re also using the outdated graphics driver for a while then make sure to check for updates by following the steps below:
Press Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
Now, click on Device Manager from the list > Double-click on Display adapters.
Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that you’re using.
Next, select Update driver > Choose to Search automatically for drivers.
If an update is available, the system will automatically download & install it.
Once done, restart the computer to apply changes.
This method should fix the issue of Sons of the Forest Won’t Launch on PC. If not, you can head over to the next method.
7. Disable Overlay Apps
According to some affected players, disabling the Steam overlay on the Windows computer has helped them easily fix the game not launching issue. As the in-game overlay app is always running in the background whenever you launch the game client, it’s quite possible to have issues with the processes or system resources.
For Steam Overlay:
Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
Now, right-click on Sons of the Forest > Select Properties.
Head to the General section > Here, just uncheck the Enable Steam Overlay checkbox.
Go back to Library > Re-open Squad to check for the not launching issue.
8. Install All Pending Windows Updates
It may be possible that somehow any Windows bugs or system files conflict with the game running properly. Sometimes an incompatibility issue can also occur when you don’t update the software for a while. So, make sure to install all the pending Windows updates and keep it to the latest OS build. To do that:
Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
Next, click on Update & Security > Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.
If there is a feature update available, select Download and install.
Wait for some time until the update gets completed.
Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes immediately.
9. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program
Click on the Start menu > Type Control Panel and click on it.
Now, type firewall in the search box > Click on Windows Firewall.
From the left pane, click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
Select Turn off Windows Firewall for the Private, Domain, and Public Network Settings.
Finally, reboot the PC to apply changes and try checking the issue.
Now, you’ll have to disable the anti-virus protection (Windows Defender) as well by following the steps below:
Head over to Windows Settings > Privacy and Security.
Now, go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Click on Manage settings >Then turn off the Real-time Protection option.
Once done, make sure to reboot your PC to apply changes.
If in case, you’re using any third-party antivirus program then make sure to turn it off manually.
10. Launch the Game in Windowed Mode (Steam)
Try launching the game in Windowed display mode to check if that helps you or not. Sometimes a computer with an average hardware specification can cause several issues with the fullscreen display mode while running the game.
Open the Steam client and go to Library.
Right-click on Sons of the Forest > Select Properties.
In the General section, click on Set Launch Options.
Next, copy & paste the following command-line argument:
-windowed -noborder
Make sure to save changes and try running the game again to check if Sons of the Forest launching properly or not.
11. Perform a Clean Boot
Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Now, type msconfig and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
Go to the Services tab > Enable the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.
Click on Disable all.
Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
Now, click on the Startup tab > Click on Open Task Manager.
Under the Startup tab from the Task Manager interface, click on the tasks enabled for startup boot > Click on Disable.
Select the high-impact startup programs and disable them one by one.
Once all is done, restart your PC to apply changes.
Finally, check whether the Sons of the Forest Won’t Launch on PC issue has been fixed.
12. Close Background Processes
Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
Click on the Processes tab > Select the task you want to close.
Once selected, click on End Task. Make sure to do the steps for each task individually.
Once done, restart your computer to change effects immediately.
13. Reset Sons of the Forest
Press the Windows (Start) + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
Select Apps and Features > Click Sons of the Forest from the installed programs list to select it.
Now, click on Advanced options > Select Reset.
Once done, reboot your computer and try to launch the game.
14. Reinstall Sons of the Forest
If none of the methods worked for you, try reinstalling the Sons of the Forest game to check if that helps you fix the game not launching issue. To do so:
Launch the Steam client on your computer.
Now, go to Library > Right-click on the Sons of the Forest game.
Head over to Manage > Select Uninstall.
If prompted, click Uninstall again and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to apply changes immediately.
Open the Steam client and install the game using the existing Steam account.
You’re done. Enjoy! This can resolve the Sons of the Forest Won’t Launch on PC issue.
That’s it, guys. We hope this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.
didnt fix it for me