“Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is one of the most exciting action-adventure games. If you are someone who loves to indulge in the high-octane, action-packed game, this one is for you. No wonder the game has won a ton of praise from both experts and fans alike. But that doesn’t mean the game is flawless, or for that matter, doesn’t have any issues to deal with.
Recently, a handful of PC users have complained that “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is not launching on their Windows 11 devices. If this issue has marred your gaming as well, try out these 16 best tips and tricks to sort out the problem and bring the action-adventure back on track.
Best Tips & Tricks to Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Lot Launching on Windows 11
The game could be malfunctioning due to several reasons, such as hardware limitations, corrupted game files, outdated drivers, or even interference from third-party software. To help you get back into the action, we’ve compiled 16 tried-and-tested fixes with clear explanations and instructions. Let’s dive right in.
1. Check System Requirements
Before anything else, I’d recommend you make sure your PC meets the game’s minimum or recommended system specs. Yeah, you got that right! Incompatible hardware may prevent the game from launching at all.
- To begin with, be sure to visit the official Ubisoft website or the game’s store page.
- After that, compare your CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage with the listed requirements.
- If needed, make sure to upgrade hardware or switch to a more capable device if needed.
2. Run the Game as Administrator
Bear in mind that some games require elevated permissions to access certain files or folders; running as admin ensures it launches with full rights.
- To get it done, right-click on the game shortcut or executable (.exe) file.
- Select Run as administrator.
3. Update Your Graphics Drivers
It’s also important to point out that the outdated or buggy graphics drivers can cause games to crash or not load at all. Keeping them updated ensures stability.
- To do so, you need to first open the GeForce Experience (NVIDIA) or AMD Adrenalin (Radeon).
- After that, check for and install the latest driver updates.
- In the end, be sure to restart your PC after updating.
4. Verify Integrity of Game Files
Corrupted or missing game files can prevent proper startup. This tool scans and restores them.
- To get it done, launch the Ubisoft Connect or Steam.
- Go to your library, right-click on Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
- Choose Properties > Verify files (or similar wording depending on the launcher).
5. Disable Antivirus or Add Game as Exception
Overprotective antivirus software might wrongly block game files. Temporarily disabling it helps test this.
- On your PC, launch your antivirus software.
- Disable real-time protection or add the game folder to the exceptions list.
- Try launching the game again.
6. Close Background Applications
Be warned that the background apps can consume system resources or conflict with the game’s operation.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- End non-essential processes, especially ones like Discord, Razer Synapse, MSI Afterburner, etc.
- Retry launching the game.
7. Update Windows 11 to the Latest Version
Note that the outdated OS builds may lack critical gaming optimizations or security patches.
- To update your Windows 11 device, fire up the Settings app > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates and install everything available > Then, restart your PC afterward.
8. Install the Latest DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables
Do you know that the games depend on runtime libraries like DirectX and Visual C++? Hence, missing or outdated versions may cause launch issues.
- Download the latest DirectX End-User Runtime and Visual C++ Redistributables.
- Install them, then restart your PC.
9. Disable Overlays (Steam, Discord, Ubisoft, etc.)
Overlays can interfere with the game’s display and input handling, especially during launch.
- Turn off in-game overlays from Steam, Ubisoft Connect, and Discord.
- In each app, go to Settings > Overlay and disable the option.
10. Set Game to High Performance Mode
By default, Windows might use integrated graphics instead of your dedicated GPU. Setting high performance ensures the best hardware is used.
- On your Windows device, navigate to Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Find or add the game’s .exe, then set it to High performance.
11. Check for Conflicting Software
Some background tools or drivers may conflict with the game engine. Disabling or uninstalling them helps.
- Apps like Nahimic, Citrix, Razer Cortex, or GameFirst VI are known culprits.
- Uninstall them from Settings > Apps > Installed apps if not essential.
12. Clear Ubisoft Connect Cache
Keep in mind that the corrupted cache in Ubisoft Connect can lead to authentication or launch problems. Clearing it resets the connection.
- Close Ubisoft Connect completely.
- Navigate to
%localappdata%\Ubisoft Game Launcher\cache. - Delete all files inside the cache folder.
13. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Windows’ fullscreen optimizations can cause stuttering, black screens, or failed launches with some games.
- Right-click the game’s .exe file and choose Properties.
- Under the Compatibility tab, check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- Click Apply.
14. Launch in Compatibility Mode
If the game isn’t fully optimized for Windows 11 yet, running it in compatibility mode can help.
- Right-click on the game executable and select Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program in compatibility mode, then select Windows 10.
15. Free Up Disk Space
If you still can’t launch the Assassin’s Creed Shadows on your PC, now is the right time to declutter your Windows PC. Be ware of the fact that the clogged up storage can prevent the game from creating temporary files or updating, leading to launch failure.
- To clean up your device, open File Explorer and check available space on the game’s drive.
- Delete temporary files or uninstall unused apps to free up at least 20–30 GB.
16. Reinstall the Game
If nothing else works in restoring the full functionality of the game, reinstall it. A clean reinstall can fix corrupt installations or broken configurations.
- Uninstall the game from Ubisoft Connect or Steam.
- Restart your PC.
- Reinstall the game and try launching it again.
Wrapping up…
There you go! With these 16 solutions, you now have a comprehensive toolkit to fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching on your Windows 11 PC. Whether it’s a missing file, conflicting software, or a permissions issue, systematically applying these fixes should get you back into the game. If the issue still persists after trying everything, contacting Ubisoft Support might be your next best step.
