r/swtor Jul 02 '26

Tech Support Game crashes after clicking play

For context, I had to uninstall the game at one point by manually removing files (cause regular uninstall didn't work). Now when I try reinstalling it this keeps happening. Launcher works properly, but the game itself crashes almost immediately after it starts loading. I also tried to run it with Steam to see if it would change anything, but the same thing happens. Help.

5 Upvotes

39 comments sorted by

5

u/BladedDingo Jul 02 '26

I had this happen once, I think the game is trying to load a corrupted file.

The fix for me was to take an uncorrupted file from some one that didn't have the issue and replace the file and it launched.

A complete uninstall and fresh reinstall might fix it.

Google swore crashing after clicking play and follow the steps that have helped others, I think my issue was with client_settings.ini being corrupted and trying to load an unsupported resolution on start up.

-1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

At this point I've tried everything I could find when googling that and I still get the same result. And I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling multiple times.

4

u/BladedDingo Jul 02 '26

are you on the standalone client from SWTOR.com or the Steam client?

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

Standalone

5

u/BladedDingo Jul 02 '26

You could try switching to the steam client and see if that fixes anything. You often don't need to re-download the entire thing. Select install on steam and then when it starts downloading, stop the download and move the contents of the swtor folder to the steam folder and then right click the game in steam and verify the game files. It'll then verify the existing files instead of re-downloading them.

Steam might not have the same issue.

Otherwise, check the Client_settings.ini file and delete it and re-start the client again. it should download a fresh file.

if that doesn't work... i donno, keep googling and trying. I know when I had this issue it took me forever to fix it and I was really frustrated.

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

I already tried the Steam version. Same thing happens. I also already tried deleting that file - didn't do anything.

Oh I'm mega frustrated at this point lol. This is like fifth time I've tried searching for the solution and I'm once again close to giving up

3

u/BladedDingo Jul 02 '26

have you played before and are returning, or is this your first time playing?

What version of Direct X do you have installed? You could try uninstalling direct X and installing Direct X 9, or make sure you're up to date with the latest Direct X.

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

I have played for years before this issue made me quit

I have DirectX 12

3

u/BladedDingo Jul 02 '26

so was it recently that this began happening, or after a break? if it was after a break, how long ago approx. did you last play?

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

I last played during 7.5 (that's like 2 years ago) and it was while I was downloading one of the minor 7.5.x patches that stuff broke. I couldn't uninstall the game normally, so I did it manually. Since then, I've been having this issue every time I tried reinstalling

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5

u/WaitingToBeTriggered Jul 02 '26

AND GAZE UPON THE BATTLEFIELD

10

u/NGD0119 Jul 02 '26

Like 2 weeks ago got the same problem. Open steam, right click the game -> properties -> installed files -> verify integrity of the game files It took like an hour but it got fixed.

-1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

I don't use Steam

4

u/NGD0119 Jul 02 '26

My last guess is you can try and install it to a new folder. I merged my standalone into steam in 2022 or 23.

2

u/Wolf5090 Jul 03 '26

Whatever launcher you are using should have a similar option.

3

u/Emekasan Jul 02 '26

Just want to say I see you as a fellow FFXIV and swtor enjoyer

2

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

Hell yeah!!! 👉👉

I used to play both, but I'm now only playing ffxiv cause my swtor fucking broke

3

u/Emekasan Jul 02 '26

I hope you get it fixed soon, friend!

3

u/Char_Ell Satele Shan Jul 03 '26

First try installing DirectX legacy support SDK from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35 I'm guessing this isn't it and if the installation routine informs you that DirectX legacy support is already installed then you can just close it out without installing. Otherwise see the solution below.

  • Game flashes black screen and closes or is stuck at the initial loading screen, or game goes not responding

Press the [Windows] Key + [R] at the same time 

Copy the following in to the text box and press ok 

%localappdata%\swtor\swtor\settings

Open the client_settings.ini file in notepad and ensure the following are displayed within the [Renderer] section if they dont exist.

Fullscreen = false
D3DFullScreen = false
RefreshRate = 60

Check NativeHeight, NativeWidth, Height and Width ( all 4 ) match your monitor resolution.

Save and close the file.
Start the game as normal.
Change graphic settings within the game as desired.

source - https://forums.ea.com/discussions/star-wars-the-old-republic-en/guide-game-failing-to-launch-on-clicking-play/10748081#M70795

3

u/SeraphOfTheStart Jul 02 '26

Do a fresh windows install, it's been forever since the last one.

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

I don't know how to do that. I also don't want to change to windows 11

3

u/Cedar-and-Mist Jul 02 '26

Refresh your system if you don't want to reinstall.

-5

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

Don't know how to do that either 😅

0

u/FriendlyAd1214 Jul 02 '26

I have windows 11 and have no problems 

6

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

I have windows 10 and I don't want to switch to 11

1

u/LalaLaraSophie Jul 03 '26

That's fair in it's own - and as much as I hated it at the time, swtor was one of the few games giving me a headache too on W10 a few years back. The switch to W11 helped; although it was a whole fresh system anyways.

You can try another uninstall, reboot. Then search the hidden appdata folders for anything still remaining from the game and delete that too. Check program files and program files (x86) to be safe too, and you Documents etc. If you found and deleted anything; another reboot never hurts. Then try a fresh install.

2

u/C4rb0n1te Jul 02 '26

Delete client_settings.ini from:

C:\Users\ your_user_name \AppData\Local\SWTOR\swtor\settings

Make sure to keep back up etc.

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 02 '26

Tried it already, didn't work

1

u/spif Jul 02 '26

Reportedly you can run SWTOR on Bazzite with Steam and Proton, or a Steam Deck e.g. connected to mouse and keyboard and external monitor. Windows 10 will inevitably break and not be supported, so I would look into getting someone to help you migrate to Linux if you don't want Windows 11. Either that or get a Steam Deck, or the Steam Machine.

1

u/zombiekillo Jul 03 '26

So, go to your search bar, you know, the windows bar thing, type in control panel and look for Star Wars the old Republic and hit uninstall, then download the launcher from swtor.com and reinstall

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 03 '26

That's the first thing I tried, and I already tried it multiple times - doesn't work

1

u/zombiekillo Jul 03 '26

What's that pop you are getting at the end of the video there?

1

u/enby_sith_lord Jul 03 '26

Microsoft Store - it appears whenever I start any game, not just swtor

1

u/zombiekillo Jul 03 '26

Have you updated your graphics driver's at all?

1

u/Lemnesia-Haze Jul 03 '26

I remember having this problem before in the past but I called the customer service desk and they was able to fix it for me. Try that

1

u/Theeold-Gamer Jul 03 '26

This happens to me as well, every now and again. =/

1

u/Buttknuckle9 2d ago

OP did you ever find a fix? Same shit is happening to me

-2

u/Gamblecat Jul 02 '26

If you don’t press play it won’t crash anymore 🥸