How To Fix Resident Evil 5 Not Launching on Steam PC 2024

Copy xlive.dll or use a trusted source to install GFWL to fix RE5 launch issues on Steam.

Windows 11 & 10 users are complaining Resident Evil 5 not launching the issue on Steam. Each time they launch RE5 on PC using Steam either the game shows an error telling them it’s a Window game or a network error when launching windows live.

Resident Evil 5 is an old yet exciting game still a time comes when players complain that they can’t launch resident evil 5 on their Windows 10/11 PC especially when they are playing it using Windows live.

If you are also looking for solutions then look no further. Here we have compiled a list of the best fixes that users on different forums have suggested

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What Causes Resident Evil 5 to not launch on your Windows 11?

There are numerous reasons for not launching this game. But some common reasons are given below:

  • The game doesn’t launch along with your Windows operating system
  • PC configuration isn’t meeting the system requirements
  • Outdated graphics driver
  • Outdated Windows version
  • Missing or corrupted game file

How to fix Resident Evil not launching on Windows PC?

You don’t need to apply all of the fixes at once. Just work your way down the list until you find the right solution.

Fix 1. Install the Latest Version of Games for Windows Live (GFWL)

Follow these steps. First, go to the PCGamingWiki website and download GFWL Setup. It should be the same as found in RE5 install directory in

  • \Steam\steamapps\common\Resident Evil 5\redist)

Extract the file and run “gfwlivesetup.exe“. During installation, it might give you an error, ignore it

Once the installation is complete, simply start up a game that uses Games for Windows Live (GFWL) and you will see the in-game overlay along with the sign-in prompt. During the initial sign-in process, it’s normal for it to take some time, usually around 5-10 minutes, and it may appear to be stuck, but it will eventually complete.

When you’ve installed the latest GFWL, restart your PC and check if Resident Evil 5 launches for you. If the luck won’t go in your favor then try the next fix below.

Fix 2. Check the Integrity of Game Files

When the game won’t launch on your PC then first you need to make sure that there are not any missing or corrupted game files. Especially when Resident Evil 5 does not launch on steam you need to check the integrity of its game file.

Follow these steps to check the game files using the Steam launcher:

  • Go to your Steam library, right-click Resident Evil 5, and select Properties.
  • In the left menu, select LOCAL FILES. Then click Verify integrity of game files.
  • Wait until the checking completes. Then you can try to start the game.
  • If this game won’t help you to launch steam, give it a try with the next fix below:

Fix 3. Update your Graphics Driver

Resident Evil not launching or crashing issues will arise on Windows 10 and 11 PC if you have outdated or corrupted graphics drivers. To improve gaming performance you need to update the graphics driver. There are two methods to update graphics cards i.e. Manual and Automatic.

In the manual method, you need to visit NVIDIA/AMD sites and search for the latest compatible drivers and download them on your PC. If you don’t have relevant skills then there are chances that you might install the wrong drivers.

So we suggest you adopt an automatic method in which you need to download Driver Easy on your PC. This tool will automatically scan your PC for outdated graphics drivers and update it instantly.

Fix 4. Install all Windows Updates

Windows 10 OS updates help it to run your system smoothly. You need to make sure that you have installed the latest updates to prevent Resident Evil 5 won’t launch on Steam problem:

  • On your keyboard, press Win+R (the Windows logo key and the R key) and type control update, and click OK.
  • Now Click on Windows Update from the left side and then click the Check for updates button.
  • Windows will then check for available updates. (Or click Restart now if it prompts “Restart required”)
  • After installing all the updates, restart your computer and check if you can launch Resident Evil 5 now.

If this method doesn’t work for you, simply continue to the next one.

Fix 5. Replace Game Files with a Fan-Made Patch

Another fix is to replace the game file with a fan-made patch without installing GFWL. The patch can perform its function by fixing some known bugs of Resident Evil 5.

Here’s how you can try the patch:

  • Visit the website and download the patch at the bottom of the page.
  • Unzip the patch and copy all the files.
  • Open the Resident Evil 5 folder and paste the patch files.

Now check if Resident Evil 5 can launch normally.

Fix 6. Manually Download xlive.dll to the game directory

Follow these steps:

  • Obtain the xlive.dll file either from a trustworthy source or from another computer.
  • Go to the Resident Evil 5 Steam directory. C:/Program FilesSteam steamappscommonResident Evil 5.
  • Now, paste the xlive.dll to the Resident Evil 5 directory.

Fix 7. Run the Game in Compatability Mode

  • Go to the Resident Evil 5 installation directory.
  • Locate the re5dx9.exe file, right-click it, and choose Properties from the menu
  • Navigate to the Compatibility tab. Check Run the program in compatibility mode and select Windows 7 from the list.
  • Click Apply and OK to save changes.

After doing that, the game will start in Compatibility mode and look if you not launching the problem to get resolved.

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