FacebookTwitterLinkedIn

How to Fix Undertale if It Won't Launch

Undertale Won't Open. How to Fix It?

Undertale is a role-playing game available on Steam. Unfortunately, sometimes players experience a problem when this game doesn't start. In this article, we will show you how to fix this issue.

cant launch Undertale

Some Windows 10 users have reported that they were unable to launch Undertale on Windows computers. Unfortunately, this is not one of the game's quests but a problem that needs to be addressed if you want to solve more exciting puzzles.

To resolve this problem, you might need to repair local files using Steam tools, launch the game from its location in the operating system, delete the steam_api.dll file, extract the Undertale.exe file, or reinstall the game itself. In this guide, several methods are outlined to resolve the problem so that you can launch Undertale without any problems.

Table of Contents:

Verify Integrity of Game Files

In this method, we demonstrate how to repair local files (verify the integrity of game files). This process compares game files installed on the computer with the latest versions on Steam servers. If the game files are different, it replaces them or adds additional files necessary to run games properly.

To verify game files' integrity, restart the computer and then launch Steam. Go to the Library section, right-click the Undertale game, and select "Properties" from the contextual menu.

verify integrity of game files step 1

Go to the "LOCAL FILES" tab and click "VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES". Steam will start verifying game files. Once the process is complete, files will be re-downloaded and replaced by Steam. This process can take several minutes.

Restart the Windows operating system and try to launch Undertale on Steam to see if the problem persists.

verify integrity of game files step 2

[Back to Table of Contents]

Launch Game Using Its Executable File

If the problem is not with the game itself but with the Steam client, you might be able to launch the game using its executable file. This method demonstrates how to easily find the installation folder and launch the game from there.

First, open the Steam client and go to the Library section. Right-click the Undertale game and select "Properties" from the contextual menu.

launch game using its executable file step 1

Go to the "LOCAL FILES" tab and click the "BROWSE LOCAL FILES..." button.

launch game using its executable file step 2

You will be directed to the Undertale game installation folder. Double-click the folder and find the Undertale executable file with the ".exe" extension. Check if you can launch the game in this way.

launch game using its executable file step 3

[Back to Table of Contents]

Temporary Disable Your Antivirus

Installed antivirus software may be interfering with the Steam client or the Undertale game itself. To make sure that installed third-party antivirus software is not the problem, temporarily disable it. Try to re-launch Undertale and check if the problem persists.

If disabling (or uninstalling) your antivirus software helps, we recommend that you switch to another product or reinstall the current one. If you are not sure how to disable your antivirus software, read this guide to find instructions on how to disable some of the most popular antivirus programs.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Extract Undertale.exe

We found a solution online that has worked for some users and, therefore, might be an option for you. This method requires extracting the Undertale.exe application using the WinRAR (or another archive utility).

Launch the Steam client and right-click the Undertale game while in the Library and select "Properties".

extract undertale.exe step 1

Go to the "LOCAL FILES" tab and click the "BROWSE LOCAL FILES..." button.

extract undertale.exe step 2

You will be directed to the Undertale game installation folder. Double click the folder and find the Undertale executable file - right-click it and select the "Extract Here" option.

extract undertale.exe step 3

You will be asked if you would like to replace the existing file with the new one. Click the "Rename" option.

extract undertale.exe step 4

Rename the file to Undertale2 (or whichever name you prefer) and click "OK". A new game launcher will be extracted - use it to launch the game and check if you can launch Undertale.

extract undertale.exe step 5

[Back to Table of Contents]

Delete Steam_api.dll

Another way to resolve this problem is to delete the steam_api.dll file - some users have reported that this simple fix worked, and they could launch Undertale.

To delete the steam_api.dll file, go to the Undertale installation folder and find the steam_api.dll file. This is used to launch games through the Steam client. Right-click it and select the "Delete" option from the contextual menu.

delete steam_api.dll

Now try to launch the game using both methods: using the executable file (Undertale.exe) in the game installation folder and; using the Steam client. Technically, the second option should not work, but some users claimed that this method was successful.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Reinstall Undertale

Finally, reinstall Undertale. Go to the Steam client, find the Undertale game in the LIBRARY, and right-click it. Select the "Uninstall..." option from the contextual menu.

Wait for the uninstallation process to complete, find the game in Steam, and reinstall it. Check if this solves the problem.

reinstall undertale

We hope that one of the above methods solved the problem, and you could launch Undertale using the Steam client or the Undertale.exe file. If you know of other solutions to this problem not mentioned in our guide, please share them with us by leaving a comment below.

[Back to Top]

▼ Show Discussion

About the author:

Rimvydas Iliavicius

Rimvydas is a researcher with over four years of experience in the cybersecurity industry. He attended Kaunas University of Technology and graduated with a Master's degree in Translation and Localization of Technical texts. His interests in computers and technology led him to become a versatile author in the IT industry. At PCrisk, he's responsible for writing in-depth how-to articles for Microsoft Windows. Contact Rimvydas Iliavicius.

Our guides are free. However, if you want to support us you can send us a donation.

About PCrisk

PCrisk is a cyber security portal, informing Internet users about the latest digital threats. Our content is provided by security experts and professional malware researchers. Read more about us.

Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.