Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Not Launching: Why & 7 Fixes Here!✌

5 mins read

Updated on 2024-12-06 14:20:31 to DLL Issues

Experiencing issues with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 not launching can be frustrating, especially when you're eager to jump into the action. Whether you're playing via Steam, Battle.net, or another platform, encountering these launch problems is common.

But worry not! In this guide, we’ll cover the key reasons behind “MW3 wont launch” and provide effective 7 solutions to get you back into the game. Also, you can enhance your gaming experience by walking through the 3 tips we provided.

call of duty modern warfare 3 not launching

Part 1: Why My Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Not Launching?

There are several reasons why Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 not launching could occur, ranging from system incompatibility to corrupted game files. Some of the most common causes include outdated drivers, missing game files, or even background software conflicts. Sometimes, your game might not meet the necessary system requirements or certain files might be corrupted. Let’s explore more solutions below.

Part 2: How to Fix Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Not Launching?

Here are some simple yet effective solutions to resolve cod mw3 not launching issues.

Solution 1: Check the COD MW3’s System Requirements

Before attempting any fixes, ensure your system meets the game's minimum requirements. Here’s how to check:

  • Find System Requirements: Visit the official Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 website or platform store (e.g., Steam, Battle.net) to view the minimum and recommended specifications.

    cod mw3 system requirements
  • Compare with Your PC:

    • On Windows:

      • Open "Settings" → "System" → "About".

      • Check your processor, RAM, and system type.

      • Right-click on the desktop and choose "Display Settings" to view your GPU.

    • On macOS (if applicable):

      • Click the Apple logo → "About This Mac".

  • Ensure your PC’s CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage match or exceed the game’s minimum specs.

Solution 2: Update the COD MW3’s Patches

To fix “mw3 not launching battlenet” or “mw3 not launching steam” keeping the game up to date is essential. Follow these steps to check for updates:

✍ for Steam:

  • Open Steam and navigate to the "Library" tab.

  • Right-click on Call of Duty MW3 and select "Properties".

  • Under the "Updates" tab, set the “Automatic updates" option to "Always keep this game updated".

    update cod mw3 patches from steam to fix its steup issues
  • If any updates are pending, they will download automatically.

    ✍ for Battle.net:

  • Open the Battle.net client.

  • Navigate to the MW3 section.

  • If updates are available, there will be a prompt to update the game.

Recommend:

If you cannot update the patch of Steam games including City of Duty MW3, then you can get help from this article: Fix Cannot Connect to Steam Network .

Solution 3: Run the Game as Administrator

Running the game with admin privileges can fix many launch problems:

  • Right-click the Call of Duty MW3 shortcut or executable file.

  • Select "Run as Administrator".

  • If you want to always run it as admin:

  • Right-click on the shortcut → Select "Properties".

  • Go to the "Compatibility" tab.

  • Check the box labeled "Run this program as an administrator".

    run steam game as administrator
  • Click Apply and then OK.

Solution 4: Recover Missing/Damaged DLL Files 🔥

Sometimes, a game may require a specific version of a DLL file. If the system has an incompatible version or the DLL file is missing, damaged, etc, it can lead to launch issues. Moreover, some DLL files depend on system drivers. If drivers are outdated, it may lead to issues with launching the game. Amid this, recovering the missing or corrupted DLL files is requisite.

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Then it will help you fix those errors and recover the factors such as runtime libraries and DirectX files related to your games and computers. This way, your games, applications, and also the whole computer will run faster at startup.

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✨ How to Stop COD MW3 Not Launching Issue with 4DDiG DLL Fixer (3 Steps Only!)

  • After installing this 4DDiG DLL Fixer on your PC. Fire it up and click “Full Check” from the left menu and hit the “Full Screen” tab.

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  • When the scanning task is finished, tap the upper-right “Repair” button to kick off the fixing task.

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  • When it prompts “Repair successfully”, you can go back to the MW3 game and try to starting it again. You will find the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 not launching on steam error is solved.

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  • People Also Read:

    This unique software is capable of helping game loves fix any other games not launching error, such as the Forza Horizon 5 not launching on PC issue.

Solution 5: Check the Integrity of Game Files (Steam)

If the game isn't launching correctly, verifying the integrity of the files ensures that no files are missing or corrupted:

  • Click the top "Library" section on Steam.

  • Right-click on Call of Duty MW3 from the left game list and select "Properties".

    check steam cod mw3 properties
  • Click on "Local Files" and select "Verify Integrity of Game Files".

    verify integrity of games files cod mw3

Solution 6: Delete Bootstrap Files in the Main COD Folder and Recover via Steam

Deleting specific game bootstrap files and recovering them through Steam can help with launch issues:

  • Go to your Call of Duty MW3 installation folder following the default path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Call ofDuty MW3

  • Locate the bootstrap files (usually a small .exe file responsible for initializing the game).

  • Delete the bootstrap file(s).

  • Open Steam and go to your Library.

  • Right-click on MW3 > Properties > Local Files.

  • Click Verify Integrity of Game Files to have Steam restore the deleted files.

Solution 7: Uninstall “reWASD” Program

Some players have encountered issues with MW3 not launching due to conflicts with controller mapping software like reWASD:

  • Open Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program.

  • Find reWASD in the list.

  • Right-click and choose Uninstall.

  • After uninstalling, restart your PC and try launching the game again.

Recommend:

If you failed to setup other similar Steam games, please read this instruction: [Fixed!] Steam Not Launching 2024 .

Part 3: How to Improve the Gaming Experience

Once the game launches, improving your system’s performance can enhance gameplay and prevent future issues.

Solution 1: Update Your Graphics Driver

Outdated drivers can cause crashes or poor performance. Here's how to update:

✍ NVIDIA/AMD GPUs:

  • Open NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software.

  • Check for updates and install the latest driver for your GPU.

✍ Alternatively:

Solution 2: End Unnecessary Running Processes Before Playing

Background processes can slow down your game or cause crashes. Here's how to manage them:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

  • Under the Processes tab, look for high-usage programs (e.g., browsers, media players).

  • Right-click on unnecessary tasks and select "End Task".

Solution 3: Ensure Enough Disk Space

Low disk space can negatively impact performance:

  • Open File Explorer and go to This PC.

  • Right-click on your main drive (usually C:) and select Properties.

  • Check how much free space is available. Ensure at least 20% of the drive's capacity is free for optimal performance.

  • If necessary, delete old files, move large files to an external drive, or use Disk Cleanup to free up space.

    disk cleanup for enough space to stop mw3 not launching

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Not Launching Steam FAQs

Q1: How to fix MW3 crashing on startup?

Ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements, update drivers, and check the integrity of game files.

Q2: How to launch MW3?

Try running the game as an administrator, ensuring it's up to date, and scanning for any corrupted files.

Q3: Why won’t MW3 launch on Battle.net?

MW3 not launching on Battle.net could be due to corrupted game files or missing updates. A quick scan and repair via Battle.net often resolves the issue.

Conclusion

If you’ve tried these fixes and your call of duty modern warfare 3 not launching problem persists, consider using the special 4DDiG DLL Fixer . This tool helps repair corrupted DLL files, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. By following the steps mentioned above, you should be able to resolve cod mw3 not launching issues and enjoy uninterrupted gameplay.

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William Bollson (senior editor)

William Bollson, the editor-in-chief of 4DDiG, devotes to providing the best solutions for Windows and Mac related issues, including data recovery, repair, error fixes.

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