Lost Ark not Starting After Anti Cheat: 4 Methods to Fix it

It seems that the Easy Anti Cheat software is giving gamers more headaches than solving problems for them, and the results are incredibly frustrating.

EAC heavily interferes with the startup of newer titles, such as Lost Ark or Elden Ring, driving players mad and making them go through a fixing process to play.

We previously covered another issue caused in Lost Ark because of the Easy Anti Cheat program and showed you how to deal with it.

And, since Lost Ark and EAC are not best buddies, we will step in again and detail how other players got past this error since an official fix isn’t out there yet.

Why is my Lost Ark not launching?

Like many online games, Lost Ark uses an anti-cheat system to prevent cheating and maintain fair play. If you’re having trouble launching the game and suspect that the anti-cheat system may be causing the issue, there are several things you can try:

• Compatibility issues – Your computer may not meet the game’s minimum system requirements. 
• Missing or corrupted files – The game files may be missing or corrupted, preventing the game from launching. One of the fastest ways to fix errors related to missing DLL files is to use dedicated repair software.
• Outdated drivers or software – Ensure your computer has the latest version of drivers and software required to run the game. Outdated software or drivers can cause compatibility issues with the game.
• Security software conflicts – The anti-cheat system used by the game may conflict with security software such as antivirus or firewall. 
• Incompatible third-party software – Third-party software running in the background can conflict with the game and prevent it from launching. 
• Internet connection issues – The game requires a stable and fast internet connection.
• Server issues – The game server may be down or experiencing maintenance, which can prevent the game from launching. 

Gamers are concerned as they are unable to go past the EAC screen. As soon as they reach the EasyAntiCheat screen, Lost Ark either crashes or force-closes right at that instance itself.

The error codes for this situation are:

• Cannot Find WININET.dll. Please re-install this application
• Easy Anti-Cheat window. Untrusted system file (uxtheme.dll)

You should try our recommendation below.

What can I do if Lost Ark is not launching after anti-cheat?

1. Reinstall or repair Easy Anti Cheat

1. Launch Steam, then click the Library menu.
2. Right-click the game giving you trouble and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
   
3. Select the Local Files tab and then Browse Local Files.
   
4. Navigate to the folder named EasyAntiCheat and double-click to open it.
5. Inside the folder, run the file EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe.
   
6. When the Easy Anti-Cheat setup window opens, click the Repair Service button. To uninstall and then reinstall Easy Anti-Cheat completely, you can click on the Uninstall button instead.
   
7. Let the process complete, then close the setup window.
8. Restart your game and see if the issue is resolved.

2. Exit open third-party apps

1. Pres Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Go through the processes displayed.
3. Right-click on any process you feel may be causing a conflict and select End Task.
   

If Lost Ark is not launching after the anti-cheat loads, it may be due to a conflict with third-party applications on your computer.

Some programs, such as antivirus or other security software, may interfere with the operation of the anti-cheat system.

Exiting open third-party applications may resolve the issue because it can reduce the chances of conflicts or interference.

Closing other programs free up system resources that the anti-cheat system and the game need to run smoothly. This can help prevent conflicts and errors that prevent the game from launching.

3. Verify Steam game file integrity

1. Launch Steam, then click the Library menu.
2. Right-click the game giving you trouble and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
3. Select the Local Files tab and then Verify integrity of game files.
   

4. Disable Proxy or VPN-related services

1. Press Windows Key, type internet options and open the app.
2. Click the Connections tab and click the LAN Settings button.
   
3. Untick Use a proxy server for your LAN and click OK.
   
4. Also, disable your VPN service if you are using on.

If Lost Ark is not launching after the anti-cheat loads, it may be due to conflicts with proxy or VPN-related services on your computer. Proxy or VPN services can interfere with the anti-cheat system and prevent the game from launching correctly.

Disabling proxy or VPN-related services can resolve the issue by preventing these services from interfering with the anti-cheat system.

These are the steps that have been proven to work for other Lost Ark players that found themselves in the same situation you are in right now.

Which of the steps mentioned above worked in your case? Please share your experience with us in the comments section below.