Minecraft won't open/launch in Windows 10/11 [Fixed Now]

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by Matthew Adams 

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Key notes

  • Minecraft won't open on Windows 10 as expected, and this can cause a lot of frustration to avid game players.
  • Resolving the Minecraft not opening on Windows 10 involves using specialized software to ensure that drivers are updated.
  • To continue troubleshooting this pesky problem, you will need to try running the app with administrator privileges.
  • Removing any mods will allow you to figure out if the problem is caused by one of these installations.
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Some Minecraft players have posted on Microsoft’s forum about startup issues for that game.

These users can’t play Minecraft when it doesn’t launch as expected. In one Microsoft forum post, a user stated:

I bought Minecraft Java a while ago. Two days ago I updated my PC to the new Windows. After doing this, I can no longer open the Minecraft Java launcher. So I am not able to play.

We discuss some of the best ways to deal with this issue once and for all, so make sure to read through this guide.

How do I fix Minecraft not opening on Windows 10?

1. Update your graphic card’s driver

You can check if your graphics card’s driver needs updating with an advanced tool.

Keeping all drivers up-to- date and error-free is the key to play intense games without any crashes, lags, or freezes.Since manual checks are challenging to do, we suggest using an automated assistant that will regularly check for new driver versions. Here is how to use it:
  1. Download Outbyte Driver Updater.
  2. Launch it on your PC to find all the problematic drivers.
  3. Afterward, Click Update & Apply Selected to get new driver versions.
    OutByte Driver Updater Scan
  4. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
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Disclaimer: this program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.

2. Run Minecraft in compatibility mode (and as an administrator)

  1. Click the button for File Explorer on Windows 10’s taskbar.
  2. Open your Minecraft folder in File Explorer.
  3. Click the Game subfolder in your Minecraft folder.
  4. Right-click Launcher.jar and select Properties.
  5. Select the Compatibility tab shown in the snapshot directly below.
    Compatibility tab minecraft won't open windows 10
  6. Select the Run this program in compatibility mode option.
  7. Select Windows 7 on the Compatibility mode drop-down menu.
  8. Then click the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to select that option.
  9. Click the Apply option to save the new settings.
  10. Click OK to leave the window.

Note: If you can’t find a Launcher.jar file, apply the above resolution to your Minecraft Launcher.exe file.

3. Delete Minecraft mods

  1. Click the Type here to search button on your Windows 10 taskbar to open a search utility.
  2. Input the keyword %appdata% in the search box.
  3. Next, click %appdata% to open the folder in the screenshot directly below.
    Roaming folder minecraft won't open windows 10
  4. Click the .minecraft folder to open it.
  5. Then open the mods subfolder.
  6. Press the Ctrl + A hotkey to select all the Minecraft mods in the folder.
  7. Click the Home tab shown directly below.
    Delete button minecraft won't open windows 10
  8. Then click the Delete button to erase the selected mod files.

4. Turn off third-party antivirus software

Avast shields controls minecraft won't open windows 10

Try disabling any third-party antivirus utility you have installed by right-clicking its system tray icon.

That will open a context menu for the software that will probably include a disable setting of some kind you can select to temporarily disable the antivirus utility.

Then try playing Minecraft with your antivirus software disabled.

5. Reinstall Minecraft

  1. Press the Windows and X keys at the same time to open the Win + X menu.
  2. Click Run on the Win + X menu to open that accessory.
  3. Type appwiz.cpl in the text box and press Enter to open Windows 10’s uninstaller utility. 
    The Programs and Features window minecraft won't open windows 10
  4. Select Minecraft within the Programs and Features Control Panel applet.
  5. Click Uninstall (and Yes on any confirmation prompts) to remove Minecraft.
  6. After uninstalling Minecraft, open the search box in Windows 10.
  7. Enter %appdata% in the search box, and click %appdata% to open that folder.
  8. Right-click the .minecraft folder and select Delete.
  9. Then open the Minecraft website in a browser.
    Minecraft webpage minecraft won't open windows 10
  10. Download the latest Minecraft version from there.
  11. Open Minecraft’s installer to reinstall the game.

Those are some of the more probable fixes for kick-starting a Minecraft game that doesn’t launch.

Players with the MS Store Minecraft app can also try running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and resetting MS Store (with the wsreset.exe Run command).

More about the topics: Minecraft Issues

Matthew Adams

Matthew Adams Shield

Windows Hardware Expert

Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it. He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes. In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.