How You Can Get BF4 To Work

[TheDeadlyFriend]

This guide is mean't to help you troubleshoot issues with BF4 such as,

• BF4 won't start
  
• BF4 starts but crashes shortly after
  
• BF4 starts but once you're in game your mouse or other peripherals don't work correctly
  
• or BF4/Origin is just being weird

FYI, this game still uses Origin even though you own it on Steam so I would recommend leaving Origin open while playing and after so it can sync data.

Verify/Repair Game Files

The first thing I would suggest doing is verify the integrity of game files on Steam or if you have it on Origin using the repair option on there. If you already did this before coming here skip this.

For Steam

1. Open Steam and navigate to Library
   
2. Right click BF4
   
3. Click Properties
   
4. Click Local Files
   
5. Click Verify integrity of game files...

For Origin

1. Open Origin and navigate to My Game Library
   
2. Right click on BF 4
   
3. Scroll down to and click Repair

Once the verification/repair is finished start BF 4 and see if it works if not continue.

Running On The Correct OS/CPU Architecture

If you’re using Steam you shouldn’t have to worry about this part but you can do it just to be sure. First you'll want to make sure Origin is running the game on the correct OS/CPU architecture on Windows. If your Windows OS is a 64-bit you'll want it to run x64 and if your OS is a 32-bit you'll want it to run on x86 . While most likely you have a 64-bit if you're unsure you can easily check by clicking the windows key, typing about, and clicking enter. In the list you'll see System type: 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor or 32-bit operating system, x86-based processor .

Once you have confirmed your own PC's OS and CPU type you can head over to Origin.

1. Open Origin
   
2. Navigate to, My Game Library
   
3. Right click on BF4
   
4. Scroll down to and click, Game Properties
   
5. Click on, Advanced Launch Options
   
6. Now select the drop down menu under, When launching this game... and select the appropriate bit version previously discussed

Setting Up Run As Administrator

Appropriate Game Launcher Set To, Run As Administrator

If the previous step didn't work we can try setting the game launcher to run as administrator. For this step you'll need to know where your BF4 files are located. If you don't know just open Origin/Steam,

For Origin

1. Click on Origin at the top
   
2. Click, Application Settings
   
3. Navigate to, Installs & Saves and under On Your Computer you'll see the file location
   
4. Now you'll want to open File Explorer and follow the file path you got from Origin
   
5. Select the appropriate HDD or SSD
   
6. Click on, Origin Library or whatever you named it if you customized the folder name
   
7. Click, Battlefield 4
   
8. Highlight, BFLauncher or BFLauncher_x86 whichever is the appropriate one for you
   
9. Once highlighted right click, now you can either click, Run As Administrator to play the game or you can
   
10. Click, Properties
    
11. Navigate to, Compatibility
    
12. Under Settings check the box, Run this program as an administrator and click ok

For Steam

1. Click on Library at the top
   
2. Right click, Battlefield 4
   
3. Navigate to, Properties and click Local Files you'll see the file location
   
4. Now you can either click Browse or open File Explorer and follow the file path you got from Steam. If you clicked Browse skip to 10
   
5. Select the appropriate HDD or SSD
   
6. Click on, Steam Library or whatever you named it if you customized the folder name
   
7. Click, Steamapps
   
8. Click, Common
   
9. Click, Battlefield 4
   
10. Highlight, BFLauncher or BFLauncher_x86 whichever is the appropriate one for you
    
11. Once highlighted right click, now you can either click, Run As Administrator to play the game or you can
    
12. Click, Properties
    
13. Navigate to, Compatibility
    
14. Under Settings check the box, Run this program as an administrator and click ok

Now whenever you play the game it will run as administrator popping up a prompt you have to accept and hopefully solve your issue. If that didn't work go back a few steps before we highlighted BFLauncher or BFLauncher_x86 and this time highlight bf4 or bf4_x86 . You'll want to follow the same steps from there to set either of those .exe or application files to run as administrator.

Setting Origin/Steam To, Run As Administrator

If you still can't play BF4 or you can't even play other games you can try setting Origin/Steam itself to run as administrator. Doing this will look similar to the previous troubleshooting.

1. Open File Explorer
   
2. Click on, Local Disk (C:) or if you've named your primary drive containing your OS something else click that
   
3. Click, Program Files (x86)
   
4. Scroll down to and click the, Origin or Steam folder
   
5. Scroll down to, highlight, and right click the plain, Origin or Steam .exe or application
   
6. Follow the same steps from the previous troubleshooting to set to run as administrator

Clear The Download Cache

For Steam

1. Open Steam and click on Steam in the top left
   
2. Click Settings
   
3. Navigate to and click Downloads
   
4. At the bottom click CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE and click ok to continue
   
5. Log back into Steam and try starting BF 4

For Origin

1. Close Origin by either exiting the application from the system tray or using Task Manager
   
2. Open File Explorer
   
3. Click on Local Disk (C:) or whatever your drive is that contains your OS
   
4. Copy and Paste, DownloadCache into the search bar and click enter
   
5. Open the folder DownloadCache with the file path of C:\ProgramData\Origin
   
6. Press ctrl+A to highlight all the files and click the del key
   
7. If the files went to your recycle bin go empty it. If there aren't any files there delete the folder
   
8. Log back into Origin and try starting BF 4

Getting Your Xbox Controller To Work

For me personally I have a old wired Xbox One controller and the new Xbox controller. I have found for me that after setting the game to run as administrator following the steps above I can use both controllers wired just fine. If I try to use the new Xbox controller over Bluetooth though it doesn't always stay connected. Microsoft has confirmed that there are issues with the new Xbox controller using Bluetooth and they're working on it but here are some ways to get it to work sometimes,

First I would recommend removing the controller from your known devices list unless you haven't connected it to your PC yet in which case you can skip the first part.

Removing Your Controller From Known Devices

1. Click the Windows key
   
2. Type Bluetooth and click enter
   
3. Scroll through the list to find your controller and click on it
   
4. Click the Remove device option

Download Xbox Accessories

It's a free program from Microsoft for keeping track of your Xbox devices and it also allows you to update, configure, and test your devices.

1. Open the Microsoft Store
   
2. Type Xbox Accessories into the search bar and click enter
   
3. Click Get, install
   
4. Follow the on screen directions and once the install is complete open the application
   
5. Grab your USB-C cable, plug it into your controller, and plug the other end into your PC
   
6. If it doesn't pop up a prompt to update the controller click on the box with the three dots
   
7. Click on the box with the firmware version and follow the on screen directions

Updating Your Bluetooth Hardware

If you have never updated your Bluetooth hardware drivers or seen it updated there might be an update you need.

1. Click the Windows key
   
2. Type Update and click enter
   
3. If Windows doesn't start automatically searching for updates click Check for updates
   
4. Once it finishes searching if it doesn't start any updates but you see Optional updates click that
   
5. If there are updates there related to your Bluetooth hardware or software download and install them

Alternatively you can search the Manufacturers website under support for drivers if you're not sure. It should ask you for the model number and or type of device and lead to your device. If it's built into your motherboard you'll most likely find it where your MB drivers are found.

Other Troubleshooting

If you've gotten this far and couldn't get the game to work properly there could be a multitude of reasons why. Some of the more common reasons are,

• You need to update your computer via Windows Update in your settings
  
• You need to update your GPU driver
  
• You need to update your game
  
• You need to update the game or platform launcher you're attempting to use Ex. Steam/Origin
  
• You need to disable/turn off in game RGB effects. Sometimes anti-cheat software detects in game RGB effects and thinks you're cheating
  
• You can try deleting the files inside the NV_Cache folder

Delete NV_Cache Folder Contents

This is for Nvidia users only. If this causes more issues re-install Nvidia.

1. Open File Explorer
   
2. Click on Local Disk (C:) or whatever your drive is that contains your OS
   
3. Copy and Paste, NV_Cache into the search bar and click enter
   
4. Open the folder NV_Cache with the file path of C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA Corporation
   
5. Press ctrl+A to highlight all the files and click the del key
   
6. If the files went to your recycle bin go empty it then restart your PC

Or maybe you're having some performance issues but you can at least get the game to run try updating your PC motherboards,

• Chipset Drivers
  
• BIOS
  
• Audio Driver
  
• Lan Driver
  
• Software and utility
  
• Or other random software your computer runs

If you don't know what some of these things are or how to update them there's a good chance your PC is behind on years of updates and that can cause major performance issues. You can usually find these on your MB manufacturers website in the support section. They'll most likely ask you for the model number or to find the MB yourself.

Hope this helps.

Side Notes

I don't own this game on Steam so I'm unable to make an actual Guide but if someone that does would like to convert this information to one that would be great. I'll gladly share the formatted text so the conversion would be easy.

Don't be afraid to leave a comment if you know a different way that helped you or someone else or you just want to let me know if this worked.

[Glizard]

Can anyone confirm this works?

[TheDeadlyFriend]

For me setting it to run as administrator worked but sometimes it's not that simple. You can try any of these without damaging your computer. The only one that's kinda sketch is deleting the files in the NV_Cache/Origin Cache folder because they're indexed folders which means it's usually something you shouldn't mess with, but even those aren't that bad. You can always re-install Nvidia or Origin if it has adverse effects.

[Njorunmimis]

I would like to know why does Battlefield 4 seems to be lagged a little.
When I try to load Battlefield 4 Client: It works just fine, I can navigate everything just fine.

But when I attempt to load into a Server, Campaign or Even Test range... My FPS drops Significantly. from 150FPS - 1Fps

I've done everything I could -

Verifying

Re-installing the game via Uninstalling.

Even Uninstalling Steam itself just to see if that is the issue. (Did the same for Origin)

SO if someone from this thread could respond: I would like to know if something I can refer to on this guide thread... Cause It was working just fine before or doesn't even load in at all.

[VileEnd]

whats also often causing issues is the origin overlay;
Origin-> Application Settings-> Origin In Game : then deactivate it;

[TheDeadlyFriend]

Originally posted by ASHYTOONS:

I would like to know why does Battlefield 4 seems to be lagged a little.

When you uninstalled the game did you delete the files that remain unless manually removed?

You can try deleting the settings folder(you will have to change all your settings again),
C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Battlefield 4\settings

You can also try a safe boot at your own risk(If you know what you're doing there's not really a risk),
https://help.ea.com/en/help/faq/how-to-clean-boot-your-pc/

This kind of goes with the one above but disabling 3rd party apps might help.