Computer slowdown after exiting Stellaris [Solved]

[Lucian Canad]

This current time I installed Stellaris, I started notcing a significant slowdown in my PC during and even after exiting the game.

Stellaris itself runs fine, except for long startup times (loading main menu can take upwards of three minutes).

After closing the game, even though RAM use is below 50% and even Steam itself registers the game as closed, stuff takes several seconds (maybe even one minute) to open, all the way from Chrome to Task Manager. Online loading times, from websites to Steam Store are also slowed to a crawl.

The only way I've found to bring it back to normal is rebooting the computer, which, needless to say, is annoying. I've attempted most of the Stellaris Master Fixes from the pinned topic (Update drivers, disconnect controllers, run as admin) Anyone has any idea of what might be causing this?

Thanks!

-> Solution below. <-

[Prikkiki-Ti]

Did you install it on the same drive this time around? SSD or HDD?

[Lucian Canad]

Originally posted by Saturn Return:

Did you install it on the same drive this time around? SSD or HDD?

Not sure if it's the same, same drive or if I upgraded it since last time, but it is my gaming-dedicated SSD.

[Prikkiki-Ti]

Open Task Manager before you launch the game next time and when you exit the game look for anything causing high CPU, Memory or DISK usage.

[Lucian Canad]

It turns out the problem was the Paradox Launcher being stuck in an update. I uninstalled it and deleted the files, then ran Stellaris again. It did a fresh install and now it's back in order. Yay.

Got the instruction from the Paradox forums:

- exit the Steam app entirely
- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.

Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

- run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user

- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam

[Prikkiki-Ti]

I'm glad you got it sorted and thanks for taking the time to tell us how you did it as well. That is really good to see.

Time to conquer another galaxy! But spare the Prikkiki-Ti empire, they are harmless. ^^

[Vulta]

Huh, so I was getting back into Stellaris and ran into this issue. Was wondering what the hell was causing it. I truly hate launchers, just give in and launch solely through Steam.

[Tzyder]

launchers exist to collect data and show ads but separate from the game itself to get around various legal requirements that games work as games not data harvesters, stores or ads