How to remove the launcher

A little guide on how to remove the launcher. Will allow you to remove the launcher and continue to have full functionality.

Removing the launcher

If you just updated KSP today, you might have realized that they added a bloatware launcher that takes up to 200mb. There is literally no reason for this especially with a game this old.

STEP ONE:
Find these two folders in your game directory and delete them.



If you look you can see how much size they really use.

DO NOT REMOVE THE PDLauncher folder!
Now we are going to add a fake executable so that steam does not auto-validate the app causing the launcher to be reinstalled.

Go into the PDLauncher folder.



If you are in the right place, you should see what I see. Delete everything inside of the folder and create a text file. Rename it to LauncherPatcher.exe



If it isnt an application and is still a text file, make sure file name extensions is enabled in the view menu of file explorer. This needs to be an application file.

STEP TWO:
This is a little more difficult. You will want to find your game directory. For me, I use the E: drive for ksp.



You will want to change your launch options. This will be under properties when you right click your game.


Insert the command below into your launch options. This will make sure the game launches the main executable rather than the launcher.

"E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Kerbal Space Program\KSP_x64.exe" %command%

Depending on where the game executable is for you, you will want to change the directory in the command.

Boom. Just like that you saved 200mb worth of space, and you can launch and play the game normally like you always have.

[Lenny McLennington]

For Linux you can use

eval "$(echo "%command%" | sed 's|PDLauncher/LauncherPatcher.exe|KSP_x64.exe|g')" -popupwindow

in the launch options

[goosedave]

Works great, thanks! The options menu disable for the launcher did nothing so this work around helps a lot. Cheers bud!

[Dolphin]

There's an options menu you know

[Hyperborean Space Stoner]

Game doesn't even load anymore w/launcher lmao

[Bishop]

you can also go to options and turn off launcher, just saying :)

[PinballWizard79]

Most popular post in KSP right now. Great information, thanks.

[Chris Solomon]

same hoes for "Launcher_data" directory

[Chris Solomon]

DO NOT DELETE launcher.exe ftom the main KSP directory! it has been there since forever, and has nothing to do with the peice of garbage launcher that has been recently added.

[JOHN CENA]

i cant run my .exe file
it is a app but my computer doesnt support that

[ZeusTheWolf]

or you could just open KSP_x64.exe