Dealing with Larian Launcher Issues

Troubleshooting Baldur's Gate 3 Larian Launcher Issues

What is this Guide about?

It is entirely customary that whenever a game receives a patch, a number of OS-related complications can arise. This stems from various underlying factors, and though it is conceivable to mitigate these problems, pinpointing the precise cause in a given instance is challenging due to the distinctive nature of each individual's PC setup.

The sole assured approach to acquire an updated version of an application is through a complete uninstallation, succeeded by a fresh and clean installation. This ensures the prevention of any potential file incompatibilities.

In the case of Baldur's Gate 3, the Larian Launcher has been identified as a kind of vulnerability. It presents itself as a quasi-independent application, while concurrently serving as an indispensable component for enjoying the cross-platform savegame functionality.

This guide imparts reliable instructions for effectively addressing issues related to the launcher.

Related Guide

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3016159305
Section Use RevoUninstaller for Reinstall

The Best Launcher is No Launcher

Unless you require the functionalities of the launcher, I strongly advise bypassing the Larian Launcher altogether. Presently, there is minimal to no benefit in utilizing the launcher. The Twitch drops, which necessitate the launcher for recognition by the game, do not justify the potential underlying problems that might arise from its use. Additionally, the cross-platform savegame functionality holds little significance at the moment since Baldur's Gate 3 has only been released on PC.

Furthermore, even when the game becomes available on other platforms, it remains probable that a majority of players will find little utility in that particular feature.

This is how you skip the launcher
by making use of Steam's game launch options

First, you need to find the exact path to the game's executable

Right-click on the game's entry in your Steam Library -> Manage -> Browse local files



Enter the subfolder bin (trivia: that is short for binary)



The path to the folder in the Windows Explorer's address bar becomes visible when you click it



In my case it is

G:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin

For the full path to the executable, we add \bg3.exe for the Vulkan version or \bg3_dx11.exe for the DirectX 11 version of the game. So it looks like this

G:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\bg3_dx11.exe

For the last step we add the %command% tag alongside the exact path to the executable into the game's launch options. The line will basically translates into "when pressing Start game in the Steam Library, start only that executable and nothing else", bypassing the Larian Launcher in the process.

To do that, right-click on the game's entry in your Steam Library and select Properties



Add to the launch option the exact path, framed by quotation marks

"G:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\bg3_dx11.exe"

and then add %command% behind that, so it looks like this

"G:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\bg3_dx11.exe" %command%

(the DirectX 11 version)

"G:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\bg3.exe" %command%

(the Vulkan version)

How exactly the path looks like on your PC is depending on how you installed the game onto your PC. The absolute default path looks somewhat like this:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\bg3_dx11.exe

Related Guide

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3015166965

Disable Cloud Savegames

Closely tied to the Larian Launcher issues are the settings concerning cloud savegames and cross-save functionality, also known as cross-platform savegames. I highly recommend turning off this functionality within both Steam and the Larian Launcher.

For Larian Studios' deactivation process, access the in-game settings and navigate to the first page, where you should locate the Cross-Save option within the Save Options section.
Ensure that you unselect the corresponding checkbox.



Deselect the checkbox in the row for Cross-Save to deactivate it. This option becomes visible exclusively when you are logged into your Larian Studios account. As I have not registered for a Larian Studios account myself, the option does not appear for me to begin with.

Subsequently, proceed to disable the Steam Cloud Services for the game. This is how you do it

Right-click on the game's entry in your Library -> Properties -> disable Steam Cloud for the game

The Launcher broke. What now?

We aimed to circumvent the Larian Launcher to steer clear of any potential issues linked to it. Nonetheless, if you find yourself requiring the launcher and it ceases to function, there are two strategies we can explore before resorting to uninstalling the entire game using RevoUninstaller.

First Approach: Unstuck Launcher

Go to

%LocalAppData%\Larian Studios

(you can copy & paste that link into your Windows Explorer's address bar for quick access)



and delete the Launcher folder there. No worries, it is safe to do so as the Larian Launcher will restore the deleted files in good condition once it is no longer stuck.

Then we trigger the Larian Crash Reporter to help the launcher from being stuck.

Right-click on the game's entry in your Steam Library -> Manage -> Browse local files



Go into the Launcher folder



Start CrashReporter.exe via double-click or ENTER





You do not need to enter and send any information via the Crash Reporter right now. You can already close that window again. All we wanted is just to trigger it, in order to unstuck the Launcher from anything which might have disabled it from working properly.

Now restart your PC and check if the issue persists.

Second Approach: Reset Launcher

If that was not enough we repeat deleting the Larian Launcher cache.

Go to

%LocalAppData%\Larian Studios

and delete the Launcher folder there if you can find one

Then go to Steam Library, right-click on the game's entry in your Steam Library -> Manage -> Browse local files





Delete the Launcher folder there as well

Use the official Microsoft Windows .NET Framework Repair Tool which you can download here
https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=30135

Afterwards verify the game's files integrity via Steam, which will trgger a fresh download of Larian Launcher related files, hopefully fixing any issues in the process.

Right-click on the game in your Steam Library -> select Properties



Go to the Local Files tab and select Verify integrity of game files

Related Guide

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3018203217
The guide to clean the game's cache is what you would need in case of a data mismatch error

Good to Know!

Disabling Cross-Save and Cloud = Performance Boost

Without the need to keep your savegames on cloud synchronised, saving and loading while playing become significantly faster.



As evident, the game designates savegames that possess both a Cross-Save and a Steam Cloud version with appropriate markings. Synchronization errors frequently arise when Cross-Save is activated, resulting not only in storage problems but also in situations that could potentially corrupt your savegame, rendering it unusable.

Bypassing Larian Launcher and Steam Friendlist

When using Steam's game launch options for Baldur's Gate 3, you will still appear normal in Steam's friendlist. It is a multiplayer-friendly way to bypass the Larian Launcher.

RevoUninstaller

A convenient free version of Revo Uninstaller that does not require installation can be found here: https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/revo_uninstaller_portable



Its advanced scan option after an uninstall are essential for troubleshooting as it addresses any leftover files the game's native uninstaller might have missed. Make sure to backup your savegames as needed before using RevoUninstaller.

Launcher Problems = Savegames Problems

A highly prevalent problem occurs when the Larian Launcher and/or the game fail to shut down correctly, lingering in the background unbeknownst, causing the game to initiate with a debug profile if this goes unnoticed. This can create the mistaken belief that your savegames might have been lost as they are not shown when a different profile is being used. A very common issue, but harmless. Do not panic.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3016984650

Official Support

The official support via Larian Studios' website can be found here:

https://larian.com/support/baldur-s-gate-3

Thanks for reading!

Happy Adventuring!