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You can disable Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) in the Steam PC version of Elden Ring with a community-documented launcher-file swap or a community toggler. Either way, treat it as an offline-only setup: multiplayer is unavailable while EAC is disabled, and modified game files or saves should not be used online. FromSoftware’s online-services terms say EAC loads automatically when the game starts; the sources reviewed do not establish a current publisher-supported switch for turning it off.
Choose a method
| Method | What you do | Best suited to | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual launcher-file swap | Back up the EAC launcher, then copy and rename the game executable. | Players who want a reversible change without installing a separate toggler. | Requires careful file handling and may need to be redone after a game update. |
| Community toggler | Install the community tool in the game’s Game folder and use its toggle or offline-launch executable. |
Players who want a switch and supported DLL mod integration. | It is community-hosted; check its current download, requirements and comments. It does not enable online play with EAC disabled or a modded client. |
Neither method is an official FromSoftware support procedure. Back up files first, and check that the instructions still match your installed game after updates.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $73.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5 | $43.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5) | $40.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Elden Ring - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Disable EAC with the manual launcher-file method
This method is documented for the Steam PC version. The folder is typically under your Steam library at steamapps/common/ELDEN RING/Game. Close the game before changing files.
- Open the
ELDEN RING/Gamefolder and make a backup copy ofstart_protected_game.exe, the EAC launcher. Keep the backup in the folder under a distinct name, such asstart_protected_game_backup.exe. - Rename the original
start_protected_game.exeto a different backup name if necessary, so the original is preserved and its original filename is free. - Copy
eldenring.exein the same folder. Rename the copy tostart_protected_game.exe. Do not rename or overwrite the originaleldenring.exe. - Launch Elden Ring through Steam. The cited community instructions say the game should show an offline-mode notice; online multiplayer will not be available.
If the game fails to start, close it and inspect the filenames: the copied executable should be named start_protected_game.exe, while the original EAC launcher should remain backed up under another name.
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- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
Use a community toggler instead
A community tool hosted on Nexus Mods describes placing its files in the game’s Game folder, then running toggle_anti_cheat.exe to switch EAC and supported DLL mods. It also provides start_game_in_offline_mode.exe for direct offline launching. Follow the tool page’s current installation and compatibility notes rather than assuming that its files suit every game update.
The tool author explicitly says that disabling anti-cheat does not allow online play with a modded client. Treat the toggler as a convenience for offline play, not a way to bypass online protections.
Rank #3
- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
Prepare Steam Offline Mode separately
Steam Offline Mode and disabling EAC are separate things. Turning off EAC does not itself put Steam into Offline Mode, and Steam Offline Mode is not the file change described above.
- While connected to the internet, launch the game once through Steam and allow any installation or update requirements to finish.
- After confirming the game is ready, use Steam’s Offline Mode if you need Steam itself to run without a connection.
- Use the launcher swap or community tool separately if your goal is to run the game without EAC.
Steam Support recommends starting games online first to check for pending installation or update requirements before relying on Offline Mode.
Restore the original files before playing online
- Close the game.
- Remove or move the copied
start_protected_game.exethat was made fromeldenring.exe. - Rename your backed-up original EAC launcher back to
start_protected_game.exe. - Restore original, unmodified regulation and other game data before launching online. If the original files are missing, Steam’s Verify integrity of game files feature can restore game files, according to the cited community instructions.
Do not take modified regulation.bin files or modded saves online. Community guidance warns that re-enabling EAC with a modded save may result in a temporary online ban; that is a warning, not a guarantee about what will happen in every case.
What to know about EAC, updates and risk
FromSoftware and Bandai Namco’s online-services terms state that EAC loads when the software starts and describe its anti-cheat role, including monitoring hardware, analyzing software binaries and scanning hardware memory. The terms prohibit certain falsified data and unintended uses of the online services and allow measures such as warnings, deletion of recorded data, or suspension or cessation of service use for prohibited conduct. They do not establish that every offline file change is either safe or punishable.
Best Value
- ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
- Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, and foreboding castles
- Create your character in FromSoftware’s refi ned action-RPG and defi ne your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world
- Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid - many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
Community mod documentation warns that updates can replace modified files or make mods incompatible. Its reference to regulation version 1.17.1 does not establish that this is the latest game build. After an update, check compatibility and restore unmodified files before attempting online play.
Quick Recap
Sources
- FromSoftware / Bandai Namco: Elden Ring online-services terms
- Nexus Mods: Anti-cheat toggler and offline-launch instructions
- Steam Support: Offline Mode guidance
- Windows Central: Community-documented offline launcher method
- Nexus Mods: Elden Ring mod compatibility information
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