If Cuphead keeps crashing, won’t open on PC, or fails to launch from Steam, work through these checks in order. They are general Windows and Steam troubleshooting steps—not eight fixes published or endorsed by Studio MDHR—and none is guaranteed to solve every launch problem. If you use the Windows Store version, skip the Steam-only file verification step.
Before you start: identify your Cuphead version
Check whether your copy launches through Steam or the Windows Store. Steam’s file-verification option applies only to a Steam installation. The Windows Store version has a separate history: Studio MDHR reported that a save-progress bug could occur after using ALT+TAB in the Windows 10 Store version, and said it had released a patch. That was a historical save issue, not evidence of a current general crash or launch problem. Studio MDHR’s post-launch update
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| 1 |
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Cuphead - Nintendo Switch | $31.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $26.88 | Buy on Amazon |
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Cuphead - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Cuphead - The Delicious Last Course Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $7.59 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Cuphead - Switch | $49.93 | Buy on Amazon |
Try these eight troubleshooting checks
Steam notes that launch failures can have different causes across hardware and software configurations. Treat these as checks, not guaranteed fixes. If one step resolves the problem, there is no need to continue.
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Restart the PC and Steam
Restart Windows, open Steam again if that is your storefront, and try launching Cuphead. This gives you a clean starting point before changing settings.
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Cuphead - Nintendo Switch- Experience the classic run and gun action with a pal in 2-player local co-op
- Includes the “Delicious Last Course” expansion filled with new bosses and brand-new character Ms. Chalice
- Includes exclusive “Cuphead Funnies” comic collector cards & vintage-inspired “Cuphead Club Membership”, and a hand-drawn reversible coversheet
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Install available Windows updates
Check Windows Update and install applicable updates, then restart if prompted. Retry the game before moving on.
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Update relevant device drivers
Check for current drivers through your PC maker’s supported update method or the component manufacturer’s official route, particularly for graphics hardware. Avoid third-party driver utilities that you do not trust.
Rank #2
Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]- A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play. Please check the game detail page on Nintendo.com for membership requirements.
- 2022 StudioMDHR Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cuphead and StudioMDHR are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of StudioMDHR Entertainment Inc. throughout the world.
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Verify the game files in Steam
For the Steam version, open Library → Cuphead → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. Steam’s verification instructions say this can help with missing content or crashes. The check may take several minutes; Steam notes that a few local configuration files failing verification can be normal. Do not use this Steam procedure for a Windows Store installation.
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Close nonessential background software temporarily
Close optional apps that are running in the background, then try starting Cuphead again. If that changes the result, reopen apps one at a time to identify a possible conflict. Do not broadly disable antivirus or other security protection as a routine troubleshooting step.
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Cuphead - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]- Play as Cuphead or Mugman in single-player or local co-op, as you traverse strange worlds
- Meet a variety of bosses in a single game or local cooperative action
- Acquire new weapons, learn powerful and exciting moves, and reveal hidden secrets
- Defeat your enemies and win boss battles to pay your debt back to the devil!
- The game's completely traditional hand-drawn graphics and watercolor background in a combination with a jazz soundtrack provide a unique gaming experience
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Compare your PC with Cuphead’s listed minimum requirements
The Steam Cuphead support listing gives these minimums for the game:
- 64-bit processor and operating system
- Windows 7
- Intel Core2 Duo E8400 or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ at 3.0 GHz or higher
- 3 GB RAM
- GeForce 9600 GT or AMD HD 3870 with 512 MB or higher
- DirectX 11
- 4 GB available storage
These are the game’s displayed minimums, not a promise that every PC meeting them will launch successfully. The same listing says the Steam client supports Windows 10 and later beginning January 1, 2024. That is a Steam-client requirement and is distinct from the game’s displayed Windows 7 minimum. See the Cuphead technical support listing for the requirements.
Rank #4
Cuphead - The Delicious Last Course Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]- Help Chef Saltbaker on a brand new adventure to uncover the mystery of Legendary Chalice's secret quest!A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play. Please check the game detail page on Nintendo.com for membership requirements.
- 2022 StudioMDHR Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cuphead and StudioMDHR are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of StudioMDHR Entertainment Inc. throughout the world.
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Check for a stuck Steam launch process
If Steam says Cuphead is running but no game window appears, check whether a Cuphead process is still open in Windows’ process manager. Close only a clearly stuck Cuphead process, then retry. If the launch-state error persists, follow Steam’s “Preparing to Launch” troubleshooting flow. Avoid deleting game or Steam files unless official instructions specifically direct you to do so.
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Contact Studio MDHR if the problem continues
If the general checks do not resolve the issue, use the developer support contact shown on Steam’s Cuphead technical support page. Include your storefront, Windows version, the exact error or behavior, and the checks you already tried. These details help describe the issue; they are not stated as required fields for a support form.
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Cuphead - Switch- The physical edition includes the following exclusive physical items: 6 Comic cards, Membership Card
- Includes “The Delicious Last Course” expansion in the cartridge
- In Cuphead - The Delicious Last Course, Cuphead and Mugman are joined by Ms. Chalice for a DLC add-on adventure on a brand-new island! With new weapons, new charms, and Ms. Chalice's brand-new abilities, take on a new cast of multi-faceted, screen-filling bosses to assist Chef Saltbaker in Cuphead's final challenging quest
- Featuring Ms. Chalice as a brand-new playable character with a modified moveset and new abilities. Once acquired, Ms. Chalice is fully playable through the DLC and the original Cuphead adventure
- Traverse a brand-new Inkwell Isle and wallop the most wacky and monstrous bosses Cuphead has faced yet
What to do if Cuphead still will not launch
Keep the storefront in mind when following further instructions: Steam’s file-verification steps apply to Steam copies, while Windows Store copies need support guidance for that version. Steam’s general launch guide explains that launch failures can stem from different hardware and software configurations; it does not establish a Cuphead-specific cause or promise that any particular check will work.
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