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If Assassin’s Creed Valhalla closes at launch, hangs on the splash screen, or shows a missing-DLL error on PC, the fix is usually a short sequence of checks rather than a full reinstall. Start with the cheap, low-risk steps: verify the game files, repair the Visual C++ runtimes, and turn off the Ubisoft Connect in-game overlay. Move to permissions, drivers, install location, and clean boot only if those fail.
Match your symptom to the most likely cause
Launch failures look alike from the outside, but the error text and timing often point to a specific cause. Use this table to choose where to begin.
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| Symptom | Most likely cause | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| An error that names a DLL file | Missing or damaged Visual C++ runtimes | Repair the runtimes |
| Crashes at startup that began after a game or launcher update | A conflict with the Ubisoft Connect in-game overlay, which Ubisoft Support has suggested disabling as a workaround | Disable the overlay |
| Stuck on the splash screen | Install location, according to one guide | Test the install drive |
| Crashes or fails to open with no clear message | Damaged or missing game files | Verify game files |
| Fails only when launched from Steam or Epic Games Store | Launch order or a store-specific install issue | Store-specific steps |
Work through the fixes from cheapest to most involved
Run these in order and test the game after each step. Stop as soon as it launches.
Restart the PC and close background apps
Restart Windows first, then open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and end any non-essential background programs, especially overlays, capture tools, and other game launchers. This clears stalled processes that can block the game from starting, and it costs nothing to try.
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Verify the game files in Ubisoft Connect
- Open Ubisoft Connect and go to Library.
- Click the three-dot menu beside Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
- Select Verify and wait for the check to finish. It replaces any damaged or missing files.
- Launch the game again.
Repair the Visual C++ runtimes
A DLL-named error usually means the Visual C++ runtimes that the game depends on are missing or damaged. The game’s own folder includes an installer for them.
- In Ubisoft Connect, open the game’s local folder.
- Go to Support > Software > VCRedist.
- Run vc_redist_x64.exe and follow the prompts. If Windows offers a repair option, choose it.
- Restart the PC and launch the game.
Disable the Ubisoft Connect in-game overlay
Ubisoft Support has suggested disabling the Ubisoft Connect in-game overlay as a workaround for startup crashes that began after an update. Turn it off in Ubisoft Connect’s settings, relaunch the game, and leave it off if that resolves the problem. Overlay toggles can move between Ubisoft Connect versions, so if you cannot find the option, check the current Ubisoft Connect settings menu or Ubisoft’s support page.
Run the game and launcher as administrator
Permission problems can stop the launcher or game from writing its files at startup. To test this:
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- Right-click the game’s shortcut or the Ubisoft Connect shortcut and choose Properties.
- Open the Compatibility tab.
- Tick Run this program as an administrator, click Apply, then OK.
- Launch from that shortcut. If it works, keep the setting.
Allow the game through Controlled Folder Access
Windows Controlled Folder Access can block a game or launcher from changing files in protected folders. Use it only as a diagnostic first:
- Open Windows Security and go to Virus & threat protection > Ransomware protection.
- Turn off Controlled folder access briefly and launch the game.
- If the game starts, turn Controlled Folder Access back on and select Allow an app through Controlled folder access. Add the game’s executable and the Ubisoft Connect executable.
Leaving protection off is not the goal. Allowing the two specific programs keeps your folders protected.
Update GPU drivers and Windows, then check DirectX 12 support
Install the latest driver from your GPU maker (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and run Windows Update. Then confirm that your graphics card supports DirectX 12 at feature level 12_0 or higher. Third-party guides state this requirement; it is not verified against Ubisoft’s own published requirements here, so check Ubisoft’s official system requirements page for the game.
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- Press Windows key + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter.
- On the Display tab, find the Feature Levels entry.
- Confirm that it lists 12_0 or a higher level.
Only consider a hardware change if this check fails. A passing result means the GPU is not the cause.
Test the install drive
Advice on install location conflicts. Many players report that installing the game and Ubisoft Connect on the same drive as Windows fixes launch problems. Another guide says that if the game is stuck on the splash screen, the game and Ubisoft Connect should go on a different drive. Try one arrangement, test the game, then try the other.
- Test A: Move the game and Ubisoft Connect to the Windows (OS) drive.
- Test B: If you are stuck at the splash screen, install both on a different drive.
Moving an installed game is done through Ubisoft Connect’s install settings or by uninstalling and reinstalling on the target drive. Expect a large download or a long verification pass either way.
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Store-specific steps for Steam and Epic Games Store copies
If you bought the game on another storefront, the launch order and reinstall route can differ. Use this table to compare them.
| Store | Launch order that has been suggested | Which launcher manages the install | Reinstall route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubisoft Connect | Launch the game from Ubisoft Connect’s Library | Ubisoft Connect | Reinstall from Ubisoft Connect’s Library |
| Steam | Restart the PC, start Ubisoft Connect first and sign in, then launch from Steam (a suggestion from a Steam community forum user) | Steam | Not stated in the guides |
| Epic Games Store | Not stated in the guides | Not stated in the guides | Uninstall, then reinstall through the Ubisoft Connect app (one guide’s suggestion) |
The Epic route rests on a single guide, so treat it as a trial rather than a confirmed fix.
Run a clean boot to find conflicting software
A clean boot starts Windows with only essential services. If the game launches that way, a background program is interfering, and you can narrow it down.
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- Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
- On the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
- On the Startup tab, select Open Task Manager, and disable every startup item there.
- Restart and test the game.
- When finished, reverse these changes and re-enable items in small groups to identify the culprit.
Read the launcher log
If none of the above works, the launcher log records what happened during the failed start. Open the default location:
C:Program Files (x86)UbisoftUbisoft Game Launcherlogslauncher_log.txt
Open the file in Notepad and look for error lines timestamped near your last failed launch. Keep a copy, since it becomes the most useful attachment for a support ticket.
Reinstall as a last resort
If the game still fails after the steps above, uninstall it through Ubisoft Connect and reinstall it. Reinstalling replaces all game files at once, which is only worth doing after verification and the runtime repair have failed, because a full download takes time.
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When self-help fails, contact Ubisoft Support
If the game still won’t start, open a ticket through Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla PC support page. Include your full PC specifications, which Ubisoft Support has asked for in similar cases: CPU model, GPU model and driver version, installed RAM, Windows version and build, and the drive where the game is installed. Attach the launcher log and note which steps you have already tried, including the overlay change and the DirectX 12 check result.
Quick Recap
Limits of this guide
- Most step-by-step advice comes from third-party and community guides of mixed age. Ubisoft Support’s current page is the authority wherever it differs.
- Problems tied to very recent Windows 11 builds or newly released driver versions are not specifically covered.
- This guide covers PC only. Console startup problems are a separate issue.
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