Launcher Won’t Open / Black Screen

If your EVE Online Launcher (Steam version) won’t open, stays on a black screen, or fails to load properly, follow the steps below to restore normal function.

1. Close All Running Launcher Processes

Sometimes the launcher keeps running in the background and must be closed manually.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.

2. Look for any processes named EVE Online, EVE Launcher, or QtWebEngineProcess.

3. Select them and click End Task.

4. Try starting the launcher again from Steam.

2. Run as Administrator (Steam Version)

Running Steam or the EVE Online executable as Administrator can resolve permission-related launch issues.

Option 1: Run Steam as Administrator

1. Close Steam completely.

2. Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop or taskbar.

3. Select Run as administrator.

4. Once Steam opens, launch EVE Online from your Library.

Option 2: Run the Game Executable Directly

If running Steam as Administrator doesn’t help:

1. In your Steam Library, right-click EVE Online → Manage → Browse local files.

2. Open the app folder.

3. Locate eve-online.exe.

4. Right-click it → Run as administrator.

3. Clear Launcher Cache

If the launcher opens to a black screen or fails to start, clearing the cache may fix corrupted data.

1. Close both EVE Online and Steam completely.

2. Press Windows + R, type: %localappdata%\CCP\EVE\ and press Enter.

3. Locate the folder named after your EVE installation path (for example d_games_eve_online_tq_tranquility).

4. Open that folder and delete the cache folder inside it.

5. Restart Steam and launch EVE Online again.

4. Check for GPU & Windows Updates

Outdated drivers or system updates can cause black screen or loading issues.

• Update your GPU drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).

• Check for Windows Updates via Settings → Windows Update.

5. Verify Game Files Through the Launcher

If the launcher opens but doesn’t load correctly, you can verify and repair your installation files directly through the launcher interface.

1. Open the EVE Launcher and click the Cogwheel in the top-right.

2. In the left-hand panel, click EVE Online.

3. On the right side of the window, click VERIFY GAME FILES.

4. Wait for the process to complete, then restart the launcher.

6. Advanced Fixes

If the issue persists:

• Disable overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience, Steam Overlay, etc.).

• Reinstall EVE Online via Steam.

• Check antivirus/firewall settings to ensure the launcher isn’t blocked.

Still Having Issues?

If the launcher still won’t open or displays a black screen:

• Submit a Support Ticket by clicking Submit a Request at the top of this page.

• Include details such as your system specs, error messages, and any screenshots to help CCP Support diagnose the issue quickly. Instructions for generating your launcher logs can be found here: Launcher Logs