How to Fix "Couldn't Start Win64-Shipping.exe" Error in PC Games

If you are getting error message "Couldn't start Win64-Shipping.exe" when trying to launch a game, this is a common problem in many PC games, especially those built with Unreal Engine, such as Palworld, ARK: Survival Evolved, Remnant 2, and others. Thankfully, there is a straightforward solution that works across a wide range of games, including Palworld.

How to Fix "Couldn't Start Win64-Shipping.exe" Error in PC Games

This error often happens because of improper compatibility settings, restricted permissions, or system conflicts. By disabling forced administrator mode and fullscreen optimisations, you allow the game to run under standard conditions, which resolves the problem in many cases.

Although this guide uses Palworld as an example, this fix works for any game using a Win64-Shipping.exe file. If you are playing a different Unreal Engine game and running into this error, these steps should still apply.

• Open your game launcher, such as Steam or Epic Games.
• For Steam: Right-click the game in your Library, go to "Manage," and select "Browse local files."
• For Epic Games: Click the three dots next to the game title and select "Manage" or "Open install location."
• This will open the folder where the game is installed on your computer.
• Inside the game folder, navigate to:

• Find the main executable file. It is usually named something like GameName-Win64-Shipping.exe.
• Right-click on the executable file and select "Properties."

• Go to the "Compatibility" tab.
• Make sure "Run this program as an administrator" is unchecked.
• Also uncheck "Disable fullscreen optimizations" if it is selected.

• Click "Apply," then click "OK."
• Close the folder and try launching the game again through your game launcher. The error should no longer appear.

What to Do If It Still Doesn’t Work

If the issue persists after changing compatibility settings, try the following:

• Use your game launcher’s "Verify integrity of game files" feature to repair any corrupted files.
• Disable third-party overlays like Discord, Steam Overlay, or NVIDIA GeForce Experience.
• Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall, which may be blocking the executable.
• Make sure your graphics drivers and Windows are fully updated.