EA FC 26 not starting on PC error: Possible fix and reasons

EA FC 26 has finally launched, but many PC players are facing frustrating startup issues. The most common of these is the game simply refusing to launch. This is a pretty common bug that tends to affect FIFA 24 and EA FC 25 as well, even months after their respective releases. So, if you're stuck staring at your desktop instead of enjoying the pitch, you're not alone.

In this guide, we have listed a few fixes that have worked for other gamers. Do note that these aren't official, so they have a 50-50 chance of working for you.

---

Why is EA FC 26 crashing at launch on PC?

EA FC 26 has had a rocky launch, like most other 2025 games (Image via Electronic Arts)

The most common culprit behind EA FC 26 startup issues is EA's anti-cheat system. If conflicting software (like FACEIT or kernel-level tools) is interfering with the launch, you may be permanently locked out of the game until you fix it.

However, for a major chunk of gamers, corrupted files could be the reason as well. Before trying any other fix, we recommend running Verify Integrity on Steam or using the Repair option in the EA App. Here are the steps:

1. For Steam, Open Steam → Library → Right-click game → Properties → Select Installed Files → Click "Verify Integrity of Game Files"
2. For EA App, Open EA App → Go to Library → Click on the game → Three dots menu (⋯) → Choose "Repair"

Also, double-check your GPU drivers or Windows version and ensure your antivirus programs aren't blocking EA FC 26 from launching by flagging game files as suspicious. Trend Micro has been known to cause this issue.

---

Possible fixes for EA FC not starting on PC

EA is yet to declare official fixes for FC 26's PC instability issues (Image via Electronic Arts)

Here are a few known fixes for you to try:

Fix #1: Launch via EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher

Some X users have reported that choosing not to launch from the EA/Steam play buttons fixes the issue. You might get the game up and running on the first attempt, so these steps are worth a shot:

1. Navigate to your EA FC 26 installation directory (usually C:\Program Files\EA Games\EA SPORTS FC 26\)
2. Look for the file EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher.exe
3. Important: Close all EA processes completely before launching
4. Right-click on EAAntiCheat.GameServiceLauncher.exe and select "Run as Administrator"
5. Launch the game through this application

This method directly initializes the anti-cheat system, which may resolve any startup conflicts.

Fix #2: Use the Trial.exe Method

Some community members report success with a slightly different approach:

1. Locate your EA FC 26 game directory
2. Find the Trial.exe file (may be in the root game folder or __Installer subfolder)
3. Run Trial.exe as administrator
4. This should launch the game successfully

---

Do note that the issue will be fully fixed only when EA Sports officially releases a patch. As we mentioned earlier, FC has been known to be plagued by startup issues. Hence, we also urge you to actively search for any other workarounds reported on community forums, as any of them could help you get the game running.