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Good Job Thanos

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Jul 15, 2025
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  • Stellaris
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet
  • Stellaris - Path to Destruction bundle
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass
  • Crusader Kings III
For some reason paradox launcher stopped working some time back and have had to launch ck3 executable. trying to fix the launcher issue have uninstalled the launcher completely. Deleted the AppData/Local/Programs Paradox Interactive
AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive
AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2

tried installing and still getting the same error. Tried installing from steam play button and from paradox website

error is pasted below. I do not see a folder in Package Cache\ that has the msi


1752605348132.png
 
I mean do you have a cloud service, like one drive, on your pc and have you allowed it access to that file you are installing the launcher? due to the way cloud works it can run interference with installations.
 
Moved to general forum with the other launcher threads for visibility.
 
wdym? I downloaded the installer to my local then ran it
You don't need to separately download the launcher, its installer comes with every game that uses it.



Please try this:

- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.

Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.
- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam


IF that doesn't help, in this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.
 
You don't need to separately download the launcher, its installer comes with every game that uses it.



Please try this:

- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.

Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.
- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam


IF that doesn't help, in this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.
as stated in my original post i have tried this already
 
Please, Paradox, stop messing around with the Launcher because every time you change the version, I have to put one foot on the refrigerator and the other under the chair for it to work... it leaves me unable to play for days...
Now they decided to change the .exe extension to .msi, and they've really screwed me over. Before, I only had to run an administrator routine and the problem was solved.

Now dead.
 
Please, Paradox, stop messing around with the Launcher because every time you change the version, I have to put one foot on the refrigerator and the other under the chair for it to work... it leaves me unable to play for days...
Now they decided to change the .exe extension to .msi, and they've really screwed me over. Before, I only had to run an administrator routine and the problem was solved.

Now dead.
Sorry, but the launcher has been and will be updated at regular intervals to fix bugs and add new features, as with any app really.

We can probably fix your problem, if you describe it in more detail for us and sen din its logs - best in its own thread here please.
 
1752774251424.png

No clear cause in there.

Do the clean delete from my post above again please, BUT before running a game from Steam, run this launcher installer instead:

Do you still get that odd "Use source" from your OP here? If so, make a new Windows user profile on this PC and try that launcher installer under that - any better?
same issue the folder its trying to fetch paradioxlauncher.msi from doesnt exist
 
I don't know where that comes from. @Deuterium Oxide are there registry keys involved here? Be great to have a script that cleaned them up if so!

@Good Job Thanos meanwhile you could try a utility like Ccleaner to clear out any mention of the launcher in the registry, I assume that's where that spurious location is recorded.
 
I don't know where that comes from. @Deuterium Oxide are there registry keys involved here? Be great to have a script that cleaned them up if so!

@Good Job Thanos meanwhile you could try a utility like Ccleaner to clear out any mention of the launcher in the registry, I assume that's where that spurious location is recorded.
actually did that already before raising this post
 
@AndrewT thank you for all the help! ALso curious if this could somehow be why I'm not getting achievments unlocked in steam? I recently completed mother of us all achievment in game but it didnt pop in steam. I have the save still and looking at the same it says achievments enabled so not sure why it wont show in steam., Kinda demotivated me to play a lil bit
 
@AndrewT thank you for all the help! ALso curious if this could somehow be why I'm not getting achievments unlocked in steam? I recently completed mother of us all achievment in game but it didnt pop in steam. I have the save still and looking at the same it says achievments enabled so not sure why it wont show in steam., Kinda demotivated me to play a lil bit
The launcher has nothing whatsoever to do with achievements. You could post in the main forum for whatever game you are referring to for help with why it didn't pop.