Little Nightmares III Crashing on Startup: The Best Available Solutions

Is your Little Nightmares III crashing on startup or refusing to start? You’re not alone; many players have encountered startup issues since the latest patch release, which makes them frustrated. These crashes often stem from factors like outdated GPU drivers, missing files, or incompatible settings.

Fortunately, multiple proven fixes can restore smooth gameplay within minutes. In the following guide, we will cover the best available solutions, including verifying game integrity and updating drivers. If you want to get Little Nightmares III running flawlessly on your PC, read the article to the end.

Part 1. Why Did Little Nightmares III Crash on Startup?

Before jumping into solutions, it’s essential to understand what’s causing Little Nightmares III crashing on startup:

1. Outdated Graphics Drivers: Running the game with old or incompatible GPU drivers can cause launch failures and crashes.
2. Corrupted Game Files: If installation files are missing or corrupted, the game may fail to start correctly.
3. Missing Dependencies: This issue can occur when required libraries, such as DirectX or the .NET Framework, are not present or up to date.
4. Third-Party Software Conflicts: Software such as Discord and GeForce Experience can overlay and interfere with the game engine at launch.
5. System Compatibility Issues: Running the game on an unsupported or underpowered PC, or with incompatible Windows versions, can lead to instant crashes.

Part 2. Top Fixes of Little Nightmares III Crashing on Startup

Upon hearing about this error, if you are exploring methods to fix Little Nightmares III crashing on startup, read this section:

1. Restart Steam & PC

Restarting Steam and your PC can help resolve Little Nightmares III startup crashes by shutting down background processes and removing glitches. This method requires minimal effort and technical know-how, making it accessible for all users. A fresh reboot of both Steam and Windows refreshes any cached data, helping avoid configuration or login errors. There's no danger to game files, so let's explore this method.

1. Access the Steam app and click on the menu available on the top left of the screen. Afterwards, tap on the “Exit” button to shut down the Steam interface.

   

2. Following this, navigate to the "Windows" icon, select the "Power" icon, and hit the “Restart” button to get your PC restarted.

   

2. Check System Requirements & Verify

One should check whether their system requirements align with the game specs, as this is a common reason for Little Nightmares III crashing on startup. The minimum requirements for your PC should be:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-6500, RAM: 8 GB,
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, and
• OS: Windows 11 (64-bit).

Ensure your PC meets these requirements, then opt for Steam's "Verify Integrity of Game Files" feature to fix corrupted files.

3. Run as Administrator

Using the "Run as Administrator" method for launching Little Nightmares III ensures the game has unrestricted access to necessary system files. This is essential for resolving crashes linked to insufficient permissions or blocked registry changes. So, have a look at the following guide if you are facing the Little Nightmares III crash on startup error.

1. Launch the Steam app, choose the “Library” menu from the top toolbar, and select the desired game from the options. Afterwards, click on the “Properties” option to access its further settings.

   

2. Here, click on the “Installed Files” menu from the left tab and hit the “Browse” button.

   

3. As this will lead you to the game files, right-click on the game launcher and choose the "Properties" option from the pop-up menu.

   

4. Here, choose the “Compatibility” menu and toggle the "Run as Administrator" button. Afterwards, click on the “OK” button to apply all the desired settings.

   

4. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Updating your graphics drivers offers several key advantages that directly improve performance and stability in games like Little Nightmares III. New drivers are optimized for recent game releases, ensuring smoother launches and fewer crashes on modern titles. Furthermore, it often includes security patches to fix issues, so read the given guide:

1. Access the “Windows” search bar and look for “Device Manager” within the menu.

   

2. Click on the "Display Adapters" menu, right-click the required graphic driver, and select the "Update Driver" option in the pop-up menu.

   

3. Here, tap on the "Search Automatically for Drivers” button to initiate the process of updating graphic drivers automatically.

   

5. Verify Game File Integrity in Steam

If your game file is corrupted or missing, users can try this method to resolve the issue of Little Nightmares III crashing on startup. The verification process identifies if any essential game files are missing from your installation. So, let's explore its detailed guide, as this process takes only a few minutes.

1. Launch the Steam app, navigate to the required game menu, and right-click it. Here, click on the “Properties” option within the pop-up menu to access it.

   

2. Select the “Installed Files” section from the left menu and go for “Verify Integrity for Demo Files” to check its integration.

   

6. Disable Steam Overlay

Disabling the Steam Overlay is recommended because it can prevent conflicts, crashes, and performance drops with games like Little Nightmares III. The overlay is an extra software layer that interacts with the game, and sometimes causes issues, resulting in Little Nightmares III crash on startup. So, if you are exploring this method, then go through the following:

Instructions. Access the Steam settings, and navigate to the "In Game" section within the left tab. Afterwards, enable the "Stem Overlay While In-Game" option to disable the Steam Overlay.

7. Check Anti-Virus and Firewall Exceptions

Checking and adding anti-virus and firewall exceptions is important to save software from any virus attack. It stops the system from mistakenly deleting game files, a frequent cause of crashes or missing file errors.  Using this method ensures that all required game files and services can load and run, reducing startup failures. So, if you want to fix Little Nightmares III crashing on startup, then go ahead:

1. Access the “Settings” app, and click on the "Update & Security" option.

   

2. Here, choose the “Windows Security” menu from the left tab and choose the “Firewall & Network Protection” option

   

3. Choose the “Allow an App Through Firewall” option and select your desired game folder.

   

4. As this opens a new window, tap the "Change Settings" button to add exclusions for avoiding firewall issues. Consequently, tap the "Allow another app…" button to lead to another window.

   

5. In the next window, tap "Browse" to search for the Little Nightmares III launcher to add to the exclusion list. Once browsed, use the “Add” button to ratify all changes.

   

8. Manage Game Graphics Settings

To fix Little Nightmares III crashing on startup, users can adjust game graphics settings to optimize its overall performance and visual experience. Adjusting these options can resolve stuttering, low FPS, and graphical glitches that often prevent games like Little Nightmares III from crashing on startup. These are the settings that one should opt for:

9. Check Windows Compatibility Settings

In case you are also facing the Little Nightmares III crashing on startup issue, opt for this method to address conflicts between Windows and game engines. Using this method allows older or poorly optimized games to run more reliably on new hardware and operating systems. So, have a look at the following guide to use this method:

1. Enter the “Steam” app, navigate to the desired game, and select the "Properties" option from the pop-up menu.

   

2. Here, click on the "Browse Local Files" button available in this interface.

   

3. Right-click on the game launcher and choose the "Properties" option in the pop-up menu.

   

4. Here, choose the "Compatibility" menu, enable the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" option, and select the right Windows version for your game.

   

10. Use PC Game Mode

To fix Little Nightmares III crashing on startup, ensure you have toggled on the "Game" mode for a smoother experience. Game Mode gives your game higher priority access to your computer's CPU and GPU, so it runs more efficiently. Here, let's explore a detailed step-by-step guide to using this method:

1. Enter the Settings app and hit the “Gaming” option available on its main homepage.

   

2. Toggle on the button located in the “Game Bar” option within the settings interface.

   

11. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

This method is essential as most Windows programs, including games like Little Nightmares III, require Visual C++ libraries to run. Updating it provides optimized runtime libraries that improve performance and reliability across Windows environments. A single redistributable installation supports many different applications, preventing them from needing individual libraries. Upon hearing about this method, have  a look at this guide:

Instructions. Go to Microsoft's official Visual C++ page and navigate to the latest Visual C++ Redistributable downloads available. Right-click on the required software to start downloading it to the device.

12. Clear Temporary Files (Temp Files)

Sometimes, Little Nightmares III crashes on startup due to storage issues, so one should always keep their PC free. Within this method, users imply access to the temporary file within settings and delete it.  Deleting them clears valuable space on smaller SSDs or HDDs. Temporary files slow down data access times and boost system responsiveness. If you are facing the same issue, then go ahead and follow the given guide:

1. Access the “Settings” app, click on the “Delete Temporary Files” option.

   

2. Here, all the temporary files are listed under the “Local Disk” menu, from which you have to choose.

   

3. Click on the "Remove Files" button to get them deleted from the device.

   

Part 3. How to Recover Lost Little Nightmares III Game Files?

Let's imagine one night you crave to play your favorite game, but when you start, Little Nightmares III crashing on startup. You get frustrated and try all the above-discussed standard methods to resolve this issue, but unfortunately, you discover lost game files. In this situation, we recommend using Recoverit, which lets you recover lost game files.

This tool provides a wide support for covering 10,000+ lost scenarios, including accidental or permanent deletion, system crashes, and formatting. It is capable of recovering all types of file formats, including files, images, songs, and emails. Furthermore, it provides you with a batch processing system to recover all lost files in a single go to save your time efficiently.

Key Features

1. Scanning Options: This tool provides both Quick and Deep scanning options to cater to all sorts of data loss scenarios.
2. Compatibility: Users can easily access from almost all operating systems, including Windows and Mac, to provide broader compatibility facilities.
3. Recovery Types: Besides Windows recovery, it also provides other recovery options, including Linux, NAS, and hardware data recovery.

Detailed Stepwise Guide to Use Wondershare Recoverit

Upon hearing about the advanced features of Recoverit, let's explore its detailed step-by-step guide to use it:

1. Choose Hard Drives and Locations Button

   Upon entering the tool, click on the “Hard Drives and Location” section in the left tab and select the desired location within the “Quick Access” tab.

   

2. Initiate the Scanning Procedure to Restore the File

   As you choose the location, it will automatically initiate the scanning procedure using the “Quick Scan” option.

   

3. Preview and Render the Recovered Game File

   Finally, the lost game file has been recovered, tap on the “Preview” option to examine it and hit the “Recover” button to get it exported.

   

Part 4. Corrupted Little Nightmares III Game Files? Fix With Repairit!

Suppose you recovered your lost file, but it still shows an error. To fix Little Nightmares III crashing on startup error due to corrupted game files, we recommend using Repairit. This tool lets you repair all sorts of corrupted files and supports all major operating systems. Users are able to preview the repaired file to examine its accuracy before saving it to the device.

Expert Guide to Use Repairit For Fixing Corrupted Files

Now, let's jump into its detailed stepwise guide to know the procedure to repair files across Repairit:

1. Load Your Corrupted Files into the Tool

   Click on the “More Types Repair” and select the “Document Repair” option.

   

2. Start the Repairing Process

   As you select the desired file, it will start the repairing procedure to make the file intact.

   

3. Preview And Export to The Device

   Once the files are repaired, preview or export them by clicking the “Preview” or "Save" buttons, respectively.

   

Conclusion

Summing up, in this article, we have narrowed down the most efficient methods to resolve the Little Nightmares III crashing on startup error. However, if you lost your game file, we recommend using Recoverit, which provides a 99.5% accuracy rate. For corrupted game files, the best option is to try using Repairit, which helps fix such files in an instant.