Skyrim SE Won't Launch [Fixed]

From using magic out of thin air to making gold with the transmute spell, Skyrim is timeless, and that’s saying the least. However, I and other users have run into their fair share of errors within the game, such as the Skyrim SE won’t launch issue. This drastically hinders the game’s playability, so you definitely don’t want that. This issue may be caused due to installed mods, corrupted game files, and when “Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Services” is turned on in the Windows’ Services area.

Key Highlights

You can fix this Skyrim launching issue by performing the following fixes:

Launch the game offline.
Play the game in compatibility mode.
Get rid of Nexus Mods.
Block the connection for the Inbound and Outbound rules.
Verify Skyrim files.
Try uninstalling and reinstalling Skyrim as a last resort.

Play the Game Offline

As the section title depicts, many players, including me, have been able to get rid of Skyrim SE, not just by launching the game offline.

We admit that this is more of a temporary fix, but it does help you get back into the game the fastest. You can easily disconnect the internet from your device by clicking the “Internet access” icon in the notification area. Once you’ve done that, click “Disconnect” beside whatever connection you use to finalize the process.

Uninstall Your Downloaded Mods

In my experience, not all Skyrim mods are game-changers. Some of them can turn out to be game-breakers as well. There is a specific for Skyrim; the Unofficial High-Resolution Patch mod on Nexus Mods is notorious for crashing the game repeatedly. If you have it installed on your PC, remove it first and try launching the game afterward.

You can see that mods are causing issues in the Skyrim community, and uninstalling them can help you start the game without any issues.

Here’s how you can uninstall your downloaded mods in Skyrim:

Start by accessing the official TES5Edit mod page through this direct link.
Download the TES5Edit mod by selecting the “Download” button on the mod page.
Downloading the TES5Edit Mod
Create a Nexus Mods account to download mods, then click “Slow Download” for non-premium accounts.
Extract the downloaded mod files using 7-Zip by right-clicking on the folder and selecting “Extract All.”
Extracting the Files of the Mod
Navigate to the “TES5Edit 4.0.4” folder within the main mod folder and launch the TES5Edit application.
Launching the TES5Edit Mod
The tool will scan existing mods for Skyrim Special SE and detect errors, displaying them in a message log.
Running the TES5Edit Mod Tool
Identify the problematic mod from the message log and open Nexus Mod Manager to locate it in the “Plugins” section.
Click on the box beside the troublesome mod to mark it for removal.
Removing the Mod From Skyrim Special Edition
In the “Mods” section, click “Remove Plugin” to eliminate the problematic mod from Skyrim Special Edition.
Verify if the game launches successfully; if not, explore additional solutions for Mod Organizer 2 issues.

Disable Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Services

Another fix has solved the Skyrim SE won’t launch problem. The way it works isn’t quite established, but as long as it resolves our issue, we have got to give it a shot. It turns out that the “Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Services” entry in Windows’s Services area is preventing Skyrim from launching properly.

Open the “Services” application by typing it into the Windows Search bar and clicking on the result.
In the Services window, locate “Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Services” by scrolling down.
Right-click on “Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Services” and select “Properties.”
In the Properties window, find the “Startup Type” section and choose “Disable” from the options.
Click “OK” to confirm the changes and disable the service.
Verify if the Skyrim SE launch issue is resolved by trying to launch the game again.

Many players have successfully addressed the problem using this method.

Verify the Game Integrity Files

If you’re playing the game on Steam, there’s another possible fix. You can use the famous platform’s built-in tool to check if any essential game file is missing or corrupted. Doing so will make it easy to solve the problem and get right back into playing the title. It’s worth a shot, especially since the utility can repair games independently.

Here’s a dedicated guide on verifying game files by our tech expert, Ayyoun.

FAQs

How to See Why Game Won’t Launch?

It’s obvious to diagnose that your Skyrim SE isn’t launching. Whenever you try playing the game, it’ll crash right after. In addition, you might be seeing the Skyrim SE icon, but no pop-up will appear on your screen.

Why does Skyrim crash on startup?

Skyrim could crash on startup for many reasons, including unspecified Windows Firewall rules, faulty mods, corrupted game files, and impending Windows updates.

What does CTD mean in Skyrim?

CTD is an acronym that stands for Crash to Desktop. This is when the game keeps on crashing repeatedly. You can fix the issue using multiple ways, though.