[2023] Unable to install

Is this a new Windows 11 installation (ie not an upgrade from Win10)? If so this is a current problem in the launcher installer, we're really not sure why it affects some users and not others.

Could you please do the following? It will generate a debug log that the launcher team can use to "deep dive" into what actually happens with the launcher.

Right click the game in question in Steam > Properties > Launch Options

• Paste in this: --pdxlDebug
• Run the game
• Once it fails to launch, locate the logs in the following place

%LocalAppData%\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2\logs\
(example: C:\Users\{user}\AppData\Local\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2\logs\)


Please attach all logs in that folder and we will get the launcher team to check them out.  

We didn't get the detailed launcher log which gets created with that --pdxlDebug launch option. It would normally have a name like launcher-23-02-01.log - do you have that?


Also, some other things to try. The 1603/1605 errors we see there are typically a previous other installation stuck, or a problem in the Windows update/install processes.

If you see msiexec running in Task manager-processes, kill it and try this launcher install again please.

Otherwise run the Update app in Windows, does it load okay, find anything to apply - whether a patch, update, or whole new Windows 10 version? If so do that and reboot, then try this launcher install again please.

If still no good, do you see Paradox Launcher v2 in the Windows Control Panel to uninstall? If so does it uninstall cleanly, or get an error doing that? You can use this MS tool to clear the stuck install/uninstall:

Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed - Microsoft Support

The Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter helps you automatically repair issues when you're blocked from installing or removing programs. support.microsoft.com