8 Easy Fixes for Baldur’s Gate 3 File Verification Error [Guide]

Baldur’s Gate 3 was a pleasant surprise this year; a complete game which had minimal bugs and glitches. Already receiving wide acclaim from both critics and players, it is now a strong Game of The Year contender, already winning big at The Golden Joystick Awards.

However, the file verification issue on Steam has been annoying players for quite some time. Read on below to learn what causes this issue and how to fix it.

What is The File Verification Error?

The File Verification Error for Baldur’s Gate 3 occurs for players who own the Steam version of the game on PC. The error causes the game to crash and display a pop-up that says there’s a problem with the game files installed.

↪ Possible Causes

Below is a list of the most common causes for this issue:

1. Corrupted Game Files: The game files are corrupted due to a botched install or update, hence the file verification message.
2. Incompatible/Overlapping Mod Files: If you’ve installed any mods, it’s possible that they’re overlapping, or one of the mods is poorly designed and causing issues.
3. Outdated Windows Version: The version of Windows installed on your PC is not the latest version.
4. Outdated Graphics Driver: The graphics driver installed for your GPU is not the latest version.
5. Launcher Issues: The Larian Launcher is causing issues and affecting the game.
6. HDD/SSD Errors: If your HDD or SSD is failing, it may be causing data to become corrupted.

READ MORE: Microsoft Called Baldur’s Gate 3 a “Second-Run Stadia PC RPG”

How to Fix Baldur’s Gate 3 File Verification Error

Here’s a list of the possible solutions for this problem:

Solution #1: Verifying the integrity of the game files via Steam

This solution requires that you do exactly what the error pop-up suggests; verify the integrity of the game files. Here’s how to do it on Steam:

1. Launch Steam and go to the Game Library.
2. Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 from the list present on the left and select Properties.

3. Go to the Installed Files tab.
4. Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.

5. The process can take several minutes.
6. Once done, launch Baldur’s Gate 3.

Solution #2: Deleting mods and running the game on vanilla settings

Modding is a great way to enhance your game experience. However, if you’ve installed too many mods, or if there are any overlapping mods present, it’s bound to cause issues.

Here’s how to delete your mod files:

1. Hold down the Windows and R together to open Run.
2. Next, type %LocalAppData%.

3. Then, go to the Larian Studios folder.

4. Finally, select Baldur’s Gate 3 > Mods. Delete all mods present in the folder. Launch Baldur’s Gate 3 after performing this action.

Solution #3: Check for graphic card driver updates

An outdated graphic card driver can cause issues in multiple games. Therefore, to achieve a more stable experience, you should keep your graphics card driver up to date. Use NVIDIA GeForce Experience to download the latest driver for NVIDIA GPUs. AMD owners can use AMD Adrenalin software to check and install updates.

Solution #4: Outdated Windows

If you’re not running the latest version of Windows, you might be facing this issue. Here’s how to check for updates on Windows 10 and Windows 11:

1. Hold down the Windows and R together to open Run.
2. Next, type ms-settings:windowsupdate and hit Enter.
   

   

3. The Windows Update menu will open up. Click on Check for updates.
   

   

4. It will begin to search for new updates. If updates are available, you’ll be asked to download and install them.
5. Restart your computer after installing the updates and launch Baldur’s Gate 3.

Solution #5: Checking the disk drive for any errors

It is essential that the drive on which the game is stored not have any prevalent issues. Here’s ow you can confirm whether the disk drive has any problems using Windows’ CHKDSK utility:

1. Hold down the Windows and R together to open Run.
2. Next, type cmd and hold down Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open up the Command Terminal as an administrator.
   

   

3. Then, type chkdsk /x /f /r and hit Enter. The following message will be outputted:
   

   

4. Type in Y and hit Enter.
5. Restart your computer and try to run Baldur’s Gate 3.

Solution #6: Running the game as an administrator

Some users have reported that doing this allowed the game to launch. To launch the Larian Launcher as an admin every time, follow these instructions:

1. Launch Steam and go to the Game Library.
2. Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 from the list present on the left and hover the cursor on Manage. Click on Browse local files. 

   

3. Now, open the File Explorer that appears. Open the bin folder.

   

4. Next, right-click on bg3.exe. Select Properties.

   

5. On the pop-up, click on the Compatibility tab.
6. Click on the Run as administrator checkbox to enable it. Click on Apply to save your changes.

   

7. Now do the same for bg3_dx11 and for the Larian Launcher too. The Larian Launcher can be found in the game files as LariLauncher.exe in the Launcher folder.

Solution #7: Skipping the Larian Launcher

Baldur’s Gate 3 uses Larian Studios‘ very-own Larian Launcher. Most would prefer to launch it via Steam itself like any other game, since the Larian Launcher is not the most optimal. Here’s how you can skip launching the game through the Larian Launcher and directly load it up:

1. Launch Steam and go to the Game Library.
2. Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 from the list present on the left and select Properties.

3. On the General tab, scroll down to the Launch Options.
4. Enter the following command: –skip-launcher.

5. Once done, close the window and launch Baldur’s Gate 3.

Solution #8: Reinstall the game

If the issue remains unresolved, then a clean install of the game is the only choice left.

1. Launch Steam and go to the Game Library.
2. Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 from the list present on the left and hover the cursor on Manage. Click on Uninstall.

   

3. Confirm your uninstallation on the next prompt, and simply re-install the game afterwards to fix the issue.

READ MORE: Baldur’s Gate 3 Won’t Launch or Open in PC (6 Fixes) ➜

Conclusion

We hope that your issue gets resolved and you get back to grinding away! You can leave questions down below in the comments as well. If you’re still struggling, then we suggest contacting Larian directly via email at support@larian.com for further assistance.