How to fix FIFA 23 “unrecoverable error” anti-cheat bug
The long-awaited launch of FIFA 23 has been spoilt for many PC players, who have encountered a message saying “The Application Encountered An Unrecoverable Error.” Luckily, there are a couple of fixes and workarounds you can try.
FIFA 23 launched in early access on September 27, and millions of players were quick to hop in and start building their Ultimate Team or embarking on Career Modes.
However, the fun was interrupted for many players, as the overloaded EA servers went down shortly after release. Once they came back online, PC players found they were being booted out of the game only to be met with a message claiming reading: “The Application Encountered An Unrecoverable Error.”
The issue appears to be related to FIFA 23’s anti-cheat software, and EA are working on a permanent fix. In the meantime, there are a few workarounds for you to try.
Disable any overlays
One of the ways that the community has found to get around the error message is to disable any overlays running on your PC. If you’re using NVIDIA GeForce Overlay, Discord Overlay, Origin Overlay, EA Overlay, or any similar software, then turning them off before opening FIFA 23 could prevent the message from appearing.
Run FIFA 23 as an administrator
Others reported that all you have to do to access FIFA 23 is open the game as an administrator if you’re using the EA or Origin app. Check out how to do that below:
- Close the application by right-clicking.
- Right-click on the app to bring up a menu of options.
- Select ‘Run as Administrator.’
If neither of these work, then more drastic measures could be needed to get things up and running again. Keep reading to find out more.
EA SportsDelete and reinstall FIFA 23 anti-cheat
Players of Steam discovered that removing the game’s anti-cheat and reinstalling it seems to solve the issue in some cases. It’s a little bit fiddly to do, so we’ve laid out a step-by-step guide below:
- Go to Steamlibrary>steamapps>common>FIFA 23>_Installer>EAAntiCheat.
- Open a filed titled ‘EA Anti-Cheat.’
- A window will pop up, click on the arrow and choose ‘FIFA 23 (Installed).’
- Click ‘Uninstall’ and wait for it to finish.
- Once you see ‘Uninstall Succeeded,’ go and reinstall it.
- When the reinstall is complete, close the window and open FIFA 23.
This seems to be the most consistent way to get rid of the error, but it’s far from a definite fix. If none of these methods work for you, then we recommend simply waiting until EA push out an update containing a more permanent solution.
For more on FIFA 23, be sure to check out the best custom tactics you can use, as well as the ranks and rewards in FUT Champions.
Image credits: EA SPORTS