CS:GO Tutorial: FIX VAC Authentication Error [Ultimate Guide]

Recently CS: GO players are complaining that when they try to open the game they encounter VAC Authentication Error.

Some of the players are very frustrated with this error and share their experiences on social forums.

Don’t worry about it!

The CPU Guide brings you the best working solution to solve CS:GO VAC Authentication Error.

Solution 1: Restart the Game to Fix CS:GO VAC Authentication Error

Whenever you encounter CS:GO VAC Authentication Error or any game bug, you should restart the game before trying any further solutions.

Restarting the game will eliminate any temporary error which is occurring due to the old cookies and cache or the system’s other software is clashing with your gaming software.

All of these errors will be eradicated after a simple restart of the PC or any other platform you use.

If the restarting is not helping to solve CS:GO VAC Authentication Error PC then try performing a Clean boot.

Solution 2: Performing a Clean Boot to Initialize the CSGO

Clean boot will help you to eliminate the unnecessary applications which are running on the backend.

And shut down any applications which are conflicting with each other.

How to perform a clean boot on Windows 11?

Here is how to perform a Clean Boot on Windows 11:

  1. Press Windows Button + R Keyrun dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  2. The Run Dialogue Box will appear
  3. Type “MSConfig
  4. Press Enter
  5. The System Configuration window will opensystem configuration run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  6. Select Services tabUncheck  Windows Search Indexer run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  7. Uncheck all the unnecessary service
  8. Only check those you need now
  9. Now click OK

Now, your clean boot is done and the unnecessary services are eliminated which will enable you to play CSGO without crashing on the startup 

If the error still persists, then proceed to the next solution to solve CSGO Keeps Crashing PC.

Read More: CSGO Crashing/Not Launching [Best Guide]

Solution 3: Keep your PC Updated to Fix CS:GO VAC Authentication Error

Sometimes your outdated PC is the main cause of the Outdated Graphics Card Driver on Windows.

Outdated drivers in your PC or your current Window Version cannot support the CSGO and gaming software, as you update your Windows all running drivers are updated too.

So, here is how you can update your PC:

  1. Click on the Windows iconStart run dialog, is CS:GO VAC Authentication Error, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  2. Click on the Settings icon
  3. new window will pop up
  4. Select Windows Update from the left menuWindows updaterun dialog, is csgo down, CS:GO VAC Authentication Error csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  5. The new Window will pop up
  6. Then click on Check for updates.Windows update run dialog, is csgo down,CS:GO VAC Authentication Error, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  7. If there is any update it will start updating the PC.Windows update run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch

You can also update your graphic drivers through Windows Update too and solve CSGO Won’t Launch errors.

Read More: Elden Ring Won’t Launch: Not Starting on PC?

Solution 4: Update Graphics Card Driver with Windows Update

Updating the graphic drivers will help you have a better and more stable graphical experience.

This will fix the CS:GO VAC Authentication Error PC and you will be able to play CSGO without Keeps freezing.

Here is how you can update drivers via optional update:

  1. Click on the Windows iconstart run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  2. Click on the Settings icon
  3. new window will pop up
  4. Select Windows Update from the left menuWindows update run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  5. The new window will pop up
  6. Now select Advanced options
  7. Click on Optional updatesWindows update run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,csgo crashing, csgo won't launch
  8. A new window will open
  9. Click on the drop-down button for Driver updates
  10. Now, select your desired drivers
  11. Now press the Download & install button

If you cannot update your drivers through Windows Update, you can try updating the Graphics Drivers through Device Manager to fix CSGO Stuck on the Loading Screen.

Solution 5: Update Graphics Card Driver via Device manager to FIX CSGO Keeps Crashing

Outdated graphic drivers can be updated in multiple ways.

If you are unable to update your graphic drivers by updating Windows, you can try updating through the Device Manager too which in return will fix CSGO Crashing PC.

Here is how you can update drivers through Device Manager:

  1. Click on the Search icon
  2. Type Device Managersearch run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,csgo crashing, csgo won't launch
  3. Click to open Device Manager
  4. Then select the Display adapters
  5. A further menu will open
  6. Right-click on the graphic card name
  7. Click on the Update driverdevice managerrun dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch

Rolling Back the Driver to Fix CS:GO VAC Authentication Error :

If you experiencing the CSGO PC Crash issue after updating your graphic drivers then you can roll back the driver’s recent update to avoid Frozen CSGO.

Here is how you can roll back drivers:

  1. Click on the Search icon
  2. Type Device Managerdevice manager run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,csgo crashing, csgo won't launch
  3. Click to open Device Manager
  4. Then select the Display adapters
  5. A further menu will open
  6. Right-click on the graphic card name
  7. Click on the Properties device manger run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,csgo crashing, csgo won't launch
  8. A graphic card properties Window will open
  9. Navigate to the Driver Tab
  10. There is an option of “Roll Back Drivers” click on it
  11. If the option of “Roll Back Drivers” is grey out this means that the driver did not update recently.

If this solution didn’t fix CS:GO VAC Authentication Error then proceed to update the external GPU driver.

Solution 6: Check for Driver’s Updates of GPU/Video Card of different company

One of the highlighted issues is outdated GPU drivers leading to Frozen CSGO PC.

When our video card has outdated drivers, it’s unable for GPU to align with the modern gaming experience and starts causing CS:GO VAC Authentication Error.

So, we recommend updating the video card drivers.

Here are the direct links to the main GPU Making Companies:

After updating the GPU drivers and check the CS:GO VAC Authentication Error is fixed or not.

If the above solution didn’t work out for you then try the next solution to fix the CSGO Freezing PC.

Solution 7: Verify the Game Files to Fix CS:GO VAC Authentication Error

Sometimes the game file will get corrupted or get deleted which eventually causes CSGO Crash on Startup and the  CSGO won’t launch properly.

Verify Game File in Steam to fix CSGO Crashing PC

Follow the steps to verify the game file on steam software:

  1. Launch the Steam Software
  2. Now login in the steam
  3. Navigate to the library
  4. Select the game and right-click on the game
  5. Now select properties
  6. Now click on the “Local file” Option
  7. A further menu will open
  8. Click on the “Verify Integrity of the Game Cache
  9. Now the software is starting to verify the files and this will take some time.

Sometimes the game file will get corrupted or get deleted that eventually causes CS:GO VAC Authentication Error.

What is Steam software used for?

Steam software is an Online platform that is used to play games and also host more than 10,000 games.

This software allows the user to make community and play games on the same platform.

Is Steam a virus? Can steam harm your computer?

Steam is a client gaming software that allows the user to enjoy gaming with building the best community around them.

In current times Steam has more than 120 Million active players around the world.

When you play games on Steam your PC might get occupied but it will not harm your computer.

Now move on to the Power Setting to solve CS:GO VAC Authentication Error.

Solution 8: Change Power Settings to Fix CS:GO VAC Authentication Error

When your PC power plan is set on the Balanced option plan, your PC will provide less power to the game, this will eventually cause game lag or CSGO 2 Crashing.

To avoid Frozen CSGO follow the below steps to change Power settings:

How do I change power settings in Windows 11?

  1. Go to the Control Panel
  2. Select View option “Large Iconcontrol panel run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,csgo crashing, csgo won't launch
  3. Now find “Power Options” click on it
  4. Choose your Power Plan “High Performancecontrol panel run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,CSGO CRSHING, csgo won't launch
  5. If there is no other option expect a “Balanced
  6. Then navigate the left menu
  7. Select “Create a power plan
  8. A new window will open
  9. Select the power plan to “High PerformancePower plan run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,csgo crashing, csgo won't launch
  10. And click on Next
  11. The new power plan is available.

If still the error pops up, then you turn overclocking off. And if you haven’t enabled it, then you need to learn this application as an administrator.

Solution 9: Turn off Overclocking To Fix CSGO Keeps Crashing

Sometimes some players increased the CPU speed in order to achieve more smooth gaming. But sometimes some games stop playing or keeps crashing. To rectify overclocking you have to set CPU speed to default.

Here are the steps to put CPU speed in default settings to solve CS:GO VAC Authentication Error:

  1. Restart your PC
  2. When you see the company logo press “F2“(the Key might differ depending on the Manufacturer)
  3. Now you will enter in BIOS
  4. Now go to Advanced Tab
  5. Locate Performance and
  6. Find Overclocking option
  7. Disable overclocking
  8. Save changes
  9. Exist BIOS

IF CS:GO VAC Authentication Error persists then follow the next solution.

Solution 10: Run the Application as Administrator to Fix CSGO Won’t Launch

Running the program as an administrator will definitely help you to eradicate the “CSGO Crashing PC & CSGO Freezing PC” as it might be lacking the privileges required to run the Application.

Here is how you can run the application as an administrator:

  1. Go to the file/ folder.
  2. Then go to the Game Launcher.
  3. Right-click on the Launcher icon
    Menu run dialog, is csgo down, csgo down, csgo down ,csgo crashing, csgo won't launch
  4. menu will open
  5. Select “Run as administrator

Now the program will start running smoothly without giving you the error “CS:GO VAC Authentication Error

Hope all of the above solutions help you to eliminate the VAC Authentication Error.

If you have any queries or suggestions feel free to share your experience with us in the comments section down below or you can reach us on our social handles.

Hammad
Hammad

Meet Hammad, a dynamic writer with a passion for gaming and a talent for analysis. With extensive years of experience in the gaming industry, Hammad has a unique perspective on the latest gaming trends and technologies. In addition to writing about gaming, Hammad also guides our team with marketing news and his investment analysis.

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