Fixing FFXIV Launcher Black Screen Issue

Final Fantasy is a very famous RPG MMO game. Many users are unconditional fans of this series. Most notably, Final Fantasy XIV was released in 2013 and is also available in a PC version. Recently the game encountered an error. Many users face the same problem. Every time users launch the game the screen goes black and within seconds the game crashes with FFXIV Launcher Error. This error often occurs with error code 214667211. This troubleshooting guide aims to solve the problem with some of the best solutions.

What are the causes of the FFXIV Launcher black screen issue in Windows?

`There are many different causes for the black screen issue when playing FFXIV on Windows. Determining the correct cause can help in troubleshooting. Therefore, we recommend you to check the causes listed below!

Internet Explorer Settings - This may seem unusual, but launching the game largely depends on Internet Explorer. Because of this, Internet Explorer needs to work perfectly for the game to work. You can either reset its settings or add the game site to trusted sites.

Internet access to the game blocked - The firewall may be preventing the game launcher from connecting to the internet. Therefore, make an exception for the game executable to fix the black screen issue.

Game functions blocked by antivirus software - Some aspects of the game may be blocked by the antivirus software installed on your computer. Be sure to add the game to your antivirus's exclusion list.

How to solve FFXIV launcher black screen issue on Windows?

Before you start:

Press the "Win+R" keys at the same time, type "taskmgr" at the "Run" prompt and press "Enter". A task manager window will open where you can stop all unnecessary tasks.
Download and install the latest version of "VC x64 or x86". (depending on PC architecture).
If you are using PS4, rebuild the library and reinstall the game.
If the error occurred while using the Xbox, just try to unplug the USB controller from the XBOX. When the black screen starts to respond, reconnect the controllers.
Disconnect your router from the internet. After 3-4 minutes, turn your router back on, reconnect it and check if the issue is resolved.

Modifying the game configuration file

The Final Fantasy XIV configuration file contains most of the user and other game settings important to the game's operation. In this step we are going to modify the game's configuration files to solve the problem with the black screen when launching Final Fantasy 14.

Locate the This PC icon and double-click it.
Then navigate to the following directory:
C:UsersYourAccountNameMy Games.
Here, open the Final Fantasy 14 folder, locate the FFXIV.cfg file and right-click on it.
Choose "Open With" from the menu, then choose "Notepad."
Then click "Edit" in the top menu and select "Search" from the menu.
A search box will open in front of you. Type "CutsceneMovieOpening" in the box and select "Continue Search."
When you find the word, change the value next to "0" to "1".
Finally, press "Ctrl+S" to save your changes and close the notepad.
Restart the game to see if the Final Fantasy 14 black screen launcher issue is resolved.

Reset Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is used by Windows as a tunnel to the Internet.
So in this step we are going to reset Internet Explorer to completely fix any configuration errors or other corruption issues that this browser may have acquired to fix this error.

Press the "Win+R" keys at the same time, type "Control Panel" at the "Run" prompt and press Enter.
First click on "Network and Internet" and then select "Internet Options".
Go to the "Advanced" tab and click on "Reset" once you are on the "Advanced" tab.
Finally, click "OK" and restart your browser to see if the Windows 10 Final Fantasy 14 Launcher black screen issue is resolved.

Remove the boot file

The boot file is a randomly generated file and contains cached information useful for launching the game. As if the game has an invalid parameter set that causes it not to start, this launch file prevents the game from resetting that parameter. However, deleting this file allows you to restart the game, which can sometimes fix the Final Fantasy 14 launcher black screen issue.

Press the window button or the start icon in the lower-left corner of the screen, then type "Steam" in the search box.
Open the Steam app from the search results, then click the Library tab on the menu at the top of the app.
Locate the "Final Fantasy XIV" entry in the list, right click on the game icon and select "Properties" from the menu.
When the properties window opens, click on the "Local files" tab.
Select "Browse local files" and click "ffxivboot.bck" in the startup folder.
Then press the "Del" key on your keyboard or right-click on the file and select "Delete" from the menu.
Click OK or confirm any dialog box that asks for authorization.

Allowing Final Fantasy XIV to pass through the firewall

If Final Fantasy XIV is actively blocked by the firewall, you will not be able to launch the game which may result in a black screen issue in your launcher. To fix this error, follow these steps to allow Final Fantasy pass your firewall completely and solve the problem.

Simultaneously press the "Win+I" keys to open the window settings.
In Settings, find the "Update & Security" tag and open it. Then click "Windows Security" in the left menu.
Then first click on "Firewall and network protection" and select "Allow an application through the firewall".
Then click on the "Change settings" option. You will see that the option "Allow another application" is visible.
Click the "Allow Other Application" button. Now select the "Browse" option and navigate to the location where you installed "FFXIV".
Once you find it, click on the game executable, select "Add" and then click "OK".
Close all windows and restart the game to see if it works properly now.

Reset the boot file

If removing the boot file didn't solve the problem, you can try making some changes to the file that will hopefully reconfigure some of the loading parameters that often cause the game to crash or fail to launch following these steps.

Double-click the This PC icon or search for "This PC" in the search bar next to the Cortana icon.
After that, navigate to the following directory:
C:UsersYourAccountNameMy Games.
Now open the Final Fantasy 14 folder and locate the FFXIV.cfg file and right click on it.
Select "Open With" from the context menu and then "Notepad".
Then press "Ctrl+F" at the same time to find the following text and change the values as follows:
B4EulaAgreement=1
Language=1
Region=2
Eula Agreement=1
BootVersionCheckMode=1
ConfigReset=0
StartupCompleted=1
Once all the values have been changed, press "Ctrl+S" on your keyboard to save the changes and restart the game to see if the Final Fantasy 14 black screen issue persists.

Using DirectX 9

DirectX is the graphics software that your computer uses as a communication channel between your graphics processor and your operating system when running games and graphics tasks. If your GPU does not support the latest version of DirectX or you are having problems with it, you can try using DirectX 9 instead of DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 for gaming. This may fix the error completely by following the steps below.

Press the Windows key or the Start icon in the lower-left corner of your screen and type "Steam" in the search box.
Open the Steam app from the search results and click on the "Library" tab in the menu at the top of the app.
Find FFXIV in the list of installed games and right click.
Choose "Properties" from the menu and click on the "General" tab.
Then click on "Set launch options" and type "-dx9" in the line.
Make sure the new entry is separated by a comma.
Finally, save the changes you made and restart the game to see if the Final Fantasy 14 Launcher black screen issue on Windows 10 is now resolved.

An additional exception for antivirus

Sometimes the real culprit can be your antivirus program causing the problem. So, you can add the game as an exception to your antivirus and this should completely solve your Final Fantasy 14 launcher black screen issue.

There are different methods of adding exceptions to different types of antivirus programs. You can just search for "How to add an exception to your antivirus name" and follow the methods outlined in Google. Here we show you the steps you need to follow to add an exception to Windows Defender:

Simultaneously press the "Win+I" keys to open Windows Settings.
In Settings, find and open the "Updates & Security" tab.
Then click on "Windows Security" in the left menu and click on "Open Windows Security".
Now select "Virus & Threat Protection" from the left menu and click on "Manage Settings" under the "Virus & Threat Protection Settings" option.
Then go to Exceptions and select "Add or Remove Exceptions".
Click the "Add Exceptions" button and choose "File" from the menu.
Navigate to your game's executable, select "Open" and confirm the dialog box if it appears.
Finally, restart the game to see if the issue with the black screen when launching Final Fantasy 14 A Realm Reborn persists.

frequently asked Questions

How to start Ffxiv without Steam?

The only way for them to access the game is to run Steam. Previously you didn't have to open Steam and just use the Square Enix launcher to play the game, but now Steam is required for those who have the Steam version. No, you MUST be running Steam if you purchased the Steam version.

How do I download Ffxiv from Steam?

Please visit https://sqex.to/ffxiv_client_en to download the official Windows client for Final Fantasy XIV. Please go to your Steam library and download Final Fantasy XIV directly from the Steam client.

How to reinstall ffxiv?

Copy the entire C:\Program Files(x86)SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV-A Realm Reborn folder and save it to your hard drive or backup drive.
Once the launcher is open, go to Config - Backup Tool - Click on Backup (This will save your personal settings in the game.

Can I play Ffxiv on Steam?

The two versions of FINAL FANTASY XIV are identical. However, due to some additional features related to the Steam platform, the standard Windows PC version of FINAL FANTASY XIV is not compatible with the Steam version of the same name. Expansions must also be registered on the same platform as their base game.