"Unable to load skin" error when starting ESO launcher.

Sarannah · December 12

Hi,
When I build my new computer earlier this year I had the "Unable to load skin" error when starting the ESO launcher, the game itself has been running fine whenever it did boot. Back then I completely fixed it by inputting new/correct values in the BIOS manually: The CPU power limits to 307.00 volt, 253 Watt, 253 Watt, and setting my pCore and eCore limits to 5.6Ghz(4.4 Ghz eCore) with sync all cores. Setting the pCore and eCore limit to 5.6/4.4 solved the "Unable to load skin" error completely. And so, my ESO launcher has been working fine for months with these BIOS settings.
Another game released this week gave me a crash to desktop due to outdated BIOS drivers, so I had to update my BIOS to the latest version yesterday. This again gave me back the ESO "Unable to load skin" launcher error. This time I wanted to put in these same values in the BIOS again, but with this new BIOS version this is no longer possible. Due to new restrictions being put in place, by the new BIOS version.
As these restrictions are in place, I also find it too risky to use intel XTU to lower the CPU core ratio's. As I am assuming these restrictions are in place for a reason.

So I have been searching online for any other possible solutions, and have tried them all:
1: Deleting the ESO launcher/programdata folder.
2: Running ESO as administrator.
3: Changing the windows power settings from "best performance" to "best power efficiency".
4: Disabling Intel SpeedStep and SpeedShift in the BIOS.

But none of this works. How do I fix this? For now I can just spam the launcher hoping it will work some time, but that is not a permanent solution and really annoying!
Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Specs: i9-14900k CPU, Asus ROG STRIX Z790-E Gaming Wifi motherboard BIOS version 2801(Updated from version 2102), GPU RTX 4080 Super Gaming X slim, Windows 11 23H2, Corsair DDR5 Vengeance 64GB RAM(2x32GB) 6400 Mhz, Samsung 990 pro 2TB NVMe M2 SSD.

PS: Once ESO actually starts I have absolutely no issues at all, no crashes, no disconnects, no lag, no delays. No other problems on the computer either(though I had that crash in that new game due to the BIOS being outdated and that game being only a week old). Though a while back the new ESO Beta launcher gave me this "Unable to load skin" error again, and I had to switch back to the regular launcher.
PPS: I'm not the only one with this issue, some of these are quite recent: https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/4342113141665069864/

Bluepetunia · December 12

A major incident happened at their DataCeanters...https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/670279/error-200-repeatedly/p1

Sarannah · December 12

Thank you, but this is unrelated to that incident!

edward_frigidhands · December 12

Sarannah wrote: »

Hi,
When I build my new computer earlier this year I had the "Unable to load skin" error when starting the ESO launcher, the game itself has been running fine whenever it did boot. Back then I completely fixed it by inputting new/correct values in the BIOS manually: The CPU power limits to 307.00 volt, 253 Watt, 253 Watt, and setting my pCore and eCore limits to 5.6Ghz with sync all cores. Setting the pCore and eCore limit to 5.6 solved the "Unable to load skin" error completely. And so, my ESO launcher has been working fine for months with these BIOS settings.
Another game released this week gave me a crash to desktop due to outdated BIOS drivers, so I had to update my BIOS to the latest version yesterday. This again gave me back the ESO "Unable to load skin" launcher error. This time I wanted to put in these same values in the BIOS again, but with this new BIOS version this is no longer possible. Due to new restrictions being put in place, by the new BIOS version.
As these restrictions are in place, I also find it too risky to use intel XTU to lower the CPU core ratio's. As I am assuming these restrictions are in place for a reason.

So I have been searching online for any other possible solutions, and have tried them all:
1: Deleting the ESO launcher/programdata folder.
2: Running ESO as administrator.
3: Changing the windows power settings from "best performance" to "best power efficiency".
4: Disabling Intel SpeedStep and SpeedShift in the BIOS.

But none of this works. How do I fix this? For now I can just spam the launcher hoping it will work some time, but that is not a permanent solution and really annoying!
Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Specs: i9-14900k CPU, Asus ROG STRIX Z790-E Gaming Wifi motherboard BIOS version 2801(Updated from version 2102), GPU RTX 4080 Super Gaming X slim, Windows 11 23H2, Corsair DDR5 Vengeance 64GB RAM(2x32GB), Samsung 990 pro 2TB NVMe M2 SSD.

PS: Once ESO actually starts I have absolutely no issues at all, no crashes, no disconnects, no lag, no delays. No other problems on the computer either(though I had that crash in that new game due to the BIOS being outdated and that game being only a week old). Though a while back the new ESO Beta launcher gave me this "Unable to load skin" error again, and I had to switch back to the regular launcher.
PPS: I'm not the only one with this issue, some of these are quite recent: https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/4342113141665069864/

Hello,

I have been having this same issue with increasing frequency over the past week.

Over the last 24 hours this has increased to the point where the launcher simply will not turn on 99% of attempts.

edward_frigidhands · December 14

Sarannah wrote: »

Hi,
When I build my new computer earlier this year I had the "Unable to load skin" error when starting the ESO launcher, the game itself has been running fine whenever it did boot. Back then I completely fixed it by inputting new/correct values in the BIOS manually: The CPU power limits to 307.00 volt, 253 Watt, 253 Watt, and setting my pCore and eCore limits to 5.6Ghz with sync all cores. Setting the pCore and eCore limit to 5.6 solved the "Unable to load skin" error completely. And so, my ESO launcher has been working fine for months with these BIOS settings.
Another game released this week gave me a crash to desktop due to outdated BIOS drivers, so I had to update my BIOS to the latest version yesterday. This again gave me back the ESO "Unable to load skin" launcher error. This time I wanted to put in these same values in the BIOS again, but with this new BIOS version this is no longer possible. Due to new restrictions being put in place, by the new BIOS version.
As these restrictions are in place, I also find it too risky to use intel XTU to lower the CPU core ratio's. As I am assuming these restrictions are in place for a reason.

So I have been searching online for any other possible solutions, and have tried them all:
1: Deleting the ESO launcher/programdata folder.
2: Running ESO as administrator.
3: Changing the windows power settings from "best performance" to "best power efficiency".
4: Disabling Intel SpeedStep and SpeedShift in the BIOS.

But none of this works. How do I fix this? For now I can just spam the launcher hoping it will work some time, but that is not a permanent solution and really annoying!
Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Specs: i9-14900k CPU, Asus ROG STRIX Z790-E Gaming Wifi motherboard BIOS version 2801(Updated from version 2102), GPU RTX 4080 Super Gaming X slim, Windows 11 23H2, Corsair DDR5 Vengeance 64GB RAM(2x32GB) 6400 Mhz, Samsung 990 pro 2TB NVMe M2 SSD.

PS: Once ESO actually starts I have absolutely no issues at all, no crashes, no disconnects, no lag, no delays. No other problems on the computer either(though I had that crash in that new game due to the BIOS being outdated and that game being only a week old). Though a while back the new ESO Beta launcher gave me this "Unable to load skin" error again, and I had to switch back to the regular launcher.
PPS: I'm not the only one with this issue, some of these are quite recent: https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/4342113141665069864/

This is what worked for me:

Go to computer's Control Panel and Navigate to Power Options. Select "Choose a power plan" and swap the plan to "Power Saver" mode. This will allow you to turn the launcher on. Once the Launcher is on change the power plan back to what I am using "High Performance".

This is working for me right now however I am unable to stay connected to ESO tonight because there seems to be some sort of latency issue. I think I am probably going to play some other games until they fix whatever it is that is going with ESO right now.

I know you mentioned this isn't currently working for you but I wanted to let you know and also say something here since it is frankly a little bit surprising that none of ZOS staff have hopped in to address this for us.

edward_frigidhands · December 14

edward_frigidhands wrote: »

Sarannah wrote: »

Hi,
When I build my new computer earlier this year I had the "Unable to load skin" error when starting the ESO launcher, the game itself has been running fine whenever it did boot. Back then I completely fixed it by inputting new/correct values in the BIOS manually: The CPU power limits to 307.00 volt, 253 Watt, 253 Watt, and setting my pCore and eCore limits to 5.6Ghz with sync all cores. Setting the pCore and eCore limit to 5.6 solved the "Unable to load skin" error completely. And so, my ESO launcher has been working fine for months with these BIOS settings.
Another game released this week gave me a crash to desktop due to outdated BIOS drivers, so I had to update my BIOS to the latest version yesterday. This again gave me back the ESO "Unable to load skin" launcher error. This time I wanted to put in these same values in the BIOS again, but with this new BIOS version this is no longer possible. Due to new restrictions being put in place, by the new BIOS version.
As these restrictions are in place, I also find it too risky to use intel XTU to lower the CPU core ratio's. As I am assuming these restrictions are in place for a reason.

So I have been searching online for any other possible solutions, and have tried them all:
1: Deleting the ESO launcher/programdata folder.
2: Running ESO as administrator.
3: Changing the windows power settings from "best performance" to "best power efficiency".
4: Disabling Intel SpeedStep and SpeedShift in the BIOS.

But none of this works. How do I fix this? For now I can just spam the launcher hoping it will work some time, but that is not a permanent solution and really annoying!
Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Specs: i9-14900k CPU, Asus ROG STRIX Z790-E Gaming Wifi motherboard BIOS version 2801(Updated from version 2102), GPU RTX 4080 Super Gaming X slim, Windows 11 23H2, Corsair DDR5 Vengeance 64GB RAM(2x32GB) 6400 Mhz, Samsung 990 pro 2TB NVMe M2 SSD.

PS: Once ESO actually starts I have absolutely no issues at all, no crashes, no disconnects, no lag, no delays. No other problems on the computer either(though I had that crash in that new game due to the BIOS being outdated and that game being only a week old). Though a while back the new ESO Beta launcher gave me this "Unable to load skin" error again, and I had to switch back to the regular launcher.
PPS: I'm not the only one with this issue, some of these are quite recent: https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/4342113141665069864/

This is what worked for me:

Go to computer's Control Panel and Navigate to Power Options. Select "Choose a power plan" and swap the plan to "Power Saver" mode. This will allow you to turn the launcher on. Once the Launcher is on change the power plan back to what I am using "High Performance".

This is working for me right now however I am unable to stay connected to ESO tonight because there seems to be some sort of latency issue. I think I am probably going to play some other games until they fix whatever it is that is going with ESO right now.

I know you mentioned this isn't currently working for you but I wanted to let you know and also say something here since it is frankly a little bit surprising that none of ZOS staff have hopped in to address this for us.

Alright I actually have a bit of an update. ESO is not letting me stay connected to the servers in anything other than the power saver mode.

ESO is the only game on my computer I am having this issue with. I am able to play Overwatch, Marvel Rivals, Baldur's Gate 3 and Throne And Liberty without these problems occurring.

Sarannah · December 14

Yeah, that powerplan thingy sadly isn't working for me. For some reason having the CPU set at maximum settings has the issue of the ESO launcher not starting. Not sure what checks the ESO launcher does when starting, but the "Unable to load skin" error is annoying and affecting quite a few players. While everything else on the pc runs as it should, including ESO itself when it actually launches.

edward_frigidhands wrote: »

Alright I actually have a bit of an update. ESO is not letting me stay connected to the servers in anything other than the power saver mode.

To me this points to you receiving too much internet data at the same time(packet overload), but when you use the powersaving powerplan, your computer somehow does not. This could point to your computer discarding the overload of packets when on the powersaving plan, while still receiving the overload of packets when not on the powersaving plan. Look at your router settings and turn of packet bouncing, turn off ping responses, and let it discard stray packets. (Also make sure it does not rebuild your connection) (Note: Staying connected is unrelated to the "Unable to load skin" error)