ESO launcher (steam) has to be force shut down

AnduinTryggva · August 2025

Since recently I often have to shut down the launcher via task manager to close it down. It seems that some processes hang up during closing procedure... anyone else?

colossalvoids · August 2025

Almost every patch it's something new with the launcher, be it not closing properly, not registering something, not being able to connect etc. wish newer steam users could bypass it all along as it's genuinely just a ever broken launcher issues and not the executable one.

BretonMage · August 2025

For me it seems to require a few minutes before it can be closed. I just walk away and do something else for a few minutes, and it's ready to be closed when I get back. Not ideal, it's been like this for a few months.

SilverBride · August 2025

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/680427/launcher-freezing-after-game-exit/p1

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/682331/what-makes-eso-screw-up-your-computer-so-much#latest

Tandor · August 2025

SilverBride wrote: »

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/680427/launcher-freezing-after-game-exit/p1

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/682331/what-makes-eso-screw-up-your-computer-so-much#latest

@ZOS_Kevin Can we please have an answer as to whether this delay in the launcher closing down is intentional? If so, why, and if not is it being fixed?

AlwaysDancing · August 2025

It drives up the metrics for management.

"The average Steam user is logged in for 2 minutes more than last quarter!"

Here's your bonus.

<Disclaimer - I use sarcasm to deal with frustration>
This is sarcasm

Roxxsmom · November 2025

I have had this issue since I installed the last DLC last summer (or maybe it was after one of the big patches shortly after, can't remember exactly), and I don't access the game via Steam (purchased directly). When I click the little X in the launcher window after logging out of the game, nothing happens and the window stays up. I have to use the task manager to get it to stop running.

Processor 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900K (3.00 GHz)
Installed RAM 64.0 GB (63.7 GB usable)
Product ID 00326-10000-00000-AA518
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
OS Windows 11
GPU: GeForce RTX 3080

It's a relatively small issue but still annoying. I've searched for this issue online and there are some very old conversations about this issue, but all the recent ones seem to be mentioning Steam. Just want to be clear I don't use Steam to play this game.

valenwood_vegan · November 2025

A possible workaround is to start the game and then close the launcher - it does not actually have to be running while the game is running. Still very annoying.

Zos should acknowledge and address this issue. They seem to be very selective about which issues they'll respond to and engage us about - I'd love to at least know that they're aware, even if they can't give us an ETA for a fix at this time.

AlwaysDancing · November 2025

Still a problem. I run a couple accounts on a few different computers and have this problem on all. Steam and Bethesda launcher both delay shut down.

Please wait while we report this to Microsoft pops up after a bit. I often yell "Don't bother - they don't care either!" Or sometimes I use words that I can't type on the forum.

BretonMage · November 2025

valenwood_vegan wrote: »

Zos should acknowledge and address this issue. They seem to be very selective about which issues they'll respond to and engage us about - I'd love to at least know that they're aware, even if they can't give us an ETA for a fix at this time.

Tbh I thought it'd be fixed by now. I would really like to know why there's a long delay to close the launcher. It's the silence that bugs me. Is this normal? A necessary evil for some security thing? A bug? We want to know!

Soarora · November 2025

Lately I've noticed that it doesn't get stuck to the point of having to open task manager but it does freeze and then I'm prompted to close it anyways.

RammsteinRko · November 2025

On the Steam Deck, sometimes when you close it, it freezes and you have to restart everything.

Grafahel · November 2025

It often freezes if I try to close it immediately after leaving the game, so I just leave it open for a minute or so and then I can close it.

Auricle · December 2025

Ever since the last update, I can no longer close the launcher on my Steam Deck, because it freezes the whole game. ESO does not run so well with the launcher open, so this is a terrible problem to have. Anyone have any fixes?

Tra_Lalan · April 10

Could we have this issue resolved? Its been months.

Every time I close the game I have to wait few minutes to close the launcher because it freezes.

MoonPile · April 10

There's another build you can find on the official ESO site that they suggest in troubleshooting this problem. I believe ZOS have linked to it in forums posts here, but I'm not going to look for it right now.

That other build version worked to fix this for me.

exiars10 · April 25

The only solution is to Alt-Tab when you load game, and close launcher or before you exit ESO, otherwise, Steam client, and even browsers, all of them hang for up to 1 min

until you can close launcher.

SilverBride · April 25

It's not just steam. I don't use steam and it happens to me, too. I've just gotten into the habit of shutting down the launcher once I'm in game.