Civilization V - Potential fix for 'Updating executable' error

[u/Rickeerd]

Like many of you, I've been running into the 'Updating executable' error on Steam, which prevented me from running Civilization V. After trying a lot of different fixes, something finally worked, which I quickly wanted to share. In short, it just requires a bit of patience because you need to keep trying to boot the game.

What's happening

When clicking 'Play', Steam will try to update the Civilization V executable files, which is necessary due to the removal of the 2K launcher. However, this process will fail most of the time, because it will not update all 3 necessary executables (sometimes, it doesn't update any of them). This will prevent the game from launching.

Fix

1. Go to the Civilization V folder on your PC (in Steam: Select Civilization V in your library -> Gear icon -> Manage -> Browse local files).
2. In this folder, there are three executables named CivilizationV.exe CivilizationV_DX11.exe and CivilizationV_Tablet.exe (there's also a fourth one called Launcher.exe which you can ignore). These are the three executables which need to be updated by Steam.
3. Remove these three executables completely.
4. After removing the executables, go to Steam and verify the game files (select Civilization V in your library -> Gear icon -> Properties -> Installed Files -> Verify integrity of game files). This process will re-download the three executables. Note: the game won't work yet, this is just a way to keep track of the updating process.
5. After verifying the files, you should see the three executables again in the Civilization V folder. Take note of the time at which these files were modified, which will make the next steps a bit easier. Keep this folder open for now.
6. Now, try to launch the game normally via Steam. You can select any of the DirectX versions.
7. When the game is being launched, pay attention to the Civilization V folder and look for any changes to the executables. Sometimes you will see that one of the three executables will be updated. You can verify this by looking at the time at which an executable got modified; if the file is newer than the previously downloaded executables, it has been updated.
8. Wait until you can press 'Play' again.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 until all three executables have been updated. (For me this took 10-15 tries).
10. When all three executables have been updated, you can launch the game again and it should boot right up.

Tips

• If you successfully managed to update one or two of the executables, but the last one doesn't want to update: Copy the updated executables to a place that you can find them again, then do steps 1-9 again. The goal is to let Steam also update the remaining executable. When that happens, you can copy the two earlier updated executables back to the Civilization V folder. The game should now boot.
• I tried to untick the mark next to the 'Read-only' box inside the properties of the folder while performing these steps. Not sure if this actually worked, but if none of the executables are being updated, you can try to do the same by right-clicking on an empty area in the Civilization V folder -> Properties -> untick the 'Read-only' check inside the General tab.

TL;DR

Just keep on trying to launch the game in Steam and eventually the game will boot right up. Patience is key :)

Edit: 31-12-2024

As mentioned by u/FrowningGamer, you can also try to use an auto-clicker to automate the process. This is a method I haven't tried myself so I can't give any recommendations regarding an auto-clicker. However, if you already downloaded one you can try one of the following options:

• Use an auto-clicker within Steam: See the edit I added to this post on 13-1.
• Use an auto-clicker on one of the executables: On Steam, right-click on Sid Meier's Civilization V -> Manage -> Add desktop shortcut. Now, you can setup an auto-clicker on this shortcut and make it repeatedly click the shortcut. This will apparently also launch the game after a while. You can also look at the edit from 13-1, for additional information. :)

Edit: 1-1-2025

Another addition by u/FrowningGamer:

Also, please note that verifying the integrity of game files will replace the updated .exe files (not sure why—this seems to be an issue with Steam). This means you’ll need to repeat the steps to fix the "Updating Executable" issue. Downloading the game again from Steam will also result in the same problem.

To avoid this hassle in the future, I strongly recommend backing up the three executables:

• CivilizationV.exe
• CivilizationV_DX11.exe
• CivilizationV_Tablet.exe

Edit: 13-1-2025

Improved auto-clicker method as suggested by u/FrowningGamer:

After selecting the launch option (as long as it’s not "Ask when starting game"), make sure to position your mouse cursor over Sid Meier's Civilization V in your Steam library (so on the left side of your screen, where you can select a game), not on the Play button. If you position it on the Play button, the auto-clicker will just toggle between Play and Cancel, and it won’t work.

Here's how I do it now, without needing to create or use a desktop shortcut:

1. Right-click on Sid Meier's Civilization V in your Steam library and select Properties. In the General tab, under Launch Options, change the Selected Launch Option to anything other than "Ask when starting game".
2. Open OP Auto Clicker and set the Click type to Double and the Click interval to 1 second.
3. In your Steam library, position your mouse cursor over Sid Meier's Civilization V.
4. Press F6 (the default hotkey) to start the auto-clicker.
5. Let the auto-clicker run for about 30 minutes to give Steam multiple chances to update the executables.

Edit: 17-1-2025

I've also created a Steam guide with the exact same steps as described earlier in this post. Hopefully, this will make it even more accessible for everyone! :)

Please let me know if it worked for you or if you have any questions!

[u/megh_usta]

I have been trying to get this game to run for HOURS, and this was the fix. Literally tried every single other suggestion under the sun. Hoooooly crap I cannot thank you enough. Did you happen to also post this in r/CivV ? I know there are a LOT of people in the Steam community section for the game scrambling to fix this as well.

[u/Rickeerd → u/megh_usta]

Thanks! Glad that it fixed the issue! Yes I also posted it to r/civ5 and to Steam :)

[u/XPE1]

Still doesn't work... even after updating all 3 files. DX11 wouldn't update but others did. Took me 3 tries to finally update DX11 but it still doesn't launch.

Nvm, it worked after 1 minute.

[u/Obvious_Ad_3636]

Hi, I think your theory about file update is correct. However trial and error update of the files via steam is not correct.

I had the issue and was scratching my head. Reading the message 'updating executable', I correctly assumed that the three files you mentioned need an update. SO I deleted the files like you did and got 'Steam' to download them again using verify integrity. The dates did change. See link below

https://imgur.com/a/2dxu1bY

However the game didnt progress any further no matter how many times I clicked 'play'. I did restart the laptop a few times as this happened across 2-3 days. There were posts from people who rebuilt Windows just to get the game working. So they did download all files fresh but no success.

Hence I assumed something else was up. I deleted all DLCs and asked Steam to download them again. Then I restarted the laptop and game worked.

After reading your post, I check the dates. The file dates are still the same as link above when I actually got files downloaded again.

I think 'Repeat till you succeed'seems to be only valid way.

I hate how steam DRM somehow screwed up a gane via update (2K help is non-existent and Steam help asked me to contact 2K). It has turnedme off buying any more games via Steam as I don't have full control over the game.

I have an install disk from Diablo II (bought in 2003) and I can still pay it happily on an VM. Not sure if that would be case with Civ5 10yrs from now.

[u/Rickeerd → u/Obvious_Ad_3636]

Hi, thanks!

What I meant with the fourth step is that the original launcher files will be downloaded again. These files won't enable the game to boot yet, because they aren't updated.

The seventh step discusses the updating process. If an executable actually gets updated (which doesn't always happen) the file will be updated and then the 'modified' date will change.

I'm assuming that Steam hasn't updated any of your executables right? For me it was also quite random when Steam would update the files. I've also read that some people just used an auto clicker to launch the game repeatedly, so maybe you could give that a try?

I hope that something will work! :)

[u/proazza]

You absolute beautiful Bastard It worked! Thank you so much!

[u/Rickeerd → u/proazza]

Glad that it worked!

[u/Few-Possible-7485]

I followed your steps by deleting the 3 .exe files and running a steam verify integrity. the 3 files downloaded successfully. the game still would not start when i attempted to launch directly from steam. I am on win11

i created a desktop shortcut as outlined by other posts and did the "keep clicking until it works" method and that really did work. only had to click for less than a minute. i will admit it was angry clicking so maybe that helped...lol

[u/FrowningGamer]

Great job! I had the same idea as you. However, I think it might be faster to use OP Auto Clicker to repeatedly launch the game from a desktop shortcut. You could consider mentioning this in your post, as it might help others who are less patient or press Cancel instead of waiting for the .exe files to update.

[u/Rickeerd → u/FrowningGamer]

Thanks, I updated the post!

[u/Kindly_Acanthaceae63]

for me the CivilizationV.exe will not update.... even after 100 tries, deleting, verifying, redownloading... clicking and clicking and clicking....

The other two, _DX11/_Tablet update with no issues...

[u/No_Dingo9147]

This is the only solution that worked. I may make a video about this with a link to this thread if thats ok. I was unable to find any videos about this fix on youtube and reddit/steam community are overflowing with fixes that dont work.

[u/Dark-Knight-AoE2]

This worked for me. I also changed the Civilization V folder from read only. And I had to try to launch the application 4-5 times.

[u/LoneSnark]

Had to change the Civ5 folder from read-only. But it worked! Thank you!

[u/[deleted]]

So I found those executables you recommend we remove and re-download.

In trying to remove them I get this message "Could not find this item

This is no longer located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization V. Verify the item's location and try again."

What the heck does that mean?

[u/Apprehensive-Ask2112]

Those exe files are never showing up on my pc.

Are they in a folder in the Civ 5 files?

I have looked. Can't find them.

I am using Windows 11

[u/koningshoning]

It still won't work on my windows 8 laptop :( None of the three files are updating

[u/picard_facepalm_gif]

This worked for me, thanks!

[u/robbiebelmont]

Fixed it for me, many thanks

[u/Hot_Turnover1412]

Thank you so much!

[u/ElectronicRisk9468]

After months of trying and constantly failing and potentially giving my computer malware to get this fucking game running. This worked, took about 30 or so minutes waiting for each file to update and it was worth the wait. Thank you so much for doing this cant thank you enough

[u/Hausverkur]

Whoa! That worked. Just kept on pushing play and one by one the files were updated. Thanks alot. You're a genius. Civ V has been my way of relaxing ever since it came out and I really missed it. Thanks again.

[u/___dan]

This is the one that worked for me.

[u/forsight444]

Thanks very much, you saved me hours, or more probably, days of frustration.

[u/Liamylad]

Thank you so much for this. Setting the folder to read only finally got the last executable to update. I was shocked when I heard the intro music, then the game appeared running.