Unable to initialize OpenGL on Windows 11

Some PC gamers may get an error prompt with the message Unable to initialize OpenGL when trying to launch games on Steam on their Windows 11 or Windows 10 gaming rig. If you are affected by a similar issue, the solutions provided in this post are intended to help you successfully fix the error on your device.

The full error message is along the following similar lines;

Graphics drivers error

Unable to initialize OpenGL. Please (re)install the latest graphics drivers and try again. If the problem persists, please contact support.

Error code: CS-1842.

When this error occurs, you may see the following similar error messages:

Unable to initialize OpenGL window
Failed to initialize OpenGL
Could not initialize OpenGL

Unable to initialize OpenGL on Windows PC

If you are receiving the Unable to initialize OpenGL on your Windows 11/10 gaming PC when launching games on Steam, you can try our recommended solutions below in no particular order to resolve the issue on your system.

Update graphics adapter driver
Edit the game MXML file
Reinstall the game

Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved concerning each of the listed solutions.

Before proceeding with the solutions below, we suggest you restart your PC. After your computer reboots, open Steam, log in your user account and launch the game triggering the error and see if the error reoccurs. Also, make sure the OpenGL and OpenCL Compatibility Pack is installed on your Windows 11/10 gaming rig and try launching the game. In addition, we suggest you check for updates and install any available bits on your gaming device and see if the error occurs when you launch the game. On the other hand, if the error started after a recent Windows update, you can perform System Restore or uninstall the update – but if you prefer not to do neither, you can then go ahead with the solutions below.

1] Update graphics adapter driver

The Unable to initialize OpenGL error on your Windows 11/10 gaming PC is graphics driver-related. So, you can begin troubleshooting to fix the issue by updating the graphics card driver on your system.

Below are your options;

You can manually update the graphics driver via Device Manager if you have already downloaded the .inf or .sys file for the driver.
You can also update the driver via Command Prompt.
In Windows Update, you can as well get the driver updates on the Optional Updates section.

If updating the graphics card driver didn’t fix the error, as suggested on the error prompt, you can reinstall the graphics adapter driver. To perform this task, you first need to uninstall the graphics card driver using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU), and then download the latest version of the driver from the official website or other reliable sources and install it on your PC.

2] Edit the game MXML file

MXML is an XML-based user interface markup language first introduced by Macromedia in March 2004. Application developers use MXML in combination with ActionScript to develop rich web applications, with products such as Apache Flex. Files with the MXML extension are associated with Adobe Flex technology. The MXML file contains the source code in an XML-based markup language and can be used to declaratively define nonvisual aspects of an application, such as access to server-side data sources and data bindings between user-interface components and data sources.

This solution requires you to edit the problematic game MXML file. Here’s how:

Launch Steam client.
Right-click the problematic game.
Select Properties.
Go to LOCAL FILES and click BROWSE LOCAL FILES.
Next, go into Binaries > Settings.
Open the MXML file.
Now, change FullScreen property value from true to false.
Next, check your screen resolution settings, then change the ResolutionWidth and ResolutionHeight property value accordingly.
Save and exit the MXML file when done.

Relaunch the game and see if the focus error recurs. If so, try the next solution.

3] Reinstall the game

If neither of the solutions above wasn’t helpful, as a last resort you can uninstall the problematic game, reboot PC, and then download and reinstall the latest version of the game on your gaming device.

Any of these solutions should work for you!

Why is my OpenGL not working?

OpenGL errors can be caused by a variety of reasons, including corrupt OS files, outdated drivers, poorly developed apps, incorrect system configurations, and more. Successfully troubleshooting OpenGL errors on your Windows 11/10 PC depends on the specific error you’re getting.

How do I make my driver support OpenGL?

Visit the official site for your graphics adapter hardware, navigate to the graphics driver and choose your operating system. Download the latest drivers for your graphics card and install it to your computer. This will also update the OpenGL on your computer.

What does OpenGL error mean in Minecraft?

The Minecraft OpenGL errors usually occur due to rendering problems within Minecraft. OpenGL is designed to speed up and streamline the rendering process with your GPU. However, issues may arise occasionally, especially when third-party mods, files, or drivers are involved.

Can I install OpenGL?

In all three major desktop platforms (Linux, macOS, and Windows), OpenGL more or less comes with the system. However, you will need to ensure that you have downloaded and installed a recent driver for your graphics hardware.