WARDOGS won't launch after Windows update KB5124010: WD-L020 help

WARDOGS worked before, but stopped launching after a Windows update? If you see WD-L020 or “Unable to launch WARDOGS”, check whether KB5124010 was installed. PORMI demonstrates a successful rollback followed by a gameplay test for this situation. Team17 is also investigating a possible link to the update. This guide addresses that specific scenario, rather than every launch error. As of 26 September 2026.

First check whether KB5124010 is installed

Press Windows + I and open Windows Update > Update history. Look for KB5124010 and compare its installation date with when WARDOGS stopped launching. Your installation date does not have to match the date shown in the video.

Microsoft lists KB5124010 as the 22 September 2026 preview update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. Identify it by its KB number. Do not simply remove whichever update appears at the top of the list.

If KB5124010 is absent or the error started earlier, this particular workaround may not apply. Begin with general launch troubleshooting instead: finish pending Steam downloads, verify game files and record the complete error code.

Optional workaround: uninstall the update

If the update is installed and the launch failure began afterwards, you can try the rollback demonstrated in the video. Save any open work first because a restart is required.

• Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
• Scroll to Uninstall updates.
• Find the specific KB5124010 entry.
• Select Uninstall for that entry and confirm.
• Wait for Windows to finish and restart the PC.

PORMI reports that the game launches again afterwards. This is a successful individual case, not a guarantee for every computer. Reinstalling the game is not part of this procedure.

No uninstall button or missing update?

Update history and the list of removable updates are not identical. Microsoft notes that some updates cannot be uninstalled. Players in the Team17 thread also report seeing KB5124010 in their history without being offered an uninstall option.

If the entry is missing or Windows refuses removal, record the exact message. Do not remove unrelated KB packages instead. The video does not provide a verified alternative procedure for this situation. Contact support with your error code and Windows version, or wait for a correction.

Verify the result in a match

After restarting, opening the launcher alone is not enough. Start WARDOGS through Steam, wait for the main menu and join a match. Play for a few minutes and check whether the original launch problem has gone away. PORMI specifically recommends this practical test after checking startup.

If WD-L020 remains, record the complete code and whether KB5124010 was actually removed. Reaching the game and then encountering a server error or an in-match crash is a different symptom and should be reported separately.

If Windows installs the update again

A removed update may be offered or installed again later. Check update history again if the launch failure returns. One successful launch after a rollback does not prove the underlying compatibility issue has been permanently fixed.

Team17 describes removal as an optional temporary workaround. Windows updates carry important fixes, and support generally recommends keeping the system current. If you do not want to roll back, you can leave the update installed and wait for a solution. Once compatibility is restored, return Windows to a current supported update level.

Information to provide to support

Record the full launcher error code, Windows version and build number from winver, the installation date of KB5124010, and the results of your restart and match test. Also mention if Windows does not offer an uninstall option. These details help distinguish this update-related case from other possible WD-L020 causes.