Can't Launch Vape
If the Vape launcher won't open, closes immediately, or fails to inject, try the following solutions.
Solutions
- Add Vape to your antivirus exclusions - Your antivirus may be blocking or quarantining the Vape exe. See Antivirus Exclusions below for instructions.
- Use a supported Minecraft version - Vape only works on specific versions. Check the supported versions page for the full list.
- Use the official Minecraft launcher - You may have issues launching on third-party launchers. Use the official launcher from minecraft.net.
- Remove mods temporarily - If you're using mods, try removing them temporarily to see if the issue still happens.
- Disable VPN or proxy - These can interfere with the launcher's connection.
Antivirus Exclusions
Vape uses injection techniques to work with Minecraft, which some antivirus programs flag as suspicious behavior. This is a false positive - Vape is safe to use.
When you download Vape, it comes as an exe file with a randomly generated name (e.g. k4xw2tfl.exe). You'll typically find it in your Downloads folder.
Windows Defender
- Open Windows Security
- Go to Virus & threat protection
- Click Manage settings under "Virus & threat protection settings"
- Scroll down and click Add or remove exclusions
- Click Add an exclusion > File
- Navigate to your Downloads folder and select the Vape exe (look for a file with a random name like
k4xw2tfl.exe)
If the Vape exe was quarantined while launching, re-download it and then add the exclusion before running it.
Other Antivirus Programs
For other antivirus programs, follow the official guides below to add the Vape exe file to your exclusions:
| Antivirus | Guide |
|---|---|
| Norton | Add exclusions in Norton |
| McAfee | Add exclusions in McAfee |
| Avast | Add exclusions in Avast |
| AVG | Add exclusions in AVG |
| Bitdefender | Add exclusions in Bitdefender |
| Kaspersky | Add exclusions in Kaspersky |
| ESET | Add exclusions in ESET |
| Malwarebytes | Add exclusions in Malwarebytes |
Connection Issues
Connection issues can be caused by your antivirus blocking the launcher's connection. See Antivirus Exclusions above for solutions.
Other connection issues can be caused by your internet provider or a router issue. Try:
- Restarting your router
- Launching while on a VPN to see if it works
- If you don't have a VPN, try using Cloudflare WARP (free DNS/VPN service)
Download Issues
Vape not showing on the Products Page
If you purchased Vape but can't see the download on your Products Page:
- Make sure you're logged into the correct vape.gg account — the one you used when purchasing
- If you paid via an alternative payment method (Steam gift card, Amazon gift card, Crypto), allow up to 24 hours for manual processing
- If it's been over 24 hours and you still don't see it, contact support with your payment confirmation
- Stripe and PayPal should be instant - so unless you are notified of delayed processing, contact support if you don't see it immediately after purchase
Exe was quarantined after downloading
See Antivirus Exclusions for detailed steps per antivirus
Each time you download Vape it generates a new randomly-named exe (e.g. k4xw2tfl.exe). If you've added a file-specific exclusion before, you'll need to re-add it for the new filename, or exclude the entire Downloads folder instead.
Download Failing or Not Completing
If the download itself is failing or stalling:
- Try a different browser
- Temporarily disable your antivirus during the download, then re-enable it after (see Antivirus Exclusions to add an exclusion so it doesn't get removed)
- If you're on a VPN, try disabling it during the download
Still Not Working?
If you've tried all the above steps, contact support with details about what happens when you try to launch.