Troubleshooting Cheat Engine

1. Internet connection required

You must stay connected to the internet when running the installer; otherwise installation cannot complete. If you see “Please verify your internet connection and re run installer,” check your connection and try again.

2. VPN or proxy

If you use a VPN or proxy, you may need to temporarily disable it so the installer can reach the download server.

3. “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file” / Permission errors

Third-party security or firewall software often blocks the installer or CE itself. Try:

• Temporarily disabling your antivirus and firewall (e.g. Avast: disable both Avast Antivirus and Firewall).
• Uninstalling the security software temporarily if disabling is not enough.

4. Website or download link not loading (ERR_CONNECTION_RESET, etc.)

Your ISP or network might be blocking the CE site. Try:

• Disabling PiHole or other ad blockers .
• Disabling your browser’s ad blocker.
• Downloading the latest release from the downloads page instead.
• Downloading on another device (e.g. phone) and transferring the file to your PC.

1. “Make sure you typed the name correctly…” (path/file error)

Some programs or games write registry entries that can block CE from running. Fix: run windowsrepair.exe from inside the Cheat Engine installation folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\Cheat Engine 7.6\).

2. Anti-cheat programs (Badlion, Vanguard, etc.)

If CE doesn’t run at all after install, you may have an anti-cheat (e.g. from Minecraft mods like Badlion, or Vanguard). These can prevent CE from starting. You have to disable or remove the anti-cheat. For removing Badlion, search the forum for instructions.

3. 64-bit version won’t launch

Some users report only the 64-bit CE failing. Try:

• Running the 32-bit version instead.
• Running Cheat Engine as administrator.
• Compatibility mode (right-click CE → Properties → Compatibility).
• Reinstalling/updating Visual C++ Redistributables.
• Running sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair system files.

CE crashes when I attach to the game

Some games use anti-cheat or protection that conflicts with CE. For single-player you can try running the game in offline mode or with anti-cheat disabled if the game allows. Run CE as administrator. If the game is 64-bit, use 64-bit CE. Closing other overlay or injection software can help.

I can’t find the process in the list

Make sure the game is running. Check “Show system processes” or filter by name. Some launchers start a child process—attach to the actual game .exe. Run CE as administrator if the game runs elevated.

Scan returns no results or too many

No results: verify value type (4 bytes, float, etc.) and that the value actually changed in the game between scans. Too many: do more next scans, or use “Exact value” when you know it. Some values are stored in encrypted or non-obvious ways; see the wiki for advanced techniques.

My cheat stops working after a game update

Game updates often change code and addresses. You need to find the values or code again. Using AOB (array of bytes) in scripts helps scripts survive small updates when the pattern still exists. Pointer paths can also break; rescan for pointers if needed.

DBVM won’t load or says “not supported”

DBVM requires supported CPU (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) and that virtualization is enabled in BIOS. Hyper-V and some other hypervisors can conflict. Disable Hyper-V if you need DBVM. DBVM is optional; CE works without it for most use cases. See the wiki for DBVM requirements.

Lua script errors or “script failed to compile”

Check the script syntax and that you are using the correct CE Lua API (see wiki). Old scripts may break after a CE update. Disable other scripts to see if one conflicts. If the script came from a .CT file, only run tables from trusted sources.

Scan is very slow or freezes

Large processes have a lot of memory; “Unknown initial value” and broad scans can take a long time. Narrow the scan: use “Exact value” when you know it, or reduce the scan range in options. Closing other heavy applications can help. For 64-bit games, ensure you use 64-bit CE.

.CT file won’t load or shows errors

The table may be for a different game version or a different CE version. Open the .CT in a text editor (it is XML)—check for syntax errors or very large scripts. If it uses Lua or Auto Assembler, the game may have updated and the script no longer finds the pattern. Try loading with “Ignore load errors” if CE offers it, and disable scripts that fail. Only load tables from trusted sources.

Script says “Failure finding address” or “AOB not found”

The game was likely updated and the byte pattern (AOB) in the script no longer matches. The author of the table needs to update the AOB. You can try finding the new pattern yourself with the debugger (search for the bytes in Memory View) or ask on the forum for an updated table. See the wiki for how to create and update AOB scripts.