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Fix Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (v1.0.12.68) startup crashes, permission errors, missing dependencies, and desktop configuration issues on Windows 10/11 PC & macOS Desktop via AnkerGames.
Quick Fix for Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Crashes & Launch Errors: Over 90% of startup crashes, missing DLL errors on Windows, and Gatekeeper prompts on macOS in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (v1.0.12.68) are resolved by installing vc_redist.x64.exe, whitelisting the folder in Windows Security (or running xattr -cr on Mac), and launching as Administrator.
→ Download Clean Verified Build of Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (v1.0.12.68)
| Issue / Error Message | Root Cause | Step-by-Step Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Crash on Startup / Silent Exit (Windows) | Missing Visual C++ Runtime or Admin privileges | Install VC++ 2015–2022 (x86 & x64) and enable Run this program as an administrator. |
| Missing MSVCP140.dll / VCRUNTIME140.dll | Corrupted Microsoft C++ runtime libraries | Reinstall the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package and reboot your PC. |
| Missing steam_api64.dll / Activation DLL | Windows Defender quarantined the offline loader | Open Windows Security → Protection History, restore the file, and whitelist the folder. |
| "App Is Damaged and Can't Be Opened" (macOS) | macOS Gatekeeper quarantine flag | Run sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Sid Meier’s Civilization VI.app" in Terminal. |
Related Guides: Main Download Page | Installation Guide | System Requirements
When backing up user profiles, presets, or local save data between a Windows Desktop workstation and a MacBook Pro/Studio for Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (v1.0.12.68), check these default desktop directories:
| Desktop Platform | Default User Data / Config / Preset Directory | Backup & Migration Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 / 11 (x64) | %APPDATA%\{Sid_Meiers_Civilization_VI}\ or %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\{Sid_Meiers_Civilization_VI}\ | Back up this folder before installing a newer version or resetting preferences. |
| macOS (Apple Silicon M1–M4 / Intel) | ~/Library/Application Support/Sid_Meiers_Civilization_VI/ & ~/Library/Preferences/ | Use Cmd + Shift + G in Finder to open hidden Library paths directly. |
The build listed here is free to download at v1.0.12.68 and 18.4 GB. The game itself is a commercial title from Firaxis and 2K, so if you enjoy it, buying a copy on Steam supports the developers and gets you official updates.
Extract the downloaded archive into a folder your antivirus and Windows Defender already exclude, then install the redistributables from the Redist or _CommonRedist folder. Launch the game by running CivilizationVI.exe inside Base\Binaries\Win64Steam, and run it as administrator. The full written guide is included as Installation Guide.txt inside the game files.
This is v1.0.12.68, build 15296837. The build number matches the latest build on record, and the last official Steam update for this branch was August 7, 2024. The version status check confirmed the game is up to date.
No. This is the base game. Community mods live in your Documents folder and can be added after installation, and expansions are not bundled with this build.
The 18.4 GB figure is the compressed download size. Once extracted, the game files take up more space, so the system requirements list 23 GB of available storage. Plan for the larger number when clearing space.
That error usually traces back to a missing redistributable or a permissions issue. Install everything from the Redist or _CommonRedist folder, then run CivilizationVI.exe as administrator. Extracting into a non-excluded folder can also cause antivirus interference during launch.
Step-by-step setup process
Minimum specifications needed
Pre-installed direct download links, no installer or license keys needed.
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