Desktop app won't launch?
Fix it in about 30 seconds. No technical knowledge needed.
In a hurry?
Try Safe Mode first — it fixes the most common launch problems in about 30 seconds.
Skip to the stepsWhat is Safe Mode?
Safe Mode is a backup way to start Nandaki when the normal version won't open. It skips the graphics features that some Windows computers can't run properly — usually because of an outdated graphics card driver or a missing Windows component.
Most people who can't open Nandaki get back in within 30 seconds using Safe Mode. You're not the first to hit this — it's a known issue on certain Windows configurations and the fix below works for the large majority of cases.
Should you try Safe Mode? Look for these signs
You double-click the Nandaki icon and nothing happens
Or the app appears for a second and disappears.
A black or blank window opens instead of the app
The window is there, but it never loads the interface.
You see a popup mentioning "GPU process crashed" or "launch-failed"
The exact wording may vary slightly.
You see an error code starting with 0xC
For example 0xC0000135. The code may appear in a small popup window.
It worked yesterday but stopped after Windows updated
Windows sometimes installs graphics updates in the background that break things.
How to launch Safe Mode
Three steps. About 30 seconds. You don't need to install anything new.
- Press the key on your keyboard.
- Type Nandaki (Safe Mode) in the search box that appears. Typing the full name puts the Safe Mode shortcut at the top of the results so you don't click the regular Nandaki shortcut by mistake.
- Click the Nandaki (Safe Mode) result.
Not sure which one is Safe Mode? Hover your mouse over each Nandaki shortcut for a second. The Safe Mode one shows the message: "Launch Nandaki with hardware acceleration disabled. Use this if the normal shortcut fails to open."
Safe Mode is fine for everyday use
The app may feel slightly slower and the small floating answer window won't be see-through (this is normal in Safe Mode, not a bug). Once your graphics drivers are updated, switch back to the regular Nandaki shortcut for the best experience.
Safe Mode didn't work?
About 90% of users get going with Safe Mode alone. If that's not enough, try these — in this order:
1. Install the latest Windows updates
Click Start, type Windows Update, open it, and click Check for updates. Install anything that's offered, then restart your computer.
2. Update your graphics card driver
Press Windows key + X, click Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click the entry there, and choose Update driver → Search automatically for drivers. Restart your computer when it's done.
3. Install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
This is a free Microsoft download that Nandaki needs to run. Get it from Microsoft's official site: Visual C++ Redistributable downloads. Install both the x64 and x86 versions if both are offered (they're separate files).
4. Pause your antivirus while opening Nandaki
Some antivirus tools (especially Avast, AVG, and McAfee) flag Nandaki by mistake. Try pausing protection briefly, launching Nandaki, then turning protection back on.
Still stuck? Our support team is happy to help — most replies go out within a few hours during business days.