Apex Legends, as with so many games, is not immune to bugs and errors. A fairly common one that causes the game to crash is the error reading pak file message.
This has caused problems for a number of players and, with Apex Legends Season 10 on the horizon, continues to remain an issue. So, we are here to tell you everything you need to know about what this error is, and how to fix it.
So if you find yourself struggling to overcome this particular issue, then you've come to the right place for solutions.
How to fix Error Reading Pak File in Apex Legends
Here's a round-up of some of the solutions various players claim to have used to resolve this frustrating Apex Legends error.
Delete the corrupted Apex Legends file on Steam
One of the most recommended fixes is to find the corrupted game file on your computer and delete it. You can do this via the following steps:
- Make sure that the Apex Legends game is not running.
- Launch the Steam client > Go to Library.
- Right-click on the Apex Legends game from the left pane.
- Hover over Manage > Click on Browse local files.
- Now, the installed game location will open in the File Explorer window.
- Delete the r5apex (exe) application file from the location.
- Close the File Explorer and go back to the Steam launcher.
- Here you’ll have to right-click on the Apex Legends game again.
- Select Properties > Click on the Local Files option.
- Next, choose Verify integrity of game files…
- Wait for the process to complete and it’ll automatically bring back the deleted application file.
- Once done, restart your Steam client and check if the Apex Legends Engine Error Reading PAK file issue has been fixed. You should now be able to play the game.
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Delete the corrupted file Apex Legends on Origin
Of course, as an EA-based game, you can play Apex Legends via Origin. If you've been hit with the error reading pak error on Origin, the solution is pretty similar to if it was on Steam. You can see how to delete the corrupted file below:
- Make sure that the Apex Legends game is not running.
- Open the Origin client.
- Click on Origin from the top left corner > Click on Application Settings.
- Now, go to Installs & Saves > Check the Game library path.
- Open the File Explorer, and go inside the Apex Legends game folder.
- Next, delete the r5apex (exe) application file from the location.
- Go back to the Origin client and click on My Game Library.
- Select Apex Legends > Click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
- Now, click on Repair and wait for the process to complete.
- Once done, close the Origin client and relaunch it. You should now be able to play the game.
Other Apex Legends error reading pak file fixes
In the unlikely event that the above options don't work for you, there are a couple of other tips that might help.
We say this repeatedly: make sure all your software is fully up to date. While we have focused on Steam and Origin, if you are having issues on a console, then make sure you check for any updates that might be due. In addition, make sure your graphics drivers are fully up to date.
The last resort, if nothing seems to be resolving matters for you, is to try completely uninstalling the game, and then reinstalling it. It is the nuclear option, but sometimes, it might be the only way of fixing the problem.
READ MORE:Apex Legends lagging: How to stop lag spikes and improve your experience
What is error reading pak error in Apex Legends?
For most players, this error seems to appear as they attempt to connect to the Apex Legends, but it has been known to strike at other points as well. They receive a message which says something along the lines of:
"Error reading pak file "C:\User\...\dl_mini_19_10_30.rpak" - Error: Short read"
The root cause is a little unclear, although pak file errors are often caused by corrupted games files. This can occur if a download goes wrong, or there is an issue on the local file system, or the storage drive.
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