Posted on 10/31/2026 9:09:41 PM PDT by Angelino97
I booted up my laptop, running Windows 11, and my Brave Browser won't launch. (I'm currently using Firefox).
I uninstalled and reinstalled Brave. I downloaded the newest Brave file to reinstall.
I thought CCleaner might be blocking it, so I uninstalled that. But that didn't work.
I checked Windows Security, but it claims not to be blocking Brave.
I checked the Task Manager. Brave is not already running in the background.
I see the Brave.exe file in the Brave folder. I clicked it and got a message that Windows cannot find the Brave.exe file.
Huh? It's right there where it's always been. Where I just clicked it. Why can't Windows, all of a sudden, not find it?
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I’m leaving a comment using Brave browser.
What happened since you last booted? Did you get a Windows update or new antivirus files? Did you shut Windows down normally the last time?
No new updates and a normal shutdown.
It sounds like you have either a file corruption or an antivirus blocking it.
Sounds like you’re ready to be assimilated by Apple.
I’m currently running a DISM RestoreHealth. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try going back to a Restore Point.
I have been thinking of switching to Linux Mint Cinnamon. Windows 7 was pretty good, but 11 is dreadful.
Every year or so it’s good to do a clean install.
Now may be the time.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
Run CHKDSK with option to fix errors.
Could it be that you have a corrupted file that keeps reattaching itself when you reload Brave?
symptom implies your file directory structure is corrupted. not finding other files on that volume? you may have to go run the command line interface as superuser on windows (if it still exists on 11. i wouldn’t know) and start running file check checking and recovery applications.
oh and if your hard disk (or whatever your using to boot your operating system from is going), you should back up your important user files, while you can.
System restore didn't work. Reinstalling didn't work. Nothing.
Then in the Program Files/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Application folder, I changed the name of the file from Brave to Brave.exe.
That worked.
Although that MAKES NO SENSE.
I previously saw that the "exe" extension was "Hidden," so I unhid it. Then it read Brave.exe. So it ALREADY said Brave.exe. But it still DID NOT WORK.
Only when I RENAMED it from Brave to Brave.exe did it now work.
chuckle. that’s what i generally do to disable os files when i want to. glad you got it working! i’d still check the file system.
comment from Brave Browser. v1.98.63
Install Hijack This and start deleting all files that it suggests.
I am kidding. Do not do this.
Ah! Finally they’ve added libertarianism to the malware suite.
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