Game installation and manual patch guide
Game installation and manual patch guide
Use this guide for a clean first-time installation of the game client on Windows.
Extract the game to a folder that uses only Latin characters, for example C:\Games\Cabal. Avoid paths with Cyrillic or other non-Latin characters.
Temporarily disable antivirus during extraction, then add the full game folder to antivirus or Windows Defender exclusions before the first launch. Otherwise the launcher or client files may be deleted or quarantined.
If a patch is not available through the launcher, extract the manual patch into the game folder with file replacement enabled, then run Update.exe, not Launcher.exe.
C:\Games\CabalUpdate.exe.Before you start
Prepare a clean folder for the game before you extract anything.
Recommended example:
C:\Games\Cabal
This matters because a simple path reduces installation problems. Folder names with non-Latin characters can break the launcher, updater, or game startup on some systems.
Step 1. Download the game client
Download the full client from the official website:
https://playortus.com/download
Wait until the download is fully finished before extraction starts. Do not run the game directly from the downloaded archive or from a temporary download folder.
If you already have an old broken client, it is usually cleaner to extract the new client into a fresh folder instead of mixing old and new files blindly.
Step 2. Extract the client correctly
Before extraction:
- Temporarily disable antivirus or real-time protection.
- Open the downloaded client archive.
- Extract the full client into your game folder, for example
C:\Games\Cabal.
During extraction, make sure all files are unpacked into the same folder. Do not move only the launcher or only the game executable to another location.
Step 3. Add antivirus exclusions
After extraction is complete, add the game folder to exclusions before the first launch.
Windows 10 and Windows 11
If you use Microsoft Defender / Windows Security, the path is:
Windows Security -> Virus & threat protection -> Manage settings -> Exclusions -> Add or remove exclusions -> Add an exclusion -> Folder
Select your full game folder, for example:
C:\Games\Cabal
After that, re-enable protection if you disabled it earlier.
If you use another antivirus
Open that antivirus application and add the same game folder to its exclusions, whitelist, allowed items, or exceptions list. If any PlayOrtus files were quarantined, restore them before starting the game.
Exclude the whole folder, not just one file. If you exclude only Launcher.exe, another file such as Update.exe or CabalMain.exe can still be removed later.
Step 4. Normal first launch
Once the client is extracted and excluded from antivirus scanning, start the game normally from the game folder. If the launcher opens correctly, let it check the client files before you play.
Step 5. Manual patch installation
Use this section only when the patch is not available from the launcher or when support provides a manual patch package.
When to use a manual patch
Apply a manual patch if:
- the launcher cannot download the patch
- the patch server is unavailable
- you received a patch archive separately
How to apply the patch
- Close the game, launcher, and updater completely.
- Open the manual patch archive.
- Extract the patch into the existing game folder.
- Allow Windows or your archive tool to replace files in the destination folder.
- After extraction is finished, run
Update.exe.
For a manual patch flow, start Update.exe, not Launcher.exe. This is the correct executable for applying the patch after file replacement.
After Update.exe finishes its work, you can start the game normally again.
Common mistakes to avoid
- extracting the client into a folder with non-Latin characters
- leaving antivirus enabled during extraction and letting it quarantine files
- forgetting to add the full game folder to exclusions
- running the game directly from an archive or temporary folder
- using
Launcher.exeinstead ofUpdate.exeafter a manual patch - copying only one executable out of the full client folder
If something goes wrong
If the launcher, updater, or client shows missing file errors, download failures, or patch problems, open the troubleshooting guide:
The troubleshooting page explains common errors such as missing CabalMain.exe, antivirus quarantine, updater launch failures, and download problems.
FAQ
Do I need to disable antivirus forever?
No. Disable it only during extraction if needed, then re-enable it and add the full game folder to exclusions.
What should I do if the patch is not available from the launcher?
Download the manual patch, extract it into the game folder with replacement, and run Update.exe.
Can I install the game into a folder with Cyrillic or other non-Latin characters?
It is not recommended. Use a simple Latin-only path such as C:\Games\Cabal.
Where do I add exclusions on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Open Windows Security, go to Virus & threat protection, choose Manage settings, open Add or remove exclusions, then add the entire game folder as a Folder exclusion.
What is the safest clean install flow?
Download the full client, extract it into a fresh folder, add exclusions, then start the launcher or client from that folder.
Quick recap
- Download the full client from
https://playortus.com/download - Extract it into a Latin-only folder such as
C:\Games\Cabal - Temporarily disable antivirus during extraction
- Add the whole game folder to antivirus exclusions afterward
- If a manual patch is required, extract with replacement and run
Update.exe