How To Fix COD Modern Warfare (MW3) Could Not Load Localization.txt

Are you encountering the frustrating “could not load localization.txt” error while trying to play Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (MW3)?

This pesky issue can be a real roadblock to enjoying the game.

But fear not, as we’ve gathered comprehensive solutions to help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue.

The error message reads as “Could not load localization.txt. Please make sure Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is run from the correct folder.”

In this article, we will walk you through step-by-step methods to fix the “could not load localization.txt” error in COD MW3, so you can get back to the action-packed gameplay without any hindrances.

How To Fix COD Modern Warfare (MW3) Could Not Load Localization.txt?

To fix the Modern Warfare III could not load localization.txt issue you can move the Modern Warfare III directory to a simple folder, edit the localization.txt file, check steam language settings, and change the screen resolution. Additionally, you can run Modern Warfare III as an administrator.

1. Move The Modern Warfare III Directory To A Simple Folder

Sometimes, having the game installed in a complex or deeply nested directory structure can cause issues with file access.

Try moving the game directory to a simple, easily accessible folder (e.g., C:\Games) and see if the localization.txt error persists. To do this,

• Open the File Explorer on your computer.
• Navigate to the current location of the game directory (where Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is installed).
• Right-click on the game directory and select “Cut.”
• Navigate to the desired location for the new game directory, such as C:\Games, and right-click in the folder. Then, select “Paste” to move the game directory to this new location.
• Once the game directory is successfully moved to the new location, launch the game and check if the localization.txt error persists.

2. Edit Localization.txt File

Editing the localization.txt file involves accessing the game’s installation directory, locating the localization.txt file, and making necessary corrections to any irregularities, such as missing or incorrectly formatted data.

This can help address issues related to the localization.txt file and potentially resolve errors in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Here are the steps to edit localization.txt file on your console:

For PC:

• Close Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 if it is running.
• Locate the “localization.txt” file. The default location for the file is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3\main
• Open the “localization.txt” file in a text editor.
• Find the line that says “LANGUAGE=English” and change it to “LANGUAGE=Deutsch”.
• Save the file and close the text editor.
• Launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

For PS4/PS5:

• Close Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 if it is running.
• Connect your PS4 to your computer using a USB cable.
• Navigate to the PS4’s system storage on your computer.
• Find the “localization.txt” file and copy it to your computer.
• Open the “localization.txt” file in a text editor.
• Find the line that says “LANGUAGE=English” and change it to “LANGUAGE=Deutsch”.
• Save the file and close the text editor.
• Copy the modified “localization.txt” file back to the PS4’s system storage.
• Launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

For Xbox One:

• Close Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 if it is running.
• Sign in to your Xbox account on a web browser.
• Go to the “My games & apps” section.
• Select the game you want to modify.
• Click on the “Game details” tab.
• Scroll down to the “Additional settings” section.
• Click on the “Manage game” button.
• Click on the “Data management” button.
• Click on the “Saved data” tab.
• Select the “localization.txt” file and click on the “Delete” button.
• Confirm that you want to delete the file.
• Restart your Xbox One.
• Launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

For Xbox Series X/S:

• Close Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 if it is running.
• Sign in to your Xbox account on a web browser.
• Go to the “My games & apps” section.
• Select the game you want to modify.
• Click on the “Game details” tab.
• Scroll down to the “Additional settings” section.
• Click on the “Manage game” button.
• Click on the “Data management” button.
• Click on the “Saved data” tab.
• Select the “localization.txt” file and click on the “Delete” button.
• Confirm that you want to delete the file.
• Restart your Xbox Series X/S.
• Launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

3. Check Steam Language Settings

In the Steam client, navigate to Settings > Interface.

Check the language settings to ensure they are set to your preferred language.

Sometimes, language conflicts can lead to localization-related errors in games.

4. Change The Screen Resolution

Launch MW3 and navigate to the video or display settings.

Try changing the screen resolution to a different setting and see if it affects the localization.txt error.

Sometimes, specific resolutions can trigger file-loading issues.

5. Run Modern Warfare III As Administrator

Running the game as an administrator involves bypassing permission-related issues that may be preventing the game from loading the localization.txt file.

This can potentially resolve access issues and help the game load the necessary files correctly. To do this,

• Navigate to the game’s executable file or its shortcut.
• Right-click on the file or shortcut.
• Select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.

6. Verify Modern Warfare III Game Files

It’s important to note that this method can often resolve issues related to game file integrity, including the “could not load localization.txt” error in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.

Here are the steps to verify the game files:

For PC (Steam):

• Launch the Steam client and navigate to the Library.
• Right-click on the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and select “Properties.”
• Go to the “Local Files” tab and click “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
• This process will check for and repair any corrupted or missing game files.

For PlayStation 4/5:

• From the PlayStation home screen, navigate to the Modern Warfare III.
• Press the “Options” button on the controller and select “Check for Update” or “Check for Corrupt Data.”
• The system will then verify the game files for any issues.

For Xbox One/Series X/S:

• Press the Xbox button on the controller to open the guide.
• Navigate to “My games & apps,” select the game, and press the “Menu” button.
• Choose “Manage game & add-ons,” then navigate to “Manage” and select “Verify integrity of game files.”

7. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can sometimes lead to game-related errors. Ensure that your graphics drivers are up to date. To check this,

• Open the Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Device Manager.”
• Expand the “Display adapters” category to view your GPU model.
• Go to the official website of the GPU manufacturer (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
• Navigate to the driver download section on the manufacturer’s website.
• Enter your GPU model and operating system details to find the latest drivers.
• Download the appropriate driver for your GPU and operating system.
• Run the downloaded driver installation file.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated graphics drivers.

8. Disable Antivirus And Firewall

Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall software and check if the localization.txt error persists.

Sometimes, security software can interfere with game files, leading to such errors.

Disable Antivirus:

• Locate the antivirus software icon in the system tray or open the antivirus program from the Start menu.
• Look for an option to disable real-time protection or the entire antivirus software temporarily.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm and disable the antivirus protection.

Disable Firewall:

• Open the Control Panel and navigate to “System and Security.”
• Click on “Windows Defender Firewall” or “Windows Firewall.”
• In the left pane, select “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.”
• Choose the option to turn off the firewall for both private and public networks.
• Click “OK” to confirm the changes.

9. Uninstall And Reinstall Modern Warfare III

If verifying the COD game file doesn’t resolve the issue, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling MW3.

This can help ensure that all game files, including localization.txt, are properly installed and not corrupted.

10. Contact COD Modern Warfare III Customer Support

If all else fails, consider reaching out to the customer support of Modern Warfare III.

Provide detailed information about the error and the steps you’ve taken to troubleshoot it.

They may have specific insights or solutions to resolve the issue.