Filelistxmltxt Error Fix | Far Cry 4

To fix the "filelist.xml.txt" error in Far Cry 4, which typically occurs at startup and points to a missing or misplaced file in the materialdescriptors folder, follow these steps: 1. Verify Game Files

The most common and effective solution is to let the game launcher detect and repair missing files.

This error typically occurs when the game cannot locate or read the filelist.xml file, or when file extensions are mishandled during mod installation. far cry 4 filelistxmltxt error fix

Fix #6: Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

This sounds unrelated, but a surprising number of Far Cry 4 errors trace back to broken C++ runtimes. The game uses these to parse text files.

  1. Go to Control Panel → Programs and Features.
  2. Uninstall ALL versions of:
    • Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
    • Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable
    • Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable
  3. Go to Microsoft’s official website and download the latest All-in-one C++ Redistributable package (search for "VC++ redistributable all in one").
  4. Install them, restart your PC, and launch Far Cry 4.

Solution 1: The "Double Extension" Issue (Most Common Fix)

The most frequent cause is Windows hiding known file extensions. You may have named a file filelist.xml, but Windows secretly appended .txt to the end, making it filelist.xml.txt. To fix the "filelist

Fix #3: The Nuclear Option – Delete and Reacquire

If verification says "all files are valid" but the error persists, the platform is lying. You need to force it to redownload the file.

  1. Navigate to the Far Cry 4 folder (see path above).
  2. Locate the data_win32 folder (or common folder, depending on version).
  3. Find the file named filelistxml.txt.
  4. Delete it. (Don’t worry – it’s a small text file, not gigabytes of data).
  5. Now, run Verify integrity of game files again (Fix #2).
  6. The platform will see the file is missing and download a fresh copy.

Primary Causes of the Error

  1. Corrupted Game Files: The most common cause. A bad sector on your hard drive, a sudden shutdown during an update, or a faulty download can corrupt filelistxml.txt.
  2. Antivirus Interference: Overzealous antivirus software (looking at you, Avast and McAfee) often quarantines or locks .txt files associated with games, mistaking them for malicious scripts.
  3. Mod Conflicts: Far Cry 4 has a vibrant modding community. However, many mods replace the filelistxml.txt with a modified version. If you uninstall a mod incorrectly, the original file may be missing.
  4. Windows User Permissions: If Far Cry 4 is installed in C:\Program Files (x86), Windows UAC (User Account Control) can block the game from reading or writing to its own files.
  5. Incomplete Patches: Ubisoft released several patches for Far Cry 4. If your game updated in the middle of a patch installation, the filelistxml.txt might be only half-written.

4. Step-by-Step Fixes

Method 4: Windows Defender & Antivirus Interference

Modern antivirus software, including Windows Defender, has a false-positive tendency with Far Cry 4, especially with its filelistxml.txt and .dll files. The antivirus may quarantine or "steal" the file without telling you. Fix #6: Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables This

How to fix:

  1. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection.
  2. Click Protection history.
  3. Look for a recent threat related to FarCry4.exe, uplay_r1_loader.dll, or filelistxml.txt.
  4. If found, click Actions → Restore.
  5. Add an exclusion:
    • Go to Virus & threat protection settings → Add or remove exclusions.
    • Add the entire Far Cry 4 game folder as an exclusion.
    • Also add the FarCry4.exe file.
  6. Re-verify your game files (Method 1) to restore any lost files.

6. Conclusion

The filelist.xml.txt error in Far Cry 4 is a minor file path/naming inconsistency, not a critical bug. Verifying game files resolves the issue in over 90% of cases. For persistent cases, manual renaming or antivirus exclusions are effective. No permanent damage occurs to save files or system settings.

Recommended first action: Verify game files via your launcher.
If that fails: Check for the presence of filelist.xml and ensure its name matches exactly what the error demands.