Hello, fellow soldier! Are you ready to dive into the epic story of Task Force One and fight on all fronts of World War II in Call of Duty: Vanguard? It can be incredibly frustrating to launch the game, ready for an immersive single-player experience, only to find the Campaign mode locked. Don't worry, you're not alone! This is a common issue, and the solution is usually quite straightforward. Let's get your boots on the ground and your campaign unlocked with this comprehensive, step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Check Your Downloads and Installation Status
Before you panic, let's start with the most common reason for a locked campaign. When you first install Call of Duty: Vanguard, the game often prioritizes the download of the Multiplayer and Zombies modes so you can jump into online action faster. The Campaign files are often treated as separate "content packs" or "add-ons" that need to be downloaded in addition to the base game.
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Engage the User: Did you see that "Play" button pop up and immediately click it, eager to get into the action? We've all been there! But this is precisely where the issue can start. The game is likely still downloading the full content in the background.
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On Console (PlayStation/Xbox):
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Navigate to the Campaign Menu: From the main menu, hover over the "Campaign" option. You'll likely see a lock icon on it and a prompt at the bottom of the screen that says something like "Start Install" or "Download Missing Content."
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Initiate the Download: Press the designated button (e.g., Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox) to start the download of the Campaign content packs. There may be a "Campaign Pack 1" and "Campaign Pack 2" that need to be installed.
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Be Patient: These packs can be several gigabytes in size. Make sure you don't close the game or your console until the download is completely finished. You can usually check the download progress in your console's download queue.
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On PC (Battle.net):
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Check the Battle.net Launcher: In the Battle.net application, go to your Call of Duty: Vanguard game page. Look for a progress bar or a status indicator that shows if the game is still downloading or "updating."
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Use the "Modify Install" Option: If you don't see an active download, click the gear icon next to the blue "Play" button. Select "Modify Install."
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Select Game Content: A new window will pop up. Under the "Game Content" section, you should see options for "Campaign," "Multiplayer," and "Zombies." Make sure the box next to "Campaign" is checked. If it's not, check it and click "Confirm" to start the download of the necessary files.
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How To Unlock Cod Vanguard Campaign |
Step 2: Scan and Repair Your Game Files
Sometimes, a download can get corrupted, or a file might be missing without the game notifying you. This is where the repair function comes in handy.
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On PC (Battle.net):
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Find the Gear Icon: Again, on the Call of Duty: Vanguard page in the Battle.net launcher, click the gear icon next to the "Play" button.
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Initiate the Scan and Repair: From the dropdown menu, select "Scan and Repair."
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Wait for the Process to Finish: The launcher will now check all your game files and automatically download and replace any that are corrupt or missing. This can take some time depending on your internet speed and the size of the game.
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On Console (PlayStation/Xbox):
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Consoles don't typically have a "Scan and Repair" function like PC launchers. The best equivalent is to check for updates or reinstall the game, which we'll cover in the next steps.
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Step 3: A Sneaky Trick - Change Your Language
This might sound strange, but a quirky community-found solution has worked for many players, especially on PC.
Tip: Keep your attention on the main thread.![]()
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On PC (Battle.net):
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Go to "Modify Install": Click the gear icon next to the "Play" button in the Battle.net launcher and select "Modify Install."
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Change the Language: In the same window where you checked the "Campaign" content, you'll see a dropdown menu for "Text & Spoken Language." Change your language to something else, like German or Spanish.
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Download the Language Pack: This will trigger a download of the new language pack. Once it's finished, try launching the game. The campaign might now be unlocked.
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Change It Back (if you want): If it works, you can repeat the process and change the language back to your preferred one.
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Step 4: The Last Resort - Reinstall the Game
If all else fails, a fresh installation is often the most reliable solution. While it can be time-consuming due to the large file size, it ensures that all game files are downloaded correctly from scratch.
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On Console & PC:
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Uninstall the Game: From your console's or PC's game library, find Call of Duty: Vanguard and select the option to uninstall it.
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Delete Saved Data (Optional but recommended): On consoles, you may want to go into your system's storage settings and manually delete any saved data for Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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Initiate a Fresh Download: Re-download and install the game from your console's store or the Battle.net launcher.
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BE PATIENT! This is the most crucial part. DO NOT click "Play" as soon as the button appears. Wait until the entire download and installation process is 100% complete. The "Play" button often becomes available when only a portion of the game is ready, leading to this exact problem. Wait for the game to say "Ready to Play" or for the progress bar to show as fully completed.
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Step 5: Check Your Account and Network
Finally, ensure your console or PC has a stable internet connection and that the game's servers are online.
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Check your internet connection: A weak or unstable connection can lead to incomplete downloads.
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Check the server status: Visit the official Call of Duty or Activision support websites to see if there are any ongoing server maintenance or outages.
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Region Lock (Rare but possible): In some extremely rare cases, a physical disc from one region might not be compatible with an account from a different region. Ensure your PlayStation or Xbox account's region matches the region of your physical game disc.
You've got this! By following these steps, you should be able to get past that pesky lock icon and start your epic journey in the Call of Duty: Vanguard campaign. Get ready to experience the brutal, character-driven story of World War II.
Frequently Asked Questions
QuickTip: Reflect before moving to the next part.![]()
How to check if my Campaign DLC is installed?
On consoles, you can usually check the "Manage Game Content" or "Add-ons" section for Call of Duty: Vanguard in your library. On PC, use the "Modify Install" option in the Battle.net launcher to see if the "Campaign" content is checked and installed.
How to fix the "Missing DLC" error on my console?
Hover over the locked Campaign option on the main menu. A prompt should appear to install the missing content. Select it to begin the download of the required campaign packs.
How to download the Campaign packs on PlayStation 4/5?
From the main menu, when you hover over the locked Campaign, press the "Square" button to start the installation of "Campaign Pack 1" and "Campaign Pack 2." Wait for both to finish downloading.
Tip: Scroll slowly when the content gets detailed.![]()
How to download the Campaign content on Xbox One/Series X|S?
Similar to PlayStation, when you highlight the Campaign on the main menu, you will see a prompt to download the required content. Press the "X" button to begin the download of the add-ons.
How to repair my game files on PC?
In the Battle.net launcher, click the gear icon next to the "Play" button for Call of Duty: Vanguard and select "Scan and Repair." The launcher will automatically find and fix any corrupted files.
How to fix the locked campaign after a recent update?
If the issue occurs after an update, it's possible the update didn't download all the necessary files. Follow the steps to "Scan and Repair" your game files (PC) or check for missing content packs (console). Restarting your console or PC can also resolve temporary glitches.
QuickTip: Pause after each section to reflect.![]()
How to change the language to fix the locked Campaign?
On PC, go to the "Modify Install" settings in the Battle.net launcher. Change the "Text & Spoken Language" to a different language, which will force a new download and often unlock the campaign. You can then change it back.
How to avoid the locked Campaign issue on a fresh installation?
Wait for the entire game to be 100% installed and downloaded before launching it. Do not press "Play" as soon as the button becomes available, as the Campaign files are often part of the later download stages.
How to check if Call of Duty servers are down?
Visit the official Activision Support website or the Call of Duty Twitter page. They will post updates on any server maintenance or outages.
How to contact Activision Support for more help?
If none of the above steps work, you can visit the official Activision Support website and submit a ticket. Provide as much detail as possible about your platform, the steps you've already taken, and any error messages you've received.