After researching and analyzing user reports, we've identified several potential causes of the "Self Protection Failed Error Code 4" in x360ce 2021:
Safety & Legal Notes
While the error existed earlier, it became rampant in 2021 due to three converging factors: self protection failed error code 4 x360ce 2021
Look for any "Hidden" or "Virtual" devices that are currently mapped.
Last updated: 2025. This guide applies to x360ce versions 4.10 – 4.17 and Windows 10/11. Look for FakeAppID and ensure it is not
Look for FakeAppID and ensure it is not set to 480 (a common culprit for input issues). Try setting it to 291550 or another relevant AppID. Save and restart the game. Alternative: Using Modern x360ce
Create a brand-new folder directly on your desktop or secondary drive (e.g., D:\Games\x360ce ). Alternative: Using Modern x360ce Create a brand-new folder
Move the x360ce folder to a simple path like C:\x360ce or your desktop.
Close any frozen instances of x360ce via the ( Ctrl + Shift + Esc ). Right-click the x360ce.exe application file. Select Run as administrator from the context menu. Click Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.