Unable to log in, been playing for years and since drop of ShB, WTF?

[HyoMinPark]

Do you have the Steam version of FFXIV, and are you trying to log in without the Steam launcher?

[Knelle]

I am trying to use the Steam Launcher, but I'm using the SE store version/hardcopy version for windows. ARR was hardcopy but all the rest were digital download expansions. I use Steam as a launcher for the game.

[HyoMinPark]

I am trying to use the Steam Launcher, but I'm using the SE store version/hardcopy version for windows. ARR was hardcopy but all the rest were digital download expansions. I use Steam as a launcher for the game.

If those versions aren’t the Steam versions (meaning, they’re just regular PC versions of the game), you have to download the PC launcher and launch the game that way. Conversely, if you own all Steam versions of the game, you have to launch the game through Steam as of this last patch, although there is a way to bypass the latter. People posted on Reddit figuring out a way to bypass it about an hour after 5.08 came out.

[Knelle]

If those versions aren’t the Steam versions (meaning, they’re just regular PC versions of the game), you have to download the PC launcher and launch the game that way. Conversely, if you own all Steam versions of the game, you have to launch the game through Steam as of this last patch, although there is a way to bypass the latter. People posted on Reddit figuring out a way to bypass it about an hour after 5.08 came out.

Where can I get the PC Launcher?

[Kirika-]

Where can I get the PC Launcher?

https://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/playersdownload/na/
Launch the installer, which first sets up the PC Launcher.
It should then detect and check your current install, and then you are good to go.