Right-click x360ce.exe → Run as administrator. This gives it permission to write DLLs and hook into processes.
When you see "Self protection failed error code 4," you will also typically notice: self protection failed error code 4 x360ce 2021
For Windows 10/11:
This is temporary; the error may return after next reboot. Right-click x360ce
Error Code 4 can occur if the virtual driver that x360ce relies on is broken. ViGEm (Virtual Gamepad Emulation) handles the "emulation" part. This is temporary; the error may return after next reboot