The Epic Games Launcher serves as the central hub for gamers looking to install and play games from Epic’s store on their Windows PC. It’s the gateway to popular titles like Fortnite and also facilitates the installation of games purchased from the Epic Store. Yet, there are times when the Epic Games Launcher refuses to open on Windows 11. When you attempt to launch it, you may encounter crashes or error code popups. This frustrating issue not only disrupts your gaming experience but also prevents you from accessing the games in your library.
So, what should you do when faced with this problem? Rest assured; there are several potential causes for the launcher failing to open, and this article will explore various solutions to help you get the Epic Games Launcher up and running on your Windows 11 system.
Also Read: Enabling Windows 11 Copilot AI
1. Confirm System Requirements
Before delving into troubleshooting, it’s essential to ensure that your computer meets the minimum requirements for running the Epic Games Launcher smoothly. Insufficient RAM, outdated graphics, low disk space, or an aging processor can all impede the launcher’s performance. Verify that your system aligns with these prerequisites:
- Operating System: Windows 7 or later (Windows 11 is recommended, if available).
- CPU: An Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon 64×2, or a better processor is required.
- RAM: A minimum of 2GB of system memory (4-8GB is preferred for smooth multitasking during gaming sessions).
- Graphics Card: Your graphics card should have at least 512MB of VRAM and support DirectX 9 or later.
- Storage: Ensure you have 1.5GB of free hard drive space to accommodate game installations and updates.
You can quickly check your system specifications by searching for “System information” in the taskbar search box.
2. Update Graphics Drivers
Maintaining up-to-date graphics card drivers is crucial for ensuring both stability and performance. Outdated or corrupted drivers can lead to launcher issues and connectivity problems. Utilize your GPU manufacturer’s auto-detection tool, such as Nvidia GeForce Experience, to automatically find and install the latest drivers tailored to your card’s architecture. Remember to restart your PC after installing updated drivers.
3. Run the Epic Games Launcher as an Administrator
Some launcher errors may result from insufficient administrator access permissions. Running the Epic Games Launcher with elevated rights can potentially resolve startup issues. Here’s how you can do it:
- Locate the EpicGamesLauncher.exe file, typically found under C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Engine\Binaries\Win64.
- Right-click on the file and choose “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
- If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC) prompt, select “Yes” to confirm elevated rights.
- The launcher will now open with administrator privileges, potentially resolving any permission-related problems. If you have a desktop shortcut, you can right-click it and select “Run as administrator.”
4. Temporarily Disable Firewall and Antivirus
Sometimes, antivirus software or firewalls may erroneously block game launchers from running due to false threat detections. Security programs may interpret unexpected behavior from launchers as potential threats, leading to access restrictions or quarantining essential files. Here’s how to temporarily disable these security measures:
- Press Win + Q and type “Firewall & network protection.”
- After opening the utility, look for the option labeled as “active.” For instance, it might be “Public network” in your case. Click on the active option.
- Toggle the switch to “Off” under “Microsoft Defender Firewall.”
- Disabling the Windows Security firewall will prevent it from interfering with the network and imposing restrictions. If you wish to disable the built-in Windows security, open the application and turn off real-time protection.
5. Use BleachBit to Clear Cache and Temporary Files
While you can clean the cache on Windows through various methods, we recommend using BleachBit for this particular situation. BleachBit is a free, open-source tool designed to clear temporary or residual files on Windows 11. It effectively eliminates any temporary files that the Epic Games Launcher generates and that might be corrupted. This can help resolve crashing issues with the launcher. Here’s how to use BleachBit to clear temporary files and cache on Windows 11:
- Download the BleachBit installer from Bleachbit.org.
- Run the BleachBit-setup.exe file and follow the on-screen installation steps.
- After installation, run BleachBit and check the boxes next to the following items: “Temporary files,” “Cache,” and “MUICache.”
- Click the “Clean” button located on the top bar. Once the temporary files and cache are cleared, try launching the Epic Games Launcher on your PC. With any luck, the launcher will function without any further issues.
6. Repair System Files
Corrupted Windows system files can sometimes hinder the proper functioning of applications, such as game launchers. Running a complete system scan can help in such cases. To address these issues and repair the system files, you can use the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Service and Management Tool) tools, both of which are integrated into the Windows operating system. Follow these steps to use these tools on your Windows PC:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Run the command “sfc /scannow” to scan system files.
- After running the System File Checker, proceed with “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” to repair any issues found.
Once you’ve executed these two commands, restart your PC to allow the changes to take full effect. Repairing damaged system resources and files can resolve a wide range of problems, including application issues such as failing to launch. It’s worth trying this approach to see if it resolves your issue.
7. Reinstall the Epic Games Launcher
If you’ve tried the previous methods and are still struggling to get the Epic Games Launcher to work, consider reinstalling it on your system. Follow these steps to reinstall the Epic Games Launcher on Windows 10/11:
- Press Win + I together to open the Settings app.
- Go to “Apps” > “Installed apps” and search for the Epic Games Launcher in the list.
- Right-click on the three dots next to the program’s name and click “Uninstall.”
- Once it’s removed from your PC, visit EpicGames.com and download the latest version of the launcher.
- Install the launcher again and sign in with your Epic Games account to access your games library.
8. Check for Windows Updates
As part of troubleshooting game launcher issues, it’s a good idea to check for Windows updates. Installing the latest updates can potentially resolve problems caused by known Windows bugs. To check for and install pending Windows updates, follow these steps:
- Go to “Settings” > “Windows Update.” You can also open the Settings app by pressing Win + I.
- On the right side, click “Check for updates.” If there are any pending updates on your device, click the “Install all” button. Updating Windows provides under-the-hood fixes and optimizations that can eliminate OS-level issues that might affect applications and games. Therefore, it’s an important step to take when trying to resolve problems with any app or game on Windows 11.
9. Restart the Epic Games Service
The Epic Games Launcher relies on background services and processes to function correctly. If these services hang or fail to start properly, it can prevent the launcher from opening. A service like Epic Online Services plays a critical role in verifying, updating, and launching games. If this service isn’t running smoothly, it can cause problems with the Epic Games Launcher. Here’s how to restart the Epic Online Services:
- Open the Services utility (services.msc). If you’re unfamiliar with this process, press Win + R, type “services.msc,” and press Enter to open it.
- Locate “Epic Online Services” in the list of services. If the service is set to “Manual” startup, right-click it and select “Start” to launch it.
- If the service is already running, right-click it and choose “Restart” to reset any stalled services.
- After restarting the services, try opening the launcher again to see if it works as expected.
10. Change Your DNS to Cloudflare
Changing your DNS server settings to use Cloudflare’s fast DNS resolvers can potentially fix launcher connectivity issues caused by problematic ISP DNS servers. If you have a good Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection but still face disconnection problems, it may be due to DNS issues. Switching to Cloudflare DNS can help. Follow these steps to change to the Cloudflare DNS:
- Open Windows Search and search for “Manage Network Adapter settings.” Then, click on “Open.”
- Click on “More network adapter options” to access the Network Connections window.
- Double-click on your active/default network connection from the connections window to open its properties (e.g., Ethernet connection).
- In the properties dialog, click on “Properties.”
- Double-click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).”
- In the “Preferred DNS server” field, type “1.1.1.1,” and in the “Alternate DNS server” field, enter “1.0.0.1.”
- Finally, to save the changes, click “OK.”
With these DNS changes in place, it’s a good idea to flush the DNS cache on your PC. Cloudflare’s DNS servers offer superior performance compared to other public DNS providers and can often resolve launcher issues stemming from unreliable DNS connectivity.
11. Repair Epic Games Launcher Via Control Panel
If none of the previous troubleshooting steps resolve the Epic Games Launcher issue, you can attempt to repair it via the Programs and Features section in the Control Panel. Here’s how you can access the repair feature using the Control Panel:
- Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Locate the Epic Games Launcher in the list of installed applications.
- Right-click on it and select the “Repair” option from the ribbon.
- Allow the repair process to complete; this may take several minutes. Once the repair is finished, restart your computer.
By following these comprehensive troubleshooting steps, your issue with the Epic Games Launcher in Windows 11 should ideally be resolved. The next time you run the launcher, it should open without crashing or hanging. Enjoy your gaming without the frustration of launcher issues!
