How To Fix Fortnite Not Launching/Opening (15 Ways – Tried & Tested)

Fortnite, a famous battle game for Windows developed by Epic Games, has encountered issues. Users have reported problems with the game not launching or loading. Instead of running, the game often crashes and displays an error message. There are many posts on Reddit forums of users complaining about Fortnite issues. We have compiled the best tried-and-tested methods to fix Fortnite not launching on Windows 11.

Why Is My Fortnite Not Launching On PC

• There could be several reasons why Fortnite isn’t launching on your PC:
• Corrupt or outdated game files or Visual C++ components can prevent Fortnite from starting.
• Your PC might not meet the minimum system requirements to run Fortnite smoothly.
• Other applications, particularly those running in the background, might interfere with Fortnite’s launch.
• Outdated or faulty graphics drivers can cause game launch issues.
• Your antivirus or firewall settings might block Fortnite from launching.
• Missing or outdated DirectX or Visual C++ Redistributables can prevent Fortnite from running properly.
• A corrupted Fortnite installation can lead to launch issues.
• Missing or pending Windows updates may affect the game’s performance or launch.

To address these issues, you can update drivers, verify game files, check system requirements, and ensure that your system and software are up to date.

[Tried & Tested] – Fix “Fortnite Not Launching” Issues On Windows PC

Fix 1: Verify Game Files

If you are facing the “Fortnite not launching after the update” error on Windows 11, then you need to verify the game files as the first step. The Epic Launcher will check the game files installed on your system and replace the corrupted and missing files. Here are the steps to verify the game files:

Step 1: Double-click on the shortcut icon of the Epic Games launcher to open it.
Step 2: Next, click Library and locate the game you wish to verify the files of.

Step 3: Right-click on Fortnite and choose the Manage option.
Step 4: Now, select the Verify button and let the process complete.

Step 5: Reboot the PC and check if the “Fortnite not launching” issue on Windows 11 has been resolved.

Fix 2: Clear The Launcher Web Cache

Temporary files like cache, cookies, and other junk files occupy valuable storage space and disrupt your PC’s normal functioning. These files are useful when various apps first create them but are not deleted after use and later create complications. Here are the steps to clear the launcher Web Cache.

Step 1: Exit the Epic Games launcher app and restart the system.
Step 2: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “%localappdata%” followed by a click on the OK button.
Step 3: A new window will open where you have to open the Epic Games folder.
Step 4: Open the Saved Folder and locate the Webcache folder.
Step 5: Right-click on Webcache and choose delete from the context menu.
Step 6: Reboot your PC and check if the “Fortnite not launching via Epic Games launcher” has been resolved.

Fix 3: Run As Administrator

Granting admin privileges to an app can fix issues related to launching the app. To run the app in an elevated mode, follow the following steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the Epic Launcher shortcut and choose Properties.
Step 2: A new box will open, and click the Compatibility tab.

Step 3: Now, check the box before “Run this program as an administrator” and click on Apply and OK.

Fix 4: Close Discord Before Opening Game

Some experts on Reddit have pointed out that the Discord app conflicts with Fortnite. But this does not mean you cannot use Discord while playing Fortnite. Close the Discord app, launch Fortnite first, and then open Discord. Here are the steps to close the Discord app:

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Step 2: Locate the Discord process in the Processes tab and right-click on it.

Step 3: Choose End Task from the context menu.
Step 4: After closing all the processes related to Discord, launch the Epic launcher or open the Fortnite game without restarting PC.

Fix 5: Repair EasyAntiCheat

If you are using the EasyAntiCheat app, then repair it. It can fix the “Fortnite not launching on Windows 11” error. Here is what you need to do:

Step 1: Press Win + E to launch the File Explorer.
Step 2: In the search box on the top, type easyanticheat_setup and wait till Windows finds the file for you.

Step 3: Once the file appears in the search results, double-click on it to run this file.
Step 4: If a prompt box appears, click on Yes.
Step 5: Choose Fortnite from the dropdown menu and click the Repair Service button.

Step 6: After the process completes, click on the Finish button.
Step 7: Open Fortnite to check if the “Fortnite not launching after the update” issue has been resolved.

Fix 6: Set Fortnite to Run with DirectX 11

Some experts have stated that the issues with Fortnite not launching occur because the game is set to start with DirectX 12 enabled. Players can’t access the graphics settings to switch to DirectX 11 when the game doesn’t start. However, you can still force the game to run with DirectX 11 by setting a launch option in the Epic Games Launcher, as follows:

Step 1: Run Epic Games Launcher.
Step 2: Click on User Profile and then click on Settings.
Step 3: Scroll down through the list of games and choose Fortnite.

Step 4: Choose Additional Command Line Arguments to make the launch option box appear.
Step 5: Type “d3d11” in the launch box.

Fix 7: Clean Boot

Some apps conflict with others. There is no identifiable reason for this, and neither can we identify in advance which two apps might conflict with each other. This might be one of the reasons why the “Fortnite not launching via Epic Games launcher” error occurs. We suggest you perform a clean boot and then try to launch Fortnite. This will help identify if any of the apps is conflicting with Fortnite. Here are steps:

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog. Type “msconfig” and click OK.
Step 2: Next, navigate to the ‘Services’ tab.
Step 3: Check the box for ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ to ensure these services are hidden. Then, click ‘Disable All’.

Step 4: Click on the Startup tab and the “Open Task Manager” link.
Step 5: A new window will open with a list of apps starting when your computer boots. Right-click on each app and choose Disable.
Step 6: Close the Task Manager window and click ‘OK’ on the System Configuration when finished.
Step 7: Restart your system to apply the changes.

Fix 8: Disable Data Execution Prevention

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a built-in Windows feature that provides an additional layer of security for your computer. Typically, you do not need to disable DEP, and it is advisable to keep it enabled to protect your system. However, some well-intentioned programs occasionally may incorrectly use memory areas monitored by DEP, and the service might terminate the program or cause it to run improperly in such cases. We can try to disable the DEP and check if the Fortnite issue is resolved. Remember to enable it after you have finished playing Fortnite. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press Win + S to open the Windows Search box and type “cmd.”
Step 2: Click the Run as Administrator option to run the Command Prompt app in an elevated mode.
Step 3: Type the following command to disable DEP followed by Enter.

BCDEDIT /SET {CURRENT} NX ALWAYSOFF

Step 4: Reboot your PC for the changes to take effect.

BCDEDIT /SET {CURRENT} NX ALWAYSON

Fix 9: Disable Antivirus

Some antivirus apps can become overcautious and identify a legitimate app as a false positive. In this case, it is recommended that you temporarily disable the antivirus app and try to initiate the Fortnite game. Here are the steps to disable the Windows Security app.

Step 1: Press the Win key and type Windows Security.
Step 2: Click on the relevant result under Best Match.
Step 3: Next, click on Virus & Threat Protection.
Step 4: Click on Manage Settings.
Step 5: Slide the toggle button under Real-Time Protection towards the left to disable it.

Fix 10: Add Exception To Firewall

If the Windows firewall prevents Fortnite from running, you could add an exception to your firewall settings. Here is how to do that:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open the Search box and type Windows Defender Firewall.
Step 2: Click on the best match result, and a new box will open.

Step 3: Click the “ Allow an app or feature…” link in the left panel.
Step 4: Click on the Change Settings button.
Step 5: Locate Fortnite in the list and click on the check boxes under Private and Public.
Step 6: Click on the OK button.

Fix 11: Update Graphics Driver

Graphics drivers facilitate communication between your graphics card and the operating system. Keeping these drivers updated is crucial because outdated, missing, or corrupted drivers can lead to issues such as “Fortnite not launching.” Here is an automatic way to update your drivers:

Update Via Advanced Driver Updater

Advanced Driver Updater is a third-party tool designed to streamline the process of updating all your drivers with just a few clicks without being restricted to specific servers. This effective application scans your PC to identify and fix driver problems quickly. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Click the Download button below to download the setup file for Advanced Driver Updater.

Step 2: Double-click the downloaded file to install the Advanced Driver Updater.
Step 3: After installing the app, open it and click the Start Scan Now button.

Step 4: A list of outdated drivers will be presented on your screen within the app interface.
Step 5: Locate the Graphics driver and click the Update button next to it.

Step 6: Wait for the driver updation process to complete and reboot the PC

Fix 12: Install the Latest Visual C++ Package

To ensure Fortnite runs smoothly on your computer, you must install compatible Visual C++ files. Visual C++ files are crucial system components, along with DirectX, that are required for proper execution. If you are facing “Fortnite not launching on Windows 11”, it could be due to outdated Visual C++ packages. To resolve this, update or reinstall the latest Visual C++ package. You can download and install the most recent version directly from Microsoft’s official website.

Fix 13: Update Windows

Step 1: Press the Win key and type “Check For Updates”.
Step 2: Click on the relevant result under best match, and the Windows Settings box will open.
Step 3: Click the Check For Updates button and wait for the updates to download and install on your PC.
Step 4: Reboot your PC.

Fix 14: Run SFC/DISM

The System File Checker is a valuable tool for repairing and replacing corrupted system files with new, healthy ones. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “cmd.”
Step 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt in admin mode.
Step 3: Type the following command and hit the Enter key.

Sfc /Scannow

Step 4: Exit the Command Prompt window and reboot your computer after completing the scan.
Step 5: Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
Step 6: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 7: Allow the process to complete and reboot your PC.

Fix 15: Uninstall and Reinstall the Fortnite Game

If none of the previous solutions resolve the issue with Fortnite not loading, try uninstalling and reinstalling the game. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the Epic Games Launcher on your computer.
Step 2. Go to the Library and locate the Fortnite game.
Step 3. Click the Settings button next to Fortnite.
Step 4. Select the Uninstall button.
Step 5. After the uninstallation process is complete, restart your computer.
Step 6. Reopen the Epic Games Launcher and search for Fortnite.
Step 7. Download and install Fortnite by following the on-screen instructions.
Step 8. Once the installation is finished, launch the game.

Hopefully, this resolves the issue. If the problem persists, contact the Epic Games support team for further assistance.

Play Fortnite On Your PC Without Issues

We hope that the above-mentioned steps have helped you fix the” Fortnite doesn’t launch” issue on your Windows PC. Please write to us and tell us in the comments section below which method worked for you. 

Read Also:

Fortnite Waiting In Queue – What is it & How to Fix it
Fixed – Fortnite Edit Glitch (Delay Errors)