Table of Contents

How to Fix Epic Games Launcher Crash: A Comprehensive Guide

So, the Epic Games Launcher is acting up again, huh? Crashing, freezing, throwing tantrums like a spoiled digital toddler? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s a common issue, and thankfully, there are plenty of solutions to try before you resign yourself to a life devoid of Fortnite and other Epic exclusives. This guide will walk you through a series of troubleshooting steps to get your launcher back on track, ensuring you can dive back into your favorite games as quickly as possible. Let’s get started!

Diagnosing and Addressing Epic Games Launcher Crashes

The key to fixing any technical problem is understanding the potential causes. Launcher crashes can stem from a variety of factors, ranging from simple software glitches to more complex hardware or driver issues. We’ll cover the most common culprits and how to tackle them.

Solution 1: The Obvious First Steps – Restart and Reinstall

Before diving into more intricate solutions, let’s try the tech equivalent of a gentle nudge.

Close and Reopen the Launcher: This might sound too simple, but often a clean restart is all that’s needed. Make sure to completely close the launcher by right-clicking the system tray icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar and selecting “Exit.” Then, relaunch it.
Restart Your Computer: A full system reboot can clear out temporary files and processes that might be interfering with the launcher’s operation.
Reinstall the Launcher: If the problem persists, a fresh installation might be necessary. Uninstall the Epic Games Launcher through the Control Panel (Programs > Programs and Features). Download the latest version from the Epic Games website and install it. Remember that uninstalling the launcher will, by default, remove all installed games. You’ll need to reinstall them afterward.

Solution 2: Running as Administrator

Sometimes, the Epic Games Launcher needs elevated privileges to access certain system files. Running it as an administrator can resolve this.

Right-click on the Epic Games Launcher shortcut.
Select “Run as administrator.”
If this consistently solves the problem, you can configure the launcher to always run as administrator by right-clicking the shortcut, selecting “Properties,” going to the “Compatibility” tab, and checking the box labeled “Run this program as an administrator.”

Solution 3: Taming Fullscreen Optimizations

Fullscreen optimizations, while intended to improve gaming performance, can sometimes cause compatibility issues, leading to crashes.

Right-click on the Epic Games Launcher shortcut.
Select “Properties.”
Go to the “Compatibility” tab.
Check the box labeled “Disable fullscreen optimizations.”
Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

Solution 4: Clearing the Web Cache

The Epic Games Launcher uses a web cache to store temporary data. Corrupted or outdated cache files can lead to various issues, including crashes.

Close the Epic Games Launcher completely.
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type %localappdata% and press Enter.
Locate and open the “EpicGamesLauncher” folder.
Delete the “Cache,” “Saved,” and “WebCache” folders.
Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher.

Solution 5: The Graphics Card Driver Tango

An outdated or corrupted graphics card driver is a common culprit behind game-related crashes.

Update Your Drivers: Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific card model.
Clean Install: When installing new drivers, opt for a clean installation to remove any remnants of previous drivers that might be causing conflicts. You can usually find this option during the driver installation process.
Roll Back Drivers: If the crashes started after a recent driver update, consider rolling back to a previous version that was stable.

Solution 6: Checking System Resources

The Epic Games Launcher can consume a surprising amount of system resources, especially during updates or when browsing the store. If your system is already under strain, this can lead to crashes.

Close Unnecessary Applications: Close any programs you’re not actively using to free up RAM and CPU resources.
Monitor Resource Usage: Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage while the launcher is running. If any of these resources are consistently maxing out, it might indicate a hardware limitation or a background process hogging resources.

Solution 7: Addressing the Dreaded D3DCOMPILER_43.dll Error

This specific error points to a missing or corrupted DirectX file.

Navigate to C:WindowsSysWOW64.
Locate the D3DCOMPILER_43.dll file and delete it.
Download and run the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from Microsoft.
Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher.

Solution 8: Antivirus Interference

Sometimes, antivirus software can mistakenly flag the Epic Games Launcher as a threat and interfere with its operation.

Temporarily disable your antivirus software and try running the launcher.
If this resolves the issue, add the Epic Games Launcher folder to your antivirus’s exclusion list.

Solution 9: Checking for Corrupted Game Files

If the crashes occur specifically when launching a particular game, the game files themselves might be corrupted.

In the Epic Games Launcher, go to your Library.
Click the three dots next to the problematic game.
Select “Verify.” This will check the integrity of the game files and redownload any corrupted or missing files.

Solution 10: Re-registering DLL Files

Sometimes, DLL files may need to be re-registered for the software to run correctly.

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: regsvr32 /u <path_to_dll> (replace <path_to_dll> with the actual path to the DLL file).
Then, type the following command and press Enter: regsvr32 <path_to_dll> (replace <path_to_dll> with the actual path to the DLL file).
Restart your computer.

Solution 11: Check for Updates

Make sure both Windows and your Apps are up to date. Sometimes these issues happen due to compatibility with the apps in your computer.

Check for Windows Updates.
Check for App Updates.

Solution 12: Safe Mode

Starting your PC in Safe Mode is an efficient way to see if the problem is due to your computer’s default settings.

Restart your computer in Safe Mode.
Try to Open the Launcher in Safe Mode.
Restart your computer again to exit Safe Mode.

Solution 13: Fixing Crashing Problems

Make sure your Computer is in a cool environment. Ensure it has enough ventilation to ensure that the computer won’t overheat.

Clean any dust from the fan and the computer parts.
Check the Hardware Connection.
Replace old or broken parts.

Solution 14: Temporarily Disable your Antivirus Software

Your Antivirus Software may think that the Epic Games Launcher is a threat to your computer. Disable your Antivirus Software to see if this fixes the issue.

Disable the Antivirus Software.
Run the Epic Games Launcher.

Solution 15: Troubleshooting with Event Viewer

Windows Event Viewer records system events, including application crashes. Examining the Event Viewer logs can provide valuable clues about the cause of the Epic Games Launcher crashes.

Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type eventvwr.msc and press Enter.
In the Event Viewer, navigate to “Windows Logs” > “Application.”
Look for error events related to the Epic Games Launcher. The details of the error might provide insights into the problem.

By working through these solutions, you should be able to identify and resolve the root cause of your Epic Games Launcher crashes. Remember to test the launcher after each solution to see if it has resolved the problem. And if all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact Epic Games Support for further assistance.

The Games Learning Society is focused on game based learning and has wonderful insights for the game industry. More about them can be found at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about fixing Epic Games Launcher crashes:

1. Will uninstalling the Epic Games Launcher delete my games?

Yes, by default, uninstalling the Epic Games Launcher removes all the games you have installed on your computer. Be prepared to reinstall your games after reinstalling the launcher.

2. Why does the Epic Games Launcher use so much RAM?

The Epic Games Launcher’s high RAM usage can result from an in-app bug, glitch, or an outdated graphics driver. The launcher may also consume a lot of memory due to compatibility issues with other installed applications.

3. How do I fix error code 0xc000012f in Fortnite?

The 0xc000012f error message specifies a DLL file, which you may need to re-register. Use the Microsoft Register Server (Regsvr32) command-line tool to re-register the DLL file.

4. Is the Epic Games Launcher still problematic?

While the Epic Games Launcher has improved over time, some users still experience performance issues. Starting projects directly through the file explorer can sometimes bypass launcher-related problems.

5. Why can’t I log in to the Epic Games Launcher?

If you are repeatedly being returned to the login page, try clearing the cache of your browser or opening the login link in an Incognito window or an alternate browser.

6. How do I reset my Epic Games Launcher?

Close the launcher completely, remove any command line arguments from the launcher’s desktop shortcut, and then re-open the launcher.

7. What if I have an emulator crashing issue?

Try running the emulator with administrator privileges, clearing background processes, disabling Hyper-V, or updating graphic drivers.

8. How often should I update my graphics card drivers?

It’s recommended to update your graphics card drivers regularly, especially when new games are released or when you experience performance issues.

9. How do I fix the Epic Games installer failing or being corrupted?

Temporarily disable your antivirus software and run the Epic Games Launcher installer. After successful installation, re-enable your antivirus software.

10. Why is my Epic Games Launcher blinking white?

The Epic Games Launcher may encounter a white screen issue if its cache gets corrupted. Clearing the cache often resolves this problem.

11. What if my software keeps crashing generally?

In the Control Panel, go to Programs and Features, right-click the program, and select Repair. If Repair is not available, select Change and follow the on-screen instructions.

12. Why can’t I uninstall the Epic Games Launcher?

If the Epic Games Launcher is preventing you from uninstalling it, a background process might be interfering. Try starting Windows in Safe Mode and then uninstalling the launcher.

13. Is Epic Games a good investment?

According to reports, Epic Games had been losing money as of 2021, however, this is not a professional financial assessment.

14. What are the most common causes of computer crashes?

Common causes include overheating, dust buildup, hardware connection issues, hard disk bad sectors, and outdated drivers.

15. How can I prevent future crashes of the Epic Games Launcher?

Regularly update your graphics card drivers, keep your system clean and free of dust, close unnecessary applications, and ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for the games you play.

How do I fix Epic Games launcher crash?