How Do You Verify Your Fortnite Account? A Comprehensive Guide
Verifying your Fortnite account, which is essentially your Epic Games account, is crucial for maintaining security, accessing all features, and ensuring a smooth gaming experience. The verification process varies slightly depending on whether you’re verifying your email address, confirming your age, or providing parental consent for a minor’s account. This guide will walk you through each of these scenarios, providing detailed steps to ensure your account is fully verified.
Verifying Your Email Address
The most fundamental verification process involves confirming the email address associated with your Epic Games account. This is essential for two-factor authentication (2FA) and helps Epic Games Player Support assist you if your account experiences suspicious activity.
Steps to Verify Your Email:
- Log in to Your Account Page: Go to the Epic Games website and log in to your account.
- Look for the Yellow Notification: If your email address is unverified, you will see a prominent yellow notification at the top of the screen.
- Click ‘Click here to resend’: Within the yellow notification, you’ll find a link that says “Click here to resend.” Click this to request a new verification email.
- Open the Verification Email: Check your email inbox (and spam folder) for a message from Epic Games.
- Click ‘VERIFY YOUR EMAIL’: Open the email and click the “VERIFY YOUR EMAIL” button or link. Your email address is now verified, and the yellow notification should disappear.
Verifying Your Game Files (Fortnite)
Although not directly related to account verification, verifying your game files ensures that your installation of Fortnite is free from errors and corruption. This step is often recommended if you encounter gameplay issues.
Steps to Verify Your Fortnite Game Files:
- Open the Epic Games Launcher: Launch the Epic Games Launcher on your computer.
- Go to your Library: Navigate to the “Library” section.
- Find Fortnite: Locate Fortnite in your list of games.
- Click the Three Dots: Click the three dots on the right side of the Fortnite game line.
- Select “Manage”: In the drop-down menu, select “Manage.”
- Click the “Verify” Button: A “Verify” button will appear. Click it to initiate the verification process. The launcher will check the integrity of your game files and download any necessary updates.
Verifying Your Age (Parental Consent)
If you indicate that you are under the age of digital consent for your country, privacy laws require a parent or guardian to provide permission for you to access certain game features. This parental consent process varies, but it usually involves confirming the parent/guardian’s identity.
Completing the Parental Consent Process:
- Epic Games will Prompt for Age Verification: When you create a new Epic Games account or if you change your age settings and indicate you are under the age of digital consent, you’ll be prompted to start the parental consent process.
- Choose a Verification Method: Epic Games offers various methods to verify a parent/guardian’s identity. Common options include:
- Face Scan: Using your device’s camera to scan your face.
- Credit or Debit Card: Providing credit or debit card information (no charges are usually made for verification).
- ID Scan: Uploading a scan of a government-issued ID like a passport or driver’s license.
- Other Options: Additional verification methods may be available depending on your region.
- Follow the Prompts: Follow the on-screen instructions provided by Epic Games for your chosen verification method.
- Name and Email: If the child’s account is nameless, you’ll be asked to provide an email address and password for the account as an additional step.
Why Parental Consent is Necessary:
Parental consent is vital for protecting children’s privacy online and allowing them to access certain features of games and services safely. Without parental verification, young players may have limited access to features that involve personal information collection.
EPIC ID Verification for Certain Features
In some instances, especially for developers or publishers, Epic Games requires verification of identity when establishing an EPIC Account. This involves providing specific documentation.
EPIC ID Verification Requirements:
- Clear Color Photograph: A clear, color photograph of your face.
- Scanned Color Image of Passport: A scanned, color image of the required pages of your passport.
- Completed EPIC Identification Form (EIF): A filled-out EPIC Identification Form.
This level of ID verification is not typically required for regular Fortnite players.
Consequences of Not Verifying Your Account
Failing to verify your Epic Games account can lead to significant limitations or, in extreme cases, account deletion. Players are usually given 30 days to verify their account if they are prompted to do so, and failing to meet that timeframe might result in the account being permanently deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the account verification process:
1. Why is Fortnite asking me to verify my account?
Fortnite may ask you to verify your account to confirm your age, email address, or, in cases of minor accounts, obtain parental consent. These verification measures help ensure a safe and secure gaming experience.
2. Why do I need to verify my email address?
Verifying your email address is crucial for enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), recovering your account if you forget your password, and assisting Epic Games Player Support in case of suspicious activity.
3. What happens if I don’t verify my Fortnite account?
If you do not verify your account when prompted, it may be subject to limitations or even deletion after a specified timeframe.
4. Is it possible to merge two Epic Games accounts?
No, it is not possible to merge two Epic Games accounts. Choose one account to primarily use.
5. Is Fortnite safe for young children?
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board rates Fortnite “T” for teen (13+), primarily due to action violence and open chat. However, parental discretion is advised. Common Sense Media also recommends the game for ages 13+.
6. What is a cabined account?
A cabined account is a limited Fortnite account for players under 13 years old or the age of digital consent in their country. These accounts have restricted access to certain features until a parent or guardian provides consent.
7. Can I change the age on my Fortnite account?
You can modify parental control settings and your age, but this might trigger the age verification process again.
8. Why am I not receiving my Epic Games verification email?
Check your spam folder, ensure your email address is correct, and that no filters are blocking Epic Games emails.
9. How do I find my Epic ID?
Log into your Epic Games account, hover over your username in the upper-right corner, and select “Account.” Your ID is listed under the “Account Info” section.
10. Why does Fortnite ask for my password every time I launch the game?
If you are prompted repeatedly for your password, this can be caused by connection issues with the internet. Ensure you have a stable internet connection and try manually launching the Epic Games launcher when your computer is connected.
11. How long does Epic Games take to verify my account credentials?
Through the EPIC system, approximately 50% of credentials are verified within 45 days and 75% are verified within 90 days.
12. Do I need a PIN for my Fortnite account?
A PIN is used for setting and managing parental controls in Fortnite. You can set it up through the Parental Controls menu.
13. How do I reset my Fortnite PIN?
If you forget your PIN, click “Forgot Your PIN?” within the Parental Controls menu. Instructions to reset it will be sent to the parent/guardian’s email address associated with the account.
14. Is it illegal for a child under 13 to play Fortnite?
No, it’s not illegal, but parental consent is required for certain features due to privacy laws.
15. Is it free to verify my Fortnite account?
Verifying your email and basic account information is always free. However, for parental consent, a credit card may be used for verification purposes only and typically isn’t charged.
By following these instructions and FAQs, you can effectively verify your Fortnite account and ensure a secure and enjoyable gaming experience. Always stay informed about any updates to the verification process from Epic Games to ensure uninterrupted access.