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The message usually means that a hidden game process or the Big Fish launcher is still holding an old session—not that a visible game window is open. Check for a minimized or off-screen window first, then close the affected process, exit Big Fish Games completely, reopen it once, and wait before trying again. If the error survives a reboot, investigate permissions or security software and back up your saves before making deeper changes.
Before ending anything, check for a hidden window
Look at the Windows taskbar or Mac Dock, press Alt+Tab on Windows, and open Mission Control on macOS. Also check other virtual desktops and any second monitor that is disconnected or asleep. A game that is still loading or saving should not be force-quit.
Close the error, wait 30–60 seconds, and avoid repeatedly clicking Play. Rapid relaunches can create multiple instances or make a launcher believe the title is already running. Comparable official troubleshooting for an “already running” error recommends checking for duplicate processes and relaunching patiently (SEGA support guidance). That guidance is not a Big Fish-specific statement, and process names vary by title.
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- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- If the compact view appears, select More details.
- On Processes, inspect Apps and Background processes.
- Select the affected game if you can identify it, then choose End task.
- Close the Big Fish Games app as well. If the game is not listed by title, use the Details tab and look for the executable associated with that specific game; there is no universal Big Fish filename.
- Open Big Fish Games again, start the title once, and wait several minutes for it to appear.
End only the affected game, the Big Fish launcher, or a process you can confidently associate with this launch. Do not terminate unrelated Windows services or processes simply because their names contain “game,” “helper,” or “service.”
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If End task does nothing, wait a few seconds and try once more. If it remains stuck, sign out of Windows and back in, or restart the computer. A full shutdown and restart can clear a process that survives a normal relaunch. Do not use a generic taskkill command unless you have confirmed the exact executable name for your title.
Fix the error on Mac
- Press Command + Space, search for Activity Monitor, and open it.
- Search for the game title or a clearly related Big Fish process.
- Select the process and click the Stop button in the toolbar.
- Choose Quit first. Use Force Quit only when normal quitting fails.
- Reopen Big Fish Games and launch the game once.
Process names differ between Big Fish titles. If the message returns even though no process remains, check whether macOS is waiting for a privacy or security permission, whether the game opened on another desktop, and whether the title was recently moved, restored from backup, or updated. An analogous Mac support discussion identifies user-folder permissions and stale user data as possible causes of a false “already running” message; it is not Big Fish documentation (EA Mac troubleshooting discussion).
Restart Big Fish Games completely
Closing the game window may leave the launcher or an updater running. Use this sequence:
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- Quit the game if it is visible.
- Exit Big Fish Games completely.
- Confirm that neither the game nor the launcher remains in Task Manager or Activity Monitor.
- Reopen the launcher and start the title once.
If the launcher itself will not close, restart the computer instead of clicking Play repeatedly.
If the message keeps coming back
Restart before reinstalling
A reboot is safer than deleting game files and often clears an invisible process or stale launcher session. If the error returns after every reboot, record that pattern; it suggests a recurring crash, updater problem, launcher failure, or security conflict rather than a one-time stuck process.
Check security software and permissions
Possible causes include antivirus quarantine or blocking, Windows Controlled Folder Access, macOS privacy restrictions, a launcher running under a different account, an installation folder the account cannot write to, or a firewall prompt hidden behind another window. These are diagnostic possibilities, not confirmed causes for every Big Fish title.
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- Review your security product’s quarantine and blocked-app history.
- Check Windows Security’s protection history and Controlled Folder Access notifications.
- On macOS, review the relevant Privacy & Security permissions for the launcher and game.
- Do not permanently disable antivirus protection. If the vendor permits a temporary test, pause protection only briefly, use a narrowly scoped exception for a verified file, and re-enable protection immediately.
Back up saves before advanced fixes
Do not delete save folders, lock files, configuration data, or the Big Fish installation as a first step. Before moving user data, resetting settings, or reinstalling:
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- Locate the save folder for the specific title and operating system.
- Copy it to a separate backup location and do not overwrite that copy during testing.
- Record the exact game title and edition, Windows or macOS version, and Big Fish app version if shown.
- Note whether the problem began after a crash, update, restore, or security-software change.
Save locations differ by game and platform, so use title-specific Big Fish support instructions rather than assuming one universal path. Moving or resetting user data can affect saves; the analogous Mac support discussion cited above explicitly recommends backing them up first.
Why reinstalling is usually not the first answer
Reinstallation does not necessarily clear a launcher state, permissions problem, blocked executable, or corrupted user configuration. It can also take time, remove custom settings, complicate save recovery, and reproduce the same failure if security software is responsible. Consider it only after process cleanup, a reboot, permission and security checks, a verified save backup, and any title-specific repair or reset instructions from Big Fish.
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When to contact Big Fish support
Escalate if the error survives every reboot, no game or launcher process is present, several Big Fish titles fail, the game crashes before showing a window, the problem began after an update, the save folder is inaccessible, or you cannot identify the correct executable.
Include:
- Exact game title and edition.
- Windows or macOS version and Big Fish app version, if displayed.
- The exact error wording.
- Whether the title appeared in Task Manager or Activity Monitor.
- What changed immediately before the failure.
- Whether other Big Fish games launch normally.
- Screenshots and logs, if support requests them.
Verify Big Fish’s current official support-contact URL before submitting a request; a current first-party article documenting this exact wording was not verified in the available research.
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What if Task Manager or Activity Monitor shows nothing?
Restart the computer, then launch Big Fish Games once. If the message still appears with no process present, investigate permissions, security notifications, and launcher state rather than deleting saves.
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Will ending the task delete my save?
Ending a crashed process normally does not delete an existing save, but it can lose progress that was being written. Check for a visible or still-loading window first, and make a separate save backup before advanced troubleshooting.
Should I delete the Big Fish Games folder or a lock file?
No—not as a first-line fix. File names and save locations vary by title, and deleting the wrong data can remove settings or saves. Use title-specific support instructions after backing up.
Why do all my Big Fish games show the same error?
A shared launcher problem, account state, permission restriction, antivirus block, or operating-system issue is more likely than separate game files failing simultaneously. Restart the launcher and computer, then contact Big Fish if the pattern continues.
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Why does restarting fix it only once?
A recurring crash, updater issue, launcher bug, or security conflict may be recreating the stale state. Document when it happens and provide that pattern, along with logs or screenshots, to Big Fish support.
The Bottom Line
Check for a hidden window, close only the affected game and Big Fish processes, restart the launcher, and wait before relaunching. Reboot before reinstalling, protect your saves before resetting data, and contact Big Fish when the message persists without a visible process.
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