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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf an Epic Games Store game won’t launch, first check Epic’s live server status, then verify the game’s files in the Launcher. If that does not help, work through the Launcher cache, updates, system requirements, permissions, background apps, and any relevant security or network restrictions. Save reinstalling for last.
1. Check Epic’s service status and Launcher updates
Before changing files or settings, check Epic Games’ Server Status to see whether Launcher systems are reporting a problem. An outage or system-wide failure may prevent a game from launching; if so, wait for service to recover before troubleshooting your PC or Mac. Don’t assume there is an outage unless the live status page confirms one.
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Also check whether the Epic Games Launcher has an update available, then restart it and try the game again. Epic includes service status and Launcher updates among its general launch-failure checks. Epic’s general Launcher troubleshooting steps
2. Verify the affected game’s files
Verification is the best first local repair, particularly for LS-0013 or LS-0014. It checks the installed files and replaces files that are missing, damaged, or different from the expected versions. Epic Games Store Support says, “Your saved data will not be affected.” A large installation can take a while to check.
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- Open the Epic Games Launcher and select Library.
- Find the game that will not launch and select its three-dot menu.
- Choose Manage, then select Verify.
- Wait for the check to finish, then try launching the game again.
Epic’s instructions for verifying game files
3. Clear the Epic Games Launcher cache
If verification did not fix the problem, clear the Launcher’s web cache. Close the Epic Games Launcher completely first. Remove only the cache folders listed below; leave other files in the same locations alone. When you reopen the Launcher, it will rebuild its cache.
On Windows
- Press Windows key + R, enter
%localappdata%EpicGamesLauncherSaved, and press Enter. - Delete any of these folders that are present:
webcache,webcache_4147, orwebcache_4430. - Start the Epic Games Launcher and test the game.
On Mac
- In Finder, open Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter
~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher. - Delete the
webcachefolder if it is present, reopen the Launcher, and test the game.
Epic’s Launcher-cache clearing instructions
4. Check updates, system requirements, and permissions
- Install operating-system and Launcher updates. Restart the computer after updates if required, then try again.
- Check the game’s system requirements. Compare the game’s stated requirements with your computer’s operating system and hardware. A game that cannot run on the system may not be fixed by repairing its files.
- Try a different permission level if you see LS-0013. Epic suggests testing the game with Run as administrator; it also notes that disabling administrator privileges may help in some cases. Treat this as a reversible test, not a setting every player should permanently enable. Restore the original setting if it makes no difference.
- For games that use a second launcher, match permission levels during the test. If you run one launcher as administrator, run the other that way too; otherwise, test both without elevated permissions.
- Close interfering background applications. Temporarily close apps that could interfere with the launch, then try the game again.
These are general checks in Epic’s Launcher troubleshooting guidance and its LS-0013 steps.
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5. Check firewall, antivirus, or network settings only if relevant
Security software or a network restriction may block a game’s connection, but do not turn off protection indiscriminately. If there is a reason to suspect a block, check the antivirus or firewall logs and, where appropriate, add a narrow exception for the affected game’s legitimate executable. Undo the exception if it does not solve the problem.
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Epic’s LS-0013 guidance also mentions flushing DNS and reviewing router parental controls or blacklists. Consider those checks when the symptom points to a connection or filtering issue; they are not required for every launch failure. Avoid changing router-wide restrictions unless you know they apply to this game. Epic’s LS-0013 troubleshooting guidance
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6. Use the error code to choose the next step
LS-0014: the game cannot find a referenced file or folder
Epic Games Store Support explains that the game “can’t locate a file or directory that it is pointing to.” Start with Verify, close background applications that could interfere, and reinstall the game only if those steps fail. Epic’s LS-0014 guidance
LS-0013: the game is unable to launch
Follow the broader checks above: verify files, test permission settings, close interfering background apps, and investigate security or network blocks only when they fit the symptoms. Epic also says some alpha, beta, or press builds may have expired or may no longer be supported. If you are unsure whether that particular version is still playable, contact the game’s developer.
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No error code, or a different code
Use the same staged approach: check service status, verify the affected game, then move through the Launcher and system checks. If the message names a different code or a specific missing component, look up that code in Epic Games Store Support rather than assuming LS-0013 or LS-0014 applies.
7. Reinstall only after the simpler checks
If the game still will not launch after verification and the applicable checks, Epic’s LS-0013 guidance lists reinstalling the Launcher and then manually reinstalling the game as later steps. Reinstalling can take time and may remove installed content. Do not assume it preserves every local file or save: Epic’s explicit saved-data reassurance applies to Verify, not to every reinstall path.
Before reinstalling the Launcher, read Epic’s Launcher uninstall instructions; its broader troubleshooting guidance describes a Launcher reinstall flow that removes installed titles. For a manual game reinstall, Epic describes deleting the affected game’s folder and installing it again; choosing another drive is optional. Epic’s LS-0013 troubleshooting steps
When to contact support
If the game still fails after the relevant checks, the cause may depend on that game, your platform, or the specific error. Contact the game’s developer when you need to confirm whether a particular alpha, beta, or press build remains supported. For unresolved Launcher or system issues, consult Epic’s general troubleshooting guidance; it directs players to hardware-manufacturer support for problems not resolved by its listed steps.
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