If you are a fan of Epic Games Store, you may have encountered the error 500 messages when trying to access the platform. This error indicates that the store is experiencing high traffic or server issues that prevent you from downloading, launching, or playing games.
In this article, we will explain what causes this error, how to check the status of the Epic Games Store, and what steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem.
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What Causes Epic Games Launcher Error 500?
Error 500 is a generic code that means something went wrong on the server side of the website or application. It is not specific to the Epic Games Store, but it can happen to any web service that is overloaded or malfunctioning.
For example, the Epic Games Store faced a massive surge of users in May 2020, when it offered Grand Theft Auto 5 for free. This caused the store to crash and display the error 500 messages to many users who tried to claim the game.
How to Check the Status of the Epic Games Store?
The first thing you should do when you encounter the error 500 message is to check the status of the Epic Games Store. You can do this by visiting the Epic Games Server Status page, where you can see the current status of all the systems and services related to the store.
If you see any red or yellow icons, it means that some issues or outages are affecting the store. In that case, you may have to wait until the Epic Games team resolves the problem.
How to Fix Epic Games Launcher Error 500?
There are several possible solutions to fix Epic Games Launcher Error 500, depending on the cause of the problem. Here are some troubleshooting steps that you can try:
Check the Epic Games Server Status
The first thing you should do is check the Epic Games Server Status page to make sure all systems are operational. If the Epic Games Launcher is affected by an outage or system-wide failure, your issue may be fixed when the outage is resolved. You can also follow the official @EpicGames Twitter account for up-to-date information on the current state of the store.
Check for Updates
Sometimes, the error may be caused by an outdated version of the Epic Games Launcher. To check for updates, click your profile icon in the top right corner of the Launcher and select Settings. If you see a RESTART AND UPDATE button, select it to update the Launcher.
Verify System Requirements
Make sure your computer meets the system requirements to run the Epic Games Launcher. The system requirements for the Epic Games Launcher are here. If your computer does not meet the minimum requirements, you may need to upgrade your hardware or use a different device.
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Disable Fullscreen Optimization
If you are seeing low frames per second (FPS) or performance issues, try disabling fullscreen optimization. This is a Windows 10 feature that may interfere with some games or applications. To disable fullscreen optimization, follow these steps:
- Shut down the Epic Games Launcher completely.
- Go into the directory where it is installed, right-click on the launcher .exe file, and click Properties (Epic Games\Launcher\Engine\Binaries\Win64\EpicGamesLauncher.exe).
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Click to check the Disable fullscreen optimizations box.
- (Optional) You can also click to check the Run this program as an administrator box.
- Click Apply and OK.
Clear the Epic Games Launcher Cache
The cache files contain information about previous uses of the launcher. Deleting these files, and then letting the Launcher rebuild them again can sometimes fix issues like this. To clear the Epic Games Launcher cache, follow these steps:
On PC:
- In the lower right corner click on the arrow pointing up (the chevron)
- Right-click on the Epic icon in the pop-up window
- Select Exit
- Press the Windows key and tap the R key, this will open a run window
- Type %localappdata%
- Press the Enter key, this will open File Explorer
- Open the EpicGamesLauncher folder
- Open the Saved folder
- Right-click and select delete on: webcache, webcache_4147, webcache_4430
- There may only be one or two of the files present
On Mac:
- Exit the Epic Games Launcher.
- Open Finder.
- Click on Go then Go to Folder…
- Type “~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher” and press Enter.
- Drag the webcache folder to the Trash.
- Press control and click on Trash.
- Click on Empty Trash.
- Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher.
Run the Epic Games Launcher as an Administrator
Running the Launcher as an administrator elevates its permissions to avoid problems with downloading games, for example. To run the Launcher as an administrator, right-click your Epic Games Launcher shortcut and click Run as Administrator.
Update Graphics Card Drivers
Making sure you are using the latest graphics card drivers may resolve the launcher crashing or not launching games. To update your graphics card drivers, you can use the device manager or download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website. For more information on how to update your graphics card drivers, see this article.
Reinstall the Epic Games Launcher
If none of the above steps work, you can try reinstalling the Epic Games Launcher. To do this, you need to uninstall the Launcher first, then download and install it again from the official website. Note that this will not affect your installed games or your progress, but you may need to log in again with your credentials.
Conclusion
Epic Games Launcher error 500 is a common issue that can affect the Epic Games Store and prevent you from enjoying your favourite games. It is usually caused by high traffic or server problems on the Epic Games Store’s end, but it can also be fixed by some troubleshooting steps on your end.
We hope this article helped you understand what causes this error and how to fix it. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below.