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If an Epic Games Store game won’t launch, check Epic’s service status first, then verify the game’s files in the Launcher. If that doesn’t help, work through the Launcher cache, updates, system requirements, permissions and background apps before trying security, network or reinstall steps. Use any error code to narrow the path; there is no single fix for every game.
1. Check Epic’s service status and Launcher updates
Before changing your PC, check the Epic Games status page for a Launcher or related service disruption. A service-wide problem may make a local installation look broken; if Epic reports an issue, wait for service to recover and try again. The status page is live, so its current state can change.
Also check that the Epic Games Launcher is up to date. Epic includes Launcher and operating-system updates among its general troubleshooting checks. Epic’s Launcher troubleshooting guide has additional checks if the Launcher itself is failing or behaving abnormally.
2. Verify the affected game’s files
File verification is the best first local repair for a game that will not start, including errors LS-0013 and LS-0014. In the Epic Games Launcher:
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- Open Library.
- Find the affected game and select its three-dot menu.
- Choose Manage, then select Verify.
The Launcher checks the installation and replaces files that differ from the expected versions. Epic Games Store Support says, “Your saved data will not be affected.” A large installation may take a while to check. See Epic’s game file verification instructions for the official steps.
3. Clear the Epic Games Launcher cache
If verification does not solve the problem—or the Launcher itself appears to be misbehaving—clear its web cache. Close the Epic Games Launcher completely before removing cache folders. Delete only the cache folders named below, not unrelated files.
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- Press Windows key + R, enter
%localappdata%EpicGamesLauncherSaved, and press Enter. - Delete any of these folders that are present:
webcache,webcache_4147, orwebcache_4430. - Open the Epic Games Launcher again; it will rebuild the cache.
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- In Finder, use Go > Go to Folder and enter
~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher. - Delete the
webcachefolder if it is present. - Reopen the Launcher.
These are Epic’s cache-clearing locations and steps; see Epic’s cache instructions.
4. Check updates, requirements and launch permissions
- Install updates: Check for operating-system and Epic Games Launcher updates, then try the game again.
- Confirm system requirements: Compare your PC with the game’s published requirements. A game may fail to start if the system does not meet them.
- Close conflicting background apps: Temporarily close or disable background programs that could interfere with launching, then retry. Re-enable anything you turned off if it makes no difference.
For LS-0013, Epic suggests testing administrator permissions in either direction: try launching the relevant app as administrator, or disable administrator privileges if they are already enabled. Treat this as a reversible test, not a universal recommended setting. If the game relies on a second launcher, Epic advises running both launchers with matching elevated permissions for the test. Follow Epic’s LS-0013 guidance for the applicable steps.
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5. Consider firewall, antivirus or network checks only when relevant
If the game appears unable to connect, or security software may be blocking it, check whether your antivirus or firewall is interfering. Epic suggests adding an exception where appropriate. Keep any exception limited to the affected game’s legitimate executable; do not disable protection broadly. If a narrow change does not help, undo it.
Epic’s LS-0013 guidance also mentions flushing DNS and reviewing router parental controls or blacklists. These are conditional checks, not steps every player needs to take. Consider them when the symptoms point to a connection or network restriction, and avoid changing router settings without a reason.
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6. Let the error code guide the next step
LS-0013: Game is unable to launch
LS-0013 is a general launch failure, so work through verification, cache, updates, requirements, permissions and background apps. If the game uses another launcher, include it in the permissions test. Only move to network or security checks if those fit the symptoms. Epic’s LS-0013 support page lays out its troubleshooting sequence.
LS-0014: Launch Failed
Epic Games Store Support explains that LS-0014 means the game “can’t locate a file or directory that it is pointing to.” Verify the files first, then close potentially interfering background apps. If the error remains, Epic lists reinstalling the game as a next step. The official LS-0014 instructions cover that sequence.
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Other codes or no code
Note the full message and code, then look it up in Epic’s support pages; different codes can point to different causes. If no code appears, continue with the general checks above and record whether the Launcher itself opens and whether other games launch. Those details help distinguish a single-title problem from a broader Launcher or system issue.
7. Reinstall only after the simpler checks
Reinstalling takes longer and removes installed content. Epic’s LS-0013 advice puts it after the earlier checks: reinstall the Launcher if needed, then manually reinstall the game if the launch problem persists. For a manual game reinstall, Epic describes deleting the affected game’s folder and installing it again; installing to another drive is optional, not a required fix.
Do not assume a reinstall preserves every local file or save. Epic’s explicit saved-data assurance applies to Verify, not every uninstall or folder deletion. Before reinstalling the Launcher, read Epic’s Launcher troubleshooting guide, which describes a reinstall process that removes installed titles.
When to contact support
If the game still will not start after the relevant checks, contact Epic Games Store Support or the game’s developer with the exact error, game title, operating system and steps already tried. If you are using an alpha, beta or press build, Epic notes that it may have expired or may no longer be supported; ask the developer whether that version is still playable. For problems that remain after Epic’s general Launcher steps, its troubleshooting guide points to the hardware manufacturer for unresolved hardware issues.
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