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These steps uninstall and reinstall the Epic Games Launcher—not your Epic account. If you only need to remove one game, uninstall that game instead. Before removing the launcher, note that Epic says this process removes games installed through it from your computer; you can download owned games again after signing into the same account.
Back up local save files and other game data before you begin. Cloud saves may restore progress only for games that support them and have successfully synced.
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Before reinstalling: choose the least disruptive fix
If the launcher opens but its pages or library display incorrectly, try clearing its web cache first. This is less disruptive than reinstalling and does not require removing your installed games. A full reinstall is more appropriate if the launcher will not start, repeatedly fails to update, or appears damaged.
Clear the launcher cache on Windows
- Exit Epic Games Launcher from its system-tray icon near the clock. Right-click the icon and choose Exit.
- Press Windows + R, enter
%localappdata%, and press Enter. - Open
EpicGamesLauncherSaved. - Delete any of these folders that exist:
webcache,webcache_4147, andwebcache_4430. - Open the launcher again. It will rebuild its cache.
Clear the launcher cache on Mac
- Quit Epic Games Launcher.
- In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter
~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncherand press Return. - Move the
webcachefolder to the Trash, then reopen the launcher.
Epic describes cache clearing as a way to address launcher display and other issues. See its cache-clearing instructions.
#1 Best Overall
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
What to check before uninstalling
- Make sure you know the email address and password for the Epic account that owns your games. If you use two-factor authentication, confirm you can access that method.
- If the launcher still opens, check that you are signed into the right account and can see your library.
- Close running games and the launcher completely.
- Back up local saves, configuration files, screenshots, mods, and custom launch options you want to keep. Do not assume every game saves progress to the cloud.
- Note where large games are installed and make sure you have enough disk space and bandwidth to download them again.
Epic says launcher removal removes installed games from the computer. That is different from deleting your Epic account or losing the games associated with that account. Its guidance says cloud-supported progress can be retained, but save behavior varies by game. Read Epic’s reinstall instructions and its guidance on launcher installation and cloud saves.
Uninstall and reinstall on Windows 10 or 11
Menu names can vary slightly by Windows version. Epic’s documented route uses the Start menu search for Add or Remove Programs.
Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
- Exit Epic Games Launcher from the system tray. If it does not close, open Task Manager and end the Epic Games Launcher process.
- For a repair-oriented reinstall, Epic recommends running System File Checker first. Open Start, type
cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator. Entersfc /scannow, wait for the scan to finish, and restart Windows. This is a troubleshooting step, not a requirement for every routine reinstall. - Open Start, search for Add or Remove Programs, and open it.
- Find Epic Games Launcher, select it, and choose Uninstall. Follow the prompts.
- Download the installer through the official Epic Games Store website and run it.
- Sign in to the same Epic account, open Library, and install the games you want back.
Epic’s launcher troubleshooting steps include System File Checker. Microsoft documents additional uninstall routes in its guide to removing apps and programs in Windows.
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If the Windows uninstall option fails
- Restart the computer, make sure the launcher is closed, and try again.
- Use Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Epic Games Launcher, open its three-dot menu, and choose Uninstall.
- If that does not work, open Control Panel, choose Programs > Programs and Features, select Epic Games Launcher, and choose Uninstall.
- If Windows reports an installer or removal problem, use Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. Avoid deleting registry entries based on generic cleanup advice.
Uninstall and reinstall on Mac
For a normal removal, first check whether the app provides its own uninstaller. If not, Apple’s general guidance is to quit the app and move it from Applications to the Trash. For a clean reinstall prompted by persistent launcher problems, Epic also advises removing Epic-specific support files.
Rank #3
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
- Quit Epic Games Launcher. If it will not quit, open Activity Monitor and check that no Epic Games Launcher processes remain.
- In Finder, open Applications and move Epic Games Launcher to the Trash.
- For a clean reinstall, inspect these folders for items clearly associated with Epic Games Launcher:
~/Library/Application Support~/Library/Caches~/Library/Preferences~/Library/Logs~/Library/Cookies
- Remove only Epic-specific files or folders. Do not delete any of these parent directories or unrelated files.
- Download the Mac installer from the official Epic Games Store website, install it, and sign in to the same account.
For Apple’s general app-removal guidance, see how to delete or uninstall apps on Mac. Epic’s reinstall article lists the support-file locations above. If you are moving the launcher rather than fixing it, Epic also documents changing its installation directory; its Mac instructions describe moving the app after installation by holding Command while dragging it.
If you only want to uninstall one game
Leave the launcher installed if one title is the only problem. In Epic Games Launcher, open Library, find the game, select the three-dot menu beside its name, choose Uninstall, and confirm. This removes that game rather than taking the broader launcher-reinstall route. Epic’s steps are here: uninstall a game in Epic Games Launcher.
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Restore games after reinstalling
- Sign in to the Epic account that owns the games.
- Open Library and select Install beside a game.
- Choose the installation folder and let the download and any verification finish.
- Restore backed-up saves or configuration files if needed, then reapply mods and custom launch options.
- Start the game and check its progress.
If a purchased game is missing, first check that you signed into the correct account and review library filters. A game obtained through another platform or account-linking arrangement may not appear in the account you are viewing. Do not repurchase it or create a new account before checking which account holds the entitlement. If the game is listed but its save is missing, check your backup and the game’s own save or cloud-sync support; cloud saves are not universal.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If reinstalling still fails
If Windows says a previous installation exists, or the installer reports a specific error, use Epic’s current Launcher Support guidance for that message rather than deleting arbitrary files or registry keys.
Best Value
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
For a failed game installation that will not uninstall normally, Epic documents a separate manual recovery path for certain errors: exit the launcher, open the affected game’s installation directory, delete only that game’s folder, restart the launcher, and try installing again. The default Windows game folder is C:Program FilesEpic Games, but you may have chosen another location. This bypasses the normal uninstall process, so reserve it for a failed or corrupt game installation—not for removing the launcher. See Epic’s instructions for error IS-0007.
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