Game Error Fortnite

Fortnite Error Code 29 - Can't Launch Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 18 ⚡ Severity: 🟡 Medium

🎯 Quick Answer

Close all third-party overlay and modding software, particularly those for other games like Rocket League, as they conflict with Fortnite's anti-cheat system.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

Error Code 29 is a launch failure in Fortnite that prevents the game client from initializing. The error manifests as a modal dialog box displaying the code, typically after the Epic Games Launcher executes the game process. This error primarily affects the Windows PC platform. It occurs across multiple game client versions, including the most recent builds. The error frequency is classified as occasional, with isolated spikes correlating with specific anti-cheat updates or third-party software updates. The severity is game-breaking, as it completely blocks access to the game. The exact error message presented is "Sorry, you are experiencing a technical issue. Please try again later. Error Code: 29."

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The primary symptom is the immediate termination of the Fortnite game process during the initial launch sequence. The process starts from the Epic Games Launcher, the anti-cheat service initializes, and then the process halts before any game window renders. A system modal dialog box appears with the error code text. The Epic Games Launcher may subsequently display a generic failure state. No game logs are generated in the %localappdata%\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs directory for this session, as the crash occurs prior to the game's own logging initialization. The system returns to a normal state after dismissing the error dialog.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Third-party applications that inject code into game processes, such as overlay software (Discord Overlay, MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner Statistics Server), mod managers, or peripheral configuration suites (Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse) interfere with the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or BattlEye service initialization. Why this causes the problem: Anti-cheat systems monitor for unauthorized code injection. Conflicting software triggers a integrity check failure, causing the anti-cheat to halt the launch process. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Corrupted or outdated graphics driver components, specifically the Vulkan runtime or DirectX shader cache, create a mismatch during the game's initial graphics context handoff. Why this causes the problem: Fortnite's engine requires a stable low-level graphics API connection at startup. Corrupted components cause the handoff to fail before the main window loads. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Remnants of modding software for other games, such as BakkesMod for Rocket League or Cheat Engine, remain active in memory or have left persistent hooks. Why this causes the problem: Anti-cheat systems perform heuristic scans of running processes and memory. These remnants are flagged as potential cheating tools, triggering a protective shutdown. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect system date and time settings or regional format inconsistencies cause certificate validation failures for the Epic Games services or anti-cheat modules. Why this causes the problem: Digital certificates for secure communication have validity periods. A significant time skew invalidates these certificates, breaking the secure chain of trust required for launch. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A corrupted local installation of the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or BattlEye service module within the Fortnite game directory. Why this causes the problem: The game launcher calls the anti-cheat module to bootstrap. If core files are missing or damaged, the module cannot execute, resulting in an immediate launch abort. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Overly restrictive firewall or Windows Defender rules block the anti-cheat service's outbound call to its validation servers during the launch handshake. Why this causes the problem: The anti-cheat requires a successful initial heartbeat to authorization servers. If blocked, it fails the launch sequence with a generic error code.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Terminate Conflicting Third-Party Software

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Windows Task Manager.
Navigate to the Processes tab.
Locate and select each of the following common conflict processes, then click End Task: Discord.exe, rtss.exe, RTSSHooks.dll (in a rundll32 process), BakkesMod.exe, CheatEngine.exe, MSIAfterburner.exe, Overwolf.exe.
Close any peripheral configuration software running in the system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar), such as Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub, or Corsair iCUE.
Launch Fortnite from the Epic Games Launcher.

Technical Explanation: This removes the active memory hooks and DLL injections that trigger heuristic scans by Easy Anti-Cheat or BattlEye, allowing the game's security module to initialize in a clean environment. Verification: Fortnite progresses past the initial launch phase and displays the game window. The error dialog does not appear.

Solution 2: Repair Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye Services

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Navigate to the Fortnite anti-cheat directory: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\EasyAntiCheat.
Locate and execute the EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe file with administrator rights.
In the setup window, ensure the game is listed as "Fortnite". Click the Repair Service button.
Repeat this process for the BattlEye service. Navigate to: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\BattlEye.
Execute Uninstall_BattlEye.bat as administrator. Then execute Install_BattlEye.bat as administrator.
Restart your computer and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This re-installs the core anti-cheat modules and registers them correctly with the Windows system, replacing any corrupted or incorrectly versioned files. Verification: The game launches successfully. You can verify the service is running by checking for EasyAntiCheat.exe and BEService.exe in the Task Manager's Details tab after launch.

Solution 3: Perform a Clean Reinstall of Graphics Drivers

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access, internet connection to download drivers. Steps:

Download the latest graphics driver package from NVIDIA (https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx) or AMD (https://www.amd.com/en/support).
Download and run the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) tool from https://www.guru3d.com/download/display-driver-uninstaller-download/.
Boot Windows into Safe Mode. (Open System Configuration msconfig, go to the Boot tab, check "Safe boot", select "Minimal", restart).
Run DDU in Safe Mode. Select your GPU vendor (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) and choose Clean and restart.
After the restart into normal Windows, install the previously downloaded graphics driver package using the "Custom (Advanced)" install option. Check the box for Perform a clean installation.
Restart the system as prompted and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: A clean installation removes corrupted Vulkan/OpenGL/DirectX runtime libraries and shader caches that are bundled with the driver, ensuring a stable graphics API foundation for the game engine. Verification: The game launches without error. Additional verification includes stable performance in other graphically intensive applications.

Solution 4: Verify System Time and Region Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Right-click the time in the bottom-right of the Windows taskbar and select Adjust date and time.
Ensure Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically are toggled to On.
Click Sync now under the "Synchronize your clock" section.
Open the Windows Control Panel, navigate to Clock and Region > Region.
Go to the Administrative tab and click Change system locale....
Ensure the Current system locale is set to the correct region for your location (e.g., English (United States)). Do not check the "Beta" box.
Click OK and restart your computer. Launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This ensures digital certificates presented by Epic's servers and the anti-cheat services are validated against the correct time, preventing SSL/TLS handshake failures that abort the launch. Verification: The error code no longer appears. System time displays correctly and matches online time sources.

Solution 5: Configure Windows Firewall for Anti-Cheat

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 7 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access. Steps:

Press Windows Key + R, type wf.msc, and press Enter to open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
In the left pane, click Outbound Rules.
In the right pane, click New Rule....
Select Program and click Next. Click Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\EasyAntiCheat\EasyAntiCheat.exe. Select it and click Next.
Select Allow the connection and click Next. Ensure all profiles (Domain, Private, Public) are checked. Click Next.
Name the rule "Fortnite EAC Outbound". Click Finish.
Repeat steps 3-6 for the BattlEye service executable: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\BattlEye\BEService.exe.
Close the firewall console and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This creates explicit allow rules for the anti-cheat services' outbound communication, preventing the firewall from silently blocking their mandatory connection to validation servers during startup. Verification: Fortnite launches successfully. The rules can be verified in the Outbound Rules list, showing as "Enabled".

Solution 6: Perform a Clean Reinstall of Fortnite

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 30-60 minutes (depending on bandwidth) Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Sufficient disk space, stable internet connection. Steps:

Open the Epic Games Launcher. Navigate to your Library.
Click the three dots under the Fortnite tile and select Uninstall. Confirm the uninstall.
Using File Explorer, navigate to and delete the remaining Fortnite directories if they exist: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite and %localappdata%\FortniteGame.
Press Windows Key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter. In the Programs and Features list, locate any entries related to "Easy Anti-Cheat" or "BattlEye". Uninstall them.
Restart your computer.
Open the Epic Games Launcher, navigate to your Library, and click Install on the Fortnite tile. Allow the download and installation to complete fully.
Launch the game.

Technical Explanation: This removes all game files, including any deeply corrupted configuration or asset files that a standard verify operation may miss, and ensures a fresh installation of all components, including anti-cheat. Verification: A successful launch from a pristine installation indicates the local installation was the source of corruption.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a clean software environment by auditing startup applications via the Task Manager's Startup tab. Disable non-essential overlays and game enhancement software. Establish a regular schedule for graphics driver updates, performing clean installations monthly or with each major game engine update. Configure firewall rules permanently for anti-cheat executables as outlined in Solution 5. Monitor system time synchronization weekly to prevent drift. Before launching Fortnite, manually close any modding tools used for other games to prevent memory residency conflicts.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all listed solutions fail and the error persists across multiple system restarts and a clean Windows user profile. Prepare the following diagnostic information: the full path and contents of the Epic Games Launcher log at %localappdata%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\Logs, a DXDiag report (run dxdiag and save all information), and a list of all non-Microsoft services running (from msinfo32). Provide your public IP address and ISP details. Official support channels are accessible via https://www.epicgames.com/help/en-US/.