Network Issue Fortnite

Fortnite Login Failed - Server Status & Connection Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 161 ⚡ Severity: 🔴 High

🎯 Quick Answer

Verify the Epic Games server status is operational, then perform a full restart of your network hardware and launcher to clear cached connection errors.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The "Login Failed" error in Fortnite is a network authentication failure that prevents the game client from establishing a valid session with Epic Games' account services. This error affects all platforms where Fortnite operates, including Windows PC, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Android. The error occurs across all live game versions and builds. It is classified as a common occurrence, particularly following major game updates or infrastructure maintenance. The severity is game-breaking, as it completely blocks access to the game. The primary error message presented to the user is "Login Failed". This error can manifest during the initial boot sequence or after a successful login that is followed by a subsequent session termination and failed re-authentication.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application displays a modal dialog box with the text "Login Failed" during the initial authentication phase after launching the game. The process terminates at the login screen, returning the user to the initial prompt without progressing to the lobby. In intermittent cases, authentication succeeds once, allowing a single matchmaking session, but a network timeout occurs during subsequent login attempts after exiting that session. The Epic Games Launcher may concurrently display a "Servers Offline" or connection error icon. The system fails to establish a persistent handshake with the authentication servers, resulting in an HTTP 4xx or 5xx series error at the protocol level, though this code is not typically surfaced to the end user.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Network Problem

Specific technical explanation: Ephemeral server-side instability or degradation at the Epic Games data center level, not reflected in real-time on the public status page. This causes the problem because the client's authentication request times out or receives an invalid response from the authoritative server.

Category: Network Problem

Specific technical explanation: Local DNS cache corruption resolving the hostnames account-public-service-prod.ol.epicgames.com or launcher-public-service-prod.ol.epicgames.com to incorrect or outdated IP addresses. This causes the problem because the client connects to an invalid endpoint.

Category: Configuration Error

Specific technical explanation: Outdated or corrupted local network configuration in the Windows Socket (Winsock) catalog or TCP/IP stack. This causes the problem because the underlying network subsystem cannot establish a clean connection.

Category: Software Conflict

Specific technical explanation: Overly restrictive firewall or antivirus rules blocking outbound connections on the ports required by the Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite client (e.g., TCP 443, 5222, 5795-5847; UDP 6672, 6140-6149, 7777-7787). This causes the problem because authentication packets are dropped before reaching the server.

Category: Configuration Error

Specific technical explanation: Stale or corrupted authentication tokens and session data cached locally within the Epic Games Launcher. This causes the problem because the client presents invalid credentials to the server.

Category: Network Problem

Specific technical explanation: ISP-level routing issue or intermediate network node failure between the client and Epic Games servers. This causes the problem because the network path is broken, preventing packet delivery.

Category: Game Bug

Specific technical explanation: A latent client-side bug triggered by specific account states or post-update residual files that interferes with the login sequence. This causes the problem because the game executable cannot complete the authentication protocol correctly.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Verify Epic Games Server Status and Wait

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: High (if issue is server-side) Prerequisites: Internet access Steps:

Open a web browser and navigate to the official Epic Games Status page: https://status.epicgames.com.
Examine the status indicators for all services related to "Fortnite," including "Login," "Matchmaking," "Party & Voice," and "Game Services."
If any service shows "Degraded Performance" or "Outage," the issue is confirmed as server-side. No local action will resolve it.
Monitor the status page for updates. Proceed with local troubleshooting only if all services display "Operational."

Technical Explanation: This confirms whether the fault lies with Epic Games' infrastructure. Authentication is a server-authoritative process; a failure at the data center level cannot be bypassed by client configuration. Verification: The status page explicitly shows an operational state for all Fortnite services. Subsequent login attempts may then succeed.

Solution 2: Flush DNS and Reset Network Stack

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Windows Administrator account Steps:

Press Windows Key + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
Execute the following commands in sequence, pressing Enter after each:

ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /registerdns ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew netsh winsock reset catalog netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Close the terminal and restart the computer.

Technical Explanation: This clears corrupted DNS entries that point to wrong server IPs and resets the Windows network subsystem to a clean state, removing software conflicts that disrupt socket connections. Verification: After reboot, execute ping account-public-service-prod.ol.epicgames.com in a command prompt. A successful reply with an IP address indicates proper DNS resolution.

Solution 3: Clear Epic Games Launcher Cache and Data

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 7 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Fully close the Epic Games Launcher (right-click its system tray icon and select Exit).
Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter.
Navigate to the EpicGamesLauncher folder and open the Saved subfolder.
Delete the following folders: webcache, webcache_4430.
Navigate back to %localappdata%, then go to the EpicGamesLauncher folder again and open the Saved subfolder.
Delete the Config folder.
Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher. It will regenerate configuration files.

Technical Explanation: This removes locally cached web data, corrupted configuration files, and stale authentication tokens that cause the launcher to present invalid session data to the login service. Verification: The launcher will perform a fresh startup sequence. Attempt to log in; the system should prompt for credentials anew.

Solution 4: Configure Firewall and Antivirus Exceptions

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrative access to security software Steps:

Open Windows Security by searching for "Firewall & network protection."
Click Allow an app through firewall.
Click Change settings. Locate and verify that both FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe (typically in C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64) and EpicGamesLauncher.exe have checkmarks for both Private and Public networks.
If they are not listed, click Allow another app, browse to the executable paths above, and add them.
Open your third-party antivirus software (e.g., Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky). Consult its documentation to create specific allow rules or exclusions for the aforementioned Fortnite and Epic Games Launcher executables and their directories.
Temporarily disable any "gaming VPN," "network booster," or "packet shaping" features within your antivirus or router software.

Technical Explanation: Security software can incorrectly classify game traffic as suspicious and block the outbound UDP/TCP packets required for authentication, terminating the connection handshake. Verification: Attempt a login with the firewall rules applied and antivirus features adjusted. A successful login confirms the blockage has been lifted.

Solution 5: Perform a Full Network Hardware Power Cycle

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 8 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Physical access to modem and router Steps:

Shut down your computer and all consoles.
Unplug the power cable from your broadband modem and your wireless router. If they are a combined unit, unplug that single device.
Wait for 60 seconds. This ensures all capacitors discharge and DHCP leases are fully released from the ISP.
Plug in the modem first. Wait for all status lights to return to their normal "online" state (typically 1-2 minutes).
Plug in the router. Wait for its status lights to stabilize, indicating a connection to the modem and a broadcast network.
Boot your computer and attempt login.

Technical Explanation: This clears the NAT table on your router, renews your public WAN IP address from your ISP, and resets any internal routing errors that may be preventing a clean path to Epic Games servers. Verification: Check your public IP address before and after the cycle using a site like whatismyipaddress.com. A changed IP indicates a successful full renewal.

Solution 6: Repair or Reinstall the Epic Games Launcher

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15-20 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Installation media, stable internet for re-download Steps:

Open Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
Locate Epic Games Launcher in the list and click it.
Select Modify. In the installer window that appears, choose the Repair option. Follow the on-screen instructions.
If repair fails, uninstall the launcher via the same menu. Then, download the latest installer from https://store.epicgames.com.
Run the installer as an administrator. Install to a default directory (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games).
Log in to the fresh launcher and verify Fortnite's installation.

Technical Explanation: This replaces corrupted or missing launcher core files that manage the authentication protocol and game bootstrapping process, ensuring all components are at their baseline integrity. Verification: The launcher installs or repairs successfully and launches without errors. The login process initiates correctly.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain regular updates for your network router's firmware and your PC's network adapter drivers. Configure your firewall with persistent allow rules for the Fortnite and Epic Games Launcher executables to prevent updates from resetting permissions. Establish a routine to clear the Epic Games Launcher cache (%localappdata%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\webcache*) monthly. Monitor the Epic Games Status page prior to major gaming sessions, especially following scheduled maintenance windows on Tuesdays. Use a wired Ethernet connection over Wi-Fi to reduce variables in network stability that can complicate authentication.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Player Support only after exhaustively testing all solutions in this guide while the official status page shows all systems operational. Escalation is required if the error persists across multiple distinct networks (e.g., home and mobile hotspot). Prepare to provide diagnostic information: the output from the command epicgames-launcher.log (located in %localappdata%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\Logs), your public IP address, and a detailed description of the error timing. Official support channels are accessed via https://www.epicgames.com/help.