Network Issue Fortnite

Fortnite Party Matchmaking Failure - Connection & Error #1 Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 9 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Perform a full power cycle on all affected devices, including networking hardware, then clear the Fortnite cache on the console or PC of the player causing the connection block.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

This error constitutes a persistent matchmaking failure between specific players within a Fortnite party. The system fails to establish a viable game server connection when a particular player is present, resulting in indefinite queue times or specific error codes. The problem affects all platforms where Fortnite operates, including Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and cloud gaming services. This issue manifests across all game modes, including Battle Royale, Zero Build, and Creative. Analysis indicates this is a common network synchronization error following major game updates. The severity is game-breaking for the affected party, as it prevents cooperative play entirely. The primary observable error is Error #1 in community-made modes, accompanied by infinite matchmaking searches in official Epic Games modes.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application enters a persistent matchmaking state exceeding 10 minutes when a specific player is in the party. The UI displays continuous "Finding Server..." status without progression. In community-created game modes, the system terminates matchmaking and returns Error #1 to the party. The party leader interface remains functional, and player status icons show no apparent connection issues. The problem is isolated; the affected player can join matches with other parties, and the remaining party members can matchmake without the affected player. The error occurs consistently at the matchmaking phase, after selecting a mode and initiating the search. No crash to desktop or console dashboard occurs.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Corrupted or stale Network Address Translation (NAT) or session data cached on the router or the affected player's console/PC. Why this causes the problem: The networking hardware or game client retains invalid session tokens or port mappings from a previous update, causing a conflict when the specific player combination attempts to negotiate a new game server connection. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Mismatched or corrupted local matchmaking data within the Fortnite client cache on one specific device. Why this causes the problem: The game client on the affected player's system holds outdated or invalid data that other clients cannot reconcile, causing the Epic Online Services matchmaker to fail when that player's data is included in the party. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated or corrupted network stack drivers (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) on the PC of the affected player or a party member. Why this causes the problem: Faulty drivers cause packet fragmentation or improper handshake protocols during the complex peer-to-server negotiation required for a full party, which may succeed in smaller groups but fail with the specific combination. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A corrupted player entitlement or social list entry within Epic Online Services for the specific player combination. Why this causes the problem: The backend service fails to validate the party composition due to a corrupted data flag, preventing it from issuing valid server credentials, a condition often triggered by game updates. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Strict or Moderate NAT type on one player's network conflicting with the combination of other players' NAT types. Why this causes the problem: While permissive in most configurations, the specific NAT combination of the three players creates a scenario where the game server cannot establish a direct communication path back to all three clients simultaneously. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect system date/time or timezone settings on one device, creating a significant skew. Why this causes the problem: Security certificates and session tokens from Epic's servers have validity timestamps; a significant clock drift causes the affected player's tokens to be rejected by the matchmaking service when verified as a group.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Full Network & Client Power Cycle

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Physical access to router/modem and all gaming devices. Steps:

On all gaming consoles or PCs, fully close the Fortnite application.
Power down all consoles and gaming PCs completely (use "Shut down," not "Sleep" or "Rest" mode).
Unplug the power cables from your internet router and modem. If they are combined, unplug one device.
Wait for 2 full minutes.
Reconnect power to the modem first. Wait for all status lights to stabilize.
Reconnect power to the router. Wait for all status lights to stabilize.
Power on one gaming device, launch Fortnite, and have the historically problematic player join the party last. Attempt matchmaking.

Technical Explanation: This clears all temporary DHCP leases, NAT tables, and ARP caches in the network path, and resets the console's network hardware stack. It forces a fresh negotiation for all subsequent connections. Verification: The party can successfully enter the pre-game lobby on an island and transition into a match within a standard matchmaking time (under 3 minutes for popular modes).

Solution 2: Clear Fortnite Cache on Affected Platform

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None. Steps for PlayStation 5:

Fully shut down the PS5.
Hold the power button until you hear a second beep (about 7 seconds) to boot into Safe Mode.
Connect a controller via USB and press the PS button.
Select option 5. Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
Select 1. Clear System Software Cache. Confirm.
Restart the system and test.

Steps for Xbox Series X|S:

Press the Xbox button on the controller, navigate to Profile & system > Settings > Devices & connections > Blu-ray.
Select Persistent storage.
Select Clear persistent storage three times. This clears various caches.
Perform a full power cycle by holding the Xbox button on the console for 10 seconds.

Steps for Windows PC (Epic Games Launcher):

Close the Epic Games Launcher completely via the system tray.
Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter.
Locate and open the EpicGamesLauncher folder.
Open the Saved folder, then delete the webcache folder.
Navigate back to %localappdata%, open the FortniteGame folder.
Open the Saved folder, then delete the Config and Crashes folders (the game regenerates these).
Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This removes corrupted temporary data, configuration files, and web tokens that the game client and launcher use for authentication and session management, which are common failure points after updates. Verification: The game may prompt for initial settings upon launch. The specific player combination can now initiate matchmaking without infinite queueing.

Solution 3: Update Network Drivers & Console OS

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 20 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access on PC. Steps for PC Players:

Identify your network adapter. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters. Right-click your Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties > Driver tab. Note the driver provider and date.
Visit the manufacturer's website (e.g., Intel, Realtek, Killer) or your motherboard/laptop OEM site to download the latest driver. Do not use Windows Update.
Install the driver, restart the PC, and test.

Steps for Consoles:

Ensure the console is not in Instant-On/Rest Mode. Perform a full restart.
Navigate to Settings > System > Updates on PlayStation or Settings > System > Updates & downloads on Xbox.
Check for and install any available system updates.
After update, check the game itself for a title update.

Technical Explanation: Outdated network drivers or system firmware contain bugs in TCP/IP or UDP stack handling that can cause session instability with specific peer combinations, which updates resolve. Verification: Network performance metrics in the Fortnite settings (under the Network Debug stats) show stable ping and 0% packet loss when in the lobby with the full party.

Solution 4: Verify Epic Games Launcher & Fortnite Installation

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 15-30 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Epic Games Launcher installed on PC. Steps:

Open the Epic Games Launcher. Navigate to your Library.
Locate Fortnite. Click the three dots (...) under the game tile.
Select Manage.
Click the Verify button. The launcher will scan all game files and repair any that are missing or corrupted.
After verification completes, also click on your profile icon in the launcher > Settings.
Scroll to the Fortnite section and ensure all background services are enabled.
Restart the launcher and test.

Technical Explanation: Game updates can sometimes fail to apply correctly to certain core files, leading to version mismatches between party members that the matchmaking service detects and rejects. Verification: The verification process completes without reporting errors. The game build version displayed in the lobby matches that of other party members.

Solution 5: Create a New Windows Firewall Rule

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access on the PC of the affected player. Steps:

Press Win + 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\FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe. Select it and click Next.
Select Allow the connection and click Next.
Ensure all boxes (Domain, Private, Public) are checked. Click Next.
Name the rule "Fortnite Matchmaking Allow All". Click Finish.
Repeat steps 3-8, but in step 1 select Inbound Rules.
Restart the PC and test.

Technical Explanation: Overly restrictive or corrupted Windows Firewall profiles can silently block the specific port ranges or handshake packets required for the complex three-player server negotiation. Verification: The new rules appear in both the Inbound and Outbound lists with a green checkmark. Matchmaking proceeds.

Solution 6: Temporarily Disable IPv6

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Access to network adapter settings. Steps:

Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
Right-click your active network connection and select Properties.
In the list, locate Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
Uncheck the box next to it and click OK.
Restart the PC and test Fortnite matchmaking with the problematic party.

Technical Explanation: Some consumer router firmware handles IPv6 tunneling poorly, which can cause inconsistent routing when multiple clients with dual-stack (IPv4/IPv6) configurations attempt to connect to the same game server. Verification: The party can connect. Re-enable IPv6 after testing if it does not resolve the issue, as it is a standard protocol.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain regular clearing of the game cache following major Fortnite updates. Configure console power settings to perform a full shutdown weekly instead of relying exclusively on rest mode. Schedule router reboots bi-weekly to clear NAT tables. Keep network adapter drivers and console operating systems updated to the latest stable version. Monitor the Fortnite status page (status.epicgames.com) for known service incidents related to party formation. Avoid making changes to party leadership while in a matchmaking queue, as this can corrupt the session state.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all solutions fail and the issue persists for over 48 hours across multiple distinct gaming sessions. Prepare to provide the Epic display names of all affected players, the specific error codes and timestamps, and your platform details. Include the output of your network debug stats from within Fortnite settings. Official support channels are accessible via the Contact Us link at the bottom of the epicgames.com/help website. Do not contact support before performing the power cycle and cache clearance procedures documented in this guide.