Download Fortnite on a Windows PC or laptop by installing the free Epic Games Launcher from Epic's own site, signing in with an Epic Games account, and selecting Install on Fortnite in the launcher.
This guide covers each step from the launcher download to the first match, plus updates, moving the game to another drive, removing it, and fixing downloads that stall.
The fastest way to download Fortnite on PC
Fortnite for Windows comes only from Epic Games. There is no separate standalone installer to hunt for on other sites.
- Open fortnite.com or the Epic Games Launcher download page in your browser.
- Download the Epic Games Launcher installer and run it.
- Open the launcher and sign in to your Epic Games account, or create one.
- Search the Store for Fortnite and select Get to add it to your library.
- Select Install, confirm the install folder, and wait for the download to finish.
- Select Launch to start Fortnite.
What you need before installing Fortnite
Epic publishes the current minimum and recommended specs on its help centre, and it revises them as the game changes. Compare your PC against that list rather than a figure copied onto a third-party page.
| Requirement | Why it matters | How to check on your PC |
|---|---|---|
| A Windows PC or laptop | The Epic Games Launcher install of Fortnite is a Windows game | Select Start > Settings > System > About and read Device specifications |
| Processor, RAM and 64-bit Windows | Epic's PC requirements list a CPU class, a memory amount and the Windows version | The same About page shows processor type, installed RAM and whether Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit |
| A supported graphics card | The graphics card decides which settings run smoothly | Select System > Display > Advanced display > Display adapter properties to see the adapter name and dedicated video memory |
| Free storage | Fortnite is a large download and its updates need extra room | Select Start > Settings > System > Storage |
| An Epic Games account | The launcher will not install or run Fortnite without one | Create one free during Step 3 |
| A stable internet connection | Fortnite is online-only, and the first download is large | Prefer a wired or strong Wi-Fi connection for the first install |
| Permission to install software | Work and school PCs often block installs | See the shared-laptop section below |
The official requirement list sits in the Epic Games help centre. If your hardware falls short, skip to the section on what to do when your PC cannot run Fortnite.
Step 1: Download the Epic Games Launcher
Only download the launcher from an Epic-owned address. A search ad or a "Fortnite download" portal can hand you a renamed installer bundled with adware.
- Type
fortnite.comorstore.epicgames.comdirectly into your browser's address bar. - Select the download button for the Epic Games Launcher on Windows.
- Save the installer to your Downloads folder.
- Check the address bar again before you run the file: it must end in epicgames.com or fortnite.com.
The Epic Games Store is also listed in the Microsoft Store, which is a safe alternative source if your browser downloads are blocked.
Step 2: Install the Epic Games Launcher
- Open your Downloads folder and double-click the Epic Games Launcher installer.
- Select Yes when User Account Control asks whether to allow the app to make changes.
- Keep the default install folder unless your system drive is nearly full.
- Select Install and wait while the installer copies files.
- Let the launcher open and update itself the first time it starts.
If User Account Control asks for an administrator password you do not have, the PC is managed by someone else. Ask that person, and do not try to work around the prompt.
Step 3: Sign in or create an Epic Games account
If you already play Fortnite on a console or phone, sign in with that same Epic account. Your cosmetics, V-Bucks and progress follow the account, not the device.
- Select Sign In on the launcher's first screen.
- Existing players: sign in with the email or the linked console or platform account you already use for Fortnite.
- New players: select the option to sign up, enter your country, name, email and date of birth, and set a password.
- Open the verification email Epic sends and confirm your address.
- After you are in, open your Epic account settings on epicgames.com and turn on two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication blocks the most common Fortnite account theft, where a leaked password from another site is reused.
Step 4: Find Fortnite in the Epic Games Launcher
- Select Store in the left panel of the launcher.
- Type Fortnite into the search box at the top.
- Open the Fortnite page published by Epic Games.
- Select Get, then complete the free checkout to add the game to your account.
- Select Library in the left panel to see Fortnite in your games list.
Fortnite costs nothing to add. The only purchases are optional in-game items, so any page asking for payment to "unlock" the download is not Epic's.
Step 5: Choose install options
The install dialog lets you choose where the game lives. Pick the fastest drive with enough free space, because that folder also receives every future update.
- In Library, select the Fortnite tile, then select Install.
- Select Browse to choose the install folder, for example a folder on a second SSD.
- Review any optional content the dialog offers and clear the items you do not need.
- Leave automatic updates on so the game is ready to launch after each new patch.
- Select Install to confirm.
Step 6: Download and install Fortnite
The launcher downloads and installs in one pass. How long it takes depends almost entirely on your connection speed and the drive you picked.
- Watch progress under Downloads in the launcher, which shows speed and time remaining.
- Use the pause control there if you need the bandwidth for something else, and resume it later.
- Keep the PC awake and plugged in: a laptop that sleeps will stop the download.
- Wait until the Fortnite tile in Library shows Launch instead of a progress bar.
A pause does not lose progress, and the download continues from where it stopped. If the speed is far below your usual internet speed, see the troubleshooting section below.
Step 7: Launch Fortnite for the first time
- Select Launch on the Fortnite tile in Library.
- Wait while Fortnite finishes its first-run setup, which can take several minutes.
- Allow Fortnite through Windows Firewall if Windows asks, so matches can connect.
- Accept the end user license agreement and choose your display name if this is a new account.
- Pick a mode from the lobby, then open Settings in the game menu before your first match.
Step 8: Adjust graphics settings for your PC or laptop
Fortnite picks starting settings automatically. On a laptop with two graphics chips, also tell Windows to run it on the faster one, or the game may start on the power-saving integrated GPU.
- In Fortnite, open the menu and select Settings, then the display and graphics tab.
- Set the display mode to fullscreen and the resolution to your screen's native resolution.
- Low-end laptop: lower the quality preset, turn off shadows and anti-aliasing, and cap the frame rate at what the laptop holds steadily.
- Gaming PC: raise the quality preset and set the frame rate limit to your monitor's refresh rate.
- In Windows, select Start > Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Under Custom options for apps, select Fortnite, then select Options.
- Under Graphics preference, choose High performance, save, and restart Fortnite.
Plug a laptop into power while you play. Many laptops lower GPU performance on battery regardless of the game setting.
How to check Fortnite installed correctly
- Open Library in the Epic Games Launcher and confirm the Fortnite tile shows Launch, not Install or Resume.
- Select the three-dot menu on the tile, choose Manage, and run Verify to check the files against Epic's copy.
- Launch Fortnite and confirm you reach the lobby with your display name at the top.
- Start a short match and check that sound plays and the frame rate stays smooth.
How to install Fortnite on a school, work, or shared laptop
A managed laptop belongs to the organisation that set it up. Its rules decide whether games can be installed, and bypassing them can break an acceptable-use policy.
| Your situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shared family PC, you have an admin account | Install normally and use your own Epic account | Each player keeps separate progress and purchases |
| Shared family PC, you use a standard account | Ask the admin to approve the install prompt | Installing the launcher needs administrator approval |
| School-issued laptop | Ask the school IT team; if the answer is no, play on a personal device | School devices are usually locked to approved apps |
| Work laptop | Do not install it; use a personal device | Company policy and monitoring apply to everything installed |
| Installs blocked but the browser is allowed | Ask before using cloud play such as Xbox Cloud Gaming | Cloud play installs nothing, but network rules still apply |
Always sign out of the launcher on a shared PC when you finish. Anyone who opens a signed-in launcher can reach your account.
Can you install Fortnite on Mac?
| Option on a Mac | Does it work? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Download Fortnite from the Epic Games Launcher for Mac | Not as a native installed game | The launcher install covered in this guide is the Windows version |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming in a browser | Yes, as a stream | Fortnite is listed on xbox.com/play; sign in with a Microsoft account |
| NVIDIA GeForce NOW | Yes, as a stream | GeForce NOW can connect an Epic Games Store library and stream it |
| Downloaded "Fortnite for Mac" files from other sites | No | Treat these as malware |
What if your PC cannot run Fortnite?
| Option | What it needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lower in-game settings | Nothing extra | PCs just under the recommended specs |
| Update the graphics driver from your PC maker or GPU maker | A few minutes | Stutter or crashes on otherwise capable hardware |
| Free drive space | Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations | Downloads that stop for lack of room |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | A browser, a Microsoft account and fast internet | Old laptops and Macs |
| NVIDIA GeForce NOW | The GeForce NOW app or browser, and your Epic account connected | Laptops without a dedicated GPU |
| Upgrade RAM or add an SSD | A desktop or a laptop with upgradeable parts | PCs short on memory or storage speed |
Cloud play streams the game from a server, so your own graphics card matters far less than your connection.
How to update Fortnite on PC
Fortnite will not let you join matches on an old version, so updates are not optional.
- Open the Epic Games Launcher and sign in.
- Select Library and find the Fortnite tile.
- If an update is waiting, select Update or let it start on its own.
- To make it automatic, open the three-dot menu on the tile, select Manage, and turn on auto-update.
- Launch Fortnite once the tile shows Launch again.
How to move Fortnite to another drive
The simplest reliable route is to reinstall on the new drive. It downloads the game again, but it cannot leave the launcher pointing at a broken folder.
- In Library, open the three-dot menu on Fortnite and select Uninstall.
- Confirm the removal and wait for it to finish.
- Select the Fortnite tile again and select Install.
- Select Browse and choose a folder on the new drive.
- Select Install and wait for the download to finish.
- Launch the game once to confirm it works from the new location.
Your progress and items are stored on your Epic account, so reinstalling does not reset anything.
Common Fortnite installation problems and fixes
Fortnite is not downloading on my PC
Usually too little free space, a stuck launcher, or a network that blocks the download.
- Check free space under Start > Settings > System > Storage, and clean up system files with Cleanup recommendations if the drive is nearly full.
- Fully close the Epic Games Launcher from the notification area, then open it again.
- Restart the PC and your router.
- Try another network, such as a phone hotspot, to rule out a school or office firewall.
- Install to another drive with more space if the first one keeps filling.
The download speed is slow
Other downloads, streaming, or a weak Wi-Fi signal are sharing the connection.
- Pause other downloads, cloud sync and video streaming on the same network.
- Move closer to the router or connect with an Ethernet cable.
- Pause the Fortnite download in the launcher, wait a minute, and resume it.
- Check that no download speed limit is set in the launcher's Settings.
Fortnite downloaded but says Install
The launcher lost track of the game folder, often after a drive letter changed or a folder was moved.
- Reconnect the drive that holds the game if it is external.
- Open the three-dot menu on the Fortnite tile, select Manage, and run Verify.
- If the tile still shows Install, reinstall to the same or a new folder as described in the drive section above.
Crashes, no sound, or screen glitches
Outdated graphics or audio drivers, or damaged game files.
- Run Verify from the Fortnite tile's Manage menu.
- Update your graphics driver from your PC maker's or graphics card maker's support site.
- Install pending updates under Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Check that the correct speakers or headset are the default output in Windows sound settings.
- Lower the in-game quality preset and restart the game.
How to uninstall Fortnite from PC
Uninstalling removes the game files only. Your Epic account, purchases and progress stay on Epic's servers.
- Open the Epic Games Launcher and select Library.
- Select the three-dot menu on the Fortnite tile.
- Select Uninstall and confirm.
- To remove the launcher too, select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Epic Games Launcher, select More > Uninstall, and follow the prompts.
If the launcher is missing from Installed apps, open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, right-click it and select Uninstall.
Avoid fake Fortnite downloads and free V-Bucks offers
Get Fortnite only through the Epic Games Launcher from epicgames.com, fortnite.com or the Microsoft Store, and ignore every "free V-Bucks" generator, modded client or "Fortnite PC download" mirror. Fortnite is free from Epic, so a third-party download has no reason to exist except to deliver adware or steal your account. V-Bucks generators ask for your Epic sign-in and hand it to whoever runs the site.
If you already ran a file from an unofficial site, run a full scan in Windows Security or with a second-opinion scanner such as Malwarebytes, then change your Epic password and turn on two-factor authentication.
The same rule applies to other free games aimed at younger players, such as Roblox for PC: install only from the publisher.
Fortnite PC download: frequently asked questions
How do I install Fortnite on PC?
Install the free Epic Games Launcher from epicgames.com or fortnite.com, sign in with an Epic Games account, add Fortnite from the Store, and select Install in your Library. The launcher downloads the game and adds a Launch button when it is ready.
Where do I download Fortnite on PC?
Download it from Epic Games only, through the Epic Games Launcher at store.epicgames.com or fortnite.com. The Epic Games Store is also listed in the Microsoft Store. Any other site offering a Fortnite PC download should be treated as unsafe.
Can I download Fortnite on this computer?
You can if it runs Windows, meets Epic's requirements, and lets you install software. Compare Settings > System > About against the requirements in Epic's help centre. If it falls short, cloud play through Xbox Cloud Gaming runs in a browser instead.
Why isn't Fortnite downloading on my PC?
The usual causes are a full drive, a launcher that needs restarting, or a network that blocks large downloads. Free up space in Settings > System > Storage, restart the launcher and the router, and try another network to rule out a firewall.
Where should I install Fortnite on my PC?
Install it on the fastest drive with plenty of free space, ideally an SSD. Choose the folder with Browse in the install dialog. Leave headroom, because every update downloads into the same folder and needs extra room while it applies.
Is Fortnite free to download on PC?
Yes. Adding Fortnite from the Epic Games Store costs nothing, and the Epic Games Launcher is free. The only purchases are optional in-game items such as V-Bucks and passes. A site that charges for the download is not Epic's.
How do I download Fortnite on Windows 11 or Windows 10?
The process is the same on both: install the Epic Games Launcher, sign in, add Fortnite, and select Install. On a laptop with two graphics chips, set Fortnite to High performance under Settings > System > Display > Graphics afterwards.
Do I need an Epic Games account to play Fortnite on PC?
Yes. The launcher needs an Epic Games account to install and run Fortnite. If you already play on a console or phone, sign in with the same account so your items and progress carry over to the PC.
Can I pause the Fortnite download?
Yes. Pause it from the Downloads view in the Epic Games Launcher and resume it later without losing progress. Keep the PC awake while it runs, because a sleeping laptop also stops the download.
