The Epic Games Store (EGS) is best known for two things: it's where you launch Fortnite, and it gives away a free PC game every single week. But the launcher also hosts a growing library of exclusive and third-party titles, a Friends system, and an Achievement tracker. This guide walks through downloading the launcher, claiming your free games, managing your library, and fixing the most common problems.
What is the Epic Games Launcher?
The Epic Games Launcher is a desktop client by Epic Games — the developers behind Unreal Engine, Fortnite, and Gears of War. The store launched in late 2018 and has since grown to host thousands of titles. Unlike Steam, EGS has a notably smaller catalog but makes up for it with:
- A free game every Thursday — claimed games are yours forever, no subscription required
- Fortnite — the launcher is required to install and update Fortnite on PC
- Unreal Engine — downloadable directly from the launcher for developers
- Some timed exclusives — titles like Alan Wake 2, The Finals, and others launched on EGS first or exclusively
The launcher is free. Creating an account is free. You pay only for games you buy (or claim the free ones).
System Requirements
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 64-bit or later / macOS 10.14+ |
| CPU | Core i3-4130 or equivalent |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| GPU | DirectX 11 compatible (for games — launcher itself runs on any GPU) |
| Storage | 700 MB for launcher (games add on top) |
| Internet | Broadband required |
How to Download the Epic Games Launcher
Step 1: Go to the official site
Open your browser and navigate to epicgames.com. Click the "Download" or "Get Epic Games" button in the top-right corner.
Always download from epicgames.com — never third-party sites.
Step 2: Run the installer
The file is called EpicInstaller.msi (Windows) or a .dmg (Mac). Run it and follow the prompts. The installer is around 700 MB and completes in 2-5 minutes depending on your connection.
Step 3: Sign in or create an account
Click "Sign In" if you already have an Epic account (Fortnite players do — your Fortnite account is your Epic account). Click "Create Account" if you're new.
You can sign in with:
- Email + password
- Google account
- Apple ID (Mac)
Step 4: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Epic strongly recommends 2FA — and it's required to send/receive gifts and access some free game promotions. Enable it in Account Settings → Password & Security → Two-Factor Authentication. Authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) is more secure than email 2FA.
Navigating the Epic Games Launcher
The launcher's left sidebar has:
- Store — browse games, deals, and the current free game
- Library — all your games, installed and uninstalled
- Friends — manage your friend list and social features
- Discover — curated picks and editorial features
At the top of the Store, you'll see the "Free Games" section prominently. This is where the weekly free game(s) appear — currently one to two games per week.
The Free Game Every Week (the Main Reason Everyone Installs EGS)
Every Thursday at 11 AM Eastern / 4 PM UTC, Epic releases one (sometimes two) free games for a limited time — usually one week. The games are yours permanently after claiming.
How to claim:
- Open the launcher
- Go to Store → scroll to "Free Games"
- Click the game → click the "Get" button (it will say $0.00)
- Complete the checkout — the game is immediately added to your library
Tips for free game hunting:
- You do NOT need to download or install the game — just claiming it adds it to your library permanently
- Epic shows next week's free game right below the current one, so you can plan ahead
- If you miss the window, the game returns to its regular price — you cannot claim it retroactively
- Set a calendar reminder for Thursday afternoons
- You can also visit epicgames.com/free on any device to claim without launching the client
Historical free game quality: Epic has given away dozens of major titles including Control, GTA V, The Witcher 3, Borderlands 3, Death Stranding, Prey, and many others. The weekly free game has genuine value — checking Thursday is a habit worth forming.
Installing and Playing Games
From the Store: Buy or claim a game → it appears in your Library. Click the game → click "Install" → choose your install folder → the launcher downloads and installs automatically.
From the Library: All owned games appear in the Library tab, whether installed or not. Installed games show a "Launch" button; uninstalled games show "Install."
Install folder: By default, Epic installs games to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\. You can change this during installation or manage install paths in Settings → Manage Games.
Multiple drives: Epic lets you install games to any drive. During the install prompt, click the install location dropdown to select a different drive.
Fortnite on PC via Epic
Fortnite is exclusively available through the Epic Games Launcher on PC. If you came here specifically for Fortnite:
- Sign in with your existing Fortnite account (or create a new Epic account)
- Search "Fortnite" in the Store — it's free
- Click "Get" → "Install"
- The Fortnite installer (~26 GB) downloads via the launcher
- Click "Launch" when ready
Account linking: If you play Fortnite on PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, your V-Bucks, skins, and battle pass progress are tied to your Epic account — they carry over to PC automatically. Note: V-Bucks purchased on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch are platform-locked and cannot be used on PC.
Managing Your Library
The Library tab shows all games associated with your account. You can:
- Filter by installed, not installed, or recently played
- Sort by title, genre, or install status
- Add to a Collection (right-click → Add to Collection) for custom categories
Epic's library management is simpler than Steam's — there are no community features like Steam Workshop here, but you can launch games and view playtime.
Friends and Social Features
The Friends tab in the left sidebar lets you:
- Add friends by Epic username or email
- See what your friends are playing in real time
- Send friend requests and manage your list
- Create parties in supported games (Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys)
Some Epic games support cross-play with PlayStation and Xbox players through the same Epic account system.
Epic Games Store vs Steam
| Feature | Epic Games Store | Steam |
|---|---|---|
| Game library | ~2,000 titles | 50,000+ titles |
| Free games | Weekly (permanent) | Seasonal sales only |
| Mods/Workshop | No | Yes (extensive) |
| Family Sharing | No | Yes |
| Linux support | Limited | Yes (via Proton) |
| DRM-free option | No | No |
| Refund policy | 14 days / under 2 hrs | Same |
| Revenue split for devs | 88% to devs | 70-88% to devs |
Bottom line: Most players run both launchers. Steam is better for library breadth, mod access, and Family Sharing. Epic is the destination for free games and Fortnite. They install side by side with no conflicts.
Epic and Other Launchers (No Conflicts)
You can run the Epic Games Launcher alongside Steam, GOG Galaxy, EA App, Ubisoft Connect, and others — no conflicts. Each launcher manages its own games. Some third-party clients like GOG Galaxy 2.0 can aggregate all launchers into a single interface.
Mac Support
The Epic Games Launcher runs on macOS 10.14 (Mojave) and later, including Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4 via Rosetta 2, with native ARM support expanding). Not all games have Mac builds — check the store page for the Apple icon. Fortnite has a native Mac build available through the Epic launcher.
Troubleshooting
Launcher won't open:
- Right-click the Epic Games Launcher shortcut → Run as Administrator
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → End Task on all Epic Games processes → relaunch
- Add the Epic Games folder to your antivirus exclusion list:
C:\Program Files\Epic Games\
Login loop / can't sign in:
- Enable 2FA on your account (required for some features)
- Clear browser cookies if using web-based login
- Try a different sign-in method (Google vs email)
- Disable VPN — Epic's login servers occasionally block known VPN IP ranges
Download stuck or slow: Unlike Steam, Epic doesn't let you manually switch CDN regions. Try:
- Pausing and resuming the download
- Downloading during off-peak hours (late night local time)
- Checking Settings → Downloads → set a manual bandwidth limit, then remove it (sometimes resets the CDN connection)
Game crashes immediately after launch:
- Right-click the game in Library → Manage → Verify
- Epic checks all game files and redownloads anything corrupted
"Prerequisites are installing" stuck: Some games install Visual C++ Redistributables or DirectX components first. If this hangs: cancel, go to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\[GameName]\Engine\Extras\Redist\, and run the installers manually.
Overlay not showing in-game: Enable the Epic overlay: Library → right-click game → Properties → enable "In-Game Overlay." The overlay works in supported games and shows FPS and friends list.
"Sign in required" after claiming free games: The free game system sometimes requires a verified email or phone number on your account. Check Account Settings → Personal Details to confirm your contact info is verified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Epic Games Launcher free? Yes. Downloading and using the launcher is free. You only pay for games you purchase.
Do I keep the free games forever? Yes. Once claimed during the free window, the game is permanently in your library — even if you never download it.
Do I need the Epic launcher to play Fortnite on PC? Yes. The Epic Games Launcher is required to install, update, and launch Fortnite on Windows and Mac.
Can I use one Epic account on multiple PCs? Yes. Log in on any PC and your library syncs. You can play on one device at a time, but your account, purchases, and game saves (where cloud saves are supported) follow you.
Does EGS have a refund policy? Yes — if you've owned the game for less than 14 days AND played fewer than 2 hours total, you can request a refund. Go to epicgames.com/help → submit a refund request. Processing takes a few days.
Can I buy an Epic game as a gift? Yes, with 2FA enabled. Find the game → click the "Buy as Gift" button → select a friend from your list.
Can I link my PlayStation/Xbox/Switch account to EGS? Yes. For supported games (especially Fortnite, Rocket League, Rocket Racing), account linking means your progress and purchases carry across platforms. Go to epicgames.com/account → "Apps and Accounts" to manage platform links.
Join the EmuDesk Discord
Questions about setting up Epic Games, claiming free games, or getting Fortnite running? Join the EmuDesk community at join.emudesk.com — we help with all PC gaming setup questions.