Game Error Fortnite

Emote Animation Glitch - Fortnite Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 25 ⚡ Severity: 🟡 Medium

🎯 Quick Answer

Clear the local game cache by deleting the `%LOCALAPPDATA%\FortniteGame\Saved` directory to resolve persistent animation state errors causing character model bobbing.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The Fortnite emote animation glitch is a client-side rendering error where character models fail to exit an emote animation state correctly. This results in a persistent, looping animation cycle—often a bobbing or twitching motion—applied to the character model during post-match sequences or in the lobby. The error affects all platforms where Fortnite operates, including Windows, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Analysis indicates the error occurs across multiple game client versions, particularly following major content updates (Seasons or Chapters). This is a common but non-critical error, classified as a minor visual annoyance with no impact on game stability, matchmaking, or subsequent gameplay sessions. No specific error codes are generated by the game client for this visual bug; the malfunction is purely graphical.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The primary symptom is a character model locked in a repetitive, unintended animation cycle. This typically manifests as a vertical bobbing or twitching motion of the character model while stationary. The error triggers specifically upon the conclusion of an emote animation sequence, most frequently observed in the post-victory screen or in the pre-lobby environment. The game client continues to render the character model and environment normally, but the animation subsystem applies an incorrect transform to the model's root bone or physics skeleton. Network connectivity and game logic remain fully operational during this display error.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: Corrupted or stuck animation state data in the local client cache. The game fails to clear the AnimBlueprint state graph after an emote concludes, causing the last received transform data to loop. Why this causes the problem: The local cache retains invalid animation transition logic, which the Unreal Engine animation system continues to process each frame. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Mismatch between the local game configuration files and the current game server session data regarding character cosmetics and emotes. Why this causes the problem: Desynchronization between client-side cosmetic loadouts and server-verified states can cause the animation controller to default to a fallback looping behavior. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated or incompatible graphics driver failing to properly render certain skeletal mesh transformations and animation blend spaces in real-time. Why this causes the problem: The driver's handling of GPU-accelerated animation interpolation produces visual artifacts when switching animation sequences. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: High latency or packet loss at the precise moment the game client signals the end of an emote animation to the server. Why this causes the problem: The server's confirmation to terminate the animation state is not received, leaving the client in a perpetual local animation loop. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A memory leak or buffer overflow within the game's animation subsystem related to specific, complex emote cosmetics. Why this causes the problem: The system exhausts or corrupts the memory allocation for managing active animation instances, leading to undefined playback behavior. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: Slow read speeds from a failing or heavily fragmented storage drive (HDD or SSD) causing delays in loading animation assets. Why this causes the problem: The game engine cannot stream the necessary animation data to transition out of the emote state smoothly, resulting in a stuck animation.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Clear Fortnite Local Cache and Configuration

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Game client must be fully closed. Steps:

Completely exit the Fortnite game client and the Epic Games Launcher. Verify closure via Task Manager (End Task for FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe and EpicGamesLauncher.exe).
Press Windows Key + R, type %LOCALAPPDATA%, and press Enter. This opens C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local.
Navigate to the FortniteGame folder, then the Saved subfolder.
Delete the following folders: Config, Crashes, Logs, and LocalCosmetics.sav. Do not delete the Downloaded folder.
Restart the Epic Games Launcher and launch Fortnite. The client will regenerate clean configuration files.

Technical Explanation: This procedure removes corrupted local configuration and cached animation state data that the game engine references incorrectly, forcing a fresh synchronization with Epic servers. Verification: Launch a creative island, perform several emotes, and observe if the character model returns to a standard idle pose without persistent bobbing after each emote concludes.

Solution 2: Verify Game File Integrity via Epic Games Launcher

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10-20 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Active internet connection for file re-download. Steps:

Open the Epic Games Launcher and navigate to your Library.
Locate Fortnite and click the three dots (...) below the game title.
Select Manage from the dropdown menu.
Click the Verify button. The launcher will scan all game files against the official manifest.
Allow the process to complete. Any missing or corrupted files, including animation assets (*.ucas, *.utoc), will be re-downloaded.
Launch the game after verification reaches 100%.

Technical Explanation: The verification tool compares local file checksums with the official server manifest, replacing any damaged or altered game asset files that may contain faulty animation logic. Verification: The Epic Games Launcher will display a "Verified successfully" message. Test emotes in-game to confirm the animation cycle terminates correctly.

Solution 3: Update Graphics Drivers to Certified Version

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator privileges for driver installation. Steps:

Identify your GPU model via Device Manager (Open Run, type devmgmt.msc, expand Display adapters).
For NVIDIA GPUs: Visit NVIDIA's driver site, use the GeForce Experience app, or manually download Studio Driver version 536.40 or later (preferred for stability).
For AMD GPUs: Visit AMD's driver site and download the latest WHQL-certified Adrenalin Edition driver.
Before installation, select Custom Install and check Perform a clean installation. This removes previous driver settings.
Restart the system after installation completes.

Technical Explanation: A clean driver install ensures proper support for DirectX 12 features and GPU-accelerated animation blending used by Fortnite's Unreal Engine, eliminating rendering artifacts from driver-level misinterpretations. Verification: Check driver version in GPU control panel. In-game, monitor animation fluidity; the bobbing glitch should not recur after consecutive emote usage.

Solution 4: Disable Background Applications and Overlays

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: Low-Medium Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Close the Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite completely.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Under the Processes tab, end tasks for any non-essential applications, particularly: Discord (if overlay is active), MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner, Xbox Game Bar, Steam, and any screen recording software.
Relaunch Fortnite directly from the Epic Games Launcher executable, not from a shortcut that may launch other apps.
Ensure in-game, the Fortnite settings under Game UI have Hide Other Player Names and competitive settings enabled to reduce on-screen elements.

Technical Explanation: Third-party overlays and performance monitors can inject code into the game's rendering pipeline, causing timing conflicts with animation frame presentation and state updates. Verification: With all non-essential processes closed, the error's frequency decreases or is eliminated, confirming a software conflict.

Solution 5: Perform a Clean Network Stack Reset

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Administrator command prompt access. Steps:

Press Windows Key, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
Execute the following commands in sequence, pressing Enter after each:

netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns

Restart the computer after executing all commands.
Upon reboot, ensure your network connection is active and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This resets the Windows network socket and TCP/IP stack, clearing any corrupted state that could interfere with the low-latency UDP communication required for precise animation state synchronization between client and server. Verification: Network-dependent animation state transitions occur without lag. Use an emote and observe if the server's command to stop the animation is received and executed instantly.

Solution 6: Adjust Fortnite Graphics and Performance Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: None. Steps:

From the Fortnite lobby, open the main menu (three lines icon) and select the gear icon for Settings.
Navigate to the Video Settings tab.
Set Rendering Mode to DirectX 11 (if currently on DirectX 12 or Performance).
Apply the following changes: Set View Distance to Medium, Textures to Medium, and Effects to Medium.
Disable VSync and set Frame Rate Limit to Unlimited or match your monitor's refresh rate.
Apply settings and restart the game when prompted.

Technical Explanation: Switching to the more stable DirectX 11 renderer reduces animation subsystem complexity. Lowering specific settings decreases the load on the CPU and GPU, allowing the animation thread to update states more consistently without frame pacing issues. Verification: The game runs stably with consistent frame times. Emote animations complete their full cycle and transition cleanly back to idle without visual hiccups or persistent loops.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Prevent recurrence by maintaining a regular schedule for updating graphics drivers to WHQL-certified versions only. Configure the Epic Games Launcher to verify game files automatically after major updates. Avoid modifying game files in the FortniteGame\Content\Paks directory. Maintain at least 15% free space on the installation drive to prevent asset streaming errors. Periodically clear the %LOCALAPPDATA%\FortniteGame\Saved\Cosmetics folder. Monitor system temperatures to prevent thermal throttling during gameplay, which can disrupt animation timing.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support only if all documented solutions fail and the glitch persists across multiple game sessions and a full game reinstall. Prior to contact, gather the following diagnostic data: DxDiag report, Epic Games Launcher logs from %PROGRAMDATA%\Epic\EpicGamesLauncher\Data\Logs, and Fortnite game logs from %LOCALAPPDATA%\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs. Provide your platform, ISP details, and a video capture of the glitch. Official support channels are accessible via the Epic Games Help site.