Crash/Freeze Fortnite

Fortnite Post-Update UI Selection Freeze - PC Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 11 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Clear the game's local data cache and verify game files through the Epic Games Launcher to resolve the UI selection freeze introduced by the latest patch.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The Fortnite UI selection freeze is a post-update performance regression affecting the Windows PC platform. This error manifests as a temporary application hang during user interface interaction. The issue occurs specifically after applying game client patch versions following the v29.00 update cycle. The frequency is classified as common among the affected user base, with multiple independent reports confirming identical symptomology post-update. The severity impact is a major gameplay disruption, causing consistent input lag during critical menu navigation and item selection. The error does not generate a formal error code but presents as an unresponsive application state. The root cause is a software conflict between the updated game binaries and cached local configuration or asset data.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application experiences a temporary freeze state lasting 2-5 seconds upon selecting any UI element. This occurs during gameplay menu navigation, locker item selection, or Battle Pass tier redemption. The game process remains active but does not process input or render new frames. The freeze resolves automatically after the delay, and the selected action completes. The issue is reproducible with 100% consistency when interacting with clickable interface elements. No crash dump files or error messages are generated. The game's audio may continue or may stutter during the freeze period depending on system configuration.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Game Bug / Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Corrupted or outdated local game cache files conflicting with new game binaries from the patch. The FortniteGame\Saved directory contains configuration files that become invalid after a major engine update. Why this causes the problem: The game attempts to read incompatible cached data when loading UI elements, causing the main thread to block while handling the exception. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated or corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages. Fortnite requires specific versions (2015-2022) for its UI framework. Why this causes the problem: The UI library fails to execute a function call, introducing a blocking delay while the system attempts to recover. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Incompatible or outdated GPU driver, specifically NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Driver versions 551.x or AMD Adrenalin Edition versions 23.x. Why this causes the problem: The driver's shader cache management conflicts with the game's new UI rendering pipeline, causing pipeline stalls. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect or corrupted GameUserSettings.ini file containing display and UI scaling parameters from a previous version. Why this causes the problem: The game engine recalculates rendering scales on-the-fly when it encounters invalid parameters, freezing input processing. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A known issue with the updated emote wheel code introduced in the v29.xx patch, where lazy loading of assets blocks the main thread. Why this causes the problem: Selecting any UI element triggers the same asset pre-loading routine, causing a universal delay. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: Insufficient free space on the system drive (less than 20 GB) where Fortnite stores temporary files. Why this causes the problem: The game cannot write necessary temporary UI asset files, causing synchronous write attempts that block the thread. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Overly aggressive real-time scanning by antivirus software (particularly Windows Defender Controlled Folder Access) targeting the FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe process. Why this causes the problem: Each file access request for UI assets triggers a security scan, introducing sequential delays.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Clear Game Cache and Verify Files

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10-15 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Epic Games Launcher installed, active internet connection. Steps:

Completely exit the Fortnite client.
Launch the Epic Games Launcher.
Navigate to your Library and locate Fortnite.
Click the three dots (...) under the Fortnite tile and select Manage.
In the Manage menu, click the Verify button. This process scans and repairs game files.
While verification runs, navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\FortniteGame\Saved.
Delete the entire Saved folder. The launcher will recreate clean versions.
Restart the Epic Games Launcher and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This removes corrupted local configuration and cached web data that conflicts with the new patch, while file verification ensures all game binaries are intact and match the server version. Verification: Navigate to the Locker and select different cosmetic items. The selection should register immediately without any application hang.

Solution 2: Update Graphics Drivers

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access, internet connection. Steps:

Identify your GPU model via Device Manager (Open Run dialog with Win+R, type devmgmt.msc, expand Display adapters).
For NVIDIA GPUs: Visit NVIDIA's driver site, download the latest Game Ready Driver (version 552.12 or newer). During installation, select Custom Installation and check Perform a clean installation.
For AMD GPUs: Visit AMD's driver site, download the latest Adrenalin Edition (version 24.x or newer). Use the factory reset option during installation.
For Intel Arc GPUs: Download the latest driver from Intel's website.
After installation, restart your system.

Technical Explanation: A clean driver install replaces the shader cache and driver components that interface with DirectX 12, eliminating rendering pipeline conflicts that cause UI thread blocks. Verification: Check driver version in NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Adrenalin Software, or Intel Arc Control. Launch Fortnite and test UI selection responsiveness.

Solution 3: Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access. Steps:

Open the Windows Control Panel and navigate to Programs and Features.
In the list, uninstall all instances of Microsoft Visual C++ 20xx Redistributable.
Download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable package from the official Microsoft website. Ensure you get both the x64 and x86 versions of the 2015-2022 package.
Install the x64 version first, then the x86 version. Restart your computer.
Open an Administrator Command Prompt (Win+X -> Terminal (Admin)) and execute the command: sfc /scannow. This scans for corrupted system files.

Technical Explanation: Fortnite's UI framework depends on specific C++ runtime libraries. A clean install ensures all required DLLs are present and correctly registered in the system. Verification: The sfc /scannow command will output "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations" if successful. Test Fortnite.

Solution 4: Modify GameUserSettings.ini

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Fortnite must not be running. Steps:

Navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\FortniteGame\Saved\Config\WindowsClient.
Locate the file GameUserSettings.ini and create a backup copy on your desktop.
Open the original file with Notepad.
Find the lines [ScalabilityGroups] and [/Script/FortniteGame.FortGameUserSettings].
Change the following values under [/Script/FortniteGame.FortGameUserSettings]:

- Set bUseDynamicResolution=False - Set ResolutionSizeX=1920 - Set ResolutionSizeY=1080 (or your native resolution) - Set LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeX=1920 - Set LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeY=1080

Save and close the file. Right-click the file, select Properties, and check Read-only to prevent the game from overwriting it temporarily.
Launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This forces the game to use a fixed resolution and disables dynamic resolution scaling, which can cause calculation delays that block the UI thread after a patch. Verification: The game launches at your specified resolution. Test UI selection. If fixed, you can remove the Read-only attribute.

Solution 5: Disable Fullscreen Optimizations & Run as Administrator

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Navigate to your Fortnite installation directory: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64.
Locate FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe.
Right-click the file and select Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
Check the boxes for Disable fullscreen optimizations and Run this program as an administrator.
Click Apply and OK.

Technical Explanation: This gives the game process higher priority and bypasses Windows 10/11's fullscreen composition layer, which can introduce input lag during UI rendering. Verification: Launch the game from this executable. You will see a User Account Control prompt. UI selection should be more responsive.

Solution 6: Add Fortnite Antivirus Exclusions

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 7 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access. Steps:

Open Windows Security by searching for it in the Start Menu.
Go to Virus & threat protection.
Click Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.
Scroll down and click Add or remove exclusions.
Click Add an exclusion and select Folder.
Add the following folders:

- C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite - C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\FortniteGame

Also add an exclusion for the process: Click Add an exclusion -> Process, and enter FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe.

Technical Explanation: Prevents real-time security software from scanning game files during access, eliminating the micro-delays that compound into a noticeable freeze. Verification: Windows Security will list the exclusions. Monitor Fortnite's behavior; the freeze duration should decrease or disappear.

Solution 7: Perform a Clean Boot

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Administrator access. Steps:

Press Win+R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
Check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
In Task Manager, disable every startup item.
Close Task Manager, click OK in System Configuration, and restart your PC.
After booting, launch only the Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite to test.
If the issue is resolved, re-enable services and startup items in groups to identify the conflicting software.

Technical Explanation: Eliminates all third-party software conflicts, isolating the issue to the game or core Windows services. This is a diagnostic step that can also serve as a fix. Verification: If UI selection works normally in a clean boot state, a background process is causing the conflict.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a minimum of 50 GB free space on your system drive to accommodate game updates and temporary files. Configure Windows Update and the Epic Games Launcher to install updates automatically during off-hours to prevent patch conflicts. After every major Fortnite update, perform a routine verification of game files through the Epic Games Launcher before the first launch. Create a monthly schedule to update your graphics driver to the latest stable version, using clean installation options. Monitor the FortniteGame\Saved\Logs directory for warning messages in FortniteGame.log after updates to catch configuration errors early.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all solutions fail and the issue persists across multiple system restarts and game patches. Provide the diagnostic information from the game's log files located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs. Include a DxDiag report (run dxdiag and save all information) and your Epic account ID. Official support channels are accessible via the Epic Games Help Center website. Escalation is necessary only if the error correlates with specific in-game actions that generate error codes in the log files.