Crash/Freeze Fortnite

Fortnite Stuck on Loading Screen - Windows 11 Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 1 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

The primary fix is to perform a clean boot to disable conflicting software, then verify and repair the Easy Anti-Cheat service installation, which is likely failing to initialize.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The "stuck on loading screen" error is a startup failure condition where the Fortnite client process initializes but halts during the pre-game loading sequence. This error primarily affects the Windows 11 platform when launching via the Epic Games Launcher. The issue occurs across recent game versions following engine updates. This is a common error classification with a high severity impact, as it completely prevents game execution. The observable behavior includes a rapid progression of loading percentage (e.g., 0% to 8-15%) followed by an indefinite freeze. The Epic Games Launcher may subsequently display a perpetual "Launching" state even after terminating the frozen game process via Task Manager. A key diagnostic indicator is the absence of the Easy Anti-Cheat service (EasyAntiCheat) in the Windows Services list, confirmed by the Get-Service easyanticheat PowerShell command returning no result.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application launches from the Epic Games Launcher and displays the Fortnite loading screen. The loading percentage counter increments rapidly from 0% to a specific value, typically between 8% and 15%, then becomes unresponsive. The process does not recover and requires manual termination via Windows Task Manager. After terminating the FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe process, the Epic Games Launcher interface continues to display a grayed-out "Launching" button state. The game process may remain visible in Task Manager's "Background processes" list after termination attempts. Concurrently, the Easy Anti-Cheat service fails to appear in the system services, indicating a failure in the anti-cheat module initialization sequence.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Third-party application services, particularly those with kernel-level drivers or overlay hooks, interfere with the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) driver initialization. Common conflict sources include RGB control software (Corsair iCUE, NZXT CAM), peripheral utilities (Logitech G HUB, Razer Synapse), VPN clients, and screen recording tools. Why this causes the problem: These applications attempt to inject code or monitor system memory during game startup, which the EAC service interprets as a potential security violation, causing the anti-cheat handshake to fail and the game launch to halt. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: The Easy Anti-Cheat service installation is corrupted or missing registry entries, preventing the EasyAntiCheat service from registering correctly with the Windows Service Control Manager. Why this causes the problem: Fortnite requires the EAC service to be in a "Running" state before the game client can proceed past the initial loading screen. A missing service causes an indefinite wait condition. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A mismatch exists between the game files verified by the Epic Games Launcher and the actual files required by the Easy Anti-Cheat bootstrapper, often within the FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\ directory. Why this causes the problem: The EAC module fails to validate the game executable's integrity, triggering a silent failure that manifests as a loading screen freeze. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Windows Defender Firewall or a third-party security suite creates an outbound rule that blocks the Easy Anti-Cheat service's attempt to phone home for certificate validation during launch. Why this causes the problem: The anti-cheat system requires a successful initial handshake with its authentication servers. A blocked connection results in a timeout that freezes the loading process. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: Overclocking profiles applied to the CPU or RAM, particularly via XMP/DOCP, introduce system instability that corrupts the memory space where the anti-cheat driver loads. Why this causes the problem: Easy Anti-Cheat operates at a low system level. Memory errors during its sensitive loading phase cause silent crashes that appear as a frozen application. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Remnants of other anti-cheat software, specifically Riot Vanguard from Valorant, persist despite uninstallation, leaving driver-level components that conflict with Easy Anti-Cheat. Why this causes the problem: Multiple kernel-level anti-cheat drivers cannot operate concurrently. A dormant Vanguard driver can prevent the EAC driver from loading correctly.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Perform a Clean Boot and Repair Easy Anti-Cheat

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

Press Windows Key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter to open System Configuration.
Navigate to the Services tab. Check the box labeled Hide all Microsoft services. Click Disable all.
Navigate to the Startup tab. Click Open Task Manager. In Task Manager, disable every startup item.
Close Task Manager, click OK in System Configuration, and restart the computer when prompted.
After reboot, navigate to the Fortnite Easy Anti-Cheat directory: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\EasyAntiCheat.
Right-click the EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe file and select Run as administrator.
In the setup window, ensure "Fortnite" is selected in the dropdown menu. Click the Repair Service button.
Launch Fortnite from the Epic Games Launcher to test.

Technical Explanation: A clean boot eliminates software conflicts by disabling all non-Microsoft services and startup programs. Running the EAC repair utility with administrative privileges reinstalls or corrects the service registration in the Windows registry, ensuring the EasyAntiCheat service appears and starts correctly. Verification: Open PowerShell as Administrator and execute Get-Service EasyAntiCheat. The command should return a service with a Status of "Running". The Fortnite loading screen should progress past 15% and complete.

Solution 2: Manually Reinstall the Easy Anti-Cheat Service

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Administrator access required. Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Execute the command to unregister the existing service: sc delete EasyAntiCheat.
Navigate to the EAC directory in File Explorer: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\EasyAntiCheat.
Delete the entire EasyAntiCheat folder.
In the Epic Games Launcher, click the three dots under Fortnite and select Manage.
Click the Verify button. This will download a fresh EAC installation.
After verification, navigate back to the EAC directory. Run EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe as Administrator.
Select "Fortnite" and click Install.

Technical Explanation: The sc delete command forcibly removes the broken service entry from the Windows Service Control Manager. A fresh install from verified game files ensures all necessary driver files and registry keys are correctly placed, establishing a clean communication channel between the game and the anti-cheat module. Verification: Check Windows Services (services.msc) for the "Easy Anti-Cheat" service. Its Startup Type should be "Manual (Trigger Start)" and it should start automatically when launching Fortnite.

Solution 3: Configure Windows Defender Firewall for Easy Anti-Cheat

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Press Windows Key + S and search for "Windows Security". Open the application.
Click Firewall & network protection, then select Allow an app through firewall.
Click Change settings (requires admin privileges). Click Allow another app....
Click Browse and navigate to: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\EasyAntiCheat\EasyAntiCheat.exe. Click Add.
Ensure both Private and Public checkboxes are selected for the new entry in the list.
Repeat steps 3-5 to also add FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe located in C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64.

Technical Explanation: This creates explicit outbound and inbound rules for the anti-cheat and game executables, preventing the firewall from silently blocking the certificate validation network packets that Easy Anti-Cheat sends upon initialization. Verification: Launch Fortnite while monitoring the Windows Security notification area. No new firewall block alerts should appear for Epic Games or Easy Anti-Cheat.

Solution 4: Disable Fullscreen Optimizations and Run as Administrator

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

Navigate to the main Fortnite executable: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe.
Right-click the file and select Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab. Check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
Click Change high DPI settings. At the bottom of the new window, check Override high DPI scaling behavior. Set the dropdown to Application.
In the main Compatibility tab, also check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
Click Apply, then OK.

Technical Explanation: Running as administrator ensures the game has sufficient privileges to interact with the Easy Anti-Cheat driver. Disabling fullscreen optimizations bypasses the Windows 11 graphics layer that can sometimes interfere with the game's rendering initialization, which is tied to the loading sequence. Verification: A User Account Control prompt will appear when launching the game. The game window should initialize with a different rendering path.

Solution 5: Perform a Deep Clean Reinstall of Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 30 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Stable internet connection for re-download. Steps:

Uninstall Fortnite via Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Uninstall the Epic Games Launcher via the same method.
Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter. Delete the EpicGamesLauncher folder.
Go back and type %programdata%, press Enter. Delete the Epic Games folder.
Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\. Delete any remaining Epic Games folder.
Restart the computer.
Download the latest Epic Games Launcher installer from the official website. Install it.
Install Fortnite to a different directory if possible, such as C:\Games\Epic Games\Fortnite\.

Technical Explanation: This removes all configuration files, cached data, and potentially corrupted registry entries associated with the previous installations. A clean directory path eliminates permission conflicts that can occur in C:\Program Files\. Verification: A first-time setup will occur for both the launcher and the game. The EAC service will install from a completely fresh state during the first Fortnite launch.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a stable system configuration by updating graphics drivers directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, avoiding beta releases. Schedule a monthly verification of Fortnite files via the Epic Games Launcher's Verify function. Before installing new system-level software (e.g., VPNs, hardware monitoring tools), create a system restore point. Monitor the Windows Event Viewer for service start errors related to "EasyAntiCheat" following game or Windows updates. Configure Windows to download and install updates automatically, but defer major feature updates for 30 days to ensure game compatibility.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all solutions fail and the EasyAntiCheat service remains absent after a clean boot and manual reinstall. Escalation is required when the system log (Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System) shows a critical error from "Service Control Manager" with Event ID 7023 or 7000 for the EasyAntiCheat service. Provide the diagnostic report generated by the Epic Games Launcher (Help > Diagnostics) and the full path of the latest Fortnite log file located at %localappdata%\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs\FortniteGame.log. Official support channels are accessible via the Epic Games website under Help.