Crash/Freeze Fortnite

Fortnite Text Chat Menu Crash - Complete Fix Guide

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

🎯 Quick Answer

Clear the game's local data cache by deleting the `%localappdata%\FortniteGame\Saved\Config\WindowsClient` folder, then verify game files through the Epic Games Launcher.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

This error constitutes an application crash triggered by a specific user interface interaction. The failure occurs when the game client attempts to initialize or display the text chat menu interface. The crash is platform-specific, primarily affecting the Windows PC version of Fortnite. Instances are documented across multiple game client versions, particularly following major content updates or patches. This is a common error with a high frequency of occurrence within the affected user base. The severity is classified as game-breaking, as it prevents access to a core communication feature and results in an ungraceful application termination. The exact error message presented to the user is typically a generic "Fortnite has crashed" dialog from the Epic Games Launcher, though underlying system logs may contain more specific faulting module references.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application terminates without warning when the user selects the text chat menu button within the Fortnite lobby or in-game. The crash is immediate upon the UI interaction; the chat window does not render. The user observes the game window closing, followed by the Epic Games Launcher displaying a crash report dialog. The process FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe ceases execution. No specific in-game error code is displayed prior to termination. The crash reporter may generate a log file with an error code such as "0xc0000005" (Access Violation) or reference a fault in modules related to social features or UI rendering.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Corrupted or invalid local configuration files in GameUserSettings.ini or Input.ini related to the chat UI or social panel bindings. Why this causes the problem: The game engine reads malformed configuration data when loading the chat interface, causing a memory access violation or an unhandled exception. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible graphics driver (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce 531.x, AMD Adrenalin 23.x) with a known issue in DX12 presentation layer. Why this causes the problem: The driver fails to properly render the chat menu's overlay elements, leading to a driver timeout or a DirectX device-hung error that crashes the game. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A defective or missing localized string file for the chat interface within the game's packed asset archives. Why this causes the problem: The UI system attempts to load a non-existent text resource, resulting in a null pointer dereference and subsequent crash. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Windows Firewall or third-party antivirus software blocking the Epic Games Social Panel service or its required web sockets. Why this causes the problem: The chat menu attempts to establish a connection to Epic's social services, encounters a network block, and the game client fails to handle the connection timeout gracefully. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Overlay software conflict (Discord Overlay, Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA GeForce Experience Overlay) intercepting the same UI hooks as the Fortnite chat system. Why this causes the problem: Multiple overlays contend for input focus and DirectX rendering priority, causing a hook collision that destabilizes the game process. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Corrupted local installation cache or missing/verified game files, specifically those related to the FortniteGame\Content\UI\Frontend assets. Why this causes the problem: The client loads incomplete or damaged UI package files when constructing the chat menu, leading to an engine-level asset loading failure.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Clear Local Configuration and Cache

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

Completely exit Fortnite and the Epic Games Launcher. Verify the process is closed via Task Manager.
Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter. This opens C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local.
Navigate to the FortniteGame folder, then Saved.
Delete the entire Config folder and the entire Cached folder.
Restart the Epic Games Launcher, right-click on Fortnite in your library, and select Verify.
Launch Fortnite. The game will regenerate fresh configuration files.

Technical Explanation: This removes corrupted .ini files and cached asset data that the game uses to load UI elements, including the chat menu, forcing a clean rebuild from the verified game archives. Verification: Navigate to the lobby and click the text chat menu button. The chat panel opens without causing an application crash.

Solution 2: Verify Game Files via Epic Games Launcher

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10-20 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Stable internet connection for redownloading files. Steps:

Open the Epic Games Launcher and navigate to your Library.
Click the three dots (...) under the Fortnite game tile.
Select Manage from the dropdown menu.
Click the Verify button. The launcher will scan and compare your local files with the official manifest.
Allow the process to complete. Any missing or corrupted files will be downloaded and replaced.
Restart your computer and launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: The verification process repairs the game's asset archives, ensuring all necessary UI and script files for the chat functionality are present and intact. Verification: Check the integrity of the installation by observing if the verification completes without downloading a large amount of data (indicating minor corruption). Then test the chat menu.

Solution 3: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Administrator rights, internet connection. Steps:

Identify your GPU model via Device Manager (Display adapters).
Visit the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest WHQL-certified driver for your specific model.
Download the official Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from www.guru3d.com.
Boot Windows in Safe Mode. Run DDU and select "Clean and restart" for your GPU type.
After reboot, install the freshly downloaded driver package using the "Custom (Advanced)" option and check "Perform a clean installation."
Restart your system normally.

Technical Explanation: A clean driver installation eliminates corrupted driver files and resolves compatibility issues with DirectX 12 features that Fortnite's UI system utilizes. Verification: Confirm the new driver version is installed in GPU control panel. Launch Fortnite and test the chat menu functionality.

Solution 4: Disable Conflicting Overlay Software

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

Discord: Open Discord User Settings > Activity Privacy > disable Display currently running game as a status message. Then go to Game Overlay > disable Enable in-game overlay.
Xbox Game Bar: Press Windows Key + G to open Game Bar. Go to Settings (cog icon) and disable Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game Bar. Alternatively, search "Game Bar settings" in Windows and turn the main toggle Off.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Open the application, click the Settings (gear icon), and toggle off In-Game Overlay.
Steam: Exit the Steam client completely if it is running in the background.
Launch Fortnite without any of these applications running.

Technical Explanation: This prevents overlay hooks from interfering with Fortnite's own UI rendering pipeline and input handling for the chat interface. Verification: With all overlays disabled, the chat menu should initialize without hook conflicts. Test the chat function.

Solution 5: Configure Windows Firewall for Epic Games Services

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

Search for "Windows Security" and open it. Go to Firewall & network protection.
Click Allow an app through firewall.
Click Change settings (requires admin privileges).
Locate and ensure Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite are checked for both Private and Public networks. If not listed, click Allow another app, browse to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Launcher\Portal\Binaries\Win64\EpicGamesLauncher.exe and add it.
For advanced control, also ensure outbound rules are not blocking ports 80, 443, 433, 5222, and 5795-5847 used by Epic services.
If using third-party antivirus, add the same exceptions to its firewall component.

Technical Explanation: This ensures the game's social features and chat service can communicate with Epic's servers without being blocked, which can cause a crash if the connection fails unexpectedly. Verification: Monitor the Windows Security logs for blocked connections after attempting to open the chat. A successful connection will occur without blocks.

Solution 6: Perform a Clean Boot and Test

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Administrator rights. Steps:

Press Windows Key + 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, click Open Task Manager. Disable every startup item.
Close Task Manager, click OK in System Configuration, and restart your computer.
After booting into a clean environment, launch only the Epic Games Launcher and Fortnite. Test the chat menu.

Technical Explanation: This diagnostic step eliminates all third-party software and services as potential conflict sources, isolating the issue to the game, its launcher, or the operating system. Verification: If the chat works in a clean boot, a conflicting service is the cause. Re-enable services in groups via msconfig to identify the culprit.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain system stability by implementing a scheduled driver update check every month, focusing on GPU and chipset drivers. Configure the Epic Games Launcher to auto-update Fortnite, ensuring all patches are applied promptly. Regularly clear the %localappdata%\FortniteGame\Saved\Cached folder after major game updates. Establish a standard practice of verifying game files through the launcher following any system-wide changes or updates. Monitor Windows Event Viewer for recurring application errors related to Faulting Module Name beginning with FortniteClient. Avoid modifying core game .ini files unless following documented configuration procedures.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all solutions fail and the crash persists in a clean boot state. Provide the full crash report ID generated by the Epic Games Launcher. Include diagnostic data: the FortniteGame.log file located in %localappdata%\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs and your system's DxDiag report. Escalation is required if the error manifests identically on multiple, fully updated hardware configurations. Official support channels are accessible via the Epic Games Help Center at epicgames.com/help.