By FreePortal Team · Reviewed by FreePortal Editorial Team · Last updated October 2026

How to Download and Install the Epic Games Launcher Free Guide

Your gateway to Fortnite, a rotating library of free weekly games, and Unreal Engine — the launcher itself costs nothing.

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Is the Epic Games Launcher Free?

Yes — the launcher is completely free to download, install, and use. There is no subscription, and Epic does not charge for access to the store or your library.

The launcher is a storefront: games inside it range from free-to-play titles like Fortnite to full-price releases. Epic also runs a weekly free game promotion — those titles are genuinely free to keep. Claiming some of them requires two-factor authentication, which is an anti-abuse and account-security measure, not a paywall.

System Requirements

Requirements differ between the legacy stable launcher and the new launcher preview (October 2026). The table below covers the legacy launcher, which is what most users should install today.

OS (legacy): Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11; macOS 13.5 or later (Intel and Apple Silicon). Beta versions of macOS are not supported.
OS (new preview): Windows 10/11; macOS 12 or later on Apple Silicon only; Linux (Ubuntu 22.04+, Fedora 43+, Debian 12+).
Processor: Intel Core i3 or AMD FX
RAM: 4 GB
Graphics: DirectX 9.0c compatible — NVIDIA GeForce 7800 (512 MB), AMD Radeon HD 4600 (512 MB), or Intel HD 4000
Storage: 3 GB free disk space for the legacy launcher. The new preview requires roughly 700 MB on Windows, 200 MB on macOS, and 2 GB on Linux.
Note: These are the launcher requirements, not the requirements of the games you install. Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and store titles each have their own, often much higher, hardware needs.

How to Install Epic Games Launcher

Go to the official site. Visit store.epicgames.com/en-US/download and click Get Epic Games in the top-right corner. Avoid third-party "Epic launcher download" sites — the installer is frequently repackaged.
Choose your launcher. The page offers the legacy stable launcher (.msi) and, as of October 2026, a new preview build. Most users should take the legacy launcher. If you want to test the faster preview — or you are on Linux — choose the preview instead.
Download the installer. The download starts automatically after you click the button. If it does not begin, click the manual platform button for Windows or macOS.
Run the installer. Open the downloaded file and follow the prompts. Installation takes only a minute or two.
Launch and sign in. Open the Epic Games Launcher from your Start menu or Applications folder. Sign in with an existing account, or create one for free using email or a linked platform account.
Set up 2FA (recommended). Epic may prompt you to enable two-factor authentication. It is not required to launch the launcher, but it is required to claim some free games and is enforced periodically. Setting it up now avoids being blocked later.

Getting Started

Find your way around. Three main tabs: Store for browsing and buying, Library for everything you own, and Unreal Engine for Epic's game-development tools. A top bar with pinned games gives quicker access.
Claim the weekly free game. Open the Store tab and look for the Free Games section. A new title is available every Thursday at 8 AM Pacific Time, and you have seven days to claim it. Once claimed, the game is yours permanently — even if you never download it.
Turn on two-factor authentication. Go to your Epic account settings, find Password & Security, and set up 2FA. Epic supports authenticator apps, email, and SMS. Strongly recommended, and required for some free games.
Install a game. From the Library, select a title and click Install. Choose your install location carefully; modern games can consume tens or hundreds of gigabytes.
Add a non-Epic game shortcut (optional). In the Library, use Add a Non-Store Game to create a launcher shortcut to an executable installed elsewhere. This is a shortcut, not a full library import — Epic does not manage updates or cloud saves for non-store titles.
Explore Unreal Engine (optional). The Unreal Engine tab lets you install the latest Unreal Editor and manage engine versions. Free for most users, but a large download and a separate workflow from playing games.

Useful Tips

📅 Set a Thursday reminder. The free game rotates weekly, and missing the window means waiting for it to return — which may never happen. A recurring calendar reminder takes ten seconds and pays off over a year.
🔐 Enable 2FA before you need it. Epic requires two-factor authentication for some free games and enforces it periodically. Setting it up during installation avoids being blocked at checkout later.
💰 "Claim" is not "install". You do not need to download a free game to keep it. Claiming adds it to your library permanently, so you can install it months later.
🎁 Watch for holiday giveaways. Epic expands the promotion around major holidays, sometimes offering a different free game every day for a limited period.
🛡️ Use the official installer only. Epic's documentation explicitly warns that third-party downloads carry malware and tampered-installer risk. The only official sources are store.epicgames.com and Epic's own product pages.
🧠 Separate launcher specs from game specs. The 4 GB RAM requirement above is for the launcher. Fortnite, for example, asks for 8 GB. Do not size a PC based on the launcher's requirements.
🐧 Linux users have a native option now. The new launcher preview includes native Linux support for Ubuntu 22.04+, Fedora 43+, and Debian 12+. Some games remain Windows-only and may require a compatibility layer.
💾 Back up your library location. If you install games to a secondary drive, note the folder. Moving or renaming it will break the launcher's ability to find your installs.
🚀 Try the new launcher preview if speed matters. It cold-starts in roughly 5.5 seconds versus 10 seconds for Steam, loads the library in about 0.36 seconds, and adds native Linux support. But it is still a preview — keep the legacy launcher for Fortnite and competitive play until the preview stabilizes.

Epic Games Launcher vs Steam vs GOG Galaxy

Epic Games Launcher: Free, with a weekly free game promotion and a developer-friendly revenue split: 100% of the first $1 million net revenue per product per year, then 88/12 above that threshold. Smaller library and weaker community features than Steam. Best for claiming weekly free games and playing Fortnite, Rocket League, and Epic exclusives.
Steam: The largest PC game library with the deepest social and modding features (Workshop, Family Sharing, Refunds). Standard 70/30 revenue split. Best overall choice for PC gaming.
GOG Galaxy: DRM-free games that run without a launcher after install. Smaller curated catalogue focused on classics and indies. Best for players who want ownership without DRM.

Most PC gamers install both Epic and Steam — Steam as the daily driver, Epic to claim the weekly free games. GOG is a strong option for players who want DRM-free copies of older titles.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

❌ Installer won't run. Confirm you downloaded from store.epicgames.com and not a third-party site. If Windows SmartScreen blocks it, click "More info" → "Run anyway" — the official Epic installer is signed by Epic Games, Inc.
🔐 Can't claim a free game — 2FA required. Go to your Epic account settings → Password & Security → Two-Factor Authentication, and enable 2FA with an authenticator app. Return to the store page and the "Get" button will work for titles that require it.
🐌 Launcher is very slow or won't launch. Close the launcher completely (check Task Manager), then relaunch. If it still fails, verify the installation from Windows Settings → Apps → Epic Games Launcher → Modify → Repair.
💾 Games show as "not installed" after a drive change. In the Library, right-click the game → Manage → Locate, and point to the new folder. The launcher verifies and moves the install record.
🛒 Purchase or claim button is greyed out. Usually a region or account-age issue. Confirm you are signed in, your email is verified, and your account country matches your billing address.
🎮 Fortnite or another game crashes on launch. Verify the game files from the Library (three-dot menu → Verify), then update your GPU drivers. Most launch crashes trace back to one of those two.
🍎 New launcher preview won't run on an Intel Mac. The preview is Apple Silicon only. Use the legacy launcher instead — it supports macOS 13.5+ on both Intel and Apple Silicon.
🚀 New launcher preview missing features. Epic says the preview is a "speedboat, not a yacht" — some social features and settings are still being finalized. For Fortnite and competitive play, Epic recommends the legacy launcher until the preview stabilizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I claim the weekly free games?

Open the Store tab in the launcher and look for the Free Games section. A new title appears every Thursday at 8 AM Pacific Time and is available for seven days. Click Get to claim it — it stays in your library permanently, even if you never install it.

Why do I need 2FA to claim free games?

Epic requires two-factor authentication to claim some free games and periodically enforces it as an account-security measure. It is not a paywall, and not every free game requires it — but enabling 2FA once removes the risk of being blocked when a title you want does require it. Epic also requires 2FA for Fortnite gifting and competitive events.

Is the Epic Games Launcher safe?

Yes, when downloaded from store.epicgames.com. Third-party “Epic launcher download” sites frequently bundle malware — always download from Epic’s official store.

Does Epic Games Launcher work on Mac?

Yes. The legacy stable launcher supports macOS 13.5 or later on both Intel and Apple Silicon. The new launcher preview (October 2026) supports macOS 12 or later on Apple Silicon only — Intel Macs are not supported in the preview. Most major titles support macOS, though some are Windows-only — check each game’s store page.

Can I use Epic Games Launcher on Linux?

Yes. Epic now offers a native Linux launcher — first as an Early Preview and, as of October 2026, as part of the new launcher preview. Officially supported distributions are Ubuntu 22.04 LTS+, Fedora 43+, and Debian 12+. It is still a preview, and some games are Windows-only and may require a compatibility layer.

Is Fortnite free to play on Epic Games Launcher?

Yes. Fortnite is completely free to play through the Epic Games Launcher, and it is the only official PC launcher for Fortnite. Epic currently recommends the legacy launcher for Fortnite and competitive play while the new preview matures.

Should I use the legacy launcher or the new preview?

For most users, the legacy launcher remains the safer default — it is the stable release and Epic recommends it for Fortnite and competitive players. The new launcher preview (October 2026) is significantly faster (cold start ~5.5s vs. 10s for Steam, library loads in ~0.36s) and adds native Linux support, but it is still in preview and some features are still being finalized. You can install the preview alongside the legacy launcher; installing the new client will automatically uninstall the old one, but purchases and installed games are preserved.

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