Having trouble installing the Epic Games Launcher? You’re not alone. Whether the setup keeps failing, ends prematurely, or prompts you with an error “The Epic Games Launcher Setup Wizard ended prematurely”, this kind of issue can be incredibly frustrating — especially when all you want to do is dive into your favorite games. The good news is, there are several proven solutions that can help. This guide walks you through a list of fixes.
Try These Fixes
You may not need to try them all; simply work your way down the list until you find the one that helps fix your issue.
- Force MSI Install with Admin Rights
- Update Your Graphics Driver
- Check for Windows Updates
- Temporarily Disable Antivirus Software
- Try Installing the Launcher from the Microsoft Store
1. Force MSI Install with Admin Rights
If the Epic Games Launcher setup keeps failing or ends prematurely, it could be due to permission-related issues or restrictions imposed by the standard installation process. Since .msi files don’t always give you the option to “Run as administrator” through the right-click menu, manually launching the installer with administrative privileges using the Command Prompt or Task Manager can help. This forces the installation to run with elevated rights, which may bypass whatever is blocking the setup from completing successfully.
Option 1: Through the Command Prompt
- Press Win + E to open the File Explorer. Find the installer file, then hold the Shift key + Right-click on it, and select Copy as path.
- Press the Windows key to invoke Search, then type cmd. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- When prompted with the User Account Control, simply click Yes.
- In the Command Prompt, type msiexec /i, then right-click in the space after msiexec /i, this will paste the installation path.
- Press Enter and this should now install the launcher. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.
Option 2: Through the Task Manager
- Press Win + R to open the Run box, type taskmgr and hit Enter. This will open the Task Manager.
- In the top right corner, click Run new task.
- Type msiexec.exe, check the box next to Create this task with administrative privileges, then click Browse.
- Now navigate to the Epic Games Launcher installation directory, find the installer, select it and click Open.
If you cannot find the installer, click on the dropdown and select All files.
- Once the installer is selected, click OK.
- When prompted, click Run to proceed. Then follow the on-screen instructions to install the launcher.
If it still fails to install properly or you still receive the error during the installation process, try other fixes below.
2. Update Your Graphics Driver
Outdated or faulty graphics drivers can sometimes interfere with how certain applications install or run. Updating your graphics driver can help ensure compatibility with the launcher and resolve unexpected crashes or errors during installation.
You can update your graphics driver manually from the Device Manager, or go to the manufacturer’s site to download and install the latest driver that is compatible with your operating system. Some graphics card brands also offer proprietary software to get driver updates.
Alternatively, you can use Driver Easy — a driver updater tool that makes updating drivers quick and hassle-free. It automatically detects missing or corrupted drivers, then downloads and installs the latest versions, all sourced directly from the manufacturers. You also have the option to download previous versions, which can be helpful if a newer driver isn’t working properly. Additionally, Driver Easy offers other useful tools like Driver Uninstall and Offline Scan for more control and flexibility.
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
- Check if your graphics driver is flagged in the scan results. If it is, click Activate & Update to start a 7-day free trial or upgrade to Driver Easy Pro. Either option will automatically download and install the latest graphics driver for you.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
- Then try to install the launcher again. If your issue persists, proceed to the next fix.
3. Check for Windows Updates
Sometimes, outdated versions of Windows can cause compatibility issues with programs you’re trying to install, such as the Epic Games Launcher. Checking for Windows updates may help, as updates often include bug fixes and improvements that resolve these types of installation issues.
- Press the Windows logo key to invoke the Search. Type check for updates, then click Check for updates from the list of results.
- If you’re told that “Updates available to install”, simply click on the Install all button.
Or you can click on the button Check for updates to see if there are updates available.
- Then follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest Windows updates. You should be prompted to restart your device upon completion.
4. Temporarily Disable Antivirus Software
If you’re using any antivirus software, try disabling it before you install the launcher. Sometimes, antivirus programs may mistakenly flag the Epic Games Launcher installer as a threat or block certain actions during installation, causing the process to fail or end prematurely.
It’s worth mentioning that whether you successfully install the launcher or not, you should re-enable your antivirus software immediately afterward to protect your system from potential security threats.
5. Try Installing the Launcher from the Microsoft Store
If the aforementioned steps won’t work, consider installing the launcher from Microsoft Store.
Installing the Epic Games Launcher from the Microsoft Store can sometimes bypass the issues that occur with the standard installer downloaded from the official website, especially when the problems are related to permissions, missing dependencies, or installer corruption.
That wraps up our comprehensive guide on how to fix the Epic Games Launcher not installing issue. If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to leave us a comment below. We’ll get back to you ASAP.