Troubleshoot Epic Games Launcher Verifying But Will Not Open

You see the familiar icon, you click it, and the small window pops up: “Verifying…”. You wait, expecting your game library to appear, but instead, the window vanishes and nothing happens. When the Epic Games Launcher verifying will not open, it feels like you’re locked out of your own games. This frustrating loop is often caused by a simple data jam, a permissions conflict, or a display setting that the launcher just can’t handle.
The good news is that fixing it is usually straightforward. You don’t need to be a tech wizard; you just need a clear, methodical approach to find and resolve the bottleneck. We’ll walk through the most effective solutions, from the quickest fixes to the more involved system checks, so you can get back to gaming.

Table of Contents

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At a Glance: Your Path to a Fix

In this guide, you’ll learn how to diagnose and resolve the “verifying” stall with practical, step-by-step instructions.

• Identify the Core Problem: Understand why a corrupted webcache is the most frequent cause and how to safely clear it.
• Master Quick Fixes: Learn to use administrator rights and background process management to overcome common hangs.
• Deploy Advanced Tactics: Use a special launch command (-OpenGL) to bypass potential graphics driver conflicts.
• Rule Out System Conflicts: Systematically check display settings, security software, and driver updates that might be interfering.
• Know When to Repair or Reinstall: Follow a clear decision path for using the built-in repair tool versus performing a clean installation without losing your games.

Why the Launcher Gets Stuck in the “Verifying” Loop

When the Epic Games Launcher starts, it performs a quick self-check. This “verifying” process involves several key actions: checking for launcher updates, authenticating your login session, and loading the storefront’s user interface. The stall usually happens when one of these steps hits a snag.
The most common culprits are:

1. Corrupted Webcache: The launcher’s storefront is essentially a custom web browser. Like any browser, it stores temporary files (images, scripts, stylesheets) in a cache to load faster. If this data becomes corrupted, the launcher can hang while trying to read it. This is, by far, the most frequent reason for the verifying-then-disappears issue.
2. Permissions Issues: Modern operating systems are strict about what applications can do. If the launcher doesn’t have the necessary permissions to write files or access certain network ports, it can fail silently after the initial check.
3. Background Process Conflicts: A previously crashed or “zombie” Epic Games Launcher process might still be running in the background, preventing a new instance from starting correctly.
4. Graphics Driver or Display Incompatibility: Sometimes, the launcher struggles to initialize with your current graphics rendering engine (like DirectX). This can be due to an outdated driver or a conflict with certain display scaling settings in Windows.
   While this verifying stall is a specific and common headache, it’s one of many potential issues that can prevent the launcher or games from running. For a complete overview of troubleshooting, refer to our comprehensive guide to Fix Epic Games not launching.

Tier 1: The First Responders for a Stuck Launcher

Always start with the simplest, least invasive solutions. These steps resolve a surprising number of software glitches by clearing temporary states and resetting permissions without altering any core files.

1. Fully Close the Epic Games Launcher Process

Even if the launcher window isn’t visible, a process may be stuck running in the background. Force-quitting this process ensures you’re starting with a clean slate.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Windows Task Manager. (On Mac, use Command + Option + Esc).
2. Go to the “Processes” or “Details” tab.
3. Look for any process named EpicGamesLauncher.exe or similar.
4. Select it and click End Task (or Force Quit on Mac).
5. Check your system tray (the small icons by your clock) to ensure the Epic Games icon is gone. If it’s there, right-click it and select “Exit.”
6. Now, try to launch the Epic Games Launcher again.

2. Run as an Administrator

Running the launcher with elevated privileges can instantly solve permission-related roadblocks.

• For a one-time test: Right-click the Epic Games Launcher shortcut and select Run as administrator. If this works, the problem is definitely permissions-based.
• For a permanent fix:

1. Right-click the shortcut and go to Properties.
2. Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
4. Click Apply, then OK.

Practical Snippet: A gamer in a forum reported their launcher failed to open after a Windows update. The update had reset file permissions on their Program Files directory. Forcing the launcher to run as an administrator bypassed this block and allowed it to write its necessary temporary files, resolving the issue instantly.

Tier 2: Targeting the Most Likely Culprits

If the initial steps didn’t work, it’s time to focus on the most common causes for the “verifying” hang: the cache and rendering mode.

1. Clear the Launcher’s Webcache (The #1 Fix)

This is the most effective solution for the verifying-and-disappearing problem. It’s completely safe and does not affect your installed games or save files.
On Windows:

1. Completely close the Epic Games Launcher (use Task Manager to be sure).
2. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type %localappdata% and press Enter. This will open the Local AppData folder.
4. Find and open the EpicGamesLauncher folder.
5. Open the Saved folder.
6. Locate and delete the webcache folder. You may also see folders like webcache_4147 or similar—delete those as well.
7. Restart your computer and try launching Epic Games again. The launcher will recreate a fresh, clean cache.
   On macOS:
8. Exit the Epic Games Launcher.
9. Open Finder.
10. Click on Go in the top menu and select Go to Folder….
11. Type ~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher and press Enter.
12. Delete the webcache folder found inside.
13. Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher.

2. Force an Alternative Graphics Rendering Mode

If the issue is a conflict with DirectX, you can force the launcher to use OpenGL, a different graphics API. This is a powerful diagnostic step.

1. Right-click on your Epic Games Launcher desktop shortcut and select Properties.
2. Go to the Shortcut tab.
3. In the Target field, go to the very end of the text, outside the quotation marks.
4. Add a space, followed by -OpenGL.

• Example: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Portal\Binaries\Win64\EpicGamesLauncher.exe" -OpenGL

5. Click Apply, then OK.
6. Try running the launcher from this modified shortcut.
   If the launcher opens with this command, it strongly suggests the problem is related to your graphics drivers or a DirectX installation issue. You should proceed to update your drivers as a permanent solution.

Tier 3: Investigating System-Level Conflicts

If the targeted fixes fail, the problem might lie with broader system settings, drivers, or security software.

1. Check Windows Display Scaling

The Epic Games Launcher can sometimes fail to render properly on high-resolution displays with non-standard scaling, causing it to crash during initialization.

1. Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings.
2. Under the “Scale and layout” section, find the “Change the size of text, apps, and other items” dropdown.
3. Set it to 100% (Recommended).
4. Try launching the Epic Games Launcher. If it works, you can try reverting to your preferred scaling to see if the issue was temporary. If it breaks again, you’ve found the conflict.
   As a related fix, you can also disable fullscreen optimizations for the launcher specifically:
5. Go to the launcher’s Properties > Compatibility tab.
6. Check the box for Disable fullscreen optimizations.
7. Click Apply and try again.

2. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a common source of instability for game launchers and games. Do not rely on Windows Update for this; get the drivers directly from the manufacturer.

• NVIDIA: Go to the GeForce Experience app or the official NVIDIA website.
• AMD: Use the Adrenalin Software or visit the AMD support website.
• Intel: Use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant or visit the Intel download center.
  Perform a “Clean Installation” if the option is available. This removes old driver profiles and can resolve deep-seated conflicts.

3. Temporarily Disable Security Software

Your antivirus or firewall might be incorrectly flagging a launcher component as suspicious, blocking it from running.

1. Open Windows Security (or your third-party antivirus program).
2. Navigate to Virus & threat protection > Manage settings.
3. Temporarily turn off Real-time protection.
4. Try to launch the Epic Games Launcher.
5. Crucially, remember to turn your protection back on after testing, whether it worked or not.
   If this solves the problem, you need to add an exception for the Epic Games Launcher in your security software’s settings so it isn’t blocked in the future.

The Last Resort: Repair or Reinstall

When all else fails, it’s time to let the installer fix the files or start over from scratch.

1. Use the Built-in Repair Function

The Epic Games Launcher installer has a built-in repair tool that can fix corrupted or missing files without a full reinstallation.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter to open Programs and Features.
2. Find Epic Games Launcher in the list.
3. Select it and click Repair at the top (or right-click and choose Repair).
4. Follow the prompts and let the process complete.

2. Perform a Clean Reinstallation

This is your final option. Uninstalling the launcher will also remove your installed games by default, but you can back them up first.
Step 1: Back Up Your Games (Optional but Recommended)

1. Navigate to the directory where your Epic games are installed (e.g., C:\Program Files\Epic Games).
2. Copy the game folders (e.g., Fortnite, GTAV) to a different location, like your desktop or another drive.
   Step 2: Uninstall and Reinstall
3. Use appwiz.cpl to uninstall the Epic Games Launcher.
4. Restart your computer to clear out any lingering files.
5. Download the latest installer from the official Epic Games website.
6. Run the installer and complete the setup.
   Step 3: Restore Your Games
7. After reinstalling, start a download for a game you backed up.
8. Let it download for a minute, then pause the download and close the launcher completely (via system tray).
9. Copy your backed-up game folder back into the new installation directory, overwriting the files it just created.
10. Relaunch Epic. It should see the existing files, verify them, and download only what’s missing, saving you hours of downloading.

Quick Answers: Common Questions

Q: Why does the Epic Games Launcher get stuck on ‘verifying’ so often?

A: The most common reason is corruption in the webcache folder. The launcher relies on web technologies for its store and library, and if these temporary files become unreadable, the application hangs during its startup check. Background process conflicts and permission issues are other frequent causes.

Q: Will clearing the webcache or repairing the launcher delete my games?

A: No. Clearing the webcache is 100% safe for your installed games and save files. It only removes temporary interface data, which the launcher will regenerate. The “Repair” function also targets only the launcher’s own program files, leaving your game installations untouched.

Q: Is adding the -OpenGL command to the shortcut a permanent fix?

A: It’s more of a diagnostic tool and a workaround. If -OpenGL allows the launcher to open, it confirms the problem is with your default DirectX rendering. The permanent fix is to perform a clean installation of your graphics drivers. You can leave the command in place if it works, but it’s better to solve the root cause.

Q: What’s the difference between repairing and reinstalling the launcher?

A: Repairing is a quick process that scans for and replaces missing or corrupted launcher files using the existing installation. Reinstalling is a complete removal and fresh setup. Reinstalling is more thorough but requires you to log in again and, by default, will remove game installations (which is why you should back them up). Always try repairing first.

Your Next Move: A Clear Path Forward

You’ve worked through the diagnostics, and by now, the launcher should be working. If you’re still stuck, use this simple decision tree to guide your next action.

• If clearing the webcache fixed it: You’re done! This is the most common scenario. The problem was simply bad temporary data.
• If running as an administrator fixed it: Make the change permanent in the shortcut’s compatibility settings. The issue was a lack of permissions.
• If the -OpenGL command fixed it: Your immediate problem is solved, but the root cause is likely a graphics driver or DirectX issue. Your top priority should be to download the latest drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel and perform a clean installation.
• If only a full reinstall worked: This indicates a more deeply corrupted installation. After reinstalling, be sure to let the launcher and your games create firewall exceptions when prompted to prevent future issues.

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Yaride Tsuga

Yaride Tsuga, known widely by his gaming pseudonym, is a passionate gamer and aspiring technical guide writer with a mission to simplify gaming for enthusiasts worldwide. From a young age, Yaride immersed himself in the digital realms of consoles, PCs, and mobile games, cultivating a deep understanding of both mainstream and niche titles. Over the years, his curiosity evolved beyond gameplay into solving technical challenges—whether fixing bugs, optimizing performance, or troubleshooting glitches—that often hinder the gaming experience.

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