Fortnite continues to receive ongoing support with live updates and seasons every month. Odds are, after an update or installation, you’ll run into an error that will lock you out of the game. While it is frustrating, most errors can be easily identified by their codes and have them diagnosed.
What exactly is Launch Error 20006?
The error code 20006 is attributed to the failure of Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC). Most competitive multiplayer titles use an anti-cheat engine to ensure there are no hackers or cheaters. Fortnite uses EAC to prevent someone from modifying the game, and without it, your access will be restricted.
Much of how the Easy Anti-Cheat works is classified, as the developers do not want someone to reverse engineer it and break through. But the gist is, the engine will conduct scans, or basically filter through files, and ensure that there are no “modifiers.” If it detects files that tamper with the game, or something is missing, you won’t be able to play online.
Even after the preliminary check, the Easy Anti-Cheat will continue to run in the background while you’re playing. Everything needs to be intact for the anti-cheat to perform proper routine checks behind the scenes. If you encounter launch error 20006 just after you boot the game, it could mean either a missing file or a simple bug.
5 Ways to fix Fortnite launch error 20006
Here is how you can fix it:
1. Try turning everything on and off
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already tried this. But sometimes a simple restart does the trick. Your computer could be processing something in the background that is not allowing the anti-cheat engine to perform the intended task. Or just the EAC tripping on its way to verify. A reboot would mean a fresh start and the possibility to get it right.
2. Repair or uninstall Easy Anti-Cheat
Even after the reboot, if the problems persist, you can try repairing the EAC. Like most things in your Windows, you have a built-in option to run a diagnostic by clicking “repair.” Once you have located the file, the option should be right in front of you.
To locate and repair the EAC,
- Click on My Computer or This PC from your home menu
- Go to C: > Program Files > Epic Games > Fortnite > FortniteGame
- Further select Binaries option, and then Win64 > EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe
- Right click and select Run as administrator
- This will open the Easy Anti-Cheat window menu. Next, simply select Fortnite and click on the Repair Service button.
The repair should be quick enough, and once it is done you can re-launch Fortnite. You can try restarting first after the repair and then open the game.
Despite all that, if it still shows the error, you can just remove Easy Anti-Cheat altogether. Just follow the same steps above, and in the same menu you’ll see an “Uninstall” button at the bottom left. Once you start the game after the uninstallation, it will automatically reinstall the program. Any previously missing or incorrectly deleted files will be restored, which may resolve the issue and allow the anti-cheat engine to function properly.
3. Make sure Easy Anti-Cheat is installed in the first place
Although less likely, you might not have installed the software. Fortnite may ask you to download it whenever you open it for the first time, or when it is missing. If you click “no,” the game will not launch, but you can install it again.
To install Easy Anti-Cheat, follow these steps.
- Locate Easy Anti-Cheat file similar to the repair steps above. C: > ProgramFiles >Epic Games > Fortnite > FortniteGame > Binaries Win64 > EasyAntiCheat
- Double click on EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe and click install
- Launch Fortnite once the installation is complete.
4. Verify Files for Fortnite.
If luck isn’t with you, the issue won’t budge. At this point, before any extreme measures, you can try verifying files.
To verify files for Fortnite.
- Open Epic Games launcher.
- Head to the Library.
- Right-click on Fortnite and then select Verify from the option.
The verification can take a minute or more than five, but don’t cancel it and try to sit through. If none of this works, there is only one thing you can try, delete Fortnite.
5. Delete Fortnite
We understand the desperation to play the game and your mood being spoiled by the error. Sometimes you need to relax and take in the air. Besides, there is rarely anything else you can do to make things work.
To uninstall Fortnite, just follow the same steps you did to verify the game. Instead of clicking verify, click on the “Uninstall” button. Of course, we don’t want to keep you out of the game forever and leave your squad behind. Take some rest, close your PC as long as you want, or simply restart it, and install Fortnite again.
Uninstalling Fortnite will also delete Easy Anti-Cheat, and when you download it again, it will bring EAC along. Make sure to click “Yes” this time when the game asks you to download EAC, and that should solve it.
Lastly, make sure that your PC specs meet the minimum recommendations. If the game is still inaccessible, try contacting the Epic Support team via live chat.
