How to Install Epic Games Launcher on Windows and Mac

To install Epic Games Launcher, download the installer from the official Epic Games Store, run it on a supported Windows PC or Mac, finish setup, and sign in to the Epic account that owns your games. In October 2026, there is one extra decision: Epic offers its established legacy Launcher and a newer Launcher Preview. They have different platform requirements and the Preview can replace an existing installation. Choose the version that fits your computer before clicking Download. This guide walks through the normal installation, how to install a game afterward, and safe fixes for common setup failures.

Quick answer: Which Epic Games Launcher should you install?

If you want the familiar desktop client with established features on Windows or Mac, start with the legacy Epic Games Launcher from the official Epic Games Store. If you specifically want to try Epic’s redesigned, still-in-development client on a supported device, use the separately labeled Epic Games Launcher Preview. The Preview launched publicly on October 14, 2026. It is optional; users are not required to replace the legacy version just to install and play games.

These figures describe the Launcher itself, not the storage, GPU, or processor that an individual game needs. Epic’s pages titled “System requirements for the Epic Games Launcher” and “What are the system requirements for the Epic Games Launcher Preview?” are the authority here. Another general Store download page shows older minimum specifications; this guide uses the more specific current Launcher support pages for the version you are installing.

What you need before installing

• A compatible device: Windows 10 64-bit/11, a supported Mac, or a supported Linux distribution for Preview. On Mac, choose Apple menu > About This Mac to confirm chip and macOS version; on Windows, open Settings > System > About to confirm system type.
• Free storage: Allow room for the launcher, update files, and any games you plan to download; game storage needs can be much larger than the launcher footprint.
• A trusted Internet connection: You need it to download the installer, sign in, and fetch updates or games. An existing Epic account is useful, but you can create one through Epic’s official sign-in flow.
• Permission to install applications: School and workplace PCs may restrict this. Ask the device administrator rather than trying to bypass managed-device policies.

If an older Epic Launcher is already installed, do not uninstall it merely to try the Preview. The Preview’s migration wizard offers to transfer installed games, apps, and Unreal Engine projects. Epic also warns that removing or reverting versions can affect installed games. Keep copies of important local saves and other project data that are not definitely cloud-synced. Cloud save availability varies by game.

How to install the legacy Epic Games Launcher on Windows

This is the straightforward route for Windows users who want the established Epic client. Epic’s document “How to download the Epic Games Launcher” specifies the official Store and the upper-right Download control.

1. Open your web browser, enter store.epicgames.com, and verify that you are on Epic’s official domain.
2. Click Download in the upper-right corner. If no download starts, use the platform-specific download control on the Epic download page.
3. Open File Explorer > Downloads and locate the newly downloaded Epic installer. Only run the file you obtained directly from Epic or the alternative Microsoft Store listing discussed below.
4. Double-click the installer. Review the Windows User Account Control prompt; allow installation only when the publisher and download origin are consistent with Epic Games.
5. Follow the installation wizard, review the destination if prompted, and let the installer finish any required components and updates. Do not interrupt it because a progress window briefly pauses.
6. Open Epic Games Launcher from the Start menu or desktop shortcut. Follow the sign-in screen and verify your actual Epic display name and Library.

Successful result: The Launcher opens, its Store and Library become accessible, and your account shows the purchases or claimed free titles you expect. A game may still require its own download and installation. The precise wizard buttons depend on the installer build; Epic documents the Download route but not a universal series of installation-screen labels.

Use the Microsoft Store if the Windows installer fails

For Windows machines where the standard installer ends prematurely, Epic’s support article explicitly recommends trying the Microsoft Store before using a command line. Press the Windows key, search for Microsoft Store, open the app, search for Epic Games Store, select the correct listing, and click Install. After completion, open the installed Launcher and sign in. If the Store installation is blocked by company policy, do not work around the policy; ask the administrator or consult Epic Support.

Choose a different Windows installation location

Installing the Launcher itself in one folder and installing a game in another are two different choices. Epic’s current article “Can I change the Epic Games Launcher installation path?” says that if the launcher installer chooses its location automatically, Windows users can start its official installer from Command Prompt with a documented option that opens the location selector.

1. Download the official Windows installer from the Epic Store, then find it in File Explorer.
2. Right-click the installer and select Copy as path. On Windows 10, hold Shift while right-clicking if necessary.
3. Open Start, type cmd, and open Command Prompt as your normal user for this location-selection workflow.
4. Paste the installer path in quotation marks and append a space plus /installdir. For example, "C:\Users\Example\Downloads\EpicInstaller.exe" /installdir is illustrative; keep your own actual path and exact file extension.
5. Press Enter and follow the installer prompts to choose a supported writable location. If no picker appears, do not substitute undocumented switches; use the default installer or Epic Support.

Later, to choose where a game goes, open your Library, choose the game, and select its installation directory before pressing Install. On Preview, Epic says the directory selector is behind the cogwheel beside Install.

How to install Epic Games Launcher on a Mac

First confirm whether the Mac uses an Intel processor or an Apple M-series chip. Epic says the Preview supports Apple Silicon only; Intel Macs must use the legacy client. The legacy Launcher requires macOS 13.5 or newer in Epic’s dedicated system-requirements article, so an old macOS version is not a reason to install an unverified package from another website.

1. Open Safari or another browser on the Mac and visit store.epicgames.com for the legacy client.
2. Use the Store’s Download control and, if necessary, select the Mac installer rather than the Windows download.
3. Open the downloaded installer from Finder > Downloads. Follow the installer’s on-screen instructions. Where the macOS installer presents an application image and Applications shortcut, move the Launcher app to Applications as directed.
4. Open Finder > Applications > Epic Games Launcher, approve normal macOS security prompts only if the app is Epic’s official download, and allow any startup update.
5. Sign in with the Epic account you intend to use. Open Library and confirm the account’s titles are visible.

Epic’s help article on moving the Launcher confirms that the Mac application is installed into the Applications folder. The precise installer appearance can change across versions, so use the instructions shown by the signed, official installer rather than a third-party screenshot. If macOS prevents opening the app, do not turn off Gatekeeper globally; confirm the source and use Apple’s ordinary per-app security review or contact Epic Support.

How to install Epic Games Launcher Preview

Epic released its redesigned Preview on October 14, 2026. Get it from launcher.epicgames.com, not by guessing a direct download URL or following a third-party installer mirror. It may be faster and has a redesigned Library, but some legacy social and account-management features are not yet present. It is a preview product, not an automatic upgrade everybody should install.

1. Visit the official Epic Games Launcher Preview website at launcher.epicgames.com.
2. Select the clearly labeled installer for Windows (x64), macOS (Apple Silicon), or an officially supported Linux (x64) package. Linux downloads include AppImage and .deb options; select a package appropriate to the listed distributions.
3. Open the downloaded installer using the normal installation method for your supported operating system, then follow Epic’s on-screen prompts.
4. Sign in with the same Epic account used for your purchases. Confirm Library loads before starting new downloads.
5. If the installer detects a legacy installation, read the migration screen carefully. Epic says it can move installed games, apps, and Unreal Engine projects before uninstalling the legacy launcher. Leave it open until that operation visibly finishes.
6. After migration, check a few installed titles and any local game data you rely on. Do not assume all local save games are cloud-backed; check each game’s cloud-save status separately.

Important migration warning: Epic’s Preview support page says uninstalling Preview to return to the legacy client can also remove installed games. A newer Preview release note dated October 21 says its uninstaller now prompts whether to keep installed games. These statements describe a changing feature and are not a guarantee that every installed version preserves games. Before reverting, check the exact uninstall prompt, maintain backups where appropriate, and do not proceed if preserving local files is essential and unclear.

What about Linux?

Linux support is a Preview-only option in the official system-requirements pages consulted. Epic lists Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer, Fedora 43 or newer, and Debian 12 or newer, with an x86-64 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 200 MB launcher storage. On the Preview site, select its official AppImage or .deb package according to your supported distribution. Do not substitute third-party installers or assume that a Windows .exe will run as an officially supported Linux client. Because Epic does not provide a single universal command sequence for all distributions in its setup article, use the on-screen instructions for the particular official package and refer to its support page if package installation fails.

Sign in and install your first game

Installing Epic Games Launcher does not automatically install a game. Epic’s official “How do I install a game using the Epic Games Launcher?” article separates these actions:

1. Start the Launcher and sign in with the Epic account that owns the game, or complete account creation using the official sign-in flow.
2. Open Library. If a title has not been added to the account yet, find it in Store and complete the appropriate purchase or free claim first.
3. Select the game from Library. Review the game’s own supported platforms, storage requirements, and any listed additional components.
4. Choose the game installation directory. On Preview, click the cogwheel next to Install to set the location manually; on legacy, use the location selection offered in its game installer.
5. Click Install. Leave enough free storage for download and unpacking, and wait for the Launcher to report that installation is complete.
6. Select the installed game’s icon or Play button to launch it. Confirm it starts normally rather than assuming a downloaded installer alone means the game is ready.

If the Library is empty after sign-in, confirm the Epic account identity before reinstalling anything. It is easy to create a separate account unintentionally when signing in through Google, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, or another linked provider. A login loop or wrong-account issue requires its own authentication troubleshooting, not an installation reset.

Fix common Epic Games Launcher installation errors

Start with checks that do not delete files or change system security. Epic provides separate troubleshooting for the Launcher installer and for games failing to install after the Launcher works; a message such as LS-0006 concerns a game installation, not necessarily the desktop client itself.

If setup ends prematurely on Windows

1. Close the installer. Restart Windows once if another installation or system update is pending.
2. Open Microsoft Store from Start, search for Epic Games Store, and select Install. Epic specifically prioritizes this workaround in its Setup Wizard support article.
3. If the Microsoft Store route fails and you downloaded an .msi installer directly from Epic, find that file in Downloads, hold Shift and right-click it, then choose Copy as path.
4. Search Start for Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator only for Epic’s documented installer workaround.
5. Type msiexec /i, add a space, and paste the quoted actual .msi path. Press Enter and follow the installation wizard.

This msiexec /i method is for a valid MSI file. Do not pass an .exe file to msiexec or rename its extension to .msi. If you have an .exe installer and want a different destination, Epic instead documents the separate /installdir option above.

If the Launcher was previously installed

Epic’s “How do I repair the Epic Games Launcher?” article recommends downloading the current installer and clicking Repair if the option appears. If it does not, Epic says the installer may be upgrading an older version instead. Avoid a full uninstall as a first reaction: Epic’s separate reinstall guide warns that uninstalling the launcher can remove installed games, and some unsynced local data may be at risk. Record where games and local saves are stored before any destructive step.

If a prerequisite fails or Windows refuses to write to disk

For SU-PQR or “necessary prerequisites have failed to install,” Epic recommends checking Windows updates and the current Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft, then verifying that your Windows account can read and write the selected install folder. You can inspect a folder via File Explorer > right-click folder > Properties > Security. Avoid granting Everyone full control or disabling antivirus/firewall protection indefinitely. If a managed computer blocks installation, request authorized assistance instead.

On Windows 11, go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates; on Windows 10, use Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Apply normal supported security updates, restart when requested, and try the official installer once more. Do not download arbitrary DLL packages, MSI “repair” tools, or registry fixes from untrusted websites.

How to verify the installation was successful

• Correct app: The Launcher opens from Start on Windows or Applications on Mac; if using Preview, the app identifies itself as Preview and uses the newer interface.
• Correct account: The displayed account identity and Library correspond to games you actually own.
• Working Store and Library: Pages load without a repeated login prompt, and a title in your library offers Install or Play as appropriate.
• Known game path: You can select a game destination, and the download progresses without a permissions error.
• No accidental migration: If you moved to Preview, you can locate previously installed games and projects before cleaning up any remaining files.

Installation is finished when the app starts reliably and the account can use its Library; there is no reason to uninstall and reinstall solely because you have not downloaded a game yet. If the Launcher opens but the account cannot authenticate, switch to Epic’s account-specific support resources rather than repeating the installation procedure.

Tools That Help

• Epic Games Store download page — free: Official legacy installer for supported Windows and Mac devices; use it whenever you need a fresh, trusted installer.
• Epic Games Launcher Preview page — free: Official platform-specific Preview installers and release notes; use only after checking supported operating systems and migration risk.
• Microsoft Store and Windows Update — included with Windows: Store offers Epic’s installer fallback on Windows; Windows Update fixes supported system components that may affect setup.

You do not need to buy a cleaner, a driver-updater subscription, or a third-party game launcher to complete these steps. For an ordinary Windows 10/11 first-time installation, the next useful action is simple: choose the legacy Launcher from Epic’s Store, sign in, and install one game from your Library to verify the result. Select Preview only when you specifically want its newer interface and have reviewed the migration warning.

Frequently asked questions

Is Epic Games Launcher free to install?

Yes. Epic’s official download page offers the desktop Launcher without a purchase price. Games and optional in-game purchases can have separate charges; verify each title’s Store listing.

Do I need the Preview to play new Epic Games?

No. Epic says the legacy Launcher remains available while Preview is being developed. Choose Preview only if you want to try its new interface and your computer meets its platform requirements.

Can I install the Preview on an Intel Mac?

No. Epic says Preview is limited to Apple Silicon Macs with an M1 or newer and macOS 12 or newer. Use the legacy Launcher on a compatible Intel Mac instead.

Will switching to Preview delete my installed games?

Epic’s migration flow is intended to move installed games and projects without redownloading them, then uninstall the legacy Launcher. Reverting later is more sensitive: support material warns about game removal, while newer release notes describe a prompt to keep installed games. Back up important local data and read your actual version’s uninstall prompts before switching.

Why does my installer download but not open?

Check the supported operating system, download origin, file extension, and ordinary Windows or macOS security prompts. On Windows, Epic’s official fallback is the Microsoft Store; its specific installation-error articles cover MSI failures. Do not bypass security checks with unknown scripts.

Can I put installed games on a different drive?

Yes, for a supported game installation destination. In your Library, choose the game and its installation directory before clicking Install. On Preview, Epic puts the manual directory selector behind the cogwheel beside Install. The game’s folder is not necessarily the same as the Launcher application’s own folder.

Final Thoughts

For most new Windows 10/11 players, install the legacy Epic Games Launcher from the official Epic Games Store, sign in to the correct Epic account, and test a single Library download. A supported Apple Silicon Mac or Linux computer can use the newer Preview, but it is still a separate, developing product. Before replacing an existing Launcher, verify platform requirements, preserve important unsynced saves, and read Epic’s migration and uninstall warnings. That gives you a working installation without adding avoidable risk to your games or account.