How to Fix the Epic Games Launcher LS-0014 Error in Windows 10 & 11

When the Epic Games Launcher LS-0014 error appears, it will lock you out of launching a specific game. Here's how to fix it on Windows.

LS-0014 is an Epic Games Launcher error code some players have encountered when trying to launch games within the client. The game won't boot; instead, the Epic Games Launcher displays a “Launch Failed” message with an LS-0014 error.

The LS-0014 error has been more widely reported for Fortnite, probably because that’s one of the most popular titles in the Epic Games Store. However, the same issue can occur for other games too. Here are some ways you can fix the LS-0014 error within Windows 11 and 10.

1. Verify the Files for Any Affected Games

One possible reason for the LS-0014 error is corrupted or missing game files. When the game can't find all the files it needs to boot up, it will fail to do so and instead give you an error.

Fortunately, you can verify the files for affected games with Epic Games Launcher’s file repair option. Here is how you can verify a game’s files:

1. Bring up Epic Games Launcher to open its software window.
2. Select the Library tab to view your games.
3. Then click the ellipsis button under whichever game the LS-0014 error occurs for to open the menu in the screenshot directly below.
   
4. Select Verify to start a verification/repair process for the game.

2. Turn Off Any Third-Party Antivirus Software

Some antivirus utilities can interfere with and stop games and software from launching in Windows 11/10. In the case of error LS-0014, antivirus software might be impeding the Epic Games software from accessing a needed file for a game. Therefore, temporarily disabling such software might be a solution for some users.

If there’s a third-party antivirus tool installed on your PC, you can likely disable its shield from its context menu. Click a system tray icon for your installed antivirus software with the right mouse button and select a turn-off or disable shield setting. Select to temporarily disable the utility for an hour or two if you can, and then try launching the affected game title again.

3. Clear the Epic Games Launcher's Webcache

Epic Games Launcher has a webcache that can often be a source of numerous issues for that gaming client. You might need to clear corrupted data from the webcache folder. To clear the cache, delete the webcache subfolder as follows:

1. Right-click the Windows taskbar icon to select File Explorer.
2. Click inside Explorer’s folder path bar, and erase the current text in it.
3. Type %localappdata% in the path bar, and press the Enter button on the keyboard.
4. Then open the EpicGamesLauncher and Saved subfolders from within the Local folder.
5. Select the webcache folder.
   
6. Click the Delete option that’s on the command bar in Windows 11’s File Explorer. In Windows 10, you’ll need to select that option on the Home tab.
   

4. Disable Unneeded Background Apps by Clean Booting

Clean booting is a troubleshooting method for fixing many software issues that disables unneeded background programs and services. By stopping third-party apps and services from starting with Windows, clean booting can prevent background software conflicts from arising with Epic Games Launcher and its games. This is how you can configure a clean boot within Windows 11/10:

1. To start Run, press Win + X and select Run's shortcut on the menu.
2. Then open System Configuration by entering msconfig within Run and pressing Return.
3. Next, uncheck the selected Load startup items checkbox within System Configuration’s General tab.
   
4. Select the Services tab along the top of the System Configuration window.
5. Select Hide all Microsoft services to ensure you don’t remove more important startup services.
   
6. Click Disable all to remove all the other third-party services still listed from the startup.
7. Press System Configuration’s Apply button.
8. Click OK to exit the MSConfig utility.
9. Now you’ll need to restart Windows to clean boot. So, you might as well select Restart on the dialog box that pops up.
10. Try launching affected games with Epic Games Launcher after the restart.

If clean-booting Windows doesn’t resolve the LS-0014 error, there probably wasn’t any program conflicting causing the issue. You can fully restore your original startup configuration by reversing the steps above. That means reselecting the Load startup items option and clicking Enable all on the Services tab.

If this potential resolution does fix your LS-0014 error, you’ll need to consider what conflicting program or service might have been causing it before clean booting. Instead of restoring the original boot configuration exactly as before, you can manually re-enable disabled programs one at a time by selecting them on Task Manager’s Startup tab. You can take the same approach for re-enabling services on System Configuration’s Services tab.

5. Change the DNS Server

Some players have said changing DNS server settings can fix the LS-0014 error for certain games. This possible resolution is more likely to be effective for multiplayer titles like Fortnite. You can switch to a Cloudflare DNS server like this:

1. Press the Type here to search button situated beside the Start menu on your taskbar.
2. Enter Control Panel within the text box to find that Windows component.
3. Select to open Control Panel from your search results.
4. Click Small icons on the View by menu.
5. Select Network and Sharing Center to view that applet.
   
6. Click Change adapter settings to bring up network connections.
7. Right-click your internet connection adapter to select a Properties option for it.
   
8. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 in the Networking tab.
9. Press the Properties button to view the options directly below.
   
10. Click the Use the following DNS server addresses radio button.
11. Input 1.1.1.1 in the first Preferred DNS box.
12. Next, enter the value 1.0.0.1 for the Alternative DNS box.
13. Press the OK button on the Internet Protocol Version window.

6. Manually Uninstall and Reinstall the Affected Game

The LS-0014 error message suggests you verify a game’s installation, which probably means reinstalling it. You can try verifying the game first as outlined within resolution one. If that resolution doesn’t fix it, reinstalling an affected game is an alternative worth trying. Follow these steps to manually reinstall the game:

1. Open File Explorer to bring up the C:\Program Files\Epic Games folder, which is a default directory for games. If you've selected to install a game at a different path, you'll need to open that folder.
   
2. Right-click the installation folder for the game you need to reinstall to select Delete.
   
3. Bring up your Epic Games Launcher client software.
4. To reinstall the game, select its title from within the Epic Games Launcher’s Library tab. Then click the blue Install button.
   

Stop Error LS-0014 Ruining Your Epic Gaming Fun

So, that’s how you can get the Epic Games Launcher LS-0014 error sorted to kick-start your games. The resolutions specified above are relatively straightforward ones to apply that will quite likely resolve the LS-0014 error in most (but not necessarily all) cases.

If, however, error LS-0014 still isn’t fixed after applying all those possible resolutions, you can contact Epic’s support service for further assistance. To do so, log in to the Epic Games website. Then you can click Contact Us on this Epic Games Store page to submit a support ticket.