Gaming · Fortnite on Windows
Fix Fortnite’s “Application Hang Detected” error
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Epic’s current support article says this PC error can occur with a controller connected. Disconnect it, restart Windows, then verify Fortnite and update Windows and the graphics driver before considering a reinstall.
Disconnect the controller
Unplug the controller from the PC before launching Fortnite again. Epic lists this as its first action for the application-hang error, so do not start with a registry edit or a driver-cleaner utility.
Restart Windows
Press the Windows key, choose Power, then Restart. Wait for Windows to finish restarting before opening Epic Games Launcher.
Launch Fortnite once
Start Fortnite normally and note whether the exact error returns. Record the message or take a screenshot before trying a second repair.
Install pending Windows updates
Open Settings > Windows Update, install available updates including security updates, then restart if Windows asks you to do so.
Verify Fortnite in Epic
In Epic Games Launcher, open Library, find Fortnite, open its three-dot menu, choose Manage, then select Verify. Wait for the file check to finish before launching again.
Update the graphics driver
Install the current driver for the PC’s actual graphics hardware from its manufacturer, then restart and test the same launch path. Do not install a different vendor’s driver.
Escalate a persistent error
If the message continues after the documented checks, provide the exact error, controller state, Windows version, verification result, and driver version to Epic or the device manufacturer.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the error appears only with a controller attached, keep it disconnected until Epic provides a controller-specific resolution.
- If verification changes files but the error returns, preserve that result; it is useful evidence and does not prove the game needs a broad Windows reset.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Fortnite on Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.