What causes Epic Games downloads to show 0 speed

A download stuck at 0 speed in the Epic Games Launcher usually means the launcher cannot reach Epic's servers, your connection is too weak to register, or the launcher itself has crashed without closing. The most common cause is a network interruption — your router lost connection, your ISP had a brief outage, or your device switched between WiFi and mobile data. The second most common is that the launcher is running but frozen, showing 0 speed because it stopped communicating with the download server several minutes ago.

Less often, your firewall or antivirus software is blocking the launcher's connection, or the download server itself is temporarily unavailable. You can tell the difference: if your other internet-dependent apps work fine (browser, streaming, messaging), the problem is specific to Epic Games. If nothing on your device can reach the internet, the problem is your network.

Key Takeaways

  • Restart the Epic Games Launcher completely — close it in Task Manager, wait 10 seconds, then reopen it, because the launcher often freezes without appearing to.
  • Check that your internet connection is working by opening a web browser and loading any website, because a stalled download usually means the launcher lost its connection.
  • Pause the download, wait 30 seconds, then resume it, which forces the launcher to reconnect to Epic's servers and often restarts the speed counter.
  • If the launcher still shows 0 speed after restarting, clear the launcher's cache folder and log out and back in, which resets the launcher's connection state.
  • Disable your firewall or antivirus temporarily to test whether it is blocking the launcher, because some security software silently blocks game launcher connections.

Restart the Epic Games Launcher completely

The launcher often freezes while appearing to run normally. Closing it from the window's X button does not always shut it down fully — it may stay running in the background. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac. Search for "EpicGamesLauncher" or "Epic Games Launcher" in the process list. Right-click it and select "End Task" on Windows, or click it and press the X button on Mac.

Wait 10 seconds, then reopen the launcher. This forces it to reconnect to Epic's servers from scratch. Once it opens, navigate back to your download and check whether the speed counter shows a number above 0. If it does, the problem was a frozen launcher and you are done. If it still shows 0, move to the next step.

Pause and resume the download

Click the pause button next to your download in the launcher's Downloads tab. Wait 30 seconds — this gives the launcher time to fully disconnect from the server. Then click the resume button. The launcher will reconnect and should begin showing download speed again.

If the speed jumps above 0 and stays there, your download is now working. If it drops back to 0 within a few seconds, the launcher is losing its connection repeatedly, which usually means a network problem or a firewall blocking the connection. Proceed to the firewall step below.

Check your internet connection

Open your web browser and load a website you visit often — Google, YouTube, or your email. If the page loads normally, your internet is working. If the page does not load or loads very slowly, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting for all lights to return to normal. Then try the Epic Games download again.

If you are on WiFi, move closer to your router or switch to a wired connection if your device supports it. WiFi can drop packets that make the launcher appear to have 0 speed even though data is moving. A wired connection (Ethernet cable) is more stable for large downloads. If you cannot use a wired connection, restart your router and try again.

Clear the launcher's cache and log back in

The launcher stores temporary files that sometimes become corrupted and prevent it from connecting properly. Close the launcher completely using Task Manager as described above. On Windows, navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved. On Mac, open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, and paste ~/Library/Application Support/EpicGamesLauncher. Delete the entire Saved folder (Windows) or the EpicGamesLauncher folder (Mac).

Reopen the launcher. It will ask you to log in again. Enter your credentials and navigate back to your download. The launcher has now rebuilt its cache from scratch and should connect properly. If the download still shows 0 speed, your firewall is likely the cause.

Disable your firewall or antivirus temporarily

Some antivirus and firewall software blocks game launchers without showing a notification. Temporarily disable your firewall to test whether it is the problem. On Windows, open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, select Windows Defender Firewall, and click "Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off". Select "Turn off" for both Private and Public networks, then click OK. Try your download again.

If the download speed jumps above 0, your firewall was blocking it. Turn the firewall back on and add the Epic Games Launcher to its exceptions list. The steps vary by firewall, but usually you open the firewall settings, find an "Allowed apps" or "Exceptions" section, and add EpicGamesLauncher.exe to the list. If you use third-party antivirus software like Norton or McAfee, open its settings and look for a "Firewall" or "Network Protection" section, then add the launcher to its exceptions.

Contact Epic Games support if the problem persists

If none of the above steps restore your download speed, the problem may be on Epic's side or specific to your account. Visit the Epic Games support website and select "Contact Us". Describe what you have already tried — restarting the launcher, pausing and resuming, checking your internet, clearing the cache, and testing your firewall. Include your account email and the name of the game you are trying to download.

Epic's support team can check whether your download is queued on their servers, whether your account has any restrictions, or whether the download server you are connected to is having issues. Response times vary, but you should expect a reply within 24 to 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my download show 0 speed but the file size keeps increasing?

The file size increasing means data is actually downloading, but the launcher is not reporting the speed correctly. This usually happens when the launcher's connection to the speed-reporting server is broken while the actual download connection still works. Pause and resume the download to reset the speed counter. If it still shows 0, restart the launcher.

Does clearing the cache delete my games?

No. The cache folder contains only temporary connection files and settings. Your installed games are stored in a separate folder (usually C:\Program Files\Epic Games on Windows). Clearing the cache will not affect any games you have already downloaded.

Can I use a VPN to fix 0 speed downloads?

A VPN may help if your ISP is throttling game launcher traffic, but it usually makes the problem worse because it adds an extra connection step. Try disabling your VPN first. If your download speed improves without it, your ISP may be throttling. If the speed stays at 0, the VPN is not the cause.

What if only one game shows 0 speed but others download normally?

The download server for that specific game may be overloaded or temporarily unavailable. Pause the download, wait an hour, and resume it. If it still shows 0 speed after restarting the launcher, the server may be down. Check the Epic Games status page or the game's community forums to see whether other players are reporting the same issue.