Tech Reference

How to update your Epic Games Launcher and set games to update automatically

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You should usually let the Epic Games Launcher update on its own. Morsa Images/Getty Images
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The Epic Games Launcher lets you play hundreds of popular games, many of which are exclusive to the platform. And like other apps, the Epic Games Launcher — and the games in it — regularly receives updates to fix bugs, add features, and more.

The Epic Game Launcher automatically installs its own program updates, and there's no way to check for or install updates manually. However, you can indirectly force the launcher to perform its own automatic update by restarting the program.

How to update the Epic Games Launcher

Again, the Epic Games Launcher is built to update automatically. You're almost always better off just waiting for the Launcher to update on its own.

But if you want to force the Epic Games Launcher to check for an update:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher, so its icon appears in the taskbar or Dock at the bottom of your screen.

2. If you're on a Mac, right-click the icon and select "Quit." If you're on a PC, click the small upward-pointing arrow on the right side of the taskbar, then right-click the Epic Games Launcher icon and select "Exit."

How to update Epic Games Launcher 1
There's also a chance that you'll find the Epic Games Launcher icon with the rest of the small icons on the right side of your taskbar.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. Once the Launcher is fully closed, re-open it.

Whenever the Epic Games Launcher opens, it checks for new updates. If there's one available, it'll let you know.

How to update games within the Epic Games Launcher

Games installed using the Launcher also need occasional updates. These will also update automatically, but you'll need to enable automatic updates.

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher. 

2. In the navigation pane on the left, click "Settings."

3. Scroll down to the Manage Games section and make sure there is a checkmark next to "Allow Auto-Updates."

How to update Epic Games Launcher 3
You should always allow the Epic Games Launcher to auto-update games.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Expand the menu for each game that you want to enable automatic updates on. 

5. Make sure that those games have their "Auto-update" box checked.

How to update Epic Games Launcher 4
Each game has its own auto-update option.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.