5 Ways to Fix the “You Do Not Have Permission to Play” Fortnite Error

The “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error message is one many players have reported seeing. This is what one player’s Reddit post said, “I’m sitting down to play my evening game sesh, and I keep getting a Fortnite error: ‘login failed, you do not have permission to play Fortnite.’” Players can’t reach the Fortnite menu and play the game when it throws up that annoying error message. This is how players can resolve the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error on a Windows PC.

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Check if There’s a Server Issue

Some players worry they’ve been banned when they see the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error message, but it doesn’t mean that. Fortnite often throws up that error because of server-related issues players can’t fix. So, check if this Epic status page shows any server-side issues for the Fortnite game. This X page also provides service updates for Fortnite.

The Epic status page

There probably isn’t much you can do to resolve the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error if those pages show there’s a general server or service issue for the game. Wait a day or two until the gurus at Epic get that issue sorted out. Then try playing Fortnite again to see if the error persists.

Restart (Power Cycle) the Router/Modem

The “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error is primarily a connectivity issue. Restarting your router/modem by power cycling it will refresh your connection. Try power cycling your router/mode like this.

1. First, shut down your PC.
2. Turn off your router/modem and unplug its power cable.
   
   

   A router/modem

3. Wait about a minute.
4. Plug your router/modem back in and turn it on.
5. Wait for about five minutes.
6. Return to your PC and try playing Fortnite again.

This is also a completely valid potential fix for console players. Some players have said they only needed to restart their consoles to resolve the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error. However, I recommend restarting your router as outlined above because it’s a tried and trusted troubleshooting method for connection issues.

Set a New DNS Server on Your PC

A few players have confirmed changing DNS servers has resolved the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error on their PCs. Those players switched to a more reliable Cloudflare DNS server. You can set that DNS in Windows like this.

1. First, click Start with the mouse’s right button to select Run.
2. Enter ncpa.cpl into the Open box and select OK.
3. Next, right-click your PC’s internet network adapter to select a Properties context menu option.
4. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 within the properties window that opens.
   Click the radio button with the Use the following DNS server label.
5. Input 1.1.1.1 inside the Preferred DNS server value box.
6. Next, enter the 1.0.0.1 value within the Alternative DNS server box.
   
   

   The Use the following DNS server addresses

7. Click OK to apply settings and exit the Internet Protocol Version 4 window.

Turn Off Firewalls

Disabling firewalls isn’t an especially widely confirmed way to fix the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error. However, don’t discount the possibility that a firewall block on Fortnite could be causing this issue. Temporarily disable Windows Defender Firewall by following the steps on this Microsoft help page. Then try playing Fortnite again to see if that helps.

The Windows Defender Firewall settings

Lots of third-party security apps also have firewalls. Go through the settings of any third-party antivirus app on your PC to see if it has a firewall. If it does, select an option to disable the utility’s firewall.

Reinstall Fortnite

If the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error still occurs after applying the suggested fixes above, try reinstalling Fortnite. Doing this will ensure you’re playing the latest Fortnite version and refresh game files. These are the steps for reinstalling the game.

1. Open Epic Games to go into the Library tab there.
2. Press the three-dot menu button for your Fortnite game.
3. Select Uninstall to remove Fortnite.
   
   

   The Uninstall option in Epic Games

4. Click the Fortnite image in the Library tab and select Install.

Alas, there aren’t many potential fixes for the “You do not have permission to play” Fortnite error on Windows PCs. However, those fixes covered above have worked for some players. If the issue continues, you can submit a ticket to the Epic support service for further potential fixes as instructed on this help page.