The Epic Games Launcher sits on one screen forever. Either 'Verifying Update' never ends, or 'Please wait while we start your update' just keeps spinning. Epic publishes a specific fix for each message, but they are in different articles and easy to confuse. This guide puts them side by side.
Everything below is based on Epic's own help articles, checked on October 30, 2026. Where we add general advice, we say so.
Two messages, two different fixes
'Verifying Update' is fixed by changing the launcher's installation directory. 'Please wait while we start your update' is usually a proxy problem fixed with a Windows command. Using the wrong fix wastes time, so match your message first.
Which Epic Message Do You Have?
| Message | Epic says it usually means | Fix to try first |
|---|---|---|
| Verifying Update (never finishes) | A launcher update problem tied to the install location | Change the installation directory, then reinstall |
| Please wait while we start your update | A proxy interfering with the connection | netsh winhttp reset proxy, run as administrator |
| Launcher opens but acts strangely | Corrupt cache or a launcher out of date | Delete webcache, update the launcher |
Why the Epic Launcher Update Hangs
Epic ties the two messages to different causes. A Verifying Update that sticks is about the launcher's own files and where it is installed. A start-your-update message that never moves usually means something on your computer or network is intercepting the connection, most often a proxy setting.
General experience, not an official Epic step: a VPN, an antivirus or a corporate proxy configured in Windows can all behave like a proxy and block the launcher. Turning off a VPN while you update is a quick test.
Tried the official steps and still stuck?
A leftover proxy or a damaged Windows network stack can be hard to spot. Our certified bilingual technician checks the connection and the launcher remotely and gets your games updating again.
Never download an 'Epic launcher fixer'
Fake fix tools and 'cracked' launchers are a common way to steal Epic and Steam logins. Every fix on this page uses a built-in Windows command or the official launcher. Do not share your password or two-factor code with anyone offering help.
The Proxy Reset, Step by Step
- Press the Windows key, type
cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator - Type
netsh winhttp reset proxyand press Enter - Close the window and open the Epic Games Launcher as administrator
- If it still hangs, restart the PC and try a different internet connection such as a phone hotspot
If the launcher works on a hotspot but not on your home network, the router or the network settings are the cause, not the launcher.
Keeping the Epic Launcher Healthy
- Keep the launcher and Windows up to date
- Install the launcher on a drive with enough free space
- Turn off a VPN while launcher updates run
- Clear the webcache folder now and then if the launcher feels slow
- Download the launcher only from Epic's official site
If Steam is the launcher giving you trouble, see our guide to Steam stuck updating, and for Discord, our Discord update failed loop guide.
7 Fixes for an Epic Games Launcher Update That Is Stuck
Identify which message you are seeing
Epic documents two different update problems with two different fixes. 'Verifying Update' that never finishes is one. 'Please wait while we start your update' is the other. Read the exact text on screen before you try anything, because the fix for one does not help the other.
If it says 'Verifying Update', change the installation directory
Epic's official article for a stuck Verifying Update message recommends changing the launcher's installation directory. If that does not work, uninstall the launcher and reinstall it, as Epic describes in the same article.
If it says 'Please wait while we start your update', reset the proxy
Epic says this message usually indicates a proxy problem. On Windows, run Command Prompt as administrator and enter netsh winhttp reset proxy, then open the launcher as administrator. See Epic's proxy article. Mac users have separate proxy steps there.
Run the launcher as administrator and restart the PC
Right-click the Epic Games Launcher, choose Run as administrator, and try the update again. If it still fails, restart the computer. Epic's proxy guidance adds that you should try a different internet connection if the problem remains.
Clear the launcher web cache
Exit the launcher completely, open %localappdata%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved in File Explorer and delete the webcache folders if present. This is part of Epic's general launcher troubleshooting steps, which also include checking server status and updating the launcher.
Check Epic's server status and update the launcher
Before you spend more time, check Epic's server status page, because a service outage makes every update look stuck. Epic's general steps also say to check that the launcher itself is up to date.
Reinstall the launcher as a last step
If nothing above works, uninstall the Epic Games Launcher and install it again from Epic's website. Check Epic's reinstall instructions first and do not delete your games folder, so you can point the new launcher at it afterwards.
Want a person to check your connection?
Our technician can join you on a remote session, check for a leftover proxy or network fault and get the launcher updating again.
Launcher still hanging?
A hidden proxy or a damaged network stack is easy to miss. IT Cares diagnoses it remotely and gets your games updating again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Epic Games Launcher stuck on 'Verifying Update'?
Epic's article for this message recommends changing the launcher's installation directory, and if that fails, uninstalling and reinstalling the launcher. It is a launcher-update problem, not a problem with a specific game.
What does 'Please wait while we start your update' mean?
Epic says this message usually indicates a proxy. On Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator, run netsh winhttp reset proxy, then launch the Epic Games Launcher as administrator. If it still fails, restart the PC and try a different internet connection.
How do I clear the Epic Games Launcher cache?
Exit the launcher, open %localappdata%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved in File Explorer and delete the webcache folders if they are present. Epic lists this in its launcher troubleshooting steps.
Will reinstalling the Epic launcher delete my games?
Epic's article only says to uninstall and reinstall the launcher. Do not delete your games folder, follow Epic's reinstall instructions, and point the new launcher at your existing install location afterwards.
Does the proxy fix work on Mac?
Epic provides separate proxy-disable steps for Mac in its article. The netsh command is for Windows only.
Should I run the Epic launcher as administrator all the time?
No. Run it as administrator for troubleshooting only, as Epic suggests. If an update works that way, you may have a permissions problem worth fixing, but there is no need to leave it elevated permanently.