Another Installation Is In Progress Epic Games | Fix It

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Epic Games Launcher shows “another installation is in progress” when a stuck installer or update is still holding the install lock.

You click Install, expect the download bar to move, and instead you get the same message again. Most of the time, it’s a leftover lock. The Epic Games Launcher and Windows Installer both block two setups from changing the same files at the same time. When a setup doesn’t close cleanly, the lock stays behind, and the next install won’t start.

This guide takes the least risky path first, then moves into deeper fixes only if you still see the error. You’ll know what each step changes, and you’ll avoid wiping game files unless you choose the reinstall route.

What The Message Means In Epic Games Launcher

This message usually comes from one of two places. It can appear inside the launcher while it’s updating a game. It can also show up during the launcher’s own setup, when Windows is running the installer in the background.

Either way, the meaning is simple. One install job is still marked active, so the next job refuses to start. That can happen even when nothing looks busy on screen.

Where The Lock Usually Lives

  • Launcher Update Task — A background update hangs on a file and never clears the queue.
  • Windows Installer Session — A hidden msiexec process is still running from a prior setup attempt.
  • Pending Reboot Flag — Windows is waiting for a restart to finish file moves.

The goal is to end the stuck job, clear the launcher state, or reset Windows Installer so the lock releases.

Another Installation Is In Progress Epic Games On Windows

If you’re seeing the warning while installing the launcher, Windows is the gatekeeper. Epic’s setup uses the Windows Installer engine, and that engine blocks a second install while it thinks the first one is still active.

When the message shows up while installing a game inside the launcher, Epic’s own downloader can be the blocker. The end goal stays the same. You want one active install at a time, and you want the active one to be the right one.

What You Notice Likely Cause What Usually Works
Error pops up instantly Old installer session still marked active End processes, restart Windows Installer
Download starts, then freezes Launcher cache or stuck update Clear web cache, relaunch
Install resumes after reboot Restart needed to finish changes Restart, then install again

Before you change folders or remove files, do the quick checks next. They keep your library intact.

Quick Checks Before You Change Anything

Start here when Windows is running normally and you haven’t tried ten different fixes yet. These steps are fast, low-risk, and they often clear the lock in one go.

  • Restart The PC — A reboot closes hidden installer sessions and clears pending file moves.
  • Wait After Login — Give Windows a minute to finish background setup jobs.
  • Close Other Installers — Exit Steam, Battle.net, Adobe updaters, and any setup wizards.
  • Quit Epic Games Launcher Fully — Use the tray icon, then confirm it’s gone in Task Manager.

If the message comes back right away, move on to ending the processes that are holding the lock.

Confirm Nothing Is Still Installing

Sometimes the lock is real. Windows may be finishing an update, a driver install, or another app setup in the background. A quick peek saves you from stopping the wrong task.

  1. Open The Details Tab — In Task Manager, switch to Details so you can see exact process names.
  2. Search For Msiexec — If msiexec.exe is using noticeable CPU or disk, let it finish before you try Epic again.
  3. Check Windows Update — In Settings, open Windows Update and let any ongoing installs complete.
  4. Try Epic After Five Minutes — Once background installs settle, run the launcher installer again.

Clear A Stuck Epic Games Install Task

This section targets the common “it won’t start installing” situation. You’ll stop running Epic processes, clear the cache that stores launcher state, and start fresh.

Stop Epic Processes Cleanly

  1. Open Task Manager — Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and switch to the Processes or Details view.
  2. End Epic Tasks — End EpicGamesLauncher.exe and any EpicWebHelper.exe entries.
  3. End Stuck Installer Tasks — If msiexec.exe is running while nothing is installing, end it.

Be careful with msiexec.exe if Windows updates are installing. If you’re not installing anything else, ending a stuck msiexec session is usually fine.

If you end Epic tasks and the launcher still opens into the same stuck state, a sign-out cycle can refresh session data. Open the launcher, sign out, close it, then sign back in after you clear webcache.

Clear The Launcher Web Cache

The launcher keeps a web cache for store pages, sign-in state, and download UI data. When that cache breaks, the launcher can misread its own queue and refuse to start the next install.

  1. Open The Local AppData Folder — Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%, then press Enter.
  2. Go To The Saved Folder — Open EpicGamesLauncher, then open Saved.
  3. Delete Webcache Folders — Delete webcache and any webcache_* folders.
  4. Launch Epic Again — Start the launcher and retry the install.

Check The Install Queue Inside The Launcher

  • Open Downloads — Open the Downloads view and look for a paused update that’s blocking.
  • Cancel The Stuck Item — Cancel the hung job, then start the install again.
  • Switch Install Location — Try a different drive if the current one is throwing write errors.

If you still see the same warning, Windows Installer is likely the blocker, so reset that next.

Fix Windows Installer And Pending Reboot Issues

Windows Installer runs many setup packages, including the launcher installer. When it gets stuck, it can keep the “another install is running” state even after you close every window.

Restart The Windows Installer Service

  1. Open Services — Press Windows + R, type services.msc, then press Enter.
  2. Find Windows Installer — Scroll to Windows Installer.
  3. Restart The Service — Stop it if it’s running, then start it again.
  4. Try The Installer Again — Run the Epic Games Launcher setup file again.

Clear A Reboot-Waiting State

  • Restart Again — A second reboot can clear a lingering pending-restart state.
  • Finish Updates — Install Windows updates and restart until Windows stops asking for another reboot.
  • Try A Clean Startup — Disable third-party startup apps, reboot, and run the installer again.

If the installer keeps failing, it can leave a lock behind and then block the next run. The next section breaks that loop by repairing or reinstalling the launcher files.

Repair Or Reinstall The Launcher When It Won’t Clear

If you’ve cleared cache, ended processes, restarted the installer service, and the warning still appears, treat it like a damaged install. A repair or reinstall resets the launcher’s local files and clears broken update state.

Try A Repair First

  1. Open Installed Apps — Go to Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps.
  2. Find Epic Games Launcher — Select it and choose Modify or Repair if Windows offers it.
  3. Reboot After Repair — Restart, then open the launcher and retry the install.

Do A Clean Reinstall If Needed

Uninstalling the launcher usually leaves game folders alone, yet it’s smart to confirm where your games are stored before you uninstall. If you’ve set a custom library path, write it down so you can point the launcher back to it later.

  1. Uninstall The Launcher — Uninstall Epic Games Launcher from Windows Settings.
  2. Reboot The PC — Restart to clear installer locks.
  3. Install The Latest Version — Download the newest installer from Epic’s official site and run it as admin.
  4. Set Your Library Path — In the launcher settings, set the same install folder so existing games can be found.

If the launcher still refuses to install, check disk space and security software next. Low space and aggressive scanning can stall setup and leave the lock behind.

Keep The Error From Coming Back

The message returns when installs overlap, storage runs low, or the launcher is forced closed mid-update. A few habits cut the odds of seeing it again.

  • Run One Installer At A Time — Let one install finish before starting another.
  • Leave Free Space — Keep extra space for patches, unpacking, and temporary files.
  • Avoid Forced Restarts — Let Epic finish updates before you restart Windows.
  • Clear Cache When The UI Glitches — If pages won’t load or downloads act weird, clear webcache.
  • Use A Stable Drive — Installs to a drive that disconnects can leave partial files behind.

If you’re still stuck after all steps above, capture the exact error text and note where it appears. Then use the Epic Games Help Center and share what you already tried.

If you see “another installation is in progress epic games” right after a reboot, wait a minute and try again. Windows may still be finishing a background setup, and the lock can clear once that job ends.

When installs are working normally, you shouldn’t see “another installation is in progress epic games” unless something else is installing at the same time.