How to fix the ‘You do not have permission to play Fortnite’ error

Permission to play Fortnite is not always be granted. Every time you launch Fortnite, you practically ask for permission to get into the servers and the “You do not have permission to play Fortnite” error appears when you don’t get a response.

The wording of the Fortnite error may make it sound quite dire, but it’s one of the most harmless errors in the game, as I can’t recall how many times I received it myself, especially when Epic Games rolled out new patches.

Fixing the ‘You do not have permission to play Fortnite’ error

More often than not, the ‘You do not have permission to play Fortnite‘ error should resolve itself as Epic’s servers come back online. However, you can still try the following fixes which mostly focus on troubleshooting your connection.

1) Check if the servers are down

If the servers are down, you won’t be able to fix the “You do not have permission to play Fortnite” error, meaning checking Fortnite‘s server status can save you some time.

Epic has a status web page for its services and you can check out all the known issues and server outages on this website. Alternatively, you can also look at Fortnite’s X (formerly Twitter) account which only posts about ongoing errors and outages.

In most cases, community members will respond faster than developers when there’s a server-wide problem, meaning community hubs like Reddit can also be a decent source to see whether other players are experiencing the same error. Aside from these three options, Downdetector can be a decent alternative. This platform also relies on user feedback and delivers results based on players’ responses.

2) Restart Fortnite

Restarting Fortnite will allow you to try reconnecting to the servers once again. Try restarting Fortnite around three or four times. If you still can’t get in after a few tries, you may need to wait out the error.

3) Restart your router

If the servers are up but you’re still experiencing the “You do not have permission to play Fortnite” error, you should try restarting your router. Restarting your router will be the best way to troubleshoot your home connection. If your ISP was to blame for your connection issues, a simple reset might be enough to do the trick.

Aside from resetting your router, you can also change your DNS while restarting your gaming device at the same time.

4) Wait until Epic fixes the error

If you weren’t able to get into the game by performing the troubleshooting steps above, you have no option but to wait for Epic to fix the error. Considering how fast Epic can be when it comes to server-wide errors, the waiting period may be shorter than you’d imagine.

In extreme cases, consider opening a support ticket. Don’t forget to mention all the troubleshooting methods you’ve tried to fix the error and a screengrab of the error. The support team should get back to you after researching solutions that may work just for you.

In the meantime, you can also link your Fortnite account which may fix the error as well.

What causes the ‘You do not have permission to play Fortnite’ error?

The “You do not have permission to play Fortnite” error usually occurs whenever the servers are experiencing an uptick in traffic. Whenever Epic pushes big content updates like new seasons, Fortnite attracts new and returning players, increasing the overall load on the servers.

When the “You do not have permission to play Fortnite” error appears, chances are the servers may have already gone down. Before proceeding with any troubleshooting methods, you’ll want to make sure that the servers are actually down.