With the large amount of traffic that the Epic Games Store experiences comes more possibilites for technical issues with the launcher. One of those issues you might run into is known as a Socket Open Error. Here is how you can attempt to resolve this error.
How to fix Epic Games Socket Open Error
Check the status of Epic Games servers
The first thing you should do when encountering this error is check the Epic Games server status to see if they are online. The issue could be an issue on Epic's end that has caused their servers to go down. With the servers disconnected, you will not be able to play games or access the launcher.
Related: Steam Store Not Loading – How to fix
Switch to a wired internet connection
Today, it is much easier to connect to the internet using Wi-Fi. Speeds can be pretty good, and not having to find a wired connection is always helpful. However, as common wireless connections may be, they are still weaker than a good old fashioned LAN cable connection. Using a wired connection will get you a much more reliable connection with higher speeds. That means less packet loss and lower ping, which is always a plus.
Disable any and all firewalls that are in place
Firewalls are useful but can sometimes cause issues when it comes to accessing third party software on our computers. Therefore, temporarily disabling them is often a quick fix. It should be noted that disabling your firewall should only be done to figure out if that's the issue. If the firewall turns out to be the issue, make sure you add all Epic Games products as exceptions to the firewall.
- Navigate to the Start menu
- Access the Control Panel
- Click on System and Security
- Click on Windows Firewall
- Here, you can toggle Turn Windows Firewall on or off, but know that an Administrator password may be needed for this step
- Lastly, under each Network location, select the Turn off Windows Firewall option
Disable VPN and Proxy Servers
Unfortunately, Epic Games will not work if VPN or Proxy servers are being used on your network. Epic claims that it causes issues that cannot be resolved on their end when they are enabled. So, if you are receiving this error, try to disable VPN and Proxy Servers to see if that fixes the issue.
If you have tried all of the above fixes, we recommend that you open a support ticket with Epic Games directly. They will be able to examine your error more closely and advise you on what may be causing it.
For more technical help, check out How to fix Discord 500 internal server error right here on Pro Game Guides.
My name is Mason Moses. I am an entertainment aficionado, who spends more time consuming it than I would like to admit. I've been playing video games for the past 15 years and every time I turn one on, it feels like the very first time. Since I liked games so much, I decided that I would write about them.