Apex Legends, released in 2019 by Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts, quickly gained popularity as a free-to-play hero shooter video game. With its powerful characters, strategic squadplay experience, innovative gameplay, and more, it has become an award-winning battle royale title. However, like any other game, Apex Legends is not immune to issues. One common problem that PC players encounter is the Apex Legends EAC Is Not Running Issue.
The Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) service, developed and maintained by Epic Games, is an industry-leading anti-cheat mechanism used in hundreds of popular video games, including Apex Legends. It aims to prevent online multiplayer hacking and cheating on the PC version of the game. However, sometimes the EAC service may get disabled or corrupted, preventing the game from running properly.
In this article, we will explore various troubleshooting methods to fix the Apex Legends EAC Is Not Running Issue. We will provide step-by-step instructions and explain the possible reasons behind this issue. By following these workarounds, you can resolve the problem and get back to enjoying the ultimate multiplayer experience in Apex Legends.
Now, let’s dive into each method and learn how to fix the Apex Legends EAC Is Not Running Issue.
1. Reboot the PC
One of the simplest troubleshooting steps is to reboot your PC. This can help resolve temporary glitches or clear cached data that might be causing the EAC service to malfunction. Restarting the system often fixes various issues, so it’s worth trying before moving on to other methods.
To reboot your PC, simply go to the Start menu, click on the Power button, and select Restart. Once your computer restarts, launch Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue persists.
2. Check the Apex Legends Server Status
Sometimes, the issue may not be related to your PC but rather with the Apex Legends servers. Temporary server downtime or maintenance can prevent the EAC service from running properly. To check the Apex Legends server status, you can visit the official Apex Legends server status website or check the DownDetector webpage for Apex Legends.
Additionally, you can follow the official Apex Legends Twitter handle (@_ApexStatus) for real-time updates on server status. If the servers are down or undergoing maintenance, it’s best to wait for a few hours and try launching the game again later.
3. Run Apex Legends as an Administrator
Running Apex Legends as an administrator can often solve issues related to permissions and program execution. By granting the game administrative access, you ensure that it has the necessary privileges to run smoothly. Here’s how you can run Apex Legends as an administrator:
- Go to the installed Apex Legends game directory.
- Right-click on the ApexLegends.exe application file.
- Click on Properties, then navigate to the Compatibility tab.
- Check the “Run this program as an administrator” box to enable it.
- Click Apply, then OK to save the changes.
- Finally, launch Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue is resolved.
4. Update Apex Legends
An outdated game version can often lead to various issues, including the EAC Is Not Running Issue. It’s essential to keep Apex Legends updated to ensure you have the latest bug fixes and improvements. You can update Apex Legends manually through the Steam client or the EA Desktop app, depending on your preferred platform.
For Steam users, follow these steps to update Apex Legends:
- Open the Steam client and go to the Library.
- Locate Apex Legends in the list of games on the left pane.
- If an update is available, click on Update to initiate the update process.
- Wait for the update to complete, then restart your PC to apply the changes.
For EA Desktop users, follow these steps to update Apex Legends:
- Launch the EA Desktop app on your PC.
- Sign in to your account and go to the Profile section.
- Click on the down arrow icon next to your profile.
- Select Settings, then go to the Download tab.
- In the Updates section, turn on the “Update games automatically” toggle.
- Also, turn on the “Enable background services” option.
- Relaunch the EA Desktop app to apply the changes.
- Apex Legends will now update automatically whenever an update is available.
After updating Apex Legends, launch the game and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue persists.
5. Verify and Repair Game Files
Corrupted or missing game files can cause various issues, including problems with the EAC service. Verifying and repairing the game files can help fix these issues. Here’s how you can verify and repair game files for Apex Legends:
For EA Desktop users:
- Open the EA Desktop app and go to My Collection.
- Right-click on Apex Legends in the game list.
- Click on Repair and wait for the verification process to complete.
- Once done, restart your PC to apply the changes.
For Steam users:
- Launch the Steam client and go to the Library.
- Right-click on Apex Legends.
- Click on Properties, then navigate to the Local Files tab.
- Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files”.
- Wait for the verification process to complete.
- Once done, reboot your PC to apply the changes.
After verifying and repairing the game files, launch Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue is resolved.
6. Update Windows
Running an outdated version of the Windows operating system can sometimes cause conflicts with programs and services, including the EAC service. Updating Windows to the latest version can help resolve these conflicts and ensure optimal performance. Here’s how you can update Windows:
- Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
- Click on Windows Update from the left pane.
- Click on Check for updates.
- If an update is available, select Download and Install.
- Wait for the update process to complete.
- Once done, reboot your PC to apply the changes.
After updating Windows, launch Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue persists.
7. Disable Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall, a security feature built into the Windows operating system, can sometimes interfere with the proper functioning of games and services. Temporarily disabling Windows Firewall can help determine if it’s causing the EAC Is Not Running Issue. Here’s how you can disable Windows Firewall:
- Open the Start Menu and search for Windows Defender Firewall.
- Click on “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off” from the left side.
- Select the “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended)” option.
- Disable the Firewall for all the Private, Public, and Domain Network Settings.
- Click OK to save the changes.
After disabling Windows Firewall, launch Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue is resolved. If it is, you may need to configure the Firewall settings to allow Apex Legends and the EAC service.
8. Turn Off Antivirus Protection
Antivirus programs, including both Windows Defender and third-party software, can sometimes interfere with game files and services, causing the EAC Is Not Running Issue. Temporarily turning off antivirus protection can help determine if it’s the cause of the problem. Here’s how you can turn off antivirus protection in Windows:
- Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
- Click on Update & Security, then go to Windows Security from the left pane.
- Click on Open Windows Security.
- Open Virus & threat protection and click on Manage settings.
- Turn off the Real-time protection option.
- If prompted, click Yes to proceed.
- You can now launch Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue persists.
Note: Remember to turn on antivirus protection after troubleshooting to ensure your system remains secure.
9. Delete Apex Legends Cache Folder
Deleting the Apex Legends cache folder can help resolve issues related to outdated or corrupted cache files. By removing the cache folder, you force Apex Legends to create a new one, potentially fixing the EAC Is Not Running Issue. Here’s how you can delete the Apex Legends cache folder:
- Press the Win+R keys to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type %appdata% and hit Enter to open the AppData folder.
- Search for the Apex Legends folder and delete it.
- Once done, reboot your PC and run the game again.
After deleting the cache folder, launch Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue is resolved.
10. Repair Easy Anti-Cheat
The Easy Anti-Cheat service is automatically installed with games that support it. However, if you feel that the service is not working properly, you can repair it to fix any potential issues. Here’s how you can repair Easy Anti-Cheat for Apex Legends:
- Navigate to the Apex Legends installation directory.
- Open the EasyAntiCheat folder.
- Right-click on the EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe file.
- Select Run as administrator and click Yes if prompted.
- Choose Install, then select Repair.
- Wait for the repair process to complete.
- Reboot your PC and launch Apex Legends to check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue is resolved.
11. Restart Easy Anti-Cheat Service
Sometimes, the Easy Anti-Cheat service may become disabled or stopped, leading to the EAC Is Not Running Issue. Manually restarting the service can help resolve this problem. Here’s how you can restart the Easy Anti-Cheat service:
- Press the Win+R keys to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type services.msc and hit Enter to open the Services window.
- Search for the Easy AntiCheat service from the list.
- Double-click on the EAC service and go to Properties.
- Set the Startup type to Automatic.
- Reboot your computer and launch Apex Legends.
After restarting the Easy Anti-Cheat service, check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue is resolved.
12. Reinstall Easy Anti-Cheat
If none of the previous methods work, you can try reinstalling the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) service on your computer. This process is simple and can help fix the EAC Is Not Running Issue with Apex Legends. Here’s how you can reinstall Easy Anti-Cheat:
- Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
- Click on Apps and locate Easy Anti-Cheat in the list.
- Click on Uninstall and follow the on-screen prompts to remove it completely.
- Once done, go to the Apex Legends installation folder.
- Open the EasyAntiCheat folder and right-click on EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe.
- Select Run as administrator and click Yes if prompted.
- Click on Install and wait for the installation to complete.
- Finally, run Apex Legends and check if the EAC Is Not Running Issue is resolved.
By following these troubleshooting methods, you should be able to fix the Apex Legends EAC Is Not Running Issue and enjoy a smooth gaming experience. If you have any further queries or need additional assistance, feel free to comment below.
Conclusion
The Apex Legends EAC Is Not Running Issue can be frustrating for PC players, but with the right troubleshooting methods, it can be resolved. In this article, we explored various solutions, including rebooting the PC, checking the server status, running Apex Legends as an administrator, updating the game and Windows, verifying and repairing game files, disabling Windows Firewall and antivirus protection, deleting the cache folder, repairing Easy Anti-Cheat, restarting the Easy Anti-Cheat service, and reinstalling Easy Anti-Cheat.
By following these step-by-step instructions, you can overcome the EAC Is Not Running Issue and get back to enjoying the ultimate multiplayer experience in Apex Legends. Remember to keep your game and system updated, as well as maintain proper security measures to ensure a smooth and secure gaming experience.
If you found this guide helpful or have any feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Happy gaming!