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Fortnite ‘Waiting in Queue’ 2023 – What the Error Means & How to Fix It

Get out of that queue and back into the game!

Are you getting hit with the FortniteWaiting in Queue‘ message when trying to join a game or log in to the servers in Fortnite OG? This guide will explain everything you need to know about the message and how you can start playing the game again.

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What Does Waiting in Queue Mean in Fortnite OG?

If you’re getting the ‘Waiting in Queue’ error notification when trying to load up Fortnite, this is because the number of players trying to join a game or log into the servers is currently too many for the servers to actually handle.

It can also be a result of the servers simply being offline for scheduled maintenance. Rather than not allowing you to hop into the game at all, Fortnite will put you in a login queue so that as soon as the servers come back online, it can start getting players in as fast as possible.

A record number of players have joined since the start of Fortnite OG Chapter 4 Season 5 so the servers are the busiest they have ever been. This may well be the reason you are now getting this message. When the servers are inundated with players, Epic implements a queue system to slowly ramp up server capacity.

This prevents the game from crashing just as everyone is finally able to start playing, and ensures no single player is hogging time in the game for an extended period. It is always worth checking the Epic Games servers and services status page for updates to any server issues, or following Fortnite Status on X/Twitter.

Essentially, ‘Waiting in Queue’ means you’ve been put in a queue in order to allow the servers to deal with each player’s request a few at a time. This prevents the servers from being overwhelmed and crashing. Queuing is a measure implemented to prevent unexpected downtime, and is just one of those things you have to deal with unfortunately.

How to Fix ‘Waiting in Queue in Fortnite OG

Sadly, there’s no real way to avoid getting this error message. Your best bet is to just sit tight and wait for your place in the queue, or for them to come back online if there’s scheduled downtime.

Fortnite OG Season key art
Image Source: Epic Games

If you try closing the game and reopening it, you’re basically resetting your position in the queue, so you’re only going to increase the amount of time you have to wait until you can start playing the game again.

With a bit of luck, the ‘Waiting in Queue’ message will eventually disappear and stop showing up for new players trying to log in or join a game. This will happen once the sudden surge of players joining and logging in has subsided, so if you really don’t want to wait around, we recommend trying again in 10-15 minutes.

It is also best to avoid peak times like Friday to Sunday mornings and evenings if the problem persists. These are the times when it is more likely to occur due to an influx of other players trying to join a match.

Can You Speed up Queue Times in Fortnite?

As for whether or not there’s a way to speed up queue times in Fortnite, the answer is no.

Just as the “Waiting in Queue” message isn’t an error so much as its a notification that the game is loading, the queue time is based on the game’s systems operating normally and taking the necessary time to funnel everyone into matches. Circumventing it would require breaking said systems, and could land you on Epic’s list of banned players.

As frustrating as it might be, you’ll need to be patient and wait for however long it takes to get into a match. This could mean waiting between 15 minutes and an hour, depending on the state of the game’s servers, how many players are currently trying to log in, and other factors.

That’s everything you need to know on the Fortnite Waiting in Queue error. For more tips and tricks, be sure to check out the links below.


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Author
Image of Chris Jecks
Chris Jecks
Chris Jecks has been covering the games industry for over eight years. He typically covers new releases, FIFA, Fortnite, any good shooters, and loves nothing more than a good Pro Clubs session with the lads. Chris has a History degree from the University of Central Lancashire. He spends his days eagerly awaiting the release of BioShock 4.
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Author
Image of Rowan Jones
Rowan Jones
Rowan is a writer from Devon, U.K with a BA in Education Studies. The first video game Rowan fell in love with was Treasure Island Dizzy on the ZX Spectrum but has since progressed to bigger and better titles. She has been writing game guides for mobile and console since 2020 within Gamurs Group. Rowan has a love/hate relationship with Dead By Daylight and a completely healthy obsession with Fortnite.