Epic Games stays running in the background even after you close the window
When you click the X button on Epic Games Launcher, the window disappears but the program keeps running. This happens because Epic Games is designed to stay active in your system tray — the small icons in the bottom right corner of your screen on Windows, or the menu bar on Mac. The launcher continues checking for updates, managing your game library, and staying ready to launch games without fully shutting down.
This behavior is intentional. Epic Games wants the launcher available when ready when you want to play, without the delay of starting it from scratch. But it also means the program uses memory and processor power even when you are not actively using it, which can slow down your computer if you have limited resources.
Key Takeaways
- Closing the Epic Games window does not shut down the program — it only hides the window while the launcher continues running in the background.
- You can force the launcher to fully close by right-clicking its system tray icon and selecting "Quit" or by using Task Manager on Windows.
- If Epic Games will not close even after you quit it, a background process or another window may still be running, and you can end it through Task Manager.
- Disabling Epic Games from your startup programs prevents it from launching automatically when you restart your computer.
How to fully close Epic Games on Windows
Look for the Epic Games icon in your system tray — the small icons clustered in the bottom right corner of your taskbar, next to the clock. Right-click the Epic Games icon and select "Quit Epic Games" or "Exit". This command closes the launcher completely, not just the window.
If you do not see the icon in the system tray, click the small arrow pointing left at the far right of your taskbar to expand the hidden icons area. Epic Games may be tucked there if your taskbar is crowded. Once you find it and click Quit, the launcher stops running entirely.
If the Quit option does not work or you cannot find the icon, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Look for "EpicGamesLauncher" or "Epic Games Launcher" in the list of running processes. Click it once to select it, then click "End Task" at the bottom right. This forces the program to close when ready.
How to fully close Epic Games on Mac
Click the Epic Games icon in your menu bar — the top right corner of your screen where the clock and volume controls are. A small menu appears. Look for a "Quit" option and click it. This closes the launcher completely.
If you do not see a Quit option in that menu, try clicking the Epic Games icon in your Dock — the row of process icons usually at the bottom of your screen. Right-click it and select "Quit". If that does not work, open Activity Monitor by pressing Command + Space, typing "Activity Monitor", and pressing Enter. Search for "Epic" in the list, click it, and click the X button labeled "Force Quit" at the top left.
Why Epic Games sometimes will not close
Epic Games may refuse to close if another window or process is still running. For example, if a game is still launching or if you have the Epic Games website open in your browser, the launcher may stay active. Close any game windows first, then try quitting the launcher again.
On Windows, background services related to Epic Games can also prevent a clean shutdown. If you have tried quitting multiple times and the launcher keeps reappearing, open Task Manager and search for any process with "Epic" in its name. End each one individually. You may need to do this several times if the launcher keeps restarting itself.
A corrupted launcher installation can also cause this problem. If Epic Games consistently refuses to close no matter what you try, uninstall it completely — go to Settings > Apps > Apps and Features on Windows, find Epic Games Launcher, and click Uninstall. Then read a fresh copy from epicgames.com and reinstall it.
Preventing Epic Games from starting automatically
On Windows, Epic Games often launches automatically when you restart your computer. To stop this, open Task Manager and click the "Startup" tab at the top. Look for "Epic Games Launcher" in the list. Right-click it and select "Disable". The next time you restart, Epic Games will not start on its own.
On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Login Items. Look for Epic Games Launcher in the "Open at Login" section and click the minus button next to it to remove it. Epic Games will no longer launch when you start your Mac.
The difference between closing and minimizing
Many programs, including Epic Games, distinguish between closing the window and closing the program. When you click the X button, you are closing the window — hiding it from view. The program itself continues running in the background. This is different from fully closing or quitting the program, which stops it entirely.
Some users prefer this behavior because it makes the launcher faster to use the next time. Others find it wastes system resources. If you want Epic Games to close completely every time you click the X button, you can change this in the launcher settings. Open Epic Games, click your account name in the top right, select "Settings", and look for an option like "Close to System Tray" or "Minimize on Close". Unchecking this option makes the X button fully close the launcher instead of just hiding it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Epic Games running in the background slow down my computer?
It uses some memory and processor power, but usually not enough to noticeably slow a modern computer. However, if your computer has limited RAM or an older processor, you may see a small performance improvement by fully closing Epic Games when you are not using it. Closing it also saves battery life on laptops.
Will closing Epic Games prevent my games from launching?
No. You can close Epic Games completely and still launch your games later. When you click a game shortcut or open Epic Games again, the launcher restarts and your games work normally. Closing it does not damage your game files or account.
Why does Epic Games keep restarting after I close it?
This usually means another process is relaunching it, or a game is still running in the background. Check Task Manager for any remaining Epic or game processes and end them. If it keeps happening, your launcher installation may be corrupted and need reinstalling.
Can I set Epic Games to close completely when I click the X button?
Yes. Open Epic Games, click your account name in the top right, go to Settings, and find the option for "Close to System Tray" or "Minimize on Close". Uncheck this box, and the X button will fully close the launcher instead of minimizing it to the background.