Nothing is worse than trying to play with your friends and not being able to because of a mistake. This guide shows how to fix the ‘You cannot play this game mode at this time’ error in Fortnite.
What is “You cannot play this game mode at this time” error in Fortnite?
Some players experienced an error while trying to play Fortnite tournaments, preventing them from joining the tournament server. They received a message that said, “You cannot play this game mode at this time,” which annoyed many players who wanted to play the timed cups. Such errors occur after significant updates or during timed events because many players try to win rare prizes during limited events.
How to fix the matchmaking error in Fortnite
The easiest and fastest way to fix this error is go back to the Discovery menu and choose another experience. after that, select the Tournament option again, and you can play it. Due to the massive number of players, matchmaking errors are almost regular after every major update in Fortnite.
However, if this doesn’t work, there are a few alternatives you can try that should solve the problem. We have outlined each of these below.
Check out the Fortnite server
First it is worth checking if the issue is even on your side. It is possible that the servers of Epic Games might have some problems and as a result, you cannot join the game. The easiest way to check the Fortnite Server Status is to go to the Public Status of Epic Games page If there’s a problem, the publisher will let you know here and you’ll be able to get updates on when things are likely to be back up and running.
For PC players, check Fortnite game files
Checking out game files is something that PC gamers can do on almost all gaming platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store and GoG. It basically lets you make sure that none of the files are corrupted or missing.
To do this, open the Epic Games Store app and go to the Library tab. Click on the three dots next to Fortnite and go to the ‘Manage’ option that appears. Now click on the ‘Verify’ option at the top of this menu next to ‘Verify files’ and the process will begin.
This can take quite a while to complete, so just be prepared to sit tight. It will also be ‘Queued’ if you have another game installing or updating, so just remember that too.
Reinstall the game
If checking the files doesn’t turn up any issues – or you’re not playing on PC but are still affected by the error – then you’ll want to try uninstalling the game and reinstalling it.
The process to do this on each platform is as follows:
a computer
- Open your Epic Games Store Library.
- Click on the three-dot menu for Fortnite.
- Click on ‘Uninstall’ and confirm that you want to remove the game.
PS4/PS5
- Select ‘Fortnite’ from your console’s main screen.
- Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
- Scroll down to and press ‘X’ on the ‘Delete’ option from the menu that appears.
Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One
- Select ‘Fortnite’ from your home screen and press the Menu button. That’s the button to the right of the big Xbox button on your controller.
- Go to ‘Manage Game and Add-ons’ from the menu that appears.
- On the left sidebar, select ‘Uninstall All’.
Nintendo Switch
- Go to ‘Fortnite’ on your home screen and press the + button to the right of the Joy-Con.
- Go to the ‘Data Management’ option on the side menu.
- Select ‘Remove Software’ from this menu to uninstall it.
You will now have to reinstall the game by finding it on your platform’s marketplace. This is as easy as opening the store and searching for ‘Fortnite’. Select the option to download or “get” and the game will start installing on your system. This may take some time depending on the speed of your internet connection.
Do you use a VPN? Disable it!
Last but not least, if you happen to be using a VPN, try turning it off. VPNs or “Virtual Proxy Networks” can cause all sorts of weird connection problems with servers, especially if your connection to the VPN keeps disconnecting and reconnecting. This again probably applies mainly to PC gamers, but for anyone who has a VPN installed on their system, try playing Fortnite without it to cross this off your list.
For more related articles, check out the Fortnite ‘failed to download verified settings’ Fix on Pro Game Guides.
