How to Fix EA App Installation Error INST-14-1601

The EA app encountered an error and couldn’t finish installing (error code: INST-14-1601) occurs while installing EA Play. This error prevents the installation from completing, typically because another installation process is already running in the background.

The most common cause of this error is another MSI installation process running in the background, such as Windows Update or a stuck installer. A corrupted installation package can also trigger this error.

In this article, we will go through the steps to fix this problem.

1. Close Installer From Task Manager

A hidden Windows Installer process can block the EA App setup from completing. Ending the Windows Installer or EAappinstaller.exe process from Task Manager clears out any stuck installation tasks that are preventing the EA App from proceeding.

1. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to open Task Manager.
2. Look for any process related to the installer (such as Windows Installer or EAappinstaller.exe) and end it.

2. Download Directly from Website

If the installation is being triggered by another platform that requires EA Play, conflicts can occur, causing the installer to fail or overlap with another running service. Downloading the EA App directly from EA’s official website avoids these conflicts and ensures a clean, standalone installation process.

1. Go to the EA Play website or click here to directly download the installer.
2. Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. Enable .NET Framework

The EA App requires certain Windows components to work correctly. If the .NET Framework is disabled or missing, the installer may fail. Enabling these features ensures the application can run background services and display its interface properly.

1. Press Windows + R, type “optionalfeatures” and press Enter.
2. Enable “.NET Framework 3.5” and “.NET Framework 4.8“, then click OK.

4. Turn off Ransomware Protection Temporarily

Ransomware Protection can block installers from saving files or creating shortcuts in protected folders like Documents, Program Files, or the desktop. If the EA App setup attempts to create files in these locations, the protection can interrupt the process and cause the installation to fail. Temporarily turning it off allows the installer to create necessary files and shortcuts without issues.

1. Search for “Ransomware Protection” in the Windows search bar and open it.
2. Turn off “Controlled folder access“.
3. Once EA App is installed, you can simply enable this option again.