Fix: Unable to Install Epic Online Services EOS-ERR-1603

The Epic Online Service’s ERR-1603 error indicates there are difficulties connecting to Epic’s backend services. This disruption can temporarily disable features such as game installation, updates, and multiplayer matchmaking.

This error can be caused by incorrect installation paths, a corrupted or missing EOS installer, absent installation directories, or an unstable network connection. Additionally, server-side or account-related issues might prevent you from logging into your account using the service.

1) Check Your Internet Connection

Since this issue involves connecting to Epic’s online servers, it’s recommended to ensure you have a stable internet connection. Verify that other internet services are working correctly on your device. Consider using an online speed test or simply browsing the web for confirmation.

2) Create the Epic Online Services Sub-Folder Manually

If you’ve installed the Epic Games launcher on a different partition from your system partition, some registry entries might still point to the default Program Files (x86) location on the C drive.

Try reinstalling the Epic Games Launcher on the main drive, in the default location, to see if this resolves the issue. This process might automatically reinstall EOS in the new root directory.

Alternatively, you can manually run the EOS installer by creating a dummy “Epic Online Services” folder in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games directory. Ensure the root directory is already set up.

The installer is located within the Epic Launcher directory:

Epic Games\Launcher\Portal\Extras\EOS\EpicOnlineServices.msi

3) Install EOS Using a Game

Some games on the Epic Games Store include a bundled Epic Online Services installer. This can serve as a manual check to ensure the EOS component is installed correctly on your system. For instance, Fall Guys, which is free to download, includes this installer.

1. From the Epic Games Store, install Fall Guys.
2. Once installed, close the Epic Games Launcher.
3. Navigate to the game’s root directory.
4. Inside the folder, locate the EpicOnlineServices subfolder. It contains the EOS installer.
5. Open the folder and run the installer.
6. Launch Epic Games to check if the issue persists.
7. Uninstall Fall Guys if you no longer need it.

4) Install Epic Games via the Microsoft Store

When installing Epic Games manually, you can customize the installation path, which might lead to inconsistent file directories.

This means some components that need to be on the main drive might not get installed there. Therefore, installing the launcher through the Microsoft Store is a better option because it ensures that necessary dependencies and components are automatically downloaded through pre-configured installations.

5) Round Up the “Usual Suspects”

Before contacting Epic Support, it’s useful to try some basic troubleshooting steps in case the issue is more superficial. Restart your PC, run Epic Games as an administrator, check for firewall filters that might block Epic Games from connecting to online servers, and inspect for corrupted game files.

The issue might also be software-related, where some background apps interfere with the connection process. Close all background apps and try again to see if the issue persists. Also, check for Windows and driver updates to ensure there are no missing critical updates.

6) Contact Epic Games Support

If none of the steps work, contact Epic Games Support. The support team can provide detailed guidance on the issues you might be experiencing, whether they’re device or account-related. Some problems, especially those unique to a user, can be challenging to solve without direct support assistance.