A PC game will not install, or the download stops
Five install symptoms, each with its usual causes and the fix to try first. Applies to Windows, with notes for macOS and Linux.
Quick answer
In most cases
- Free up at least twice the game's stated install size on the target drive.
- Restart the computer, then resume or restart the download.
- If the installer itself fails, delete it and download a fresh copy from the publisher's own website.
- Install while signed in to an account with administrator rights, without switching off your security software.
If that does not work, find your symptom below. Each one is independent, so you can skip straight to the one that matches.
The download stops at the same percentage
What you see: progress climbs, then sits at one figure for minutes or hours, or drops back to zero.
Usual causes, most likely first:
- The connection dropped briefly and the launcher did not reconnect.
- The target drive filled up while the download was in progress.
- The launcher's download cache holds a damaged piece of the file.
- A VPN, proxy or work network is interfering with the download servers.
Fix:
- Pause the download, wait ten seconds, then resume. This forces a new connection.
- Check free space on the drive you are installing to. On Windows, open File Explorer and select This PC. On macOS, choose Apple menu, then System Settings, General, Storage.
- If you use a VPN, disconnect it for the duration of the download.
- Restart the computer. If the download still will not move, look in the launcher's settings for an option to clear its download cache, then start again.
- On Wi-Fi, try moving closer to the router or using an Ethernet cable for the download. Large game files are less tolerant of brief dropouts than web browsing is.
If the download repeatedly fails at different points and other large downloads also fail, the problem is probably the connection rather than the game. Your internet provider is the first contact for that, as covered on the lag page.
“Not enough disk space” when there seems to be plenty
What you see: the installer refuses to continue, although the drive appears to have more free space than the game needs.
Why it happens: many installers download a compressed package, unpack it, and only then delete the package. For a short time the game needs room for both. Updates can work the same way. The figure on a store page may also refer to the download size rather than the installed size.
Fix:
- Aim for free space of at least twice the installed size shown on the game's official site, plus some headroom for the operating system itself.
- Check which drive the installer is actually using. Some installers default to the system drive even when you have a larger second drive.
- Empty the Recycle Bin or Bin, and remove old installers from your Downloads folder.
- On Windows, the built-in Storage settings can remove temporary files safely. Avoid third-party "cleaner" tools offered through advertising.
The installer opens and immediately closes, or will not open at all
Usual causes:
| Clue | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The file is much smaller than expected | The download did not finish | Delete it and download again |
| A security warning appears, then nothing | Security software quarantined the file | Check where the file came from before doing anything else |
| You opened it from inside a zip archive | The installer cannot find its other files | Extract the whole archive first |
| Message about the operating system version | The game needs a newer system version | Update the system, or check the stated requirements |
| Nothing at all happens | An earlier copy of the installer is still running | End it in Task Manager, then try again |
A warning from your security software is information, not an obstacle to click past. If the installer came from the publisher's own website or a store you recognise, the warning may be a false alarm, and the publisher's support pages will usually say so. If it came from anywhere else, delete it.
“You need administrator permission”
Why it happens: installing software usually writes to protected system folders, so Windows and macOS ask for an administrator's approval. On a shared or family computer you may be signed in to a standard account.
Fix: ask the person who manages the computer to approve the install with their password. On a work or school computer, the organisation's IT team decides what can be installed, and their policy applies even if you know a way around it.
Do not permanently switch off User Account Control on Windows or System Integrity Protection on macOS to make an install go through. Both exist to stop software from changing the system without your knowledge, and no mainstream game requires either to be disabled.
The install finished, but the game is nowhere to be found
- Installed for another user. Some installers ask whether to install for everyone or only the current user. If someone else ran it, the shortcut may be in their account only.
- Installed to another drive. Check the launcher's library or settings for the install location.
- Launcher-based games. Many games are opened through a launcher rather than their own shortcut. Open the launcher and look for a Library or Play section.
- macOS. Apps should be in the Applications folder. If you opened an app straight from a disk image, it may disappear when the image is ejected. Drag it into Applications first.
Notes for macOS and Linux
macOS. When macOS reports that an app "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified", it is telling you the app was not checked through Apple's usual process. Treat that as a reason to confirm the source, not a step to bypass by reflex. A game downloaded from its publisher's official site should come with instructions for macOS if it supports it.
Linux. Many Windows games can run on Linux through compatibility layers, but support varies from game to game and can change with updates. If a game's publisher does not list Linux as supported, their support team may not be able to help with install faults, and community guides are the main resource.
What to watch out for
Warning signs on download pages
- A site offering a paid game at no cost, or "unlocked" with all purchases included.
- Several large "Download" buttons, none of which clearly names the file you will receive.
- An installer that is an unusual file type for your system, such as a script file instead of an application.
- A page asking you to turn off your security software "because it gives false alarms".
- Pressure to install a "download manager" before you can get the game.
If you have already run something from a page like that, the Australian Cyber Security Centre's cyber.gov.au has step-by-step guidance for individuals and households. If you paid money or gave out details, Scamwatch lists what to do next and how to report it.
Checklist before a full reinstall
A full uninstall and reinstall fixes many stubborn faults, but it is slow and can lose local settings. Run through this list first:
- The computer has been fully restarted, not woken from sleep.
- The drive has free space of at least twice the installed size.
- The operating system is fully updated.
- The launcher's repair or verify option has been tried.
- You know your account email and password, in case the reinstall asks you to sign in again.
- Any saved games not stored in the cloud are backed up. The game's support pages usually say where these are kept.
When you reinstall, uninstall through the system's own tools (Settings, Apps on Windows; moving the app to the Bin on macOS, plus any uninstaller the publisher supplies), restart, then install from a fresh download.