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Fortnite banana peely on train in chapter 5 season 1.
Screenshot by GameSkinny

Fortnite: How to Fix Matchmaking Error

Find out how to fix the pesky Matchmaking Error in Chapter 5 Season 1 here.

Nothing gets in the way of Fortnite quite like an error code. If you’re like me and jumping into Chapter 5 Season 1 today, odds are you’re coming across a Matchmaking Error, and it’s especially disappointing after a long queue time. Find out how to fix the Matchmaking Error in Fortnite here.

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What’s the Matchmaking Error in Fortnite?

I prefer to play Fortnite with a friend in duos, so the last thing I want is an error code keeping me from playing with them, especially during the launch of an exciting new era like Chapter 5 Season 1. Unfortunately, I only got to play one round to catch the train before encountering the dreaded Matchmaking error. This was a big bummer because I sat in an especially long queue. So, let’s talk about how to fix it.

How to Fix the Matchmaking Error in Fortnite

Check Server Status

Checking the server status is the first thing I do when I encounter an error. Doing so will let you know if Fortnite servers have been brought down for maintenance.

  • Head to the Epic Games Public Status page to check.
  • Join the official Fortnite Discord server: The Discord server features a Fortnite status channel, announcements, bug reporting, community support, and more. You can join the forum to chat with other players live and see if anyone else is experiencing the issue.

Check the Fortnite Status Twitter/X. This Twitter/X page frequently updates with patches and any bugs the team is aware of and working on.

When are Fortnite Servers Back Up?

If the server page shows an error like Major Outage, you’ll have to simply wait for Epic Games to resolve the issue. An error code signals that the team is working on it and is aware of the issue. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know for sure when the issue will be resolved, so your best bet is keeping track of Fortnite’s socials and the server status page.

Invite Your Friends to Your Lobby

If you’re having issues joining a lobby, try switching it up by inviting your friends to yours instead. Or, if you’re having issues in your lobby, try joining them instead. I’ve had luck with this simple fix on more than one occasion.

Submit a Ticket

If all else fails, submit an official support ticket to Epic Games Support via the Fortnite Support page.

Why is the Fortnite Queue So Long?

Fortnite long queue time image for chapter 5 season 1.
Screenshot by GameSkinny

Most likely, you’ll have to restart your game to absolve the Matchmaking error. With the release of the new Fortnite content, the chances are you’re stuck in a lengthy queue like me. I’m currently waiting in an hour-long queue to get back in, which is an abnormally long time — even during the launch of a new season.

The Fortnite queue is so long right now because the game is seeing record-breaking numbers with millions of players trying to jump in. So, an especially large number of players will cause an excess in wait time. Unfortunately, we’ll just have to be patient and wait for the queue times to decrease throughout the day.

That’s how to fix the Matchmaking Error in Fortnite. Trying these solutions could help you get back to asking your friends — Where are we droppin’? Unfortunately, if none of these solutions works for you, you’ll need to wait until Epic clears up the issue. In the meantime, check out our dedicated guides hub for additional error fixes, like how to squash the custom keybinds bug.


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Author
Image of Maddison Ahlbrand
Maddison Ahlbrand
Maddison started her gamer journey traversing the lands of Runescape and World of Warcraft. These days, she can be found playing just about anything, but a lot of her free time is spent playing FPS games like Fortnite, CoD and Valorant. She's been with GameSkinny since February 2023, and has a BA in Art History.