The Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout anti-cheat error usually appears before you even reach the main menu: the game closes, displays a security-related message, or asks you to repair the anti-cheat component. This is a specific but extremely frustrating situation because it prevents the game from launching even when the game itself appears to be installed correctly.

In practice, this means that the anti-cheat service or its files fail to start, are corrupted, are blocked by security software, or conflict with other programs that hook into the game process. We found 13 mentions of this problem in our review texts, so it is worth having a clear and safe action plan.

Below, I provide solutions to this single problem—the anti-cheat error—starting with the simplest and progressing to more advanced options. All steps have been selected to avoid any bypasses or risky tricks: only official, safe, and practically verifiable actions.

Quick summary

• Most common cause: the anti-cheat component fails to start because of corrupted files, insufficient permissions, Windows security blocking, or a conflict with background programs.
• Quick start: restart your PC, verify the game files through the platform, and repair the anti-cheat component from the game folder.
• Conflicts: temporarily disable overlay, recording, and monitoring tools, then re-enable them one at a time.
• Windows side: updates, system file checks, Controlled folder access permissions, and driver updates often resolve the error.
• If nothing works: collect the error code, timestamp, platform type, logs, and DxDiag report, then contact support with a specific description.

Who this is for / who it is not for

Who this is for

• If Fall Guys does not launch and you see an anti-cheat message, error code, or suggested repair action.
• If the problem appeared after a game, Windows, or driver update.
• If the game closes within a few seconds of launch, before reaching the menu.
• If you want safe solutions without bypasses or risky system changes.

Who this is not for

• If the game launches but only crashes during matches without an anti-cheat message, this is more likely a stability or driver issue.
• If the problem only occurs when connecting to servers and you see network error messages, this is more likely a connection issue rather than an anti-cheat problem.
• If you use mods, training tools, or anything that changes the game files or memory, this guide will not help until you remove everything and restore a clean installation.
• If this is a company PC with strict policies and you cannot change permissions or install updates, some steps will need to be completed with help from IT.

Symptom matrix: what you see → what to try

Before you begin: brief preparation for clear diagnostics

This problem often takes a long time to resolve not because the solution is complicated, but because too many things are changed at once during troubleshooting. To save time, do three simple things before you begin:

• Write down the symptom: note whether you see a window with an error code or whether the game simply closes. If there is a code, write it down.
• Write down the platform: Steam or Epic Games Launcher. The relevant settings and locations may differ.
• Recall the most recent change: consider whether there was a recent Windows update, GPU driver update, new antivirus version, or new peripheral utility.

Then follow this rule: one action, one test. If the situation changes after an action, you already have a direction and do not need to try everything in sequence.

Why this happens

An anti-cheat solution is not just a single file. It usually uses a service and driver-level components that start with the game. If the service lacks the necessary permissions, the files are corrupted, security software blocks execution, or another program attempts to hook into the same process, the launch is interrupted and you receive an anti-cheat error.

Another important detail is that anti-cheat components often operate during the early launch phase. As a result, the error appears before the menu and makes it seem as though the game never had a chance to start. This is normal for this type of problem, which is precisely why the first steps should focus on the component’s integrity, permissions, and conflicts.

The most common real-world causes are:

• Corrupted or incomplete files: a failed update, disk errors, an improper shutdown, or platform cache problems.
• Permission problems: the anti-cheat component attempts to create a service but lacks administrator privileges, or Windows security settings restrict it.
• Software conflicts: overlays, FPS monitoring, video recording, RGB, peripheral drivers, or other tools that use hook-based methods.
• Antivirus or Windows security blocking: quarantine, Controlled folder access, reputation-based protection, or aggressive heuristic filters.
• System components: outdated Windows updates, corrupted system files, or missing Visual C++ components.
• Installation location and permissions: when the game is installed in a protected folder and user permissions are restricted, it may be unable to create the required files or services correctly.

Important: if the anti-cheat system detects risky tools or unauthorized modifications, it may block the game from launching. This guide does not suggest any bypasses. The only safe approach is to return to a clean system and a clean game installation.

Solutions: from the simplest to the most advanced

1) A simple restart and clean launch

It may sound trivial, but anti-cheat errors often occur after sleep mode, driver installation, or when a service remains stuck. The first goal is to clear the situation without making any additional changes.

• Restart your PC rather than simply signing out and back in.
• Launch Fall Guys immediately after the restart, before many background programs open.
• If you use a laptop, connect it to power temporarily to avoid aggressive power-saving modes.

2) Check the system time and date

An incorrect time can sometimes cause certificate and service startup problems. This is a quick check that costs nothing.

• Enable automatic time setting in Windows Settings.
• Synchronize the time and restart.

3) Run the platform and game with administrator privileges

If the anti-cheat component is trying to register itself as a service, it may require additional permissions. This is not necessarily a permanent requirement, but it is worth trying for diagnostic purposes, especially if the error appeared after an update.

• Close Fall Guys and the platform.
• Right-click the platform icon and select Run as administrator.
• Launch the game and check whether the error occurs again.

If this step helped, it indicates that the problem is most likely related to permissions, protected folders, or security blocking. You should then review the Windows Security history and Controlled folder access permissions instead of playing with administrator privileges every time.

4) Verify the game files through the platform

Corrupted files are one of the most common causes after updates. File verification restores missing components and often fixes the anti-cheat startup process.

• Steam: Properties, Installed Files, Verify integrity of game files.
• Epic Games Launcher: Library, Fall Guys, Manage, Verify.

After the verification is complete, restart your PC and try launching the game again. If the verification found and restored files, it is highly recommended to run another test immediately after restarting, before many background programs have started.

5) Repair the anti-cheat component from the game folder

The game folder often contains an anti-cheat setup tool. Its repair function reinstalls the components and registers the service again. This is one of the safest and most effective steps because it uses the installer provided with the game itself.

• Open the game’s installation folder through the platform.
• Find the anti-cheat setup executable. It is often named something similar to EasyAntiCheat Setup.
• Run the setup tool and select repair or reinstall.

If the repair fails, try performing the same action with administrator privileges. If the setup tool does not open at all, this is another indication that something is blocking execution or that access to the installation location is restricted.

6) Remove conflicts with overlay and monitoring tools

Anti-cheat systems are sensitive to programs that attempt to insert overlays, capture frames, or otherwise hook into the game process. Even if a program is not a cheat, its technical operation may sometimes be similar, so the anti-cheat system can block it. The most important thing here is diagnosis: disable the programs, test the game, and then re-enable them one at a time.

• Disable the Discord overlay.
• Disable the Steam overlay for testing if you are playing through Steam.
• Disable the GeForce Experience overlay or another video recording overlay.
• Temporarily disable FPS monitoring tools, such as RivaTuner-type solutions.
• If you have RGB or peripheral management suites, close their processes for testing, but do not change system settings.

After disabling them, restart and try launching the game. If it works, enable the programs one at a time to identify the specific conflict. The practical goal is to find one culprit rather than keep everything disabled permanently.

7) Check antivirus and Windows security blocking

A common situation is that, after an update, antivirus software considers a new anti-cheat file suspicious and quarantines it. The game then starts without an essential component. Another scenario is that Windows ransomware protection blocks the anti-cheat component from creating or modifying a file in a protected folder.

• Check your antivirus quarantine and blocking history.
• If you see that a game or anti-cheat file was blocked, restore it only if you are certain that the installation is legitimate and was obtained through an official platform.
• If you use Windows Security, check Protection history and Controlled folder access notifications.

A safe principle is to use permissions and exceptions for the specific game folder rather than disabling protection for the entire system. If you are unsure, coordinate any exceptions with support or IT, especially if this is a work computer.

8) Update Windows and restart

Anti-cheat components rely on Windows security mechanisms and services. If the system has not been updated for a long time, required fixes may be missing. It is also worth checking the Optional updates section because it sometimes includes driver or component fixes.

• Install all important updates through Windows Update.
• Check Optional updates as well, if that section is available.
• Perform a full restart after installing the updates.

9) Restore missing components: Visual C++ packages

Some anti-cheat modules and game components use Visual C++ runtime libraries. If they are corrupted or incomplete, the launch process may fail. A safe step is to install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable package from Microsoft and then restart. If you are not allowed to install software on a company PC, skip this step and continue to the next ones.

Test the game again after installation. If the error is gone, it is worth noting that the problem was caused by system components, as this information may be useful if the situation occurs again in the future.

10) System file check: SFC and DISM

If the problem persists, it is worth checking whether the Windows system files are intact. These are official tools that often help when a service cannot start because of system corruption.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run:

sfc /scannow

If it finds errors or the problem continues, also run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Afterward, restart your PC and try launching Fall Guys.

11) Check whether the anti-cheat service starts and what Windows reports

If you have sufficient permissions, you can check the Windows Services window to see whether the anti-cheat service exists and whether it is stuck. This step is especially useful when you see errors mentioning service start, driver start, or similar wording.

• Open Services by entering services in Windows Search.
• Look for entries containing anti cheat or easy anti cheat in their names.
• If the service exists but does not start, write down the error message. The exact text or number will be very useful to support.

If the service is missing, repairing the anti-cheat component and verifying the platform files are more likely to help. If the service exists but fails to start, the issue is more likely related to permissions, blocking, or a conflict.

12) Platform diagnostics: additional Steam and Epic checks

Sometimes the problem is not limited to the game files but involves the state of the platform: a stuck update, an incompletely installed package, or a corrupted download cache. This is still part of the same problem because anti-cheat components are often delivered with game updates.

• Steam: clear the download cache through Settings, Downloads, Clear Download Cache, then sign in again and repeat the file verification.
• Epic: close the Epic client completely, make sure none of its processes remain active, then launch it again and run Verify. If the client is unresponsive, a simple PC restart before running Verify may help.

After completing these actions, it is important to test the game again without making any other changes. If it suddenly works, the update or cache process was probably stuck.

13) Check the installation location, disk space, and file system condition

An anti-cheat error can sometimes occur because of ordinary issues: insufficient free space, disk errors, or a game installed in a folder with nonstandard permissions. These issues can prevent updates or service components from being written correctly.

• Check whether the system drive and game drive have enough free space for updates and temporary files.
• If you suspect disk errors, using Windows disk checking and repair tools is a safe approach, although it may take some time.
• If the game is installed in a highly protected folder, consider moving it to a separate game library outside the Windows system folders.

If you use Steam, you can conveniently create an additional library on another drive or in another folder. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of permission conflicts rather than make aggressive system changes.

14) Driver diagnostics: GPU, chipset, and peripherals

Although an anti-cheat error usually appears to be a file or permission problem, drivers can also have an effect, especially if they install additional services, overlays, or filters. One common scenario is that a GPU driver update installs an additional overlay component or changes the behavior of a monitoring module.

• Update your GPU drivers to a stable release and restart afterward.
• Check whether you have several different monitoring or recording packages installed that duplicate the same functions.
• If you recently installed peripheral management software, close it for testing and check whether the game launches.

There is an important boundary here: this guide does not recommend reverting to untrusted drivers or making unclear changes. The goal is to maintain an orderly, stable, and up-to-date environment.

15) Windows Event Viewer: a quick way to obtain a specific clue

If the error continues and the message does not contain a clear code, Windows Event Viewer can sometimes show exactly what failed to start: a service, driver, or specific file. This is especially useful to support because it provides a specific name and time.

• Open Event Viewer by entering event viewer in Windows Search.
• Go to Windows Logs and open Application and System.
• Launch the game so the error occurs again, then return to Event Viewer and look for the latest Error entries from the same time.
• Write down the Faulting application, Faulting module, or Service Control Manager error text if one is visible.

If you find a specific service or module, the solutions become more targeted: repair, permissions, blocking history, or identifying conflicting software.

16) Test with another Windows user

When the anti-cheat error occurs in only one profile, the cause is often a local setting, a blocked folder, or a security mechanism applied to that specific user. A quick and safe test is to try launching the game from another profile.

• Create a new Windows user with standard permissions if possible.
• Sign in to the new user account and launch the platform and game.
• If it works in the new profile, the problem is most likely in the original profile, its permissions, or its security history.

In this case, checking Controlled folder access permissions and antivirus history, and launching the platform with the appropriate permissions, often helps more than reinstalling everything.

17) Clean startup: clean boot test

If you suspect a conflict, a clean boot allows Windows to start with a minimal number of third-party services. This is not a dangerous tweak, but it requires care so that you restore everything after the test. It is one of the best ways to prove that the problem is caused by a conflict rather than the game files.

• Use System Configuration to disable third-party services while leaving Microsoft services enabled.
• Disable third-party startup items through Task Manager.
• Restart and try launching Fall Guys.

If the anti-cheat error disappears during a clean boot, enable the services in groups to identify the conflict. Common culprits include overlay, recording, RGB, and peripheral management tools. Once you identify the specific culprit, the solution is usually to update that program, disable its overlay function, or keep it closed while playing.

18) Complete reinstallation as a last step

If nothing works and file verification and anti-cheat repair have not helped, a clean reinstallation may sometimes be the quickest approach. However, it is worth making sure that the problem is not in the system first, because otherwise reinstalling the game will simply bring back the same error.

• Uninstall Fall Guys through the platform.
• Restart your PC.
• Install it again and temporarily close unnecessary background programs before the first launch.

If the error returns immediately after a clean installation, the problem is very likely in the system or a software conflict rather than the game files. In that case, a clean boot and a review of the Windows security history will be much more useful.

Quick diagnosis in 5 minutes

This section is designed to help you quickly decide which direction is most likely so that you do not begin with time-consuming steps.

1. Write down exactly what you see: the message, error code, or whether the game simply closes. If there is a code, record it without interpreting it.
2. Restart and try immediately: if it works after a fresh restart, the problem was temporary or related to a stuck service.
3. Run the platform’s file verification: Steam Verify or Epic Verify.
4. Run the anti-cheat repair: if a repair or reinstall option is available, use it and restart again.
5. Temporarily disable overlays: Discord, recording overlays, and FPS monitoring overlays.
6. Check the Windows Security history: Protection history and Controlled folder access notifications often reveal blocking directly.

If the behavior changes during these 5 minutes, you already have a direction: file integrity, conflict detection, or security blocking.

A/B test in 10 minutes

An A/B test means changing only one variable and comparing the result. This helps you find the cause faster instead of blindly trying ten actions at once. The goal of this test is to quickly distinguish between the two most common root causes: a conflict with background programs or permissions and security blocking.

Minute 0: record the initial result

• Try launching the game once as you normally would.
• Write down the result: whether a window appeared, whether there was a code, and how many seconds passed before the game closed.

Test A: clean launch without overlays

• Disable the Discord overlay and any FPS monitoring or recording overlays.
• Close unnecessary background programs, especially those that display information on the screen.
• Launch Fall Guys and record the result.

Test B: the same setup, but with the platform running as administrator

• Run Steam or Epic with administrator privileges.
• Do not change anything else, and leave the overlays disabled just as they were in Test A.
• Launch Fall Guys and compare the result with Test A.

Quick interpretation to avoid guesswork

• If Test A works, regardless of Test B, a conflict with an overlay or background program is likely.
• If Test A does not work but Test B does, a permissions or service registration problem is likely, and security blocking is also possible.
• If neither works, proceed to anti-cheat repair, Windows updates, SFC and DISM, and then a clean boot.

If you have another 2 minutes, you can add one more mini-test: try launching the game from another Windows user profile. If it works in the other profile, the solution is most likely related to profile permissions or security history.

Common mistakes when attempting repairs

• Combining several solutions at once: afterward, it is no longer clear what actually helped or how to reproduce the problem.
• Downloading random anti-cheat installers: the safest approach is to use only the setup tool in the game folder and the platform’s file verification feature.
• Disabling antivirus protection for the entire system: it is better to check the quarantine and Protection history and use precise exceptions rather than leaving the system unprotected.
• Ignoring conflicts: sometimes the problem is not the game but a background program that hooks into processes, even if it appears harmless.
• Reinstalling too early: if the cause is a conflict or security block, reinstalling only wastes time and changes nothing.
• Deleting files manually: when you delete anti-cheat or game files outside the platform, you can leave the installation in a partially broken state that is more difficult to repair later.
• Ignoring a Windows Security notification: if Controlled folder access blocked something, there is often a clear entry, but it can easily go unnoticed.
• Attempting to bypass the anti-cheat system: this does not improve stability, may violate the rules, and often only makes the situation worse.

When to contact support and what to collect

If you have verified the files, repaired the anti-cheat component, disabled overlays for testing, checked the Windows Security history, and tried a clean boot at least once, but the anti-cheat error continues, it is worth contacting support. The more precise information you provide, the less likely you are to receive generic responses telling you to restart and try again.

What to collect in 10 minutes so support can actually help

• Error message and code: record them exactly. If there is a dialog box, take a screenshot.
• Time and circumstances: note when the problem started and whether there was a Windows update, GPU driver update, or new background program.
• Platform: Steam or Epic, as well as whether the game is installed on the system drive or elsewhere.
• List of attempted steps: restart, file verification, anti-cheat repair, overlay disabling, clean boot, SFC and DISM, and Windows updates.
• Windows version: Settings, System, About, or simply Windows 10 or Windows 11 and whether the latest updates are installed.
• DxDiag report: press the Windows key, enter dxdiag, and save the report as a text file.
• MSINFO32: press the Windows key, enter msinfo32, and save the System Information report if support requests more detailed information.
• Windows Security entries: if Protection history or Controlled folder access shows a blocked item, include a screenshot displaying the date and file name.
• Platform behavior: state whether the error occurs every time, only after the first attempt, or whether restarting helps.

Where to look for logs if support requests them

Different systems and platforms may use different locations, so the easiest option is to use the Windows Run dialog and environment variables. Press Windows and R, then enter one of the following values:

• %localappdata%
• %appdata%
• %programdata%

Then look for folders or files with anti cheat, easy anti cheat, eac, or fall guys in their names. If you are unsure, do not delete or overwrite anything. Simply package the requested logs into an archive and attach it to your support request.

A practical tip for writing to support: begin with one sentence, such as, “Fall Guys does not launch, and I receive an anti-cheat error with a code.” Then list everything you have already tried. This allows support to see immediately that you have already completed the basic diagnostics and move on to more specific questions.

Short checklist

• Restart: perform a full PC restart and try launching immediately.
• File verification: Steam Verify or Epic Verify.
• Anti-cheat repair: run the setup tool from the game folder and select repair.
• Disable overlays: test without Discord, recording, and FPS monitoring overlays.
• Security check: antivirus quarantine, Windows Protection history, and Controlled folder access.
• Windows updates: install them and restart.
• Visual C++: update it if components are missing.
• SFC and DISM: run sfc /scannow, followed by DISM restorehealth.
• Services: check Services and record the error message if the service does not start.
• Event Viewer: check Application and System errors from the same time you attempted to launch the game.
• Clean boot: if you suspect a conflict, test with minimal services.
• Another Windows profile: perform a quick test to determine whether the problem is profile-specific.
• Reinstallation: only after the basic steps have failed and you have exhausted the diagnostic options.
• Support: collect the code, logs, DxDiag report, Windows Security entries, and attempted troubleshooting steps.