If you’ve recently encountered the “An error occurred while connecting to Epic servers” message while trying to launch Fortnite, you’re definitely not alone. This error—commonly labeled as ESP-BUIMET-003—can prevent the game from loading properly, cause the item shop to stay blank, or block you from purchasing V-Bucks and Battle Pass tiers.
Fortunately, there are several easy troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue without immediately jumping into time-consuming solutions like reinstalling the game. Let’s walk through a quick and effective guide to get you back in the game.
🔁 Step 1: Restart Your Device
While it may sound simple, restarting your device is often one of the most effective first steps. Temporary glitches in the system’s memory or background processes can interrupt Fortnite’s connection to the Epic Games servers.
For Nintendo Switch:
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Hold the power button for a few seconds until a menu appears.
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Select Restart.
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After the console powers back up, try launching Fortnite again.
This quick fix has helped many players regain server connectivity with no additional steps.
🧹 Step 2: Clear the Cache
A cluttered cache can sometimes cause interference with how Fortnite connects to Epic’s servers. Clearing it can eliminate corrupt or outdated temporary files that may be triggering the ESP-BUIMET-003 error.
How to Clear Cache on Nintendo Switch:
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Go to System Settings.
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Scroll down to System.
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Select Formatting Options.
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Tap on Reset Cache.
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Choose the appropriate user profile and confirm.
Important: This will not delete your saved data or progress. It only removes temporary files like login data and cookies.
🔄 Step 3: Restart Again After Resetting the Cache
After clearing the cache, it’s important to restart your device again. This helps flush out any remaining processes that could still be referencing old cache data and ensures that the changes take full effect.
Think of it as giving your console a fresh start, now free from the temporary clutter that was possibly disrupting the connection.
⬆️ Step 4: Update Your System and Fortnite
If your game or console system is not up to date, you may run into compatibility issues that prevent Fortnite from communicating with the servers properly.
What to do:
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Update Fortnite: Navigate to the game’s icon, press the (+) button, then choose “Software Update” > “Via the Internet.”
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Update System Software: Go to System Settings > System > System Update and install any available updates.
Even minor missing updates can sometimes cause authentication and connectivity errors, especially after a new patch or season rollout.
🚫 Step 5: Don’t Reinstall—Yet!
Many players think reinstalling Fortnite is the go-to fix—but this should actually be your last resort. Reinstalling takes time and doesn’t always solve the issue if the underlying problem is related to cached data or system updates.
Instead, try all the previous steps before considering reinstalling the game. In many cases, simply resetting the cache or updating your system can be the key fix.
✅ Final Thoughts and Extra Tips
By following these steps, most players are able to resolve the ESP-BUIMET-003 error and jump back into Fortnite without needing technical support. Here’s a quick recap:
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🔁 Restart your device
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🧹 Clear the cache
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🔄 Restart again after clearing the cache
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⬆️ Update both the game and your system
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⛔ Avoid reinstalling unless all else fails
If the problem persists even after trying all these steps, consider checking Fortnite’s official status page or Epic Games’ Twitter to see if there are any server outages or maintenance schedules.
💬 Have You Fixed It?
If these tips helped you, or if you found another solution that worked, drop a comment below and help others in the Fortnite community. And if you’re still stuck, feel free to ask for help—we’re here to keep you gaming.
Happy gaming and may your ping be low and your Victory Royales be plenty! 🎮
