Apex Legends Errors: Won’t Launch, Can’t Connect to the Server, and Loads Endlessly

Apex Legends may freeze on launch, crash without an error, or fail to connect to servers. Common issues also include messages like “Connection timed out,” endless loading, and various error codes. In this guide, we’ll break down why Apex Legends isn’t working and what to do if the game won’t launch or you can’t connect to the server.

The “Connection to the server timed out” error in Apex Legends appears when the game is unable to establish a connection with the server in time. A similar issue is indicated as “Unable to connect [code:clock]”: the servers stop waiting for the client to connect. This can be caused by Apex Legends server outages, an unstable internet connection, high ping, or issues with the selected data center.

If the connection time has expired in Apex Legends, try the following:

If the “Apex Legends connection timed out” message keeps appearing even though the servers are up, the problem is most likely related to the connection between your computer and the game server. You should check your ping and packet loss, and try a different data center.

If Apex Legends won’t connect to the server, first check the status of EA’s servers. In the event of a widespread outage, you won’t be able to fix the problem on your own—you’ll need to wait for the game to come back online.

If the servers are up but you still can’t connect to Apex Legends, restart the game and the Steam client or EA app, then verify the integrity of the game files. Also, make sure your antivirus software and Windows firewall aren’t blocking the game’s internet connection.

If you see a message stating that the connection time to the server has expired, follow the steps from the previous section: check your connection and select a different data center with lower ping and packet loss.

If Apex Legends gets stuck on an endless download, try the following:

This check is especially important for players in Russia: there are numerous reports on the EA and Steam forums about Apex Legends taking forever to load specifically for Russian users, and about the issue being tied to specific internet service providers.

If Apex Legends crashes to the desktop without an error message, first check the game files and your graphics card driver.

Try the following:

If Apex Legends crashes without an error immediately after a new patch is released, the problem may be directly in the hands of the developers. For example, after some updates, users reported identical crashes en masse even after verifying files and reinstalling the game.

If Apex Legends won’t launch at all or closes during startup, the cause may be corrupted files, drivers, Easy Anti-Cheat, conflicting software, or an error following a game update.

If Apex Legends won’t launch on Steam, go to “Library” → Apex Legends → “Properties” → “Installed Files” → “Verify Game Files.” Also, try running the game without third-party overlays or programs.

If Apex launches but gets stuck on the loading screen or can’t connect to the server, don’t reinstall the game right away. Try the solutions from the previous sections on endless loading and connection issues: for Russian users, the problem is sometimes due to the connection or DNS.

Error 0x8000002 in Apex Legends is related to the Easy Anti-Cheat security system. When you launch the game, a “Badware Detected / Integrity Error 0x8000002” message appears: the anti-cheat system detects a third-party program, driver, or other component that could potentially interfere with the game’s operation. However, this error can be a false positive and may appear even for players who aren’t using cheats.

If error 0x8000002 appeared immediately after the Apex Legends update, the problem may also be related to anti-cheat changes: Players have repeatedly complained that the error occurred on a massive scale after the patch among players whose game had been running normally before the update.

Apex Legends will be available in Russia in 2026, though Russian players may experience connection issues. The game has not been blocked by Roskomnadzor: in May 2026, the agency specifically stated that it had no plans to block Electronic Arts games. At the same time, EA itself lists Russia among the regions where some of the company’s games and services may be unavailable due to existing restrictions.

Therefore, Apex Legends in Russia may launch normally with one internet service provider but freeze during connection with another. If you encounter a problem, try using mobile data or an IP-changing program—other methods are discussed in the sections above.