PC gaming has long since passed the era of CDs and DVDs—every game worth having is now available online. Platforms like Steam and EA's Origin and EA Desktop apps allow y'all to purchase, download, and play your favorite games without leaving your home, as long as your connection is skillful plenty.

If EA Desktop or Origin doesn't open or aren't working properly, withal, then you won't be able to take advantage of EA'southward backlog of AAA classics, from Star Wars to Battlefield. Thankfully, almost users can set EA app issues with some common troubleshooting steps, which nosotros've outlined in detail below.

Why Won't Origin Open (or EA Desktop)?

There are several possible reasons why EA Desktop or Origin won't open on your PC. Similar all neat examples of human being-made software, a small bug or corrupted file is all it takes for EA's app to crash.

In Origin'southward example, the Origin app itself might stop working if its files get corrupted. If your PC loses ability mid-game or an update fails for some reason, Origin's files might exist stuck in limbo, with Origin itself unable to load. If Origin's cache files become too large, the app might crash during the startup process.

While Origin is the likely culprit of its troubles, don't discount Windows or your hardware either. Missing system updates, outdated graphics drivers, corrupt system files—all can exist enough to terminate Origin from working on your PC.

These bug are also likely to cause problems for users of EA Desktop, the gaming app that EA hopes to replace Origin with in the futurity.  Thankfully, y'all tin repair these bug in Origin or EA Desktop easily (every bit long as your PC hardware isn't declining).

One time yous've checked your PC's performance, you tin can run through some common steps to fix Origin or EA Desktop and start playing your favorite games once again.

Close the Other EA App

You might run into some conflicts if yous've recently upgraded to the newer EA Desktop app but still have Origin installed. The two apps tin can't run at the same time—if yous effort to run them both, you lot should run into an error message. The same applies if y'all're trying to run Origin while EA Desktop is running.

If you think ane of the apps is running, make certain to shut it fully before opening the other EA app.

Check for App Updates

Before you lot try more desperate suggestions, you should check that the version of Origin or EA Desktop you lot're using is the latest. Outdated versions of the EA client might terminate working or be blocked past EA to foreclose bugs or outdated features from beingness misused.

Origin and EA Desktop will usually try to update itself, but if they can't, yous may need to strength it to update manually. You'll need to do this if you've disabled automated updates in your settings bill of fare.

  1. To check for Origin updates manually, open up the Origin client. From the pinnacle menu, select Origin > Application Settings. If you're using the new EA Desktop, select the meridian-left menu icon > Settings instead.
  1. In Origin's Applications tab (Application in EA Desktop), you lot'll need to ensure that the Automatically update Origin slider is selected and in the On position (in greenish). In EA Desktop, make sure that the Enable Automatic App Updates slider is enabled instead.
  1. If automatic updates is enabled in either Origin or EA Desktop, switch the setting off and on again by selecting the slider twice. This will strength EA'southward apps to check for updates.
  1. Once automated updates are enabled, quit Origin by selecting Origin > Get out. EA Desktop users can select the top-left menu icon > Exit instead.
  1. Re-open Origin once you've closed the customer fully by selecting the Outset carte > Origin (or Start menu > EA Desktop for EA Desktop users). Ensure that it isn't running first by checking your system tray in the lesser-right area of the taskbar. If it is, right-click the icon and select Quit Origin (or Exit).
  1. When you lot re-open up Origin or EA Desktop later on enabling (or re-enabling) app updates, the client will check for new updates and install them manually. You can then cheque the app version you're running by selecting Help > Near in the Origin client. In EA Desktop, select the card icon > Aid > About.

Delete Enshroud Files

Both Origin and the newer EA Desktop app rely on several temporary cache files to run. These files build upward as EA's gaming storefront apps download new games and app updates, load certain web pages in the app itself, and connect with EA's servers.

Unfortunately, if these cache files go corrupted or too large, EA Desktop and Origin won't open or finish working somehow. Information technology can as well cause connexion issues with EA.

So, if Origin or EA Desktop is in offline mode and won't connect, clearing your cache files might set the problem.

How to Clear Origin Cache Files

  1. To clear cache files in Origin, right-click the First bill of fare and select Run. Make certain that the Origin app isn't running first.
  1. In Run, type %ProgramData%/Origin and select OK.
  1. In File Explorer, select all files and folders except LocalContent, which must remain. With the files selected, right-click them and select Delete.
  1. Type %AppData% in the accost bar in File Explorer next. Correct-click the Origin binder and select Delete.
  1. Select the address bar and supervene upon Roaming with Local in File Explorer.
  1. In the Local folder, correct-click the Origin binder and select Delete.
  1. Restart your PC to complete the procedure.

How to Articulate EA Desktop Cache Files

  1. To articulate cache files in EA Desktop, open the EA Desktop app and select the menu icon in the top-left. From the carte, select Help > App Recovery.
  1. If EA Desktop doesn't open, you tin launch App Recovery manually past selecting the Outset carte > App Recovery (with the EA logo) to launch it instead.
  1. In the Restart to run App Recovery menu, select the Clear Cache push.

Later a few moments, EA Desktop will relaunch with all previously stored cache files removed.

Run Origin or EA Desktop in Ambassador Mode

Origin and EA Desktop can sometimes face issues with app permissions, especially if you're trying to run the app with a local user business relationship that lacks ambassador privileges.

If this is the case, Origin or EA Desktop may not load properly, peculiarly if an update is required. Still, y'all can bypass this by enabling ambassador way for the app.

  1. To launch Origin or EA Desktop in administrator manner, select the Start bill of fare and locate Origin or EA Desktop (depending on the app y'all're using). Correct-click the entry and select More > Run as ambassador.

If your current user account isn't an ambassador on your PC, you lot may need to type in the username and password for an account for this to work.

Bank check for System and Driver Updates

If your system isn't up-to-date, then the latest bug fixes and features tin can impact your overall PC's functioning. Origin and EA Desktop may stop working in these circumstances, so y'all should check for new updates to encounter if this resolves any issues with the app.

  1. To check for new system updates on Windows, right-click the Start carte du jour and select Settings.
  1. In the Settings card, select Update & Security > Windows Update. Windows will browse for new updates automatically. If it doesn't, select Check for Updates to begin a new scan and follow any additional on-screen instructions to install new updates.

Windows volition install whatever available system and commuter updates only, if your PC hardware is very new, you lot may need to cheque the manufacturer websites for more recent driver files. For instance, if you've installed a new graphics carte, you may need to bank check the Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD websites for the latest driver for your card.

Delete and Reinstall Origin (or EA Desktop)

If all else fails, removing Origin and reinstalling it will prepare problems where Origin won't open, and you can't determine why. The same applies to the newer EA Desktop app—if information technology isn't working, remove and reinstall it as a final resort.

  1. To remove Origin or EA Desktop on Windows, correct-click the Start menu and select Settings.
  1. In the Settings menu, select Apps > Apps & features. Locate Origin or EA Desktop in the apps list, then select Uninstall > Uninstall to remove it.

Follow any additional on-screen instructions to remove the app. Once it's installed, download the latest version of Origin or EA Desktop and run the installer to reinstall it. EA plans to supplant Origin with EA Desktop in the future only, for at present, both apps remain available.

At the moment, you tin choose which app to employ, and so if Origin won't open or isn't working properly, upgrading to EA Desktop might work. Notwithstanding, if the newer EA Desktop won't open up or if it doesn't work for you, removing information technology and switching dorsum to Origin might be your best option in the short term.

Your games, salvage files, and EA profile details volition work on both platforms, letting yous cull betwixt them.

Ameliorate Gameplay With Origin on PC

If yous want to play the best games, you demand the all-time storefronts, making EA's Origin or EA Desktop apps an essential install for new PC gamers. There are plenty of online gaming alternatives, however, including Steam, GOG, and Ballsy Games. Nevertheless, if you're not a PC gamer, you lot can always try EA games on console instead.

Origin shows off the all-time of EA's recent games, but there are nonetheless older games available for you lot to endeavor if yous accept an older gaming PC. If that doesn't work, give game streaming services like GeForce At present and Microsoft xCloud a get. Otherwise, you may need to consider upgrading your PC to play the latest games instead.