How to Claim Epic Games Giveaways Without Installing Them Right Away

Claim an Epic Games giveaway through the Epic Games Store website and complete the no-charge transaction. You do not need to download the game—or install the Epic Games Launcher—at that time. Once claimed, the title is attached to your account's Library.

You can install it later when you have enough storage, time, or interest.

Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on September 09, 2026.

Claim the game in your browser

Epic Support says customers can browse and obtain games through the store website, while the Launcher handles downloading and Library management. That separation lets you claim first and install later. Epic Games Support explains the difference.

Use this basic process:

• Visit the Epic Games Store's free-games page during the offer period.
• Sign in to the Epic account where you want the game saved.
• Open the free title and add it to your account.
• Complete the transaction at no charge.
• Stop once the transaction is complete; downloading is a separate step.

What does "claimed" mean?

Epic's store agreement treats adding free software to your Library as a "Transaction." The software license begins when that transaction is completed, not when installation starts. Epic defines these terms in its store agreement. This means viewing the giveaway page is not enough.

You must finish adding the title to the correct Epic account while the offer remains active.

Claim before the offer changes

Epic says it offers a free game every week and refreshes its free selection each Thursday on PC and mobile. Claim any title you want during its displayed availability window. The current schedule appears on Epic's free-games page.

Waiting to install is fine; waiting to claim may not be. Set a reminder before Thursday if you tend to forget, but rely on the date shown for the individual offer.

Install or hide it later

When you are ready to play on PC, install the Epic Games Launcher and find the owned title in its Library. Selecting the game there begins its download and installation. Epic distinguishes owned games from installed games.

You can therefore build a Library without filling your drive immediately. Free redeemed games cannot be removed from the Library, but Epic says you can hide uninstalled titles by filtering the Library to installed games or apps. Epic Support describes that limitation and workaround.

If you later uninstall a downloaded game, it normally stays attached to your account and can be downloaded again.

Understand the ownership limits

Epic licenses store software rather than selling it outright. In rare cases, its agreement allows software to become unavailable for further download or access after removal from the store. Ordinary delisting works differently: Epic says a game already claimed generally remains available in the owner's Library even when new customers can no longer obtain it.

However, a game that depends on discontinued online services may become unplayable despite remaining listed in the Library.