As long as your compatible Android phone or tablet has plenty of empty storage, you can download Fortnite and start playing right away. But here's the problem: Google kicked Fortnite from the Play Store. If you do search and find it listed in Google's store, it's fake, and you risk exposing your device to a virus or spyware.
If you want to download the official Fortnite app, keep reading to follow our instructions.
A warning before we start
Fortnite used to be a huge hit on both Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. But after an update that allowed players to make in-app purchases directly from Epic, Apple and Google promptly booted the game from their stores. Perform a search and the official game won’t be listed. Instead, you’ll find unofficial clones on the Google Play Store.
While some are likely to be harmless, others may be harmful apps that seek to steal your personal data. Be aware of what you’re downloading.
If your aim is to download only the official Fortnite Android app, keep reading.
Which Android devices can run Fortnite?
Unlike Apple’s iOS and iPadOS, Android is an exceptionally wide platform, device-wise. There’s no definitive and complete list of phones and tablets that can run Fortnite without problems. However, here are the minimum requirements:
- Version: Android 8.0 or newer
- RAM: 4GB or more
- GPU: Adreno 530 or newer / Mali-G71 MP20 / Mali-G72 MP12 or newer
Here is Epic’s list of Android phones that can run Fortnite at 60 frames per second (fps):
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (U.S. variant only)
- Samsung Galaxy S10
- Samsung Galaxy S10e
- Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S20
- Samsung Galaxy S20+
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy A90 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
- Honor View20
- Huawei Mate 20 X
- Huawei P30
- Huawei P30 Pro
- Sony Xperia 1
- Sony Xperia 5
- Xiaomi Mi9
- OnePlus 7 Pro
- OnePlus 8
- OnePlus 8 Pro
- ASUS ROG Phone 2
These devices can run Fortnite at 90 fps:
- OnePlus 8
- OnePlus 8 Pro
Still not sure if your phone can run Fortnite? Typically, flagship phones from the last couple of years should have no problems. However, you’re on dodgier ground with midrange and budget phones.
Bottom line, if you’re running Android 8.0 Oreo and have 4GB of RAM, then you’re probably safe to install it — how it runs depends on the hardware.
How to download Fortnite on a Samsung device
The method for getting set up on an eligible Galaxy device is easy, but it requires a couple of steps and a lot of installing.
Step 1: Open the Galaxy Store app and search for “Epic Games.”
Note: If you have a Galaxy device that currently doesn’t support the Epic Games launcher, like the Galaxy A10e, skip to the next section of our guide.
Step 2: Download and install Epic’s app.
Step 3: Open Epic’s app and search for Fortnite to load the game’s page.
Step 4: On the Fortnite listing, grant Epic’s app permission to access your storage. There’s nothing nefarious here; it needs access to download the game.
Step 5: Tap the big yellow Install button to download and install the initial Fortnite file.
Step 6: Open Fortnite using the app’s icon and allow the game to finish installing the remaining files.
Step 7: Log in using an existing account, or create a new one. Pick whichever option works best for you, and then start playing!
How to download Fortnite on other Android devices
Epic Games hasn’t signed an agreement with any other phone manufacturers. Unless you have a Samsung phone, your app store won’t have access to Fortnite. However, there is still a straightforward way to get Fortnite on your Android device:
Step 1: Load this webpage into your Android device’s browser or use your device to scan the QR code displayed on the computer screen.
Step 2: Click the Get It on the Epic Games App key.
Step 3: Hit OK to install the EpicGamesApp.apk file.
Step 4: Click Open at the bottom of the page.
Step 5: If you downloaded the file using Chrome, you will see a prompt appear, asking you to click Settings. Then, tap Toggle next to Allow From This Source.
By turning this toggle on, you enable Chrome to install (i.e. sideload) anonymous apps not shown on the Play Store from now on. In this particular case, you’re installing the Epic Games app.
Step 6: Select the Back arrow in the top-left corner to proceed.
Step 7: Hit Install on the pop-up window to continue. This officially installs the Epic Games app, not Fortnite.
Step 8: Click Open after Epic’s app is completely installed. One other option is to open the Epic Games app from the app drawer or your home screen.
Step 9: In the Epic Games app, navigate to Fortnite and click the yellow Install button on the store page. The base game file will then download to your device.
Step 10: A prompt will appear saying that Epic Games does not have the authorization to install apps. Click Settings.
Step 11: Tap the Toggle button next to Allow From This Source, and then tap the Back Arrow to proceed.
Step 12: A prompt will pop up and ask for approval to install the game. Tap Install and then tap Done or Open after installation.
Step 13: After opening the base game, choose what Fortnite can access, and then click Continue.
Step 14: If you are prompted, tap OK to approve that Fortnite was produced for an older Android version.
Step 15: Create an account or log in to your existing account and accept the terms.
Step 16: Click the yellow Install button to finalize the remaining part of the game (8GB) that still needs to download. It usually takes some time for the download to conclude, so feel free to step away to watch TV or bake a cake — you know, fun stuff like that.
Step 17: Once your download is done, you can dive into your game.
Now, all that’s required of you is regular practice and the perfecting of your mad skills. We don’t want to end up catapulting you out of a flying bus, so please make sure that you read our article on Fortnite tips and tricks. You’ll thank us later.
