Fortnite Esp-Dist-001 Error Code Fix

Error codes are all part and parcel of online games nowadays, and unfortunately, Fortnite is no different. While some error codes have very clear causes and fixes, others are a little more obscure about what's causing the problem and have lengthy troubleshooting methods you need to follow to fix them.

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By Md Armughanuddin

In this guide, we'll run through how to fix the Esp-Dist-001 error in Fortnite, so you can get back to grinding out for a Victory Royale and enjoying the current season with a plethora of creative content, along with what awaits the weeks ahead.

What Causes the Esp-Dist-001 Error in Fortnite?

According to the official troubleshooting page from Epic, "ESP errors tend to be connection error codes." What it doesn't explain is why players might suddenly have a connection error when things were working just fine the other day, and nothing has changed with their internet connection at home. This is a similar problem some players have with the Fortnite Matchmaking Error #2, which pops up fairly regularly, too.

There is a chance that Fortnite has received an update since you last played, and your system's cache is still clinging to old data from a previous version. As such, your system cannot connect to the Fortnite servers because it thinks there's a mismatch in the version. Fortunately, there's an easy enough way to fix this if your cache does start causing problems, and you're getting the Esp-Dist-001 error.

How to Fix Fortnite Esp-Dist-001 Error on All Platforms

The Esp-Dist-001 error is fixed by clearing your console's (or PC's) cache, as mentioned above. This process can be a little different on every system, though, so we've outlined the steps you need to take for each one below.

Nintendo Switch

Go to the System Settings option from your Nintendo Switch Home screen. It's the little cog icon on the bottom bar.
Select 'System' and then go to 'Formatting Options.'
Choose the 'Reset Cache' option and then choose your User profile. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Hold the power button on your Nintendo Switch for three seconds and select 'Turn Off' from the Power Options menu. The power button is located on the top of the console if you normally put your Switch in sleep mode via holding the Home button.
Turn your Nintendo Switch back on and load up Fortnite. You should now be able to log in.

PS5

Press and hold the PS button on your DualSense controller.
Select the Power menu and choose 'Turn Off PS5.' Now wait until the PS5 power light turns off completely. Do not just put your PS5 in rest mode.
Press and hold the Power button on the front of your PS5 for seven seconds until you hear a second beep after the initial one that indicates the console has turned on. You should now be in Safe Mode.
Plug your controller into your PS5 using a USB cable and press the PS button.
Go to the 'Clear Cache and Rebuild Database' option and select 'Clear System Software Cache.' Press OK when this is done.
Your console will now restart. Load up Fortnite, and you should now be able to log in without hitting the Esp-Dist-001 error.

Xbox Series X|S

Turn off your Xbox Series console entirely and unplug it from the wall. Remove any accessories connected to the console as well at this stage.
Leave your console unplugged and in this state for two minutes.
Press and hold the power button on your Xbox Series console while it's unplugged. I typically do this for about 5–10 seconds. This will power cycle your console and force the cache to be cleared.
Reconnect the power cable and all accessories to your console.
Turn on your Xbox Series console and load up Fortnite.

PS4

Turn off your PS4 console entirely. Do not put it in rest mode.
Wait until the light on top of your PS4 has turned off completely, and then unplug the power cable from the back of the console.
Wait 1–2 minutes before plugging the power cable back into your PS4.
Turn it on and start Fortnite.

Xbox One

Turn off your Xbox One, and when the Xbox light on the console and the one on the power brick (if you have an original Xbox One) have turned off, unplug the power cable from the console entirely.
Wait for 30 seconds.
Plug the power cable back in and turn your Xbox One back on.
Start Fortnite.

PC

Close Fortnite and the Epic Games Launcher.
Press and hold the Windows key on your keyboard and tap R at the same time to open the 'Run' window.
Type: %localappdata%
Select the 'FortniteGame' folder here and press the 'Delete' key on your keyboard. If you can't delete the folder, restart your PC and follow these steps again. This will clear the game's cache on your PC.
Restart your computer.
Launch Epic Games Launcher as an Administrator. To do this, find it in your programs list, right-click on it, and select the 'Run as Administrator' option.
Go to Fortnite in your Epic Games library, click the three-dot menu, and select 'Manage.'
Click on 'Verify' and let this process complete.
Restart Fortnite, and you should be able to log in to the game.

In most cases, this should fix the Esp-Dist-001 error in Fortnite. If it doesn't, you might have to follow steps to change your DNS servers on your console. This seems to be more of an issue on PC and PlayStation consoles than on Xbox and Nintendo Switch. To help you with this process, as it can get a little complicated, we've outlined the steps you'll need to take below.

How to Change DNS Servers to Fix Esp-Dist-001 Error in Fortnite

As noted above, the cache clearing method tends to fix the problem without issue on Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles, so we've focused on the process for PC and PlayStation consoles below.

PlayStation

Go to the 'Set Up Internet Connection' option in Settings > Network.
Select Wi-Fi or LAN depending on whether you're using a wireless or wired connection.
Go to 'Custom' and, if you're using Wi-Fi, enter the Network ID and password at this stage.
Set the following settings to these options:
- IP Address Settings: Automatic
- DHCP Host Name: Do Not Use
- DNS Settings: Manual
Enter the following IP addresses:
- Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
- Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
Select Next, and then make sure the following settings use these options:
- MTU Settings: Automatic
- Proxy Server: Do Not Use
Test your internet connection and confirm that you can connect to the internet. This should now fix the Fortnite Esp-Dist-001 error.

Windows 11 PC

Go to 'Settings,' 'Network and Internet,' and 'Ethernet.'
Click the 'Edit' button on the DNS Server Assignment option.
Select 'Manual' and choose IPv4 (or IPv6).
Replace the IP addresses with:
- IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
- IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
Click OK, load up Fortnite, and try logging in.

Windows 10 PC

Go to 'Settings,' 'Network and Internet,' 'Network and Sharing Center,' and then click 'Change adapter settings' in the left-hand column.
Right-click on your network and select 'Properties.'
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (or Version 6).
Click the Properties option.
Write down any existing DNS server entries in case you want to go back to these default options in the future.
Select the 'Use the Following DNS Server Addresses' option and then enter the following IP addresses:
- IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
- IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
Click OK, start Fortnite, and you should be able to log in.