How to Fix Denial Reason Code 20 in Fortnite – Quick Troubleshooting (2025)

Quick Answer: Denial Reason Code 20 in Fortnite occurs when there is a mismatch in party settings, such as the party being set to private or not being friends with the host. To fix it, restart Fortnite, check party privacy settings, add the party host as a friend, and disable VPN or proxy settings if active.

Fortnite is a great game that you can enjoy with friends. But the exciting game-playing experience comes to a halt when you cannot join a party. Denial Reason Code 20 Fortnite error is one such problem linked to party lobby issues. The error impacts Xbox players, but recently, PC users are also complaining about it.

This error also shows up when players want to squad up and have disputing Party Mode settings. If you have arranged your settings to private, the other players will see this error code. That being said, Error Code 20 in Fortnite can be resolved with some good solutions. Read about them in this article and prevent this error code from disrupting your game.

What Is Denial Reasons Code 20 in Fortnite?

The Denial Reason Code 20 occurs when you commence a match in Fortnite. The bug makes it difficult to join other squads. This error indicates that you lack the right permissions to view the content that you need to load.

An issue with your account on the game or the way you are accessing the content prompts this error. When it occurs, you will read ‘Unable to Join Party’ on the screen.

Learning about its causes in detail will help you troubleshoot it effectively.

Main Causes for Denial Reason 20 in Fortnite

The major reasons for this particular error are as follows:

• The party or squad you want to join is configured as ‘Private.’
• The party leader on Epic is not your friend.
• Your device has encountered network issues.
• Cross-platform play is not enabled.
• A temporary game file is causing the problem.
• A glitch with your Xbox gaming device.
• You have not added all your teammates to your Epic Games account.
• The VPN is creating issues with the Fortnite game.
• The game has not yet loaded fully.

How to Fix Denial Reason Code 20 in Fortnite

Here are the main solutions to quickly eliminate this error code in Fortnite:

1. Start Fortnite and your device again.

It is one of the most basic fixes to resolve Denial Reason code 20. Sometimes, Fortnite may create temporary conflicts with game or system files when the player tries to join a party. So, the best fix is restarting it and your computer.

• Restart Fortnite by accessing the Task Manager and hitting Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
• Choose the ‘Processes’ tab and find Fortnite and Epic Games-related processes.
• Then hit ‘End Task.’
• Now, open the game again through the launcher and join a party.

2. Examine the party settings.

Ensure that the party settings are set to ‘Public.’ If privacy settings are enabled, you are likely to encounter Denial Code 20. If you are the party owner, use these steps. If not, request the party leader to change the settings.

• Go to the main Fortnite game menu.
• Open the side menu via the ‘Options’ menu.
• Tap your avatar icon to access ‘Advanced Party Settings.’
• In the new menu, set ‘Privacy Party’ to ‘Public’ and save the changes.
• Now join the game again and check whether the error code still appears.

Also, make sure all your squad mates are added to your Epic Games account to avoid party join errors.

3. Turn on cross-platform play

Make sure cross-platform play is enabled in Fortnite. If not, toggle this setting on:

• After enabling, restart your gaming device (Xbox, PC, etc.).
• Open Fortnite and try joining a party again.

4. Check your internet and restart the game

Slow internet connectivity affects Fortnite’s performance. Denial Reason Code 20 may arise due to poor connectivity.

• Reboot your router or move closer to it.
• Then reopen Fortnite.
• Use Task Manager to end game processes if needed before restarting.

5. Ensure that the party owner is on your friend list

If you’re still facing the error, make sure you’ve added the party owner as a friend. If they’ve set the party to private, this step becomes essential.

• Ensure your Epic Games account is active and verified.
• Download the Epic Games Launcher on your system.
• Sign in with your Epic account and open the launcher.
• From the top-right menu, click the ‘Friends’ icon.
• Search for the party owner by their Fortnite ID.
• Send a friend request and restart your system.
• Launch Fortnite and try again.

6. Turn off the proxy server and VPN.

A proxy or VPN can interrupt your connection to Fortnite servers.

Disable Proxy Server:

• Open the Run box (Windows + R).
• Type ms-settings:network-proxy and press Enter.
• Under ‘Proxy’, go to Manual proxy setup.
• Uncheck ‘Use a proxy server’.
• Restart your system and relaunch Fortnite.

Disable VPN:

• Open Run box again.
• Type ms-settings:network-vpn and press Enter.
• Select the active VPN connection and click ‘Remove.’
• Restart your PC and try to join the Fortnite party.

Still Cannot Troubleshoot Denial Reason Code 20 in Fortnite? Try This!

If most of the above solutions do not work, contact Fortnite customer support and re-submit your claim with the correct error description.

• On your Fortnite account, go to ‘My Account’.
• Tap the ‘Claims’ button.
• Click ‘Resubmit a Claim’.
• Fill in the claim data and describe the issue clearly.
• Attach necessary screenshots or videos.
• Tap ‘Submit.’

FAQs About Denial Reason Code 20 in Fortnite

Q1. Why does Fortnite say ‘Unable to Join Party’ with Code 20?
This usually happens when the party is set to private, or you’re not friends with the party leader on Epic Games.

Q2. Can VPNs trigger Error Code 20 in Fortnite?
Yes. VPNs or proxy servers can disrupt your connection to Fortnite servers. Disabling them often resolves the issue.

Q3. Does this error affect only Xbox players?
Initially, it was mostly reported on Xbox. But now, PC and other platform users are also facing this error.

Q4. Is there a permanent fix for Denial Code 20?
Ensuring correct privacy settings, friend lists, and stable internet can help prevent this error long-term.

Final Thoughts

You can try various fixes to get past game errors like Denial Reason Code 20. If you cannot follow these measures or the errors keep persisting, connect with the customer support team. They will help you fix Fortnite Launcher errors so you can enjoy the game again.