If you’ve scrolled through short-form clips of insane Apex Legends trick shots or heard your friend group rave about the latest season’s new legend, you’ve almost certainly asked: can you download Apex Legends on PC, and is it worth the hard drive space? This fast-paced, team-based battle royale has dominated the genre for years thanks to constant updates, unique character abilities, and zero pay-to-win mechanics. I’ve helped half a dozen new players get set up on PC over the last year, so I put together this no-fluff guide to walk you through every part of the process, no technical expertise required.
Can You Download Apex Legends on PC for Free, and Where to Find It?
The short answer to can you download Apex Legends on PC is yes, and it costs absolutely nothing to play unless you choose to buy optional cosmetic skins or battle passes. You never have to pay to access the core game, all maps, or all playable legends, which is part of why it’s remained so popular for so long. The only catch is you have to download it from one of three official, trusted sources to avoid malware or account bans.
Stick to these official platforms, and you won’t run into any safety issues:
Never download Apex Legends from random third-party sites or file-sharing platforms. These versions often come with hidden malware, keyloggers, or modified game files that will get your account permanently banned as soon as you log in. The official downloads are completely free, so there’s no reason to take that risk.
Minimum and Recommended PC System Requirements for Apex Legends
One of the best parts of Apex Legends on PC is that it’s optimized to run well on both high-end gaming rigs and older, budget laptops. You don’t need a $1,000 setup to enjoy smooth gameplay, but it helps to know the requirements before you start the download to avoid disappointment later.
The minimum requirements to run Apex at 30 FPS on low settings are: 64-bit Windows 10, Intel Core i3 6300 or AMD FX 4350 processor, 6GB of RAM, 1GB of VRAM (NVIDIA GT 640 or Radeon HD 7730), and 22GB of free storage space. I ran the game on a 7-year-old laptop with these exact specs for two years, and it worked perfectly for casual play, even if I couldn’t stream or run high graphics settings.
If you want to run the game at 60+ FPS on medium to high settings, the recommended requirements are: 64-bit Windows 10, Intel i5 3570K or Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 8GB of VRAM (NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD R9 290), and 22GB of free space on an SSD. Installing the game on an SSD is one of the biggest upgrades you can make, as it cuts map load times in half and almost eliminates stuttering when you drop into a match.
Step-by-Step Guide to Download and Install Apex Legends on PC
The download and installation process is almost identical across all three official platforms, so these steps will work no matter which store you choose. The whole process usually takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on your internet speed.
First, open your chosen game store client and log into your account. If you don’t have an account for the platform, you can make one for free in 2 minutes, no payment info required upfront. Search for “Apex Legends” in the store search bar, and make sure you select the official listing published by Respawn Entertainment or Electronic Arts, not a fan-made content pack or cosmetic bundle.
Click the “Add to Library” or “Get” button, and confirm you want to add the free game to your account. You won’t be asked for payment details unless you choose to add an optional battle pass or cosmetic bundle to your order. Once the game is in your library, click “Download” and select the drive you want to install it to – we recommend an SSD if you have available space.
Wait for the download to complete, then launch the game. You’ll be prompted to link an EA account when you first open it, so use the same account you use for Apex on console or mobile if you want to carry over all your existing skins, stats, and battle pass progress. Once the account link is done, you can jump straight into your first match.
Common Download Issues and How to Fix Them Fast
Even with official downloads, you might run into small snags during installation. I’ve seen every possible issue while helping friends set up the game, and most of them take less than 5 minutes to fix with these simple tricks.
If your download gets stuck at 99% for more than a few minutes, don’t panic and cancel it. Most of the time, the client is just unpacking the downloaded files to prepare for installation, and it will finish on its own if you wait 5 to 10 minutes. If it’s still stuck after that, restart your game client and check that your internet connection is stable.
If you get an “insufficient storage” error even if you have 22GB of free space, that’s because the installation process requires extra temporary space to unpack files. You’ll need at least 10GB of extra free space on top of the 22GB game size for the installation to complete. Clear out old unused files or install the game to a different drive with more space to fix this.
If the game won’t launch after installation, update your graphics drivers first. Outdated GPU drivers cause 80% of all Apex launch issues, and updating them takes just a few minutes through NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software. If that doesn’t work, verify the game files through your store client – this will scan for and replace any corrupted or missing files automatically. You can also try adding Apex Legends to your antivirus safe programs list, as some security software accidentally blocks the game from launching.
So if you’ve been asking can you download Apex Legends on PC, you now have all the info you need to jump in right away. The game is completely free, runs well on almost any modern PC, and you can be in your first match in less than an hour if you follow the steps above. I still remember my first match where I got knocked by a player using a Mozambique 30 seconds after dropping, and I was hooked immediately. If you run into any issues not covered here, feel free to drop a note and I’ll help you sort it out.