Origin Developers Electronic Arts Release dates Windows June 3, 2011 macOS (OS X) February 8, 2013 [1]

Key points

DRM: Digital distribution platform with accompanying client required for downloading and often playing games as well. Games can also be DRM-Free or contain third party DRM. Two-factor authentication: App Authenticator or email. Keys for most games developed or published by EA can be redeemed on Origin; see List of Origin-redeemable games. Humble Bundle EA games was region locked in Latin America for a limited time; now is no longer locked, however a few games are still locked. Support for systems predating Windows 7, as well as for macOS (OS X) systems older than 10.9, was retired on January 14, 2020.[2]

General information

Installation [ edit ]

Download and run the latest installer from the Download page of Origin. Beta participation for the Origin client can be toggled in the settings. Changelog

EA Play [ edit ]

EA Play (formerly Origin Access) is a monthly subscription service that grants access to a catalog of games and content through the Origin store. This subscription services comes in two forms; the default EA Play and the more expensive EA Play Pro tier. While the default tier includes the majority of games and content available through the service, some games and/or content might be exclusive to the Pro tier.

Client data [ edit ]

Configuration file(s) location [ edit ]

Element Location Origin DRM activations %PROGRAMDATA% \Electronic Arts\EA Services\License\*.dlf User settings %APPDATA% \Origin\local*.xml Global settings %PROGRAMDATA% \Origin\local.xml Games client settings %PROGRAMDATA% \Origin\LocalContent\ Games launch configuration <path-to-game> \__Installer\installerdata.xml

Issues fixed [ edit ]

Origin can't connect/can't log in [ edit ]

If Origin cannot connect to the internet and won't let you log in, try opening the Command Prompt and running this command: netsh winsock reset

Origin Offline/You must be online the first time you log in [ edit ]

This can happen with Windows/Origin update.

Reset / Repair Host file [citation needed] Reset / Repair Host file Reset the Hosts file back to the default: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034

Origin can't launch games offline [ edit ]

Start the game from installed folder [citation needed] Start the game from installed folder Since recent updates, library of installed games isn't available within client while offline. Start, and sign in to Origin without internet Either start the game from a desktop shorcut, or alternatively start it directly from root folder, while Origin its open.

Origin - Reset to defaults / Clear data cache [ edit ]

If you are getting issues with downloading DLC or Updating games, this will help to allow to restore origin with a full uninstall.

Clear Origin data cache folders[3] Clear Origin data cache folders Make sure Origin is closed, check notification area and exit Origin. Then delete the following folders (this will not affect downloaded games): %LOCALAPPDATA% \Origin

%APPDATA% \Origin Navigate to %PROGRAMDATA% \Origin and delete all files and folders inside it except for %PROGRAMDATA% \Origin\LocalContent . Start Origin, it may prompt to update and then be able to login and go online. Notes Clearing the data caches will make all of your installed games update if available.

Enable Steam overlay in Origin games [ edit ]

The Steam and Origin overlays conflict; to use the Steam overlay, disable the Origin overlay. This might not work for all Origin games.

Disable Origin overlay [citation needed] Disable Origin overlay In Origin click the gear symbol in the top right, settings. Click the in game tab. Uncheck the box next to "Enable Origin In Game". Click Done and exit Origin. In Steam click "Add a Game" in the bottom left, then "Add a Non-Steam Game". Go to your Origin.exe file (default is C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin\Origin.exe ). Select "Add Selected Programs". There will now be an Origin entry in your Steam Library; you can change the name and icon by right clicking it and selecting Properties. Launch Origin through Steam, then launch the game you want. The Steam overlay will now work in-game. To stop showing up as "in-game" on Steam, you have to close your browser and exit Origin.

DirectX Setup "An internal system error occurred" error when installing games [ edit ]

Some Origin games may refuse to install due to bundling a corrupted DXSETUP.exe .

Replace corrupted DXSETUP.exe[4] Replace corrupted DXSETUP.exe Download the DirectX End-User Runtimes. Extract somewhere temporarily. Cut DXSETUP.exe Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games Go into the game's folder. Go into __Installer\directx\redist . Paste the replacement DXSETUP.exe here, replacing the existing file. Try installing again. Failing this, attempting a "repair game" (right click on the game tile) may fix the issue. Origin will possibly hang after a first attempt at re-downloading the files; if this occurs, exit and restart Origin. Origin will attempt a re-install when you go back online.

Origin stops downloading after an ungiven threshold [ edit ]

Start Origin in R&D mode [citation needed] Start Origin in R&D mode Exit Origin Create a new empty document on your desktop Enter the following in the file: [connection] EnvironmentName=production [Feature] CdnOverride=akamai Save the file as EACore.ini Now start Origin. Upon start you will be asked if you want to import the file you just created on your desktop. Press Yes. This will overwrite your old config-file. Notes The EACore.ini file is deleted from your desktop as soon as you import it. If you ever want to leave R&D mode you need to go to the location where Origin is installed and delete the EACore.ini file found there. It has been reported that having Origin in R&D-mode will increase your download speed.

The game does not appear to be installed [ edit ]

This is caused by missing registry keys.

Edit the registry[5] Edit the registry Open Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node \EA Games\ or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node \Electronic Arts\ Verify the presence and accuracy of the following keys: DisplayName

Install Dir

Locale

GDFBinary

Cloud save conflict [ edit ]

Loss of synchronization may cause a prompt for which set of saves to use. Choosing Use Cloud Data may result in a rollback of game progress (choose Use Local Data if you are uncertain since that is more likely to be the correct version). Use the steps below to revert the save if necessary.

Restore saves in Origin client[6] Restore saves in Origin client Open the Origin client. Right click the game. Choose View Game Details. Go to the Cloud Storage tab. Choose Restore Save. The local saves will be restored. Notes If Restore Save is greyed out the old saves are not available.

ActivationUI constantly asks and never accepts account credentials on game launch [ edit ]

It should be possible to notice OriginServiceResponse returning HTTP status code [404] in %PROGRAMDATA% \Origin\Logs\Client_Log.txt Similarly <game-id>_OnlineActivation_Log.html in %PROGRAMDATA% \Origin\Logs\ probably reports License Request Server response state code=4 [7]

Contact EA support desk[8] Contact EA support desk

Add games from a network drive [ edit ]

Disable Origin service and whitelist drive[9] Disable Origin service and whitelist drive Make sure your game PC has been granted read and write rights to the shared folder Navigate to This PC and click on Map network drive Assign a drive letter to your network share (check reconnect at sign-in for handiness) Search and run inetcpl.cpl from the start menu Go in the Security tab and open the Sites proprieties of Local Intranet Select Advanced and add your new path to the whitelist (eg. Z:\ or \\machine ) Search and run services.msc from the start menu Find Origin Client Service and open its Properties (stop it if it is started) Set Startup type to Disabled (at the end you can revert it back to Manual) Finally start Origin and go to your Library Right click on your game of interest tile, select Locate Game and provide the right directory.

"Origin cannot locate games in a root directory" error [ edit ]

Assuming the game files are actually there

Fix folder properties[10] Fix folder properties Make sure you have all permissions to read and write (including no read-only flag) Make sure the folder has not have the name changed from the original one

Overlays do not work [ edit ]

Disable Origin in game [citation needed] Disable Origin in game Select Origin and Application settings . From Origin In Game , uncheck Enable Origin In Game .

Other information [ edit ]

Move/backup installed games [ edit ]

Save game folder[11] Save game folder Navigate to <path-to-game> and save it somewhere Copy it in Origin's "Downloaded Games location" Install the game from the library

Repair game installation [ edit ]

Repair Game Repair Game Right-click on a game in the library. Choose Repair Game. Wait for verification to complete.

System requirements [ edit ]

Windows Minimum Recommended Operating system (OS) 7 SP1 10 Processor (CPU) 1 GHz System memory (RAM) 512 MB Hard disk drive (HDD)

OS X Minimum Operating system (OS) 10.9 (Mavericks) Processor (CPU) Intel Core 2 Duo System memory (RAM) Hard disk drive (HDD)