Some of our readers told us that they encountered the Overwatch 2 applying update stuck error with the last update of the game. If you are having the same problem, don’t worry because you are in the right place.
Players choose a “hero” from a pool of 35 characters in Overwatch 2, a hero shooter in which they are divided into two teams. Characters are divided into three classes: “damage,” which is in charge of offensive efforts; “support,” which is in charge of healing and buffing; and “tank,” which is in charge of the team’s defense. Active, passive, and ultimate skills make up each character’s own set of skills. The main focus of Overwatch 2’s gameplay, like that of its predecessor, is player versus player (PvP) conflict across a variety of modes and maps, with both casual and ranked competitive matches available.

Due to frequent screen stutters on the Applying update page, many Overwatch 2 players are unable to play the game. The worst part is that, even if you managed to get into the game, Overwatch 2 applying update stuck error can still ban you and set a countdown that can last for up to 40 minutes. So, here is what you need to know about the Overwatch 2 applying update stuck error and whether a fix for the issue is available.
How to fix Overwatch 2 applying update stuck error?
The error “Stuck on Applying Update” for this game doesn’t appear to have an official fix. Once a fix is made available by the developers, it will be entirely fixed. Here are some methods you can attempt to fix this Overwatch 2 applying update stuck issue:
- Restart Overwatch 2
- Update the game
- Repair the Overwatch 2 game files
- Reinstall Overwatch 2
Restart Overwatch 2
If the Applying Update screen becomes stuck, restart the game right away. If you’re fortunate, you might be able to come back into the game and avoid being banned. It has a very slim probability of working, but it might be helpful to resolve the Overwatch 2 applying update stuck problem.
Update the game
Updating your game is the next best fix for the Overwatch 2 applying update stuck error. When the developers correct it, this problem will be permanently fixed. From Battle.net, you can see if the game has any updates available. Update and restart Overwatch 2 if necessary. You shouldn’t get stopped on the Applying Update screen if you try playing right now.

Repair the Overwatch 2 game files
You can check the game files’ integrity on Battle.net. Close the game if you stuck on the Applying Update screen.
- Open Battle.net
- Go to Overwatch 2 in your games
- Next to the Play button, select the options icon
- Select Scan and Repair from here
Hold off while the client replaces any damaged game files. Try playing the game after restarting your PC.
Reinstall Overwatch 2
You should probably reinstall the game if none of the previous fixes work. You can also try uninstalling the Battle.net launcher and starting over to see if that fixes the Overwatch 2 applying update stuck issue.
Why does Overwatch say Applying update?
For a while, Blizzard may shut down servers to fix an issue or roll out a patch. Despite being a rare reason, Overwatch 2’s “stuck on applying update” problem could be brought on by a server outage. So before you try to fix the Overwatch 2 applying update stuck error with the methods we mentioned it would be wise to check for the Battle.net server status. You may check the Battle.net server status from the third-party site Downdetector.

That covers all of the fixes of Overwatch 2 applying update stuck error for now. Blizzard is usually not too late in solving such errors, so before entering your next competitive game, it’s a good idea to wait for a new patch for Overwatch 2 to be released for a short while or check out our article called Battle for Olympus Overwatch 2 event explained.