Overwatch 2 players notice “Applying Update” error disrupting gameplay

Overwatch 2 has been keeping players hype with stunning Greek god-inspired skins and the upcoming Lunar New Year event. But all of these updates have also included some ongoing bugs that have started to frustrate players, including the "Applying Update" error.

Some Overwatch 2 players have been getting a message that reads "Applying Update" when they start the game. But even after several minutes, the screen doesn't go away. The game continues to load this alleged update, essentially blocking gamers from playing the game. Even restarting the game will sometimes do nothing to get rid of the disruptive message.

While this message can be quite frustrating, there are luckily a few things players can do to get rid of it and keep hopping into matches.

First, exit out of the game completely. Then, reboot it. Sometimes all it takes is a restart to get rid of wonky bugs like this one. Try restarting your entire PC or console as well.

If restarting doesn't remove the "Applying Update" message from your screen when you open the game, check that the game actually is up to date. Here's how:

Console

PC

If your game is still refusing to leave the "Applying Update" screen after checking that Overwatch 2 is up to date, you may have to uninstall the game entirely. Then reinstall Overwatch 2 again.

After trying everything above, you should be able to start playing Overwatch 2 again. But if that's not the case and the "Applying Update" error persists, contact Blizzard's customer service. Here, you'll be able to describe the issue and give any other account information developers need. Customer support at Blizzard takes about 24 to 48 hours to respond.