What is Origin?

Origin is an application for your PC or Mac. You can use it to download, manage, and play your games from anywhere.

Download Origin for Mac or PC to set up your Game Library and start playing.

Minimum requirements for Origin

Make sure you check out Origin’s minimum requirements from the Download page of origin.com. You must meet these requirements before downloading Origin and playing our games.

Minimum requirements for games

Every game has its own requirements to play, too. To find the minimum requirements for a specific game:

1. In the Origin store, click on a game tile to learn more.
   • You can find the Store on origin.com or in the Origin application.
2. Scroll down and click the tab that says System Requirements. This is where you’ll see the specs.

Downloading and playing games

Use our article on downloading and playing games in Origin to get into the action.

Once you download Origin, follow the installation instructions to play ASAP (as soon as possible).

Having problems installing?

Check your tech

Double-check that your computer meets the requirements.

If you’re on PC, make sure you’re running Origin as an administrator. Then add Origin.exe and OriginClientService.exe to your anti-virus and firewall whitelists.

Read more on how to update your Windows Security settings.

Check your connection

1. Make sure you're connected to the internet, either hardwired with an ethernet cable or over WiFi.
2. Try restarting your router. Switch it off, unplug it for fifteen seconds, then plug it back in and power it up.
3. Once you're connected to the internet again, download and install Origin one more time.

You can also try troubleshooting your connection problems using our guide.

Restart or reset Origin downloads

If you hit an error in the middle of your installation, you'll need to start over—but you'll also need to delete any files that made it through.

On PC:

1. Find your Origin installation folder.
   • By default, this is at C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin.
2. Right-click the Origin folder and click Delete, then Yes.
3. Redownload the Origin installer for PC.
4. Open the installer and follow the instructions.

On Mac:

1. Look for the Origin.dmg file you downloaded, then drag it to Trash.
2. Check Applications in Finder for the Origin launcher and send it to Trash, too.
3. Right-click on the trash can and click Empty Trash.
4. Redownload the Origin installer for Mac.
5. Open the installer and follow the instructions.

Origin is designed to keep itself up-to-date. This means when you log in to Origin, it’ll automatically update to the newest version.

If you have Origin running when a new update launches, it will not automatically update. Instead, exit out and restart it to begin the update.

• Note: If you ever have a problem upgrading to the latest version of Origin, you can download and install the newest version from origin.com.

Turn off automatic updates

1. Open Application Settings.
2. Find the Client update section.
3. Toggle the Automatic game updates switch to Off.