This means EA AntiCheat (Javelin) could not start correctly, usually a corrupted install or a permissions or antivirus block. Repairing it clears the error. Jump to your situation below or work through the methods in order.
EA AntiCheat encountered an error, also shown as EA AntiCheat Service encountered a system error, means EA's kernel-level anti-cheat (now branded EA Javelin) could not start before your game, which blocks titles like Battlefield and EA Sports FC from launching. The usual causes are a corrupted EA AntiCheat install, a permissions problem, or antivirus blocking the anti-cheat. The most reliable fix is to repair EA AntiCheat: in your game folder open Installer\EA Anti-Cheat, run EAAntiCheat.Installer.exe as administrator, pick your game, and choose Repair. Also run the game and EA app as administrator, whitelist EAAC.exe and your game's executable in your antivirus, and make sure Windows is up to date (EA AntiCheat needs Windows 10 20H1 / 10.0.19041 or newer). If a repair will not complete, a full reinstall of EA AntiCheat and the EA app replaces a broken install. Because this is a start-up failure rather than a ban, fixing the install gets you playing.
EA AntiCheat installs a service and kernel driver that must load before your game. This error means that start-up failed, almost always because the EA AntiCheat install is corrupted, it lacks the permissions it needs, or antivirus is blocking it.
Repairing EA AntiCheat with its installer fixes most cases. Running the game and EA app as administrator and whitelisting EAAC in antivirus cover permissions and security blocks, and a full reinstall of EA AntiCheat and the EA app handles a broken install.
“Encountered an error is EA AntiCheat failing to start, and the fix nine times out of ten is the repair tool. I go into the game's Installer, EA Anti-Cheat folder, run EAAntiCheat.Installer.exe as admin, pick the game and hit Repair. Then I run the game and EA app as admin and whitelist EAAC.exe and the game in the antivirus, because it loves to false-flag a kernel anti-cheat. If Repair itself will not finish, that is a broken install, so reinstall EA AntiCheat and the EA app.”
Installer\EA Anti-Cheat and run EAAntiCheat.Installer.exe as administrator.EAAC.exe and your game's executable to your antivirus and firewall exceptions.EA AntiCheat encountered an error means the anti-cheat could not start. Repair it by running EAAntiCheat.Installer.exe as administrator from the game's Installer\EA Anti-Cheat folder and choosing Repair. Run the game and EA app as administrator, whitelist EAAC.exe and the game in antivirus, update Windows, and reinstall EA AntiCheat and the EA app if a repair fails.
If the error persists after a repair, admin and reinstall, a specific code (such as 701, 95 or 119) usually appears; note it and use the matching fix, since each points to a different cause. You can also submit your error to us for a tailored fix.