Whenever you open Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and try to connect to any available servers, you receive this error:
“Matchmaking Failed. Failed to connect to the match.”
That can be frustrating. But not to worry. To fix the error, you can try the methods below, which have worked for many CS:GO users.
Method 1: Verify game files
Method 2: Launch Steam within the installation folder
Method 3: Reset Firewall
Method 4: Disable Firewall
Method 5: Change your DNS address
Method 1: Verify game files
The “Failed to connect to the match” error on CS:GO can be due to broken or missing game files. To fix the error, you can try verifying the game files in Steam. To do so:
1) Launch Steam.
2) Right-click on CS:GO and then select Properties.
3) Go to the Local files tab and click the VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES… button. Then wait for Steam to verify the game files.
4) Once the process is done, restart your computer and check to see if you can play CS:GO without the error.
If Method 1 doesn’t work for you, continue to try Method 2.
Method 2: Launch Steam within the installation folder
To fix the “Failed to connect to the match” error on CS:GO, you can try deleting related Steam files and launch Steam within the installation folder. Here’s how to do it:
1) Ensure you’ve exited Steam.
2) Open File Explorer and go to the Steam folder. The default directory of the folder is C:\Program Files\Steam. If you installed Steam to a different directory, you’ll need to browse to that folder.
3) Delete all of the files in the Steam folder except the following:
– \Steamapps\ folder
– \Userdata\ folder
– Steam.exe
Note: The process won’t affect your currently installed games.
4) Restart your computer.
5) Open the Steam folder again.
6) Double-click on Steam.exe, then Steam will update and launch automatically.
7) Check to see if you can play CS:GO without the error.
If the error still persists, continue to try Method 3.
Method 3: Reset Firewall
The error may occur due to incorrect Firewall settings. You can try resetting Firewall and see if it helps resolve the error. Follow these steps:
1) Press Win+R keys to open the Run box.
2) Type “cmd” into the Run box. Then on your keyboard, press Shift+Ctrl+Enter at the same time to open Command Prompt as administrator.
3) Type the following command:
netsh advfirewall reset
4) Check to see if you’re still facing the “Failed to connect to the match” error on CS:GO.
If resetting Firewall doesn’t work, you can try disabling Firewall. See Method 4.
Method 4: Disable Firewall
The Firewall can block your game from connecting to servers. If that’s the case, disabling Firewall can resolve the CS:GO matchmaking failed error. You can follow below steps to disable the firewall.
1) Press Win+R keys to open the Run box.
2) Type “control panel” into the Run box and press Enter. Then the Control Panel window will pop up.
3) At the Control Panel window, view by Large icons and click on Windows Defender Firewall.
4) Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off in the left pane.
5) Under both Private network settings and Public network settings, click the radio button next to Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended), and then click OK to confirm the changes.
7) Check to see if you can play CS:GO without the error. If the error still occurs, try the next method.
Method 5: Change your DNS address
Some CS:GO users have reported that changing the DNS address helped them fix the “Failed to connect to the match” error on CS:GO. You can give it a try as well.
1) Press Win+I keys to open the Settings window.
2) Click on Network & Internet.
3) Click on Ethernet in the left pane and click Network and Sharing Center in the right pane.
4) Click on Change adapter settings in the left pane.
5) Right-click on the network you’re currently using and select Properties.
6) Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) to open its Properties window.
7) Select Use the following DNS server addresses, set the DNS server values as follows:
Preferred DNS server: 1.1.1.1
Preferred DNS server: 1.0.0.1
1.1.1.1 is the free public DNS service by Cloudflare company. Whenever your DNS causes internet issues, you can change your DNS to it and fix the internet issues.
8) Click OK to save the changes.
9) Check to see if you can play CS:GO without the error.
Hopefully you find the article helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below. I’ll get back to you ASAP.