Doesn't connect to Dota 2

Dota 2, like any computer game that requires an Internet connection, experiences periodic problems with connection and servers. This is often due to technical work or updates. However, some of the problems may be related to the Internet and the player’s computer. This is expressed in the message “Searching for a network in Dota 2”. What to do and how to fix this error - read below.

Types of malfunction

All the reasons that can be found when this message appears in the game are divided into the following categories:

• Problems with Steam servers.
• Problems with Dota 2 servers.
• Installation of update or maintenance.
• Unstable internet connection.
• Problems with files on PC.

We will talk further about what to do when searching for a Dota 2 network in the form of recommendations and tips for solving the problem.

Servers down

The instability of Valve servers occurs infrequently, but causes a storm of discussion on various forums and resources. This can happen under high load or DDOS attacks. If such a breakdown occurs, you will not be able to connect not only to the game, but also to the Steam store itself. In this case, all you can do is wait and hope for a quick fix from the developers.

As practice shows, in most cases the problem of finding a network is related precisely to the operation of servers. This can happen during a heavy influx of players. For example, after a major tournament or the release of a global update that forces old players to return to Dota.

Solving the problem of finding the Dota 2 network in this case does not depend on you. Monitor the performance of Steam and wait for the servers to be restored.

Installing updates

When new patches are released, most players start downloading files from servers at the same time, which can cause stability problems. If you want to avoid endless network searches while playing, then just wait until the hype around the update dies down so you can play in peace.

Connection problems

What to do when searching for the Dota 2 network if you have slow Internet? In this case, try closing all programs that use the network connection. This will help allocate some speed to the game. Wait a few minutes - if the client does not connect to the servers, then reboot your router or modem. It is possible that a new IP (if you have a dynamic IP) will help you connect to the game.

Restarting the Steam client may also help. To do this, you need to completely close it through the Task Manager (right-click on the process and click “End process tree”). After that, restart the application.

Checking files

Sometimes the connection is prevented by corrupted game files. Let's figure out what to do when searching for the Dota 2 network in this case.

Go to the Steam library and right-click on Dota 2. In the menu, select properties and go to the “Local Files” tab. Here you need to click on the “Check integrity of game files” button. The program will check all game components and show whether some of them need to be re-downloaded. If this is required, then enable the download process and wait. After this, try starting the client again. Now you know how to fix Dota 2 network search.

As you can easily understand, with single-player games you will almost never have problems related to the Internet - this is only possible if you need verification over the network or certain game elements are located on the developer’s servers. This strategy is now quite often used by game creators to protect their projects from pirated copying. However, multiplayer games are much more likely to present problems related directly to the network. An excellent example here is the popular game Dota 2, the whole point of which is the multiplayer mode. Accordingly, you will need to go online every time you want to play. However, at the same time, the “Search for Dota 2 network” window may hang. What to do in this case? There may be several reasons, and this article will discuss each of them separately.

Game update

The very first reason, which is also the most common, is the release of a new update for the game. This is what can cause certain problems with the game. So, you have a “Dota 2 Network Search” window - what should you do if it remains there for too long and the search is unlikely to ever end? First of all, you need to exit the game or minimize it, then go to the DotA page and read the latest news. It always says if a new version of the client has been released that you need to download. Naturally, if you have an old version installed, the search for a connection will take forever, since the versions on the server and on your computer do not match, so the game will not start. This problem can be solved quickly and painlessly by downloading and installing the update. Once you do this, the problem will disappear. However, unfortunately, this is not the only possible option, and there are other reasons why the Dota 2 Network Search window may freeze. What to do in other cases?

Internet connection

Unfortunately, the problem is not always on the part of the game servers or in the game itself. Everything can be much simpler - poor performance of your Internet may cause your “Dota 2 Network Search” window to freeze. What to do in this case? You should first try rebooting your Internet connection, as well as the router itself - perhaps this will fix the problem. At the same time, you can restart the Steam client to avoid possible freezing in the future. If this does not help you, then you need to either wait until the connection is normalized, or contact your provider to figure out why your or is functioning so poorly that it does not allow you to join the game. Naturally, no will not be available to you for now. You can only train on bots, but this is not nearly as exciting as fighting with real people.

Changing the download region

Experienced multiplayer players should be familiar with the word “ping” - this is the server response time, that is, the period of time during which the signal from your computer reaches the server, or more precisely, the time during which information is exchanged between your PC and the server. Naturally, the longer this time, the worse the game will work for you. And even if your problem is not that no, it may still not work and freeze on the window described above. The reason here may be too much. You can solve this problem by changing the download region. Simply put, you will change the server from which game information will be loaded. If you install the server that is as close as possible to your location, then it is likely that the ping will drop significantly and you will be able to enjoy the game without problems. Now you know another reason why “Network Search” says “Dota 2”. However, again, this is not the last reason, so it is worth paying attention to others.

Changing the connection port

Now it’s worth considering more rare causes of this problem. The problem may not be with the server itself or your internet connection. Difficulties may also arise with the port through which you connect to the server. Under certain conditions, you may not be able to connect to the Dota2 network. Why is this happening? There could be quite a few reasons for this, both on your side and on the server's side, but it's better to immediately look at the solution rather than the reasons. You need to enter the clientport command in the game launch parameters and specify a different port - this may well work.

Checking cache integrity and reinstalling

Another way to get rid of not only this problem, but also many others, is to check the integrity of the game cache, which is performed from the game menu in Steam. The system will recheck all the files related to the game that are on your computer, compare them with how everything should be, and if it finds a discrepancy, it will restore the missing files. If this does not help, then all you can do is try reinstalling the game.

Connecting to the Dota 2 network. Solving the problem

Well, in a wild impulse to tear up the mid lane, after a break to eat and take a break from the last game, when you launch your favorite Dotan, the most unpleasant “Connecting to the Dota 2 network” window popped up. What is it and what can you eat it with?

Leonid Arkadyevich is also very upset about this problem.

Don’t frantically search for Gabe’s number on the Internet or write to Steam support. This problem is temporary and is associated, as you can understand, with a problem when connecting to Valve servers (the same servers where all the “good” of your account is stored, that is, statistics, your data, things, all your Godlikes and Rampages, killstreak demos and chats with insults to opponents). The developers will not provide you with this data, and keep everything safe and sound. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to provide the desired 24/7 uptime, and sometimes the problem is not related to this at all.

- So what should I do? You ask. Let's look at a well-known list of solutions to this problem:

1. Game update.

You've been wanting something new for a long time. A new hero, ults, balance changes, so that the old imba was finally removed and the interface changed. Valve hears you and is working on the game. And when hundreds of thousands of players try to simultaneously race each other to download a new patch as quickly as possible, anything can happen. Sit back in your chair, think about how you will bend over, make some tea. Try starting again. Take a look at the calendar. Most often, valve guys like to please gamers on Wednesday-Thursday and Thursday-Friday. In addition, you should refer to the official Dota 2 blog, where they usually (especially in the English-language part) immediately after the update they report that they have fixed it.

2. You have a problem.

Everything related to the Internet and access to it. Reboot the router, connection, restart Steam. Maybe you recently delved into the settings of the Firewall, Firewall, Anti-Virus, reflashed the router, made changes to its configuration (transferred ports) trying to install KSKU locally.

3. Update server or download region.

Remember what country (and preferably part of it) you are in. The fact is that Valve doesn’t have one big box in the office with the phrase “Dotan 2” written crookedly. They have signed contracts all over the world and have server capacity to distribute the load evenly. And in terms of ping and connection, it’s better for you to connect to the server that is geographically closer to you. To do this, we follow the chain - Steam - Settings - Downloads - Download region(Steam - Settings - Downloads - Download region). We choose what is closest to us. Restart Steam.

4. Connection port.

Remember the part about the router configuration? The situation is likely that everything is fine and in fact Valve is not to blame, but the ill-fated port is to blame. So, if CS cannot be touched in any way (holy!), there is a workaround option. You can check this hypothesis using the following sequence, adding the following to the launch parameters:

• In our library of games we find Dota 2.
• Move the cursor over the inscription, right-click, then hover the mouse over the “Properties” inscription and left-click.
• On the first tab, General, look for and click on the Set launch options button.
• A field will appear where you can enter the parameter -clientport 27015 (you can enter another number from the list from 27011 to 27020, but it’s better to try the first option).
• Click OK to close the window. Let's try to close it.

5. Recovering game files.

You have reached this point with sadness that everything previous is not your option. You can try redownloading all Steam files. This way, all cache and other suspicious files that may be interfering with the connection will be cleared. Let's try:

• Close Steam and remove it as a process. Depending on where you installed the program, go to its directory. This is usually C:\Program Files\Steam.
• We clean everything that is in this folder, in addition to: the Steamapps subdirectory, the Steam.exe file and the Steam.ico icon
• Launch Steam
• Steam is fixing the holes. We wait.

6. Reinstall Dota.

Doing this is the very last thing you can think of. Right-click on Dota 2 - Delete local content.

Time heals, as they say. With a 90% probability, you should wait a while for the message to disappear. The Valves team coped with the breakdown. I hope you found this article helpful. Stay tuned, GL & HF.

So, you have become the next “lucky” person who received the unfortunate message “Connecting to the Dota 2 network” during your next attempt to conquer the public.

Do not despair, this problem only indicates a temporary lack of connection with the Dota servers, since the game itself simply requires this connection to collect your statistics and save all the data about you and your things. You don’t want all the points you earned (and God forbid things) to disappear into oblivion after your Rampage? This is how the developers take care of you, keeping it all under lock and key. But sometimes situations happen that simply do not make it possible to keep the server uptime 24/7. Most likely this phenomenon is temporary and is associated with:

1. Update.

Yes, our beloved Valve company loves to please us with new heroes, interface updates, balance updates, adding items and so on. And not everything always goes smoothly, and sometimes it is a necessary measure, for your own good in the future. Time, as they say, heals. And even servers. Wait a couple of hours, relax, drink tea, read the guides and try again. It’s also worth looking out the window and looking at the calendar in order to understand what day it is today. The fact is that updates for Dota most often come out between Wednesday-Thursday and Thursday-Friday, and if this is your case, then it’s worth watching the update news (you can find it either on our website or in the update news on Steam , or on the official Dota 2 website).

2. The problem is on your side.

Reconnect to the Internet in case your ISP is acting up or restart Steam. You can try to perform the last point regularly, for 10 - 15 minutes.

3. Download region.

Try changing the download region, to do this follow the chain Steam - Settings - Downloads + Cloud - Download region(Steam - Settings - Downloads + Cloud - Download region). Try choosing Russia - Central or any other region.

4. Port for accessing the server.

It is quite possible that the server itself is accessible, but the port is blocked. The malfunction can be looked for both from the server’s side (for example, as a result of some error of the server itself or a tired administrator), and from yours (check, maybe your firewall is worse than the “Golden Shield” like in China, and blocks everything it sees). To try to solve the problem, let's carry out some simple manipulations:

• In the Library tab of Steam, look for Dota 2.
• Right-click on the inscription, then click on Properties.
• In the General tab, click on the Set launch options button.
• In the window that appears, enter in the field -clientport 27015 (you can also try your luck and enter another number from the range 27011-27020 instead of 27015).
• Then press the OK key. And again we try to enter the game.

5. Recovering Steam files.

If all of the above did not help, and you still think that this is definitely not the reason for your specific situation, you can try redownloading all the steam files again. For this:

• Turn off Steam and go to the C:Program FilesSteam folder (this is the standard Steam installation path - if you chose a different directory, follow it)
• Delete all files in this folder except: Steamapps directory, Steam.exe, Steam.ico
• Launch Steam
• Wait while Steam restores

6. Reinstall Dota.

What else can I add - the most extreme solution if you are exhausted to look for a way out and a solution.

I hope that the methods presented above are suitable and will help in solving a specific case of your problem. Stay tuned comrades, have a nice game.

Selecting a download region on Steam