Online multiplayer games are a slave to the internet, and when your or your game’s connection to each other gets wonky, you can have things like the Connecting to Network Error in Counter Strike 2. Fixing errors like these can be a matter of patience, basic technical support skills, or pure luck. And while there is no one guaranteed solution to network errors in CS2, there are a few steps you can take to check or even solve the problem. In this guide we’ll go over how to fix the Connecting to Network error.
How to Fix the Connecting to Network Errors in Counter Strike 2
Before you get started on any troubleshooting on your end, there are a few steps you can take to see if Counter Strike 2 is having server issues or is otherwise acting up. If it is something on Valve or the game’s end, your only real recourse is to wait until the problem gets resolved.
How to Check CS2’s Server Status
To check Counter Strike 2‘s server status, you can:
- Check the SteamDB CS2 page. SteamDB captures and caches player population data for almost every game on Steam. CS2 is almost always on top of their list, and going into the Charts section for the game will give you a snapshot of current player counts. If there’s a sever drop in the number of people in-game, the servers are probably borked.
- Check Counter Strike 2 on DownDetector. DownDetector keeps track of outages across a vast range of internet services and can graph them based on the last 24 hours of data. If you see major spikes on the DD graph, servers were down at some point during the day.
- Check the official Counter Strike X (Twitter) Feed. While it’s not the most active account on the platform, the official CS2 X (formerly Twitter) feed is still a good place to go if you’re seeing connection issues. as well as update notes, should they be available.
Connecting to Network Error Fixes
As for actually fixing your connection issues, try the following:
- Restarting your router and modem or sending a refresh signal from your ISP. If CS2 servers look stable at the above locations, but you’re having connection issues, sometimes a simple router and modern restart will do. If your ISP allows, you can also have them send a refresh signal through your lines, which might also solve the problem.
- Turn off VPN services or other high-bandwidth software. VPNs are great for security and for playing in otherwise unplayable areas, but they can easily interfere with your connection to the Counter Strike servers. Turning them off might open things up.
- Verify your game files. Sometimes, verifying your local Counter Strike 2 files can help it get around whatever issue is causing the connection errors. To verify, right-click on CS2 in your Steam Library, select Properties, then Installed Files, and finally Verify Integrity of Game Files. After a few minutes, Steam will know if it needs to reacquire any data.
- Restart your computer. Yes, the old IT trick might just do the job, and while it’s not a sure thing, if it fixes the connection error, it only costs a few minutes of your time.
Should a connection error be widespread enough, you may need to wait for Valve to update Counter Strike 2 on the server side, provided its something they can even fix. Should your issue be unique to you, and you can confirm only you’re experiencing it, open up a Steam Support Ticket and see if more official help can get you what you need.
That’s how to fix the Connecting to Network error in CS2. For more help with Counter Strike 2, check out our guides on the CS2 system requirements, the best display settings, and more in our CS2 guides hub.
