Payday 3 Matchmaking Error [FIX]

The constant influx of Matchmaking issues has caused the reputation of Payday 3 to plummet considerably on platforms like Steam and Epic Games Launcher. Since its launch, users have discovered multiple possible reasons for these kinds of errors to occur in the game. Some reasons vary from network issues to anti-virus protection, causing the game to be unable to connect with the official Payday 3 servers.

The error appears when a user tries to initiate a multiplayer match. It cancels the matchmaking and gives the message, “Matchmaking error. Server Disconnected”

Key Takeaways

Here are all the methods that I have used to fix the Payday 3 matchmaking error:

Disabling real-time protection temporarily.
Power cycling your internet connection.
Changing your DNS server.
Flushing your DNS cache.
Enable VPN.
Giving sufficient firewall permissions.
Verifying the integrity of game files.
Disabling crossplay.

Whitelist Payday 3 In Windows Defender

Windows Defender offers Real-time protection that performs security checks for any kind of data on your system, but for brand-new games like Payday 3, some files may be considered unrecognizable or a threat to your system by Windows Defender.

So, it’s necessary that for brand-new games like Payday 3, you should Whitelist the real-time protection to see if the game is properly loading all the files necessary for it to work.

Here is our complete guide on How To Whitelist the Game Directory In Antivirus/Defender by Ayyoun Ali.

Change Your DNS Address

A sluggish and unstable internet connection can lead to constant disconnections and matchmaking issues. So, one of the most effective ways to ensure a stable and reliable connection with the Payday 3 servers is to change your DNS address to an efficient one.

You can use one of the many popular DNS servers like CloudFlare and Google to create a stable connection with the Payday 3 servers. In my case, Google’s public DNS server works best for gaming, especially for Payday 3.

Be sure to read our detailed guide on How To Change DNS Server [All Platforms] by Haider Khan.

Flush Your DNS

Consistent problems with matchmaking can also be related to poor connection quality due to your internet underperforming. If you have verified that the problem exists on your side and everyone else is not running into the same problem as yours, then you can use a method to clear your computer’s DNS cache.

You can easily flush DNS by utilizing the CMD command prompt. Here are the steps required to flush your DNS successfully:

Press the WIN key > Open up Windows Search.
Type “Command Prompt” > Click on the first result.
Type config/flushdns > Press Enter Key.

According to my experience, flushing your DNS has always proven to be useful in clearing up any connectivity issue regarding online games.

Use A VPN

If a network limitation prevents Payday 3 from connecting to the servers, using a VPN is great to bypass it. VPN service routes your internet connection through a network of servers located worldwide to optimize your connection quality.

However, using randomly selected servers is discouraged due to potential long-term connectivity issues and the risk of being disconnected from online activities, such as gaming. Therefore, it’s advisable to stick to the servers recommended by your VPN program.

Check Firewall Settings

Windows Firewall blocks internet access to any third-party application on your system that it doesn’t recognize. This can cause connection issues like the Payday 3 matchmaking error you’re facing.

Therefore, it’s always necessary to ensure that Firewall settings are not restricting your internet access for Payday 3.

Make sure to check our complete guide on How To Allow Application Access Through Firewall by Haider Khan.

According to my experience, the Windows Firewall can also be a major cause of this kind of matchmaking error.

Verify the Integrity of Game Files

Sometimes, a game’s files can get corrupted. This can happen due to a third-party system cleaner or your antivirus software.

To save yourself the trouble of redownloading the game, you can simply use Steam’s verify game files feature to scan the installation directory and replace missing/corrupted files.

If you haven’t used the verify game files feature before, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on How To Verify Game Files On PC [All Game Clients].

According to my error-fixing experience, it is best to verify your game files if you’re getting a matchmaking error in any game, as some game files may get corrupt during updates installation.

Disable Crossplay

As discovered by one of the Reddit users, one of the biggest problems people have encountered is that enabling the crossplay option has resulted in encountering various connection problems like matchmaking issues and constant disconnections from matches.

The cross-play feature is otherwise a very useful feature for playing with friends on different platforms, but if a feature is causing constant issues, making you unable to play the game properly, then your best course of action is to disable the feature. Here is how you can disable the crossplay feature by utilizing the settings menu in-game.

Start your copy of payday 3.
Once the game is open, click on the more options on top of the screen and select the settings option.
Now, locate and head into the gameplay section on top of the screen.
Finally, scroll down and turn on the disable crossplay option.

This fix was found by Grand-Reception-4734, a Reddit user, and it seems to resolve the issue for certain people.

Final Words

The launch of Payday 3 has been met with a majority of negative responses in the payday community due to the myriad of problems regarding matchmaking and connection.

I’ve listed all the known methods I’ve tested and researched for Payday 3. Players are even fixing this issue by simply restarting the game, depending on their circumstances. Now, If you are still encountering the same problem even after applying all the fixes, your last action should be to contact Payday support for the best help possible.