The "Cannot Connect to Servers" error in Elden Ring is one of the most frustrating online issues the game produces, and it’s almost always a network configuration problem rather than a server outage. Most players fix it within 10–15 minutes using the steps below.

Quick Answer

Elden Ring Cannot Connect to Servers Fix: The error is typically caused by NAT type restrictions, a corrupted network profile, or firewall blocking. Restarting your router, switching to an open NAT configuration, and verifying Elden Ring’s firewall permissions resolves the issue for the majority of players.

🔧 Step-by-Step Fixes to Try First

1. Restart your router and PC Simple but effective. Power cycle your router (unplug, wait 30 seconds, replug) and restart your PC. Many Elden Ring connection errors are caused by stale network state that clears on reboot.

2. Check Elden Ring server status Before spending time troubleshooting your setup, confirm the issue isn’t on FromSoftware’s end. Check the official Elden Ring status page or community forums for reported outages.

3. Verify your NAT type Elden Ring requires NAT Type 2 (Moderate) or better (Open) for reliable online connectivity. NAT Type 3 (Strict) blocks most peer-to-peer connections. Check your NAT type in your router’s admin panel and enable UPnP or configure port forwarding:

  • UDP Port 22032
  • UDP Port 22033
  • UDP Port 22034

4. Allow Elden Ring through Windows Firewall Go to Windows Security > Firewall & Network Protection > Allow an app through firewall. Ensure eldenring.exe has both Private and Public network access enabled.

5. Switch from Wi-Fi to wired connection For SA gamers using MTN or Telkom home routers, Wi-Fi can introduce packet loss that triggers Elden Ring’s connection checks. A direct ethernet connection eliminates this variable.

📊 Steam and Game File Fixes

If network settings are fine, the issue may be Steam-side:

  • Verify game files: Steam > Library > Elden Ring > Properties > Local Files > Verify integrity
  • Clear Steam download cache: Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache
  • Change Steam download region: Settings > Downloads > Download Region - switch to a neighbouring region and back
  • Disable VPN or proxy: VPNs frequently cause Elden Ring server authentication failures

💡 SA-Specific Network Notes

South African players connecting via Vumatel or Afrihost fibre typically experience fewer Elden Ring connection issues than mobile data users. If you’re playing on MTN or Vodacom LTE/5G, CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) is likely the culprit - your ISP places you behind a shared IP, making NAT Type Open impossible without a dedicated IP add-on. Contact your ISP about upgrading to a static/dedicated IP if online gaming is important to you.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Elden Ring keep saying it cannot connect to servers even with good internet? Strict NAT type is the most common cause when internet quality isn’t the issue. Check your router’s NAT settings and enable UPnP to open your NAT type.

Does Elden Ring have SA or African servers? No, Elden Ring does not have South African servers. SA players connect to European servers, which adds latency but is workable on fibre connections (100–180ms).

Can Easy Anti-Cheat cause the cannot connect error? Yes. If EAC fails to initialise, Elden Ring’s online features are blocked. Reinstall Easy Anti-Cheat from the Elden Ring installation folder if other fixes don’t work.

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