Overview
If you are behind a router and you have problems joining multiplayer lobbies, this guide might be just what you are looking for.
Failed to join error fix for multiplayer – Port Forwarding
You got problems joining multiplayer lobbies? The main cause for this bug is your router (and the ♥♥♥♥ty aoe multiplayer architecture).
I’ll explain in a few easy steps how to fix this problem. You don’t need to download anything, you just have to forward some ports:
1. Open Command Prompt (press Windows key on your keyboard, type cmd, press enter)
2. In cmd type ipconfig
You’ll need to IPs from here:
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . 192.168.0.xxx < where xxx is a number between 0 and 255, This is your machine IP for the router
Default Gateway . . . . . . 192.168.0.1 < This is usually the LAN router IP for everybody
3. Open an internet browser (e.g firefox)
In the address bar type 192.168.0.1 or whatever you got as default gateway.
4. You will be now asked for a user and a password to access your router.
Usually user is admin and password is admin or empty(no password at all).
If user:admin, pass:admin doesn’t work, check on the internet the default login for your router’s model.
5. Now you are inside the router and you have to find the Port Forwarding section.
For my router’s model to get there i go to Virtual Server -> Port Range Forwarding; look around till’ you find it.
6. Here you’ll have to forward some ports to communicate with the AoE servers:
I. Start Port – End Port: 2300 – 2310
To IP Address: 192.168.0.xxx (your IPv4 Address from the command prompt)
Protocol: TCP
II. Start Port – End Port: 2300 – 2340
To IP Address: 192.168.0.xxx (your IPv4 Address from the command prompt)
Protocol: UDP
III. Forward the world wide web port (HTTP) (OPTIONAL?)
(I don’t need this port, but it’s still mentioned on various sources, you add it to be sure)
Start Port – End Port: 80 – 80
To IP Address: 192.168.0.xxx (your IPv4 Address from the command prompt)
Protocol: Both(TCP & UDP)
7. To check if you forwarded your ports properly go to [link]
(or any [link] where XXXX is the port you want to test)
If the site returns for Port 2300 (or any other port you are testing) the Status: Closed, you’ve done something wrong (probably at step 6, you’ve typed a wrong IPv4 address at the “To IP Address”)
If the site returns for the port you are testing the Status: Stealth or Open, you are set. You can now join 90% of the ESO multiplayer lobbies.
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I usually open the ports before starting the game, and close them after i’m done for extra protection.
If you don’t have a router, or you still have problems after forwarding those ports, check your windows and antivirus firewalls and add exceptions for AoE3 (there are way to many types of antiviruses, just search the web how to add exceptions for the one you are using)
This is very tricky: if multiple machines are connected to the same router, you’ll have to distribute the ports evenly for each computer connected (if you forward all the ports for a single machine, the others connected to the router will be unable to join any lobbies); i still have problems with this scenario.
That’s about it, now go online and play some matches 😀