Red Dead Online Matchmaking Failed [FIXED]

In a world where millions of gamers engage in online multiplayer experiences daily, connectivity problems like “Red Dead Online matchmaking failed” can be a real buzzkill.

Red Dead Online matchmaking issues have been frustrating players since the game’s release and is often accompanied by a message that reads: “Matchmaking failed to find a session.”.

If you are currently experiencing this issue, keep reading. In the following sections, we’ll get into the root causes of Red Dead Online matchmaking failed and provide you with straightforward solutions to help you fix them.

Why Has Red Dead Online Matchmaking Failed?

• Server Issues: Server instability can lead to connectivity problems and affect the game’s matchmaking process.
• High Player Volume: A large number of players trying to access Red Dead Online at peak times can be overwhelming to the matchmaking servers, causing delays and connection issues.
• Regional Restrictions: Sometimes, matchmaking problems come about due to region-based restrictions, preventing players from easily finding others to play with.
• Network Configuration: Firewall settings, port forwarding, or network congestion can interfere with the game’s ability to connect to matchmaking servers.
• Game Updates and Patches: Occasionally, issues with Red Dead Online matchmaking may come from recent game updates or patches that introduce bugs or compatibility problems, disrupting the matchmaking process.

How To Fix Red Dead Online Matchmaking Failed?

Before diving into any troubleshooting steps we have listed below, let’s first complete a couple pre-checks.

• Ensure that your internet connection is stable. A poor connection can often lead to matchmaking issues in Red Dead Online. Also, you can restart your router if needed.
• Wait for some time before trying again. Some game servers may reach their load limit, however, this is a temporary issue that resolves itself.
• Visit the official Red Dead Online server status page or relevant forums to confirm that the issue isn’t on the game’s server end.
• Sometimes, simply restarting the game can resolve matchmaking issues.
• Ensure your game is up to date with the latest patches and updates.

Without wasting any time, let’s get into the targeted solutions if you are still experiencing Red Dead online matchmaking failed.

Table of contents:

1. Flush DNS
2. Run Steamservice.exe
3. Switch to a Different User Account
4. Add Red Dead Online as an Exception in Firewall or Antivirus

1. Flush DNS

Sometimes, cached data can lead to problems with connecting to the right servers. So, Flushing DNS helps by wiping out outdated or incorrect data your computer stores about game server addresses. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
2. Then, type cmd in it and hit Enter.
3. Open Command Prompt via the Run box.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands in order and hit Enter after each one:
   • ipconfig /release
   • ipconfig /renew
   • ipconfig /flushdns
5. Now, you can restart your computer and relaunch Red Dead Online to see if the error disappears.

2. Run Steamservice.exe

Running Steamservice.exe ensures that Steam services are running properly and can establish a stable connection to the game’s servers, potentially resolving Red Dead Online matchmaking failed. To do this:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the default Steam directory at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam.
2. Inside the Steam folder, locate the “bin” folder.
3. In the “bin” folder, find the file named “steamservice.exe.”
4. Run the “steamservice.exe” file, and if prompted for access, click “Yes.”
5. Finally, restart Steam and check if the “no reliable connection to matchmaking servers” error still persists.

3. Switch to a Different User Account

4. Add Steam as an Exception in Firewall or Antivirus

Antivirus programs/Windows Firewall can sometimes block Steam from accessing certain game files. To avoid this, follow the steps below to see if it can fix Red Dead Online matchmaking failed:

1. Type “firewall” in the search box, then select “Windows Defender Firewall”.
2. Click on “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall”.
3. Click “Change settings”.
4. Next, locate “Steam.exe” and check the checkboxes for both “Private” and “Public” networks.
5. Click “OK” to save the changes.

💎Extra Steps

• Verify the Integrity of Game Files
• Run the Game as Administrator
• Disable third-party programs such as VPNs

Conclusion

Red Dead Online matchmaking failed is a common problem that stops players from enjoying the game.

As mentioned above, It happens because the game’s servers can’t connect players properly. This can be due to too many players trying to access the game at once, network issues, or even updates.

To fix it, you can try some simple solutions. First, make sure your internet is good and restart your internet router if needed. Sometimes, just waiting a bit can help. If that doesn’t work, you can try things like Flushing DNS, running Steamservice.exe, or changing your user account. You might also need to Add Steam as an Exception in Firewall or Antivirus. These steps can help you get back to playing the game without any more problems.

Let us know what worked for you in the comment section below.

Happy gaming!