How to fix
“Connecting to the CS:GO network” error
on Windows

Hello, I never had problems with connecting to CS:GO before, and today I can't anymore. I have tried rebooting my PC and attempting several times again, to no avail. Some of my friends said they have similar problems, but not all of them. Is this issue with the servers, or is there something that could be done here?

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO for short) is among the most successful multiplayer first-person shooter games, with the franchise lasting well over two decades. Released by Valve in 2012, this fourth addition to the series is still topping Steam chars every week, and players can also enjoy numerous eSports tournaments happening throughout the year.

There are plenty of reports that users are stuck on the "Connecting to the CS:GO network" screen whenever they are trying to log into the game. With such huge popularity, the demands on servers the game is running on are huge, and so is the load, which may explain why some people might struggle to log in.

However, this is not the case for many gamers out there, as they observed how their friends managed to log into servers without any problems. Likewise, connecting to CS:GO networks requires an active internet connection - some people thought it could be the cause of the problem. As it turns out, for most users, the internet works fine everywhere else apart from when trying to connect to the game servers.

There are plenty of reasons why users may encounter the "Connecting to the CS:GO network" error. As mentioned, an unstable internet connection could be one of the reasons, so we recommend ensuring that the internet is working fine. Also, Valve's servers might be completely offline at some points, so nobody can log in - you can check the status of the server on the Steamstats.us website.

In all other cases, the problem can be resolved in different ways, and we provide all the possible solutions below. Before you proceed with the manual "Connecting to the CS:GO network" error fix, we recommend you try running a scan with an automatic PC repair tool [d1], which can find and eliminate underlying Windows issues, resolving BSODs, DLL errors, registry errors, and similar errors.

1. Keep on trying to connect

Sometimes, Valve's servers might become unstable, which results in users not being able to connect to the game properly. According to user reports, many of them managed to connect to CS:GO servers successfully after trying several times. What you should do is keep clicking CS inventory, and when the message says you can't connect, retry the process.

2. Turn off VPN and third-party security solutions

In some cases, third-party security software might be way too aggressive and block completely legitimate connections, such as those to CS:GO servers. Therefore, we recommend you temporarily disable the anti-malware on your system and see if that helps resolve the situation. If it does, you should contact the support of your security provider and report the issue. Updating anti-malware once it's fixed should fix the issue.

VPN[ref en-2] software is also one of the apps that could cause issues with connection. Therefore, if you have it enabled, try disabling it and see if that helps. In some cases, running a VPN might actually bypass connection problems and allow you to connect easily. If you need a reliable VPN, we recommend using [rev id= "Private Internet Access"] - no log policy and hundreds of places to connect to will leave you satisfied with the service.

 3. Verify game files

Make sure that your installation is not corrupted by verifying game files through Steam.

• Open Steam and go to your Library
• Locate Counter-Strike, right-click it, and select Properties
• Go to Local Files and click Verify integrity of game files
• Wait till the process is finished and try launching the game again.

4. Enable Data Execution Prevention

• Right-click on Start and pick System
• Scroll down to find Related Settings
• Click Advanced system settings 
• Under Performance, click Settings

• Go to the Data Execution Prevention tab
• Click the Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select option, click Apply and OK
• You will be asked to restart your system.

5. Try a different DNS

If your default DNS[ref en-3] is malfunctioning, you can use a free alternative provided by Google.

• Right-click on Start and select Settings
• Go to the Network and Internet section
• Click on Change adapter options
• Right-click on your internet connection and pick Properties
• Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) once and go to Properties
• Click Use the following DNS server address and type the following into the fields:
  Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
  Alternate DNS server: 8.8.8.9
• Press OK.

6. Wait for Steam to fix it

Sometimes, the servers might simply be down, or Valve might experience some other technical difficulties, such as a DDoS attack.[ref en-1] Therefore, if none of the steps above helped you to resolve the issue, Steam likely has to sort it out before people can be able to log into the game again.

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