If you need help downloading, installing, or loading your game, try these steps first.
You can check the server status of many of our games on EA Help.
You can also follow @EAHelp or any of the official game-specific accounts to find out what’s happening and get real-time updates when servers are down.
If your game was released a long time ago, its online servers may be shut down. This can happen for a number of reasons, like developers shifting their priorities or players moving on to a newer version of the game. Head over to ea.com to find out if your game and its server are still available.
Your connection problems might be related to the platform you play games on. To troubleshoot platform-specific issues, try the steps below.
PlayStation
Xbox
PC
Nintendo Switch
Turn your router off and then unplug it. Wait about a minute, then plug it back in, turn it back on, and try connecting again.
If you’re experiencing issues with your connection on PC, clearing your cache can sometimes help. Follow these steps to clear your cache.
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to translate internet addresses from a human-readable address (like help.ea.com) to a computer-readable one (a string of numbers).
If something goes wrong with the DNS you’re using, you may run into issues trying to connect to the internet.
If your DNS is unreliable, switching to a different one might help fix your connection issues.
Here are a couple of free options that are available if you want to switch:
EA does not own or operate Google DNS or Open DNS, nor can we make any changes to their pages or systems. Use these sites or their DNS servers at your own risk.
*These are websites owned by a third party. EA is not responsible for content on third-party sites, and our privacy policy does not apply to their information collection practices.
You may not be able to play online because of the status of your EA Account. Check that your EA Account isn’t impacted by any of the issues below.
If it is, you can’t play online. If you’re not sure, you can check your ban status in your EA Account settings.
If you think you were suspended or banned by mistake, let us know.
If your account was deactivated or deleted, you won’t be able to play online.
If you get a message that your account is already in use, try logging out on your other devices and logging back in.
Think someone may have hacked your account? Check out our article on hacked accounts.
If you have a child account, your access to features like purchases, social media, connections, and online play is limited.
See what the minimum age for online accounts is in each country and learn what features are available with a child account here.
Try these steps if you’re having problems with your connection during gameplay.
These are advanced networking changes. If you're uncomfortable making these changes, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for help. Make sure you follow the steps in your router’s manual for specific instructions about your hardware.
Hardwired connections can be much more reliable than wireless ones. If you're playing using Wi-Fi, try hardwiring your device to your router.
Mobile and satellite connections are also less stable than broadband. Play using a wired broadband connection if you can.
A router’s range can be pretty short. The further away you are from it, the more likely it is to have a weak connection. Try putting your router as close to your device as possible.
Depending on the location of your router, it might be harder to pick up its signal. Put your router out in the open with the antenna, if there is one, pointed in the direction of your device to see if you get a stronger signal.
Walls and large objects can interfere with your router, and so can other electronics (like microwaves) since they transmit their own signals. If your router is blocked by something, like if it’s under your bed or hidden in a cabinet, it’s harder for the connection to get to your device.
If you live in a highly-populated area, like an apartment complex, there can be lots of interference from other nearby networks. Changing your wireless channel can limit that and make your wireless connection more stable.
Imagine that everyone in apartments and houses near you is blasting different music or watching TV at a high volume. It makes it that much harder for you to hear whatever you’re listening to.
Switching your wireless channel can be like putting noise-canceling headphones on your connection, making it clearer and less “noisy.”
Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for help finding and switching to a less busy wireless channel.
You can get an overview of how fast and stable your connection is by running a speed test. You can run a Google speed test here.*
Remember, the speed of your internet connection doesn’t guarantee that it’s stable. Fast and unstable connections can cause as many problems as slow, steady ones.
If the date and time on your device are wrong, it can cause issues.
