PAYDAY 2 multiplayer not working: how to fix connection issues

When PAYDAY 2 multiplayer is not working, the cause is usually one of four things: an Epic Online Services (EOS) outage or connection block, outdated or conflicting mods, damaged game files, or a host with a weak connection. Check the Epic Games status page first, remove mods, verify the game files, allow PAYDAY 2 through your firewall, then retry with a fresh lobby.

This guide explains why PAYDAY 2 gets stuck on "Connecting", "Joining game, please wait" or "Waiting for response", what the "Unable to connect to Epic Online Services" error means, and the fix for each case on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

How PAYDAY 2 multiplayer works

PAYDAY 2 multiplayer runs through Epic Online Services, not only through Steam. In June 2023, OVERKILL released the game on the Epic Games Store with full crossplay, and Steam and Epic players now appear together on crime.net. That change, which came with update 237, moved matchmaking to Epic's backend, which is why Steam players can see Epic error messages.

You can play online in three ways:

• crime.net: pick a contract from the map and join a public lobby or host one.
• Contract Broker: choose a specific heist and host it, so others can join.
• Social Hub: invite friends, add Epic friends to the in-game friends list, or join a lobby with its lobby code.

One player hosts each heist, and everyone else connects to that host. If the host has a poor connection, or the EOS services are down, every player in the lobby feels it. According to the official PAYDAY 2 Epic Store announcement, Steam players do not need to install anything extra or link an Epic account to keep playing.

Fix "Unable to connect to Epic Online Services" in PAYDAY 2

The "Unable to connect to Epic Online Services" error means PAYDAY 2 could not reach Epic's matchmaking servers. It is a connection problem between your PC and Epic, so work through these checks in order:

1. Open the Epic Games status page and check the Epic Online Services components, in particular Lobbies, Sessions and Peer-to-Peer. If one is degraded, wait for Epic to fix it.
2. Install pending Windows updates. Epic's help article on why you cannot connect to Epic Online Services names an outdated Windows version as a common cause, along with certificate problems.
3. If you play on a school, work or shared family PC, ask the device administrator: managed devices can block EOS.
4. Restart your router and PC, then try a wired connection if you are on Wi-Fi.
5. Temporarily turn off a VPN or proxy and see if PAYDAY 2 connects without it.

If the status page shows no problem and other online games work, move on to the mod and game file checks below.

Remove mods and verify the PAYDAY 2 game files

Mods are a common cause of PAYDAY 2 joining failures after a game update. OVERKILL's own changelogs warn that updates may be incompatible with installed mods, even seemingly unrelated ones, and suggest removing mods if you run into trouble. Mismatched mods can also stop you from joining hosts who run a different game version.

After removing mods, verify the game files so the launcher replaces anything corrupted or missing. On Steam:

1. Open Steam and go to Library.
2. Right-click PAYDAY 2 and choose Properties.
3. Open Installed Files (called Local Files in older Steam clients).
4. Click Verify integrity of game files and wait for the check to finish.
5. Restart PAYDAY 2 and try to join or host again.

On the Epic Games Store, open your Library, use the menu next to PAYDAY 2 and choose the verify option under Manage. If verification keeps finding problems, see our guide to Steam download and file errors.

Allow PAYDAY 2 through Windows Firewall

Windows Defender Firewall can block PAYDAY 2 from sending or receiving lobby traffic, especially after a reinstall or a move to a new drive. Make sure the game is allowed on the network type you use:

1. Open Windows Security and select Firewall & network protection.
2. Click Allow an app through firewall, then Change settings.
3. Find PAYDAY 2 in the list and tick Private (and Public if your network is set to public).
4. If it is missing, click Allow another app and browse to the game's .exe file in its install folder.

Do the same for Steam or the Epic Games Launcher. Third-party security suites have their own firewall, so check its rules too. If you have built custom block rules, our guide to blocking folders in Windows Firewall shows where those rules live.

Stuck on "Joining game" or "Waiting for response"

PAYDAY 2 stuck on "Joining game, please wait" or "Chosen, waiting for response" usually means the host has not confirmed your connection. The host may still be loading, have a slow upload, or have dropped out of the lobby while it stays listed on crime.net.

Try these steps:

• Back out and join a different lobby. If every lobby fails, the problem is on your side; if one fails, it is that host.
• Ask a friend to host, or host yourself through the Contract Broker and invite them through the Social Hub.
• Make sure every player runs the same game version and the same (or no) mods.
• Restart the game: lobby lists can show stale entries, which OVERKILL addressed in update 237.1.

"Lost connection to host" mid-heist is a host or network drop. The host should use a wired connection and close downloads and streams. Since update 237.3, PAYDAY 2 shows more detail on why a join was rejected instead of a plain "Failed to join game", so read that message first.

FAQ

Related: fixing "could not connect to Steam network", viewing and clearing cached DNS entries on Windows, how to fix PS4 error NP-34958-9