How to Fix Matchmaking Errors

When attempting to ready up in the Fortnite lobby for some fun in Creative or Battle Royale, players could potentially be met with the Matchmaking Error #3 code that will prevent them from progressing further into the fun of Fortnite, but how does one fix that error if it ever occurs?

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Luckily, Epic Games has a few quick fixes to check out before doom and gloom sets in, as a Matchmaking Error #1, #2, or #3 is no big deal, and it doesn’t reflect the player, but instead the connection. Listed below, are all the troubleshooting steps players should attempt when encountering this error.

Fix #1: Restart the Fortnite Application

The first fix that could potentially work, hassle-free, is to simply restart the Fortnite application. Sometimes, a game application just fails to sync properly and just requires a quick restart of the application, or the chosen console to be turned off and on again to get things running the way that they should be. However, if that doesn’t work, then try the other steps below.

Fix #2: Restart the Internet Router

The next and perhaps most important attempted fix that players should make is to reset their router to try and resolve their connection issues. This will ensure a fresh reset for peak performance, and all it involves is players unplugging the router from its power source for at least a minute before plugging it back in. Once the internet connection has been restored, head back into the Fortnite application and try to start a match.

Fix #3: Switch to Public DNS

If the connection error still persists, players might need to change the DNS server that their Internet Service Provider is using. This is easy and safe to do and will ensure that players are using Google DNS rather than the established ISP DNS, here are the steps for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC:

PlayStation:

• Enter Settings
• Click Network
• Select Wi-Fi/LAN
• Select Custom
  • IP Address Settings (Automatic)
  • DHCP Host Name (Do Not Use)
  • DNS Settings (Manual)
• Enter the following IP addresses:
  • Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
  • Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
• Click Next
  • MTU Settings (Automatic)
  • Proxy Server (Do Not Use)

Xbox:

• Enter Settings
• From the General tab, select Network Settings
• Advanced Settings
• DNS Settings
• Change to Manual
  • Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
  • Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4

PC

• Right-click the Windows icon on the bottom left of the screen
• Select System
• Enter Network & Internet
• Select Ethernet/Wi-Fi and select Hardware Properties
• Click Edit where it says DNS Server Assignment
• Select Manual
• Preferred DNS:
  • Toggle IPv4 to On
  • Preferred DNS type: 8.8.8.8
  • Alternate DNS type: 8.8.4.4
• Alternatively:
  • Toggle IPv6 to On
  • Preferred DNS Type: 2001:4860:4860:0:0:0:0:8888
  • Alternate DNS Type: 2001:4860:4860:0:0:0:0:8844

Fix #4: Sync the Clock to Your Device

Players must be using the automatic clock services on the chosen device to ensure that Epic Games can connect to the servers so that they can play Fortnite. Sometimes, small errors occur where the clock can de-sync, so all players need to do is enter their system’s settings to reset their time and time zone on their chosen console.

Fix #5: Clear the Console’s Cache

Further issues that will prevent players from connecting to the Epic Games servers to play Fortnite could involve a sync from the console because the chosen device’s cache is full. The console cache stores temporary files and data, but sometimes these files overstay their welcome or become corrupted, so it’s a good idea to clear the cache just so that everything runs smoothly again. Clearing the cache will not erase accounts and saved data. Here’s how to clear the cache on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC:

PlayStation

• With the PS4/PS5 off, hold the power button for around 8 seconds until there are two beeps to enter Safe Mode
• Connect your controller to the console with a USB cable
• Through the settings, select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database
• Select Clear System Software Cache
• Wait for the console to restart

Xbox

• Turn off the Xbox and unplug it
• Make sure all accessories are unplugged
• Let the console remain unplugged for two minutes
• Hold the power button while the console is unplugged
• Plug the Xbox back into power and turn it on

PC

• Click the pointed-up arrow icon in the bottom right corner of the screen
• Right-Click the Epic Games icon and select Exit
• Press the Windows Key on the keyboard and hit the R Key
• From the run window, type: %localappdata%
• Press the Enter Key
• From File Explorer, open the EpicGamesLauncher folder
• Open the Saved folder
• Richt click and delete the following:
  • webcache
  • webcache_4147
  • webcache_4430