Home Online Fame Stories 1

The Ultimate 7-Step Checklist To Fix "An Error Occurred During Matchmaking" In Escape From Tarkov (2025)

• minute read
Contents

The "An error occurred during matchmaking" message in Escape From Tarkov (EFT) remains one of the most frustrating and persistent issues for players in December 2025. This critical error prevents your PMC or Scav from entering a raid, often after waiting several minutes in the queue, forcing you back to the main menu and potentially costing you valuable time and momentum. It is a complex issue that can stem from overloaded Battlestate Games servers, a corrupted local game cache, or even a simple desync within a player group.

This comprehensive guide provides the most current and effective troubleshooting steps, combining standard fixes with advanced network solutions and specific workarounds developed by the community to bypass the infamous EFT queue error. Whether you are facing this error on a standard PMC raid on Streets of Tarkov or a quick match in Tarkov Arena, these solutions are designed to get you back into the action quickly and reliably.

The Root Causes: Why You See "An Error Occurred During Matchmaking"

To effectively combat this error, you must first understand its source. The "An error occurred during matchmaking" message is a generic client-side notification for a variety of server and network failures. The primary causes fall into three main categories:

Server-Side Instability and Backend Errors

Escape from Tarkov is notorious for its server strain, especially during new wipes, major updates, or peak hours. When the servers are overloaded, the system struggles to synchronize player data and create a stable raid instance.

  • Backend Server Overload: The most common cause. The dedicated game server cannot process your request to join the raid in time, leading to a timeout. This is often related to the dreaded "Backend Error" codes.
  • Post-Patch Instability: Following a major patch or hotfix, servers can be "wonky," leading to increased instances of the Server Connection Lost error and matchmaking failures.
  • Installation Path Changes: In rare cases, a recent update changing the game's installation path can confuse the launcher and the server, causing the match to cancel.

Client-Side Cache and Integrity Issues

Your local game files and stored session data can become corrupted over time, preventing a clean connection to the server.

  • Corrupted Cache: Old or corrupted temporary files can interfere with the game's ability to communicate the correct data to the server during the matching phase.
  • File Integrity: If a critical game file is damaged or missing, the server will reject your connection attempt, resulting in the error.

Group and Party Desync Bugs

When playing with friends, the error often occurs because one player's client fails to synchronize with the rest of the group or the server. This is known as the group queue error.

  • Group Leader Desync: If the party leader's connection stutters, the entire group can be kicked out of the queue.
  • PvE/Arena Group Issues: Players attempting to join the new PvE mode or Tarkov Arena have specifically reported this error, often requiring a unique workaround to resolve.

The Ultimate 7-Step Checklist to Fix the Matchmaking Error

Before attempting any advanced network changes, follow this step-by-step checklist. Start with the simplest fixes and progress down the list.

1. Restart and Re-Queue (The Quick Fix)

The simplest solution often works because it forces a new session ID and connection attempt.

  • Restart Game and Launcher: Completely close the Escape from Tarkov game client and the EFT Launcher. Wait 30 seconds, then reopen the launcher and try to match again.
  • Re-Form Group: If you are in a group, disband the party and have the leader re-invite everyone. This forces a fresh synchronization.

2. Clear the Game Cache

Clearing the cache deletes temporary files that may be corrupted, ensuring the game starts with a clean slate.

  • Via the Launcher: Open the EFT Launcher, click your profile icon in the top right, select "Integrity check," and then choose the option to "Clear cache."
  • Manual Deletion: Navigate to the game's installation folder and manually delete the contents of the 'cache' folder.

3. Perform an Integrity Check

This process verifies that all your game files are correct and not corrupted. It is a crucial step after any major patch.

  • Run Integrity Check: In the EFT Launcher, click your profile icon and select "Integrity check." Allow the process to run and repair any damaged files.

4. Manually Select Game Servers

The automatic server selection feature may choose a server that is currently overloaded or experiencing high latency. Manually selecting a less-populated server can bypass the issue.

  • Change Server Selection: In the EFT Launcher, click "Change Server" and manually select 2-3 servers with the lowest ping and a reasonable player count. Avoid servers marked as "Auto" or those with ping spikes.

5. The Group Desync Workaround (Solo Raid Fix)

If you are consistently getting the error while attempting a group raid, especially in PvE mode, there is a community-proven workaround.

  • Solo Raid First: Have every player in the group individually load into a quick, short raid (e.g., a Scav run on Factory or a quick PMC run on a low-risk map).
  • Extract and Re-Group: Once all players have successfully extracted from their solo raid, return to the main menu, re-form the group, and attempt the desired raid. This seems to reset the group's synchronization token on the server.

6. Flush DNS and Renew IP

Network issues are often the root cause of Tarkov server connection issues. Flushing your DNS cache and renewing your IP configuration can resolve local routing problems that prevent a stable connection to the server.

  • Run Command Prompt (Admin): Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Execute Commands: Type and execute the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each: 
    ipconfig /flushdns
    ipconfig /release
    ipconfig /renew
    netsh winsock reset
  • Reboot: Restart your PC after running these commands.

7. Check Your Router's MTU Setting

This is an advanced fix for players experiencing constant Server Connection Lost errors that lead to matchmaking failures. The Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) determines the largest packet size that can be transmitted. If your MTU is too high, it can cause packet fragmentation and connection instability.

  • Reduce MTU: While this requires accessing your router's settings, some players have reported that reducing their MTU (typically from 1500) to a lower value, such as 1472, can significantly stabilize their connection to the EFT servers. Consult your router's manual or ISP for the safest method to adjust this setting.

Advanced Network Troubleshooting for Persistent EFT Errors

If the standard fixes do not resolve the "An error occurred during matchmaking" issue, the problem is almost certainly on your local network or related to firewall configuration. These steps address deeper network entities.

Verify Firewall and Antivirus Exclusions

Your firewall or antivirus software may be incorrectly flagging the EFT Launcher or the game client as a threat, blocking the necessary ports for matchmaking.

  • Create Exceptions: Ensure that both the EscapeFromTarkov.exe and the BsgLauncher.exe are explicitly added to the exclusion list of your Windows Firewall and any third-party antivirus program.
  • Test with Firewall Off: As a temporary diagnostic step, try disabling your firewall entirely and attempt to join a raid. If the error is resolved, you know the firewall is the culprit and you need to refine your exclusion rules.

Consider a VPN or Game Accelerator

For players who live far from the game's server locations, or who have poor routing through their Internet Service Provider (ISP), a dedicated gaming VPN or accelerator can provide a more direct and stable path to the Battlestate Games servers. This can help bypass regional bottlenecks that contribute to long matchmaking times and connection failures.

Monitor Battlestate Games Official Channels

Sometimes, the issue is completely out of your hands. During a major influx of players or a critical system failure, the servers may simply be down or severely degraded. Always check the official Escape from Tarkov Twitter account or the Battlestate Games forums for announcements regarding server status, emergency maintenance, or known bugs being actively fixed. Waiting out a server-side issue is often the only reliable solution.

The Ultimate 7-Step Checklist to Fix
an error occurred during matchmaking tarkov
an error occurred during matchmaking tarkov

Detail Author:

  • Name : Whitney Williamson
  • Username : virgil48
  • Email : hadley07@hotmail.com
  • Birthdate : 1995-01-22
  • Address : 37574 Gutmann Mountains Jaunitatown, MO 76592-2077
  • Phone : +1.203.801.7407
  • Company : Stanton-Cremin
  • Job : Statistical Assistant
  • Bio : Doloribus voluptates voluptatum magnam labore. Veniam consequatur ratione quod nemo velit.

Socials

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/carmelosawayn
  • username : carmelosawayn
  • bio : Sed cumque et iste quae enim vel. Dolorum quo sunt laborum voluptates at.
  • followers : 2703
  • following : 2365

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@sawaync
  • username : sawaync
  • bio : Molestiae itaque voluptatibus laboriosam.
  • followers : 3070
  • following : 2437

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/sawaync
  • username : sawaync
  • bio : Tempore blanditiis odit qui beatae et rerum. Temporibus dolor et numquam similique et. Doloremque et molestiae est quos officiis ut earum molestias.
  • followers : 4603
  • following : 187

linkedin:

facebook:

Random Posts