Troubleshoot Games for Windows LIVE connection problems

A service may be down. This problem can prevent you from accessing LIVE services or signing in. To check the status of the servers, visit Xbox LIVE Service status.

Note If you can’t connect to the Xbox LIVE Service status website, contact your Internet service provider (ISP) for help.

To connect to Games for Windows LIVE, you must be in a supported Games for Windows LIVE locale. Games for Windows LIVE is not available in all countries. For more information, see Xbox LIVE countries and regions.

To sign in to Games for Windows LIVE, you must have the latest update to the program installed. To resolve this issue, download and install the latest Games for Windows LIVE setup files.

Note Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

For more information about a specific error message that occurred during sign-in, see Troubleshoot Xbox LIVE sign-in problems.

To connect to the Games for Windows LIVE service as easily as possible, we recommend that you use a router that is on the Windows Compatible Hardware list. To check, visit the Compatibility Center.

Note If your router isn’t on the list, the router may be incompatible with Games for Windows LIVE.

UPnP must be enabled for you to connect to LIVE. UPnP IGD (Internet Gateway Device) protocols are supported by most routers and firewalls that are on the market today. However, these settings are not always enabled by default. For help, see the owner's manual or the Help files, or contact your network administrator.

Commercial firewalls, such as those at universities, libraries, and corporations, do not typically support UPnP IGD specifications. Gamers who try to play from school or from a dorm room may be unable to connect to LIVE. If this is the case, contact the IT Administration office to see whether they can enable LIVE for the network.

Make sure that you’re viewing the latest version of pages by clearing the Internet cache. To do this on a Windows 7-based computer, follow these steps:

1. Close any Internet browser windows that are open.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. If the Control Panel window is empty, click View all Control Panel Options in the navigation section of the window to display all the icons.
3. Click Network and Internet, and then click Internet Options.
4. In the Browsing history section on the General tab, click Delete.
5. Click to select the Temporary Internet files and Cookies checkboxes, and then click Delete.

Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

The following ports must be open for in-bound and for out-bound connections to work for Games for Windows LIVE:

• TCP port 3074
• UDP port 88
• UDP port 3074

For information about how to configure port settings on a firewall, router, or gateway, see the documentation that was included with the device or contact the network administrator or local technical support for help.

For more information about how to set up a firewall to work with a Games for Windows LIVE for Windows-based computers, see Set up a Windows Media Center Extender.

If you’re still experiencing connection problems to Windows LIVE, you must configure your router or gateway device to enable UPnP or port forwarding. If your router supports UPnP, this feature should be enabled. It is designed to handle Network Translations so that port forwarding is not required.
For more information about how to verify compatible home networking devices, see the Xbox LIVE compatible hardware list.

Notes

• This article provides a link to a list of LIVE-supported routers that have UPnP feature functionality. Unfortunately, not all routers support UPnP. If your router doesn’t support UPnP, you’ll have to open these ports and map them to the IP address of the computer that is running Games for Windows LIVE.
• If you have questions on how to enable UPnP or port forwarding on your router or gateway device, contact the hardware manufacturer for help.
• If your network is set up to use IPv6, see the recommendations for an IPv6 feature set for home routers that are compatible with the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. To view the recommendations, visit IPv6 Support in Home Routers.

Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

Note Do not open a port for a program that you do not recognize.

You may have to configure an exception in your firewall, proxy, or Internet security software to allow the Games for Windows LIVE software (GFWLClient.exe) to work. By default, this file is saved in the following location:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games for Windows LIVE\Client

If you use Windows Firewall, the latest installation of the Games for Windows LIVE update will give you the option to add the software to your exceptions list. Otherwise, see the documentation that was included with your firewall, or contact the network administrator or local technical support for help.
For more information, see Network ports used by Xbox LIVE.

Games for Windows LIVE requires that the latest service pack for Windows be installed on your computer. To obtain the latest service pack, see Support for Microsoft Service Packs.

Your computer may be experiencing Internet connections issues. To help resolve these issues, run the Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool. To run this tool, visit Get to know Windows.

If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, see Troubleshoot Internet connection problems.

If the previous steps didn’t resolve the problem, contact your Internet service provider for more help.