How to fix "Unable to connect to EA servers"

EA games tell you they are unable to connect to the EA servers, or that you have lost your connection to them, when the game can't reach EA's online services. The exact sentence changes between games and yearly releases, and many versions point you to ea.com/unable-to-connect, which opens EA Help's connection troubleshooting article. EA Sports FC has its own version for its biggest mode: Connecting to Ultimate Team is not possible at the moment.

Three things have to work for you to get online: your console or PC platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox, Nintendo, Steam), your EA Account, and the servers for that one game. The message looks the same whichever of them fails.

Are EA servers down?

Check our live status pages for the EA app, EA Sports FC and Apex Legends. EA's own server status page at help.ea.com/server-status shows Online or an outage for the EA app, EA Play and each current game, and links to the platform status pages for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and Steam.

EA also posts outage news on X: @EASFCDirect and @EASPORTSFC for EA Sports FC, and @PlayApex for Apex Legends. If the servers are down, nothing on your side will fix it. If you play an older game, check on EA Help whether its online servers are still supported, because EA shuts down servers for old titles for good.

Fixes EA recommends, in order

1. Restart the game and your console or PC. EA says restarting an Xbox clears its cache, and lists a restart first for Nintendo Switch too.
2. Restart your router. EA's instructions: turn it off, unplug it, wait about a minute, plug it back in and switch it on.
3. Check your subscription. EA lists an active PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch Online subscription as needed for online play. If you play through EA Play, check that membership is still active too.
4. On PC, clear the EA app cache. Open the menu (three dashes, top left), go to Help, select App recovery, then Clear cache. On a Mac, choose Help in the menu bar, then App Recovery. If the EA app won't open on Windows, open Start, All apps, expand the EA folder and choose App Recovery, then Clear Cache.
5. Disconnect any VPN and use a cable. EA says wired broadband is more reliable than Wi-Fi, and that mobile and satellite connections are less stable.
6. Try a different DNS server. EA suggests Google DNS or OpenDNS if your provider's DNS is unreliable. Our DNS guide has the steps.
7. Check your device's date and time. EA notes that a wrong clock can cause connection problems.
8. Check your EA Account. If you are told the account is already in use, log out on your other devices and log back in. Banned, suspended and deactivated accounts can't play online, and child accounts have limited online access.

EA app error codes on PC

• EC:10005, network issue. A problem with your home network or internet connection. Troubleshoot the connection, then check for an EA app outage.
• EC:10500, authentication error. EA says this may be caused by a service outage. Clear the cache. If that fails, try again later.
• EC:10000, EA Account issue. Your account couldn't be authenticated. Check your connection and your login details.
• EC:10701, communication error. The EA app could not use port 3216 on your computer. Restart the PC. If it returns, EA says to turn off your VPN and any virtual network adapters, then restart the EA app.
• Something went wrong. To continue linking your EA Account, head back and start over. Account linking failed. EA's fix is to reset your EA password and try linking again.

Apex Legends connection codes

Apex uses short code words. EA Help explains them like this:

• code:net: an EA server stopped answering the game.
• code:leaf: EA servers aren't responding.
• Unable to connect [code:clock]: the servers stopped waiting for you to connect.
• shoe: a problem connecting your game to EA servers.
• Error code 429: server maintenance or downtime. Wait until the servers are active.

For net, leaf and clock, EA's advice is to restart your router and your device and use an ethernet cable.

Why the same message has so many causes

When you start an online mode, your console signs in to its own network, the game then signs in to your EA Account, and only then does it connect to the game's servers. A failure at any step produces a message about EA servers, even when EA is fine. That is why EA's status page lists platform servers next to its own, and why an outage at PlayStation Network or Xbox takes EA games offline too. Check PlayStation Network or Xbox status if every online game on the console is failing.

Signs it is EA, and signs it is you

• Probably EA: the error started for you and your friends at the same time, single-player modes still work, and other online games on the same console connect normally.
• Probably your side: the game connects on a phone hotspot but not on your home network, the error comes back after the same number of minutes each time, or it started after you changed router, provider or VPN.
• Probably your account: one profile on the console fails and another works.

Release days and weekly peaks

Connection errors cluster around launch weeks, title updates and popular events. EA Sports FC's Ultimate Team is the usual pressure point, which is why EA gives it its own error message and tells players to check the FC server status before changing anything. Repeatedly retrying during a peak does not help. Wait ten minutes and try again.

What not to do

• Do not reinstall a large game before you have checked the server status. A reinstall can't fix an outage.
• Do not uninstall your antivirus software. EA Help says it does not recommend that as a fix.
• Do not share your EA password or login verification code with anyone who offers to fix your connection. Contact EA through EA Help only.

Related fix guides

• PlayStation Network not working: sign-in and connection fixes
• Can't sign in to Xbox: how to fix Xbox network problems
• Steam error codes -105, -118 and -102, and Steam not connecting
• DNS server not responding: how to fix it