CS: GO failed to find a dedicated server error: Fix

The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) is well-loved by a large number of game enthusiasts for its competitive game modes and designs. But recently, the CS: GO players have been complaining about a Failed to find a dedicated server error. The error typically comes up while the player tries to open a Workshop map. Primarily the problem arises when a player uses bots to start a map.

But there can also be other reasons for the Failed to find a dedicated server error. If you are someone who is dealing with this same issue, don’t worry. We will show you some solutions you can use to resolve this error on your own.

What causes the Failed to find a dedicated server error?

Here’s a list of all the possible reasons that can cause this error on your computer.

• Improperly installed Workshop maps
• Workshop folder glitch
• NAT (Network Address Translation) issue
• Game file corruption issue

Now that you have become aware of the common issues behind the Failed to find a dedicated server error, let’s move forward to the solution.

Solutions to resolve the Failed to find a dedicated server error:

Solution 1: Check your NAT

NAT (Network Address Translation) is responsible for connecting the game server with the machine. If NAT is closed, you will fail with every Workshop map that you attempt to play and start encountering the Failed to find a dedicated server error. To fix this issue, first, check your NAT. If you find the NAT closed, open it with the help of your router.

• Press Windows key +R.
• Type ms-settings:gaming-xboxnetworking and press Enter.
• The Xbox Networking tab of the Gaming Settings app will open up.
• Wait for the operation to complete inside the Xbox Networking tab.
• Check the NAT Type.
• If you find the NAT Type “Closed” or “Teredo is unable to qualify“, then it’s clear that the error was due to your NAT.
• Now, you have to open NAT by opening it from your router settings. You can use Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for this process.
• If you’re using an older router model, you have to forward the ports used by Steam and CS GO manually.
• Open your browser and go to your router address.
• You can use the following address, or you can search for the correct address of your router.

192.168.0.1 

or

192.168.1.1

• In the login screen, you have to put your login credentials.
• Most of the router manufacturers use 1234 or admin for both password and username.
• But if you don’t know the custom credentials, press and hold on the reset button on the back of your router, and you can change the default values.
• After you log in, choose the Advanced menu.
• Go to the NAT Forwarding (Port Forwarding menu).
• Here, search for an option to forward your ports manually.
• Add the ports given below (used by Steam and CS Go):

TCP: 27015-27030, 27036-27037

UDP: 4380, 27000-27031, 27036

• After the procedure is over, save the changes and restart your computer.
• Check for the error after the computer restarts.

Solution 2: Run an integrity check for the game folder

If everything is alright with your NAT, then it’s possible that the error is arising due to a game file corruption issue. To fix the error, you can run an integrity check for the game folder. Here’s a quick guide for you on how to run the integrity check using the Steam menu.

• Open the Library tab of your Steam client.
• Right-click on the library entry associated with CS: GO.
• Choose Properties.
• Click on the Local Files tab and then click on Verify Integrity of the Game Files.
• After the process is complete, restart your computer.
• If the integrity check didn’t reveal anything, follow the next solution.

Solution 3: Uninstall the improper Workshop folders

Sometimes while installing the Workshop maps manually, you fail to get them properly installed. As a result, Steam becomes unable to load the Workshop folders into the game. And the Failed to find a dedicated server error will begin. In order to fix this issue, you have to follow the steps given below and uninstall the improper Workshop folders.

• Make sure that no background processes related to CS: GO are running.
• Open Steam and go to the Library option.
• Right-click on the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and select Properties.
• Click on the Local Files tab, and then select the Browse Local Files option from the menu below.
• After entering the game folder, double-click on the CS: GO folder.
• Navigate to Maps > Workshop.
• Now, double-click on the folders inside the Workshop folder.
• If any folder doesn’t have files that end with “.bsp“, then delete the folder because it only contains images.
• After you delete every folder that contains files without .bsp in the end, restart CS: GO.
• Try to open a Workshop map and look for the error. If the error comes up again, go to the last solution.

Solution 4: Unsubscribe Workshop maps

If you subscribe to a lot of Workshop maps, that will confuse the installer, and the installer will put all the Workshop maps into the same folder. This glitch with Steam’s Workshop subscription model can create the Failed to find a dedicated server error. To fix the error, you have to unsubscribe the Workshop maps and delete the Workshop folder. If you don’t know how to do that, follow these steps.

• First, make sure the CS: GO is closed.
• Go to Steam and then choose the Community tab.
  
• Choose Workshop from the drop-down menu.
• Click on “CS: GO“
• Open the Browse tab, then select the Subscribed Items.
• After you enter the Subscribed Workshop items tab, click on the Unsubscribe button for every CS: GO map.
• Go back to the main menu of Steam.
• Then, choose the Library tab and right-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
• Select Properties.
• Inside the Properties tab, go to the Local Files Then, choose the Browse Local Files option from the menu below.
• Here, choose the Maps folder, then right-click on the workshop folder, and hit the Delete
• You have successfully unsubscribed to the workshop maps and deleted the folder that contained their remaining files.
• Now, you can re-subscribe to the Workshop maps and see if the error comes up again.

Counter-Strike: GO became one of the popular games nowadays.  It’s very frustrating for many players to come across the Failed to find a dedicated server error whenever they attempted to use the Workshop maps.

To help the CS: GO players, we have provided some useful and efficient solutions. Just work your way down to the solutions and see which one works for you. We hope you will be able to solve the error with the help of our solutions and start enjoying the game again. If you have any queries or feedback, please write down the comment in the below comment box.