The Forest is one of the most popular and well-developed survival horror video games by Endnight Games, originally launched in 2014. It’s available on Windows, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, and has provided countless players with an immersive survival experience. However, in recent times, many players have reported running into problems. One of the most common issues is that multiplayer mode isn’t working on PC, PS4, and PS5.
If you’re also among the players facing this frustrating issue, don’t worry—you’re not alone. According to multiple reports online, a growing number of players are experiencing multiplayer errors, making it one of the most frequently encountered problems in The Forest.
Common errors reported by affected players include:
Please check your network
Could not connect to host
Can’t connect to the network
The good news is that there are several workarounds you can try to fix the multiplayer not working issue in The Forest. This guide will walk you through effective troubleshooting steps to help you get back into the game with your friends.
Fix: The Forest Multiplayer Not Working on PC, PS4, and PS5 Consoles
To be very precise, the multiplayer not working issue or can’t connect to the server issue is a pretty basic problem for online multiplayer titles, especially when it comes to PC games. So, the chances are high that somehow you’re dealing with a poor or unstable internet connection, game server issue, an outdated game version, outdated device drivers, outdated Windows system, issues with the game files, router issue, and more.
Whereas any kind of temporary cache data issue with the game or system can also trigger such problems a lot. Luckily, here we’ve provided a couple of possible workarounds for you that should gonna come in handy. Now, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it.
1. Check The Forest Server Status
First of all, you should check whether the game servers are working fine or not. Mostly server downtime or scheduled maintenance can cause temporary server connectivity issues at any time. It’s recommended to check The Forest Server Status by visiting the official @EndNightGame Twitter handle and searching for real-time reports or announcements. If there is a server issue then make sure to wait for a couple of hours and then try again.
If the game servers are running fine for everyone else and your friends are able to join the multiplayer sessions then you can try connecting with them. Still, if you’re facing the multiplayer not working issue then you can jump into the next method.
2. Check your Internet Connection
First of all, you should try checking out the internet connection at your end no matter whether you’re using Wi-Fi or wired (ethernet). If in case, you’re having a poor internet connection or an unstable one, make sure to contact your service provider to increase the data speed or change the IP address to fix the networking connectivity issue. You should try switching to the wired (ethernet) connection from wireless (Wi-Fi) or vice versa to cross-check it.
3. Update The Forest
You should update the game to check whether the problem is appearing due to the outdated or corrupted game version or not. It’s needless to say that the latest game update can bring bug fixes or stability improvements. To do so:
For PC:
- Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
- Right-click on The Forest from the list > Click on Manage.
- Select Properties > Click on the Updates tab > Click on Automatic Updates.
- If it’s enabled, whenever there is a new update available, the Steam client will do the job for you.
For PlayStation:
- From the home menu, open the game Library > Choose The Forest game.
- Press the Options button > Select Check for Update.
- If there is an update available, make sure to install the update.
4. Update All Device Drivers (PC Only)
Another thing you can do is try updating the device drivers on the PC to fix multiple issues with the system performance that can happen for any program. Corrupted or missing device drivers can eventually trouble you a lot. To do so:
- Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
- Click on Device Manager from the list.
- Now, double-click on the respective device driver category to expand the list. [Such as Display adapters, network drivers, etc]
- Then right-click on the device > Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- If there is an update available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
- Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change the effects.
5. Update System Software
Sometimes issues with the outdated system software can also cause conflicts with system performances, especially in multiplayer games or any resource-heavy programs. You should always update the system software on your device to maintain the performance stable enough. To do that:
For PC:
- Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
- Next, click on Update & Security > Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.
- If there is a feature update available, select Download and install.
- It may take a while to complete the update.
- Once done, restart your computer to install the update.
For PlayStation:
- Go to the Settings menu on the PlayStation console.
- Select System Software Update > Make sure to check for available updates and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.
- Once done, reboot the system to apply changes.
6. Repair Game Files (PC Only)
Another thing you can do is verify and repair the game files on your PC via the Steam client to ensure there are no corrupted or missing game files present on your computer. To do that:
- Launch Steam > Click on Library.
- Right-click on The Forest from the list of installed games.
- Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
- Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
- Once done, just restart your computer.
7. Power Cycle your PC or Console
Sometimes issues with the temporary glitch on the PC or console device can eventually trigger multiple conflicts with the game launching and multiplayer connectivity. It’s better to perform a simple power cycle method on your gaming device to ensure if the problem has been fixed or not. To do that:
- Just power off the PC or console completely > Unplug the power cable from the power source and from the device itself.
- Wait for around a couple of minutes then plug back the power cable in.
- Finally, power on the PC or console, and launch the game again to check for the issue.
8. Power Cycle Wi-Fi Router
It’s also recommended to try performing a power cycle method on your Wi-Fi router because temporary glitches can also cause issues with the network connectivity whatsoever. To do so, power off the router and unplug the power adapter from the power source > Wait for around 30 seconds then plug back the power cable in > Turn on the Wi-Fi router to check for the issue.
9. Clear The Forest Game Data
It seems that deleting the installed game saved data on the console can also fix several issues with the game launching or gameplay. You should try performing this method to check for the issue.
- Go to PlayStation Settings > Select Application Saved Data Management.
- Choose either System Storage or Online Storage or USB Storage > Select Delete.
- Select The Forest game > Checkmark the files that you want to delete or just Select All.
- Finally, select Delete > Select OK to confirm the task.
- Once done, reboot your console to check for the issue again.
10. Rebuild Database (PS4/PS5)
Rebuilding the database on your PlayStation console can quickly resolve the potential issues or errors. To do so:
- Switch off your console completely. Unplug the power cable from the console and wait for around 2-3 minutes.
- Now, plug in the power cable, and turn it on to clear the Cached Data automatically from the system.
Check whether this issue has been fixed with the game or not. If not, follow the next steps below.
- Now, press and hold the Power button on the PlayStation console until you hear 2 beeps. [The second beep will sound after seven seconds]
- The console will boot in the Safe Mode > Connect the controller to the USB with the console and press the PS Button on the controller.
- Next, you’ll get an option called ‘Rebuild Database’.
- Select ‘Rebuild Database’ and confirm the task.
- It may take some time depending on the hard drive data size. Have some patience.
- Once done, just reboot the system normally.
11. Hard Reset your Console
In most cases, performing the hard reset of your console can fix system glitches or cache data issues from the game itself. To do so:
- Switch off your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 console first.
- Once the console is turned off, press and hold the Power button on the console until you hear two beep sounds within a couple of seconds.
- Here you’ll see two reset options to choose from.
- Select the necessary option to reset your PlayStation console.
- Wait for the process to complete and then make sure to sign in to the PlayStation account.
- Finally, install The Forest game, and try running it.
12. Don’t Put in Rest Mode (PS4/PS5)
Make sure not to keep your PlayStation console in the rest mode because it may cause some issues with the game crashing or not launching. To do so:
- Go to the PS4/PS5 Settings menu > Open the Power Saving tab.
- Select Set Time Until PS5 Enter Rest Mode.
- Set to Don’t Put in Rest Mode > Restart the console to apply changes.
If none of the methods worked for you then make sure to contact Endnight Games Support to get further assistance. Just try to submit the report and create a ticket for the same to get a faster resolution.
That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.
