Resolving Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands bugs

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands is one of those shooter games that keep gamers on edge. Featuring heavy military gear, one of the largest maps seen on any MMO, and tactically challenging missions, among many other enticing game offerings, it’s little wonder there’s never enough to be had of the game.

That said, the gaming phenomenon isn’t perfect. Gamers held out hope that Ubisoft would resolve issues that plagued the game when it was launched, especially in the beta stage, but there are still reports of numerous problems till this day.

Connectivity issues are among the problems faced by Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands players. Many online gaming fora are fraught with complaints from gamers who can’t connect to the game’s servers and those that face intermittent disconnections.

Gamers have complained not being able to access the multiplayer mode and other online features in the game, and there have been reports of Uplay not connecting as well.

If you’re experiencing any connectivity issue, there are different fixes that you can apply to get rid of it.

What are the Reasons for the Connectivity Bugs in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands?

The connectivity issues in the game can be traced back to different system bugs when the game’s servers are confirmed to be up and running.

Your network device might be the reason for the slow or poor connection, and a hard reset might be all that’s needed to resolve the issue. System security programs such as antivirus and firewall applications might be getting in the game’s way of using the system’s network. Certain background apps might be causing conflicts with the game. Some ports needed by the game might be closed. Moreover, the DNS cache on the system might contain wrong network configurations.

How to Get Rid of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands Bugs

We have put together a comprehensive guide on how you can get back to enjoying your game without issues. Make sure you follow the steps provided in the fixes below carefully.

First Fix: Power Cycle Your Network Hardware

Power cycling your network hardware involves restarting your network devices, such as your router, modem, and your computer. Doing this will allow these devices to establish a fresh connection, which can solve the issues you’re facing.

To power cycle your hardware devices, start by shutting down your PC, then follow by switching off your modem or router. Unplug your router or modem, and then wait for one or two minutes. Now, plug the router or modem back in, turn it on, and then switch on your PC. Once you’re connected to your network, the issue should be resolved.

Second Fix: Add the Game to Your Firewall’s Exceptions

One of the basic reasons for connectivity issues on Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands is that your firewall is blocking the game’s access to your PC’s network connection. It’s possible that the security tool perceives the game as a threat due to its high bandwidth usage. The resolution to the problem, in this case, is to allow the game through your firewall application.

There are different methods involved in adding an app as an exception in different third-party firewall programs. You can check the developer’s website for the guide to your particular firewall. Since Windows Defender Firewall also blocks certain apps, it could be responsible for the problem.

Here’s a quick guide on how to allow an app in Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Right-click the Start button and click on the Settings option in the menu that pops up.
2. Click on the Update & Security tile on the Settings home screen.
3. Go to the Windows Security tab on the next screen, and then click on Firewall & Network Protection.
4. Under Firewall & Network Protection, click on Allow an app through firewall.
5. On the next screen, click on the Change Settings button.
6. Next, locate Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, click on the box beside the game, and then click on the public and private boxes to allow it through Windows Firewall.
7. Click on the OK button to save your changes.

You can now check if you can connect without issues.

If the problem persists, try disabling your firewall temporarily, and then check if you can connect.

However, before you disable your firewall, you should consider forwarding the game’s ports through the firewall. The procedure can be found in the third fix. You can then follow these steps:

1. Click on the Show Hidden Icons arrow at the far-right of your taskbar and click on the shield icon in the tray that slides up.
2. Once Windows Security opens, click on the Firewall & Network Protection label.
3. Now, click on Domain network, and then switch off Windows Defender Firewall.
4. Repeat Step 3 for Public network and Private network.

You should no longer experience the connectivity issues you were facing. If the problem continues, move on to the next fix.

Apart from firewall applications, antivirus programs can also block certain game files, causing connectivity problems. You can confirm whether your antivirus application isn’t at fault by temporarily disabling it and checking the game for issues. If the game is free of issues when your system security program is turned off, try updating your virus definitions or change your antivirus program.

Third Fix: Forward Your Ports

Forwarding the ports used by the game and Uplay is another way to go. This is because these ports might be blocked on your browser, causing the connectivity issues you’re facing to occur. Other solutions will not help you get out of the fix if your ports are blocked.

Follow the guide below to fix your ports:

You should know that the port-forwarding procedure varies depending on your router’s manufacturer and its model. That said, we will show you a general method on how to forward your ports, but before you begin, follow the steps below to look up your Default Gateway and IP address:

1. Open the Start menu, type “command prompt” (no quotes), and then click on the first result.
2. Once Command Prompt opens, type “ipconfig” (no quotes) and hit the Enter key.
3. Command Prompt will now fetch details about your network configuration, including your current IPv4 address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway.
4. Make sure you write these details down before you exit Command Prompt.

Now, follow the steps below to log into your router:

1. Launch your Web browser – Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc.
2. Type the digits for your Default Gateway into the address bar and hit the Enter key.
3. Your router’s login page will now show up.

You might be required to provide your login information, depending on your router. Enter your details if you have set up a username and password, but if you haven’t, you can use the default login of your router. In certain cases, though, you just have to hit Enter and continue with the login fields empty.

4. Once your router’s interface opens, switch to the tab or page for port forwarding. The name of this tab or page could be Virtual Servers, Port Forwarding, Applications, or NAT, depending on your router’s make and model, and you’ll find fields for inputting details for Local IP Addresses, Single Port Ranges, and Protocols.
5. Now, input the following in the TCP and UDP fields:

TCP (for Uplay) – 14000, 443

UDP (Game Ports) – 7000, 6180, 6000, and 3074 to 3083

6. Type the IPv4 address you got through Command Prompt into the Local IP fields.
7. Save and apply the changes you’ve made by clicking on the appropriate button, then close your browser.
8. Now, check if the problem persists.

Forwarding Your Ports in Windows 10

You can manually open the ports used by the game in Windows Firewall as well. The guide below will show you the steps involved:

1. Press the Windows key and R key simultaneously to open Run.
2. Type “Control Panel” (no quotes) into the Run dialog box and hit Enter.
3. Once Control Panel opens, click on System and Security, then click on Windows Firewall on the next screen.
4. On the left pane of the Windows Firewall screen, click on Advanced Settings.
5. Once the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window opens, click on Inbound Rules on the left pane, and then click on New rule in the sidebar to the right.
6. Once the New Inbound Rule Wizard opens, select the Port radio button, and then click Next.
7. Under Protocol and Ports, enter the values we provided above for TCP or UDP in the appropriate text box, and then click on the Next button.
8. Follow the instructions on the subsequent screens, which will lead you to the point where you will choose a name for the new rule.
9. You can repeat Steps 1-8 for Outbound Rules in the Advanced Security window.

Fourth Fix: Reset Your Hosts File

The Hosts file in Windows is used to find a host in a network by matching the numerical value of an IP address to its host name, which is usually in an alphanumeric format. It is a TXT file that contains IP addresses and host names in text lines.

Your Hosts file might be misconfigured or corrupted, causing a slew of network issues, especially when you try to access the multiplayer feature of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Fixing the issue of a faulty or corrupt Hosts file involves resetting the file to its default state, and the steps below will show you how:

1. Press the Windows and E keys together to open File Explorer, then navigate to the following folder:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

Note that you can change “C” to the drive letter where Windows is installed.

2. Now, look for the Hosts file in the etc folder and change its name to Hosts.old.
3. Next, open Cortana, search for Notepad, and then launch the app.
4. Once Notepad opens, copy and paste the following text into the blank note:

# Copyright © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.

#

# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.

#

# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each

# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should

# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.

# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one

# space.

#

# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual

# lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.

#

# For example:

#

#  102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com      # source server

#   38.25.63.10 x.acme.com          # x client host

# localhost name resolution is handle within DNS itself.

#   127.0.0.1   localhost

#   ::1         localhost

5. Next, click on File at the top of the window, and then select Save as.
6. Once the Open dialog comes up, navigate to the etc folder where you renamed the former Hosts file, and then save this current text file as Hosts.
7. Close Notepad, reboot your PC, and then launch the game to check if the issue persists.

Fifth Fix: Reset and Release Your IP address, Then Flush Your DNS

Your DNS cache contains the configurations of your previous networks. These configurations are saved in the cache file so that Windows can easily reconnect to your network. Sometimes, though, wrong configurations will be saved to the DNS cache, which will then go on to cause connectivity issues.

Also, your IP address could be the issue because altered configurations on your router might not be registered by your system, especially in cases where you set your computer to obtain network settings automatically. In this case, you’ll have to release and renew your IP.

Learn how to release and renew your IP, as well as how to flush your DNS cache below:

1. Click on the magnifier icon next to the Start button and search for Command Prompt.
2. Once Command Prompt appears in the results, right-click it and then choose the Run as Administrator option.
3. Click on Yes in the User Account Control pop-up.
4. Once the elevated Command Prompt window opens, type the following lines into the black screen, and then hit Enter after typing each line:

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

5. Reboot your PC and check for the problem.

Sixth Fix: Check if a Startup Application is Causing the Problem

It could be that one or more background applications are preventing your game from using your PC’s network. Go to Task Manager (Ctrl +Shift +Esc) and make sure there are no background apps using up all your bandwidth. You can also start your system in a Clean Boot environment to check whether a startup app or service is causing the problem. Here’s how to perform a clean boot:

1. Open the Search text box in the taskbar, enter “msconfig” (no quotes) into the text field, then click on System Configuration in the results list.
2. Go to the Services tab once System Configuration opens and mark the box next to Hide all Microsoft Services.
3. Click on the Disable all button to prevent the services in the list from loading the next time you start your computer.
4. Go to the Startup tab, then click on Open Task Manager.
5. You’ll be redirected to the Startup tab in Task Manager.
6. Now, right-click each startup item, and then click on Disable. Do this until you disable every program in the list.
7. Close the Task Manager window, go to System Configuration and click OK, then reboot your PC.

Once your computer restarts, the startup programs and services you disabled won’t load by default. Now, launch your game and check if you experience any connection issue. If there are no connection problems, you have to find out which startup is responsible.

To identify the startup service that’s clashing with your game, enable a service and reboot your PC. Check if the problem will show up. Repeat this step until you see the connection issue you were facing. Note the startup service you enabled before experiencing the error, then update the program or uninstall it. On the other hand, you can keep it disabled whenever you’re playing.

You should now be able to enjoy your game in multiplayer mode and access other online features without hassles. To make things go smooth on your game and your computer in general, install Auslogics BoostSpeed. The program will help increase your computer’s efficiency by regularly cleaning out entities that are known to cause system and application lags. Let us know how you solved your issue on Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, using the comments section below.