Client dropped by server and Warning: Connection Problem

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If you receive the error message "WARNING: Connection Problem" in the upper right-hand portion of your screen while playing, or if you are dropped from a server with the error message "Client dropped by server", there is a network connectivity issue interfering with game traffic between your machine and the server you are playing on.

Common Causes

• You are using a wireless connection or a 56K modem (these devices may not be able to accommodate the bandwidth requirements of the game)
• There is a virus, a P2P program, or some other background application running on your network or on your machine which is using up the bandwidth needed to maintain your connection to the game server
• There are other computers on your local network which are using up the bandwidth needed to maintain your connection to the game server
• The network connection for the server you are playing on is overloaded (this may result from having inadequate bandwidth to support the players who are joining the game or from other applications being run on the server)
• Your rate, cl_updaterate, or cl_cmdrate settings are not configured correctly for your connection speed

Troubleshooting

1. Please review the Programs Which Interfere with Steam article to ensure you are not running any applications which may be interfering with Steam.
2. Review the Spyware, Adware, and Viruses Interfering with Steam article for instructions on scanning for viruses and removing unwanted software.
3. If you are using a wireless router, try bypassing the wireless router by connecting directly (with a cable) to the internet.
4. Try shutting down any other machines on the network to increase the bandwidth available to the machine you are using.
5. Use the rate # (where # is the rate setting for your connection) command in the console to change your rate setting. These are the default rates based upon connection speed:
   • 56K Modem: 3500 to 5000
   • DSL: 7500
   • Cable/T1: 9999
6. Use the cl_updaterate 20 command in the console to change your cl_updaterate setting to 20. (Setting the value to a higher number increases the download demand on your connection)
7. Use the cl_cmdrate 30 command in the console to change your cl_cmdrate setting to 30. (The default cl_cmdrate is 30, setting it to a higher rate increases the upload demand on your internet connection)