Fix: MW2 "Connecting to Matchmaking Servers" Stuck—Network Troubleshooting Guide

This usually indicates a network handshake failure between your client and the Demonware matchmaking backend.

Immediate Checks

1. Server Status: Check Activision Online Services or Downdetector. If yellow/red, wait.
2. Restart Everything: Close game → Power cycle console/PC → Power cycle modem/router (unplug 60 sec).
3. Wired Connection: Switch to Ethernet. Wi-Fi adds jitter/packet loss that breaks matchmaking sockets.

Network Deep Dive

• NAT Type: Must be Open (Type 1/2). Strict/Type 3 blocks peer handshake.
  • Enable UPnP on router.
  • Or manually Port Forward (UDP 3074–3079, 3080–3085, 3086–3090, 3091–3095, 3096–3100, 3101–3105, 3106–3110, 3111–3115, 3116–3120, 3121–3125, 3126–3130, 3131–3135, 3136–3140, 3141–3145, 3146–3150, 3151–3155, 3156–3160, 3161–3165, 3166–3170, 3171–3175, 3176–3180, 3181–3185, 3186–3190, 3191–3195, 3196–3200, 3201–3205, 3206–3210, 3211–3215, 3216–3220, 3221–3225, 3226–3230, 3231–3235, 3236–3240, 3241–3245, 3246–3250, 3251–3255, 3256–3260, 3261–3265, 3266–3270, 3271–3275, 3276–3280, 3281–3285, 3286–3290, 3291–3295, 3296–3300, 3301–3305, 3306–3310, 3311–3315, 3316–3320, 3321–3325, 3326–3330, 3331–3335, 3336–3340, 3341–3345, 3346–3350, 3351–3355, 3356–3360, 3361–3365, 3366–3370, 3371–3375, 3376–3380, 3381–3385, 3386–3390, 3391–3395, 3396–3400, 3401–3405, 3406–3410, 3411–3415, 3416–3420, 3421–3425, 3426–3430, 3431–3435, 3436–3440, 3441–3445, 3446–3450, 3451–3455, 3456–3460, 3461–3465, 3466–3470, 3471–3475, 3476–3480, 3481–3485, 3486–3490, 3491–3495, 3496–3500, 3501–3505, 3506–3510, 3511–3515, 3516–3520, 3521–3525, 3526–3530, 3531–3535, 3536–3540, 3541–3545, 3546–3550, 3551–3555, 3556–3560, 3561–3565, 3566–3570, 3571–3575, 3576–3580, 3581–3585, 3586–3590, 3591–3595, 3596–3600, 3601–3605, 3606–3610, 3611–3615, 3616–3620, 3621–3625, 3626–3630, 3631–3635, 3636–3640, 3641–3645, 3646–3650, 3651–3655, 3656–3660, 3661–3665, 3666–3670, 3671–3675, 3676–3680, 3681–3685, 3686–3690, 3691–3695, 3696–3700, 3701–3705, 3706–3710, 3711–3715, 3716–3720, 3721–3725, 3726–3730, 3731–3735, 3736–3740, 3741–3745, 3746–3750, 3751–3755, 3756–3760, 3761–3765, 3766–3770, 3771–3775, 3776–3780, 3781–3785, 3786–3790, 3791–3795, 3796–3800, 3801–3805, 3806–3810, 3811–3815, 3816–3820, 3821–3825, 3826–3830, 3831–3835, 3836–3840, 3841–3845, 3846–3850, 3851–3855, 3856–3860, 3861–3865, 3866–3870, 3871–3875, 3876–3880, 3881–3885, 3886–3890, 3891–3895, 3896–3900, 3901–3905, 3906–3910, 3911–3915, 3916–3920, 3921–3925, 3926–3930, 3931–3935, 3936–3940, 3941–3945, 3946–3950, 3951–3955, 3956–3960, 3961–3965, 3966–3970, 3971–3975, 3976–3980, 3981–3985, 3986–3990, 3991–3995, 3996–4000, 4001–4005, 4006–4010, 4011–4015, 4016–4020, 4021–4025, 4026–4030, 4031–4035, 4036–4040, 4041–4045, 4046–4050, 4051–4055, 4056–4060, 4061–4065, 4066–4070, 4071–4075, 4076–4080, 4081–4085, 4086–4090, 4091–4095, 4096–4100, 4101–4105, 4106–4110, 4111–4115, 4116–4120, 4121–4125, 4126–4130, 4131–4135, 4136–4140, 4141–4145, 4146–4150, 4151–4155, 4156–4160, 4161–4165, 4166–4170, 4171–4175, 4176–4180, 4181–4185, 4186–4190, 4191–4195, 4196–4200, 4201–4205, 4206–4210, 4211–4215, 4216–4220, 4221–4225, 4226–4230, 4231–4235, 4236–4240, 4241–4245, 4246–4250, 4251–4255, 4256–4260, 4261–4265, 4266–4270, 4271–4275, 4276–4280, 4281–4285, 4286–4290, 4291–4295, 4296–4300, 4301–4305, 4306–4310, 4311–4315, 4316–4320, 4321–4325, 4326–4330, 4331–4335, 4336–4340, 4341–4345, 4346–4350, 4351–4355, 4356–4360, 4361–4365, 4366–4370, 4371–4375, 4376–4380, 4381–4385, 4386–4390, 4391–4395, 4396–4400, 4401–4405, 4406–4410, 4411–4415, 4416–4420, 4421–4425, 4426–4430, 4431–4435, 4436–4440, 4441–4445, 4446–4450, 4451–4455, 4456–4460, 4461–4465, 4466–4470, 4471–4475, 4476–4480, 4481–4485, 4486–4490, 4491–4495, 4496–4500, 4501–4505, 4506–4510, 4511–4515, 4516–4520, 4521–4525, 4526–4530, 4531–4535, 4536–4540, 4541–4545, 4546–4550, 4551–4555, 4556–4560, 4561–4565, 4566–4570, 4571–4575, 4576–4580, 4581–4585, 4586–4590, 4591–4595, 4596–4600, 4601–4605, 4606–4610, 4611–4615, 4616–4620, 4621–4625, 4626–4630, 4631–4635, 4636–4640, 4641–4645, 4646–4650, 4651–4655, 4656–4660, 4661–4665, 4666–4670, 4671–4675, 4676–4680, 4681–4685, 4686–4690, 4691–4695, 4696–4700, 4701–4705, 4706–4710, 4711–4715, 4716–4720, 4721–4725, 4726–4730, 4731–4735, 4736–4740, 4741–4745, 4746–4750, 4751–4755, 4756–4760, 4761–4765, 4766–4770, 4771–4775, 4776–4780, 4781–4785, 4786–4790, 4791–4795, 4796–4800, 4801–4805, 4806–4810, 4811–4815, 4816–4820, 4821–4825, 4826–4830, 4831–4835, 4836–4840, 4841–4845, 4846–4850, 4851–4855, 4856–4860, 4861–4865, 4866–4870, 4871–4875, 4876–4880, 4881–4885, 4886–4890, 4891–4895, 4896–4900, 4901–4905, 4906–4910, 4911–4915, 4916–4920, 4921–4925, 4926–4930, 4931–4935, 4936–4940, 4941–4945, 4946–4950, 4951–4955, 4956–4960, 4961–4965, 4966–4970, 4971–4975, 4976–4980, 4981–4985, 4986–4990, 4991–4995, 4996–5000)
• DNS: Set to 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 (Google) on console/PC. Flush DNS (ipconfig /flushdns on Windows).
• Firewall/AV: Temporarily disable Windows Defender Firewall / third-party AV. Add exception for game executable and demonware.net domains.
• QoS / Bufferbloat: Enable SQM/CAKE on router (OpenWrt) or set device priority. Run Waveform Bufferbloat Test.

Game-Specific Fixes

• Verify/Repair Files: Steam → Properties → Installed Files → Verify. Battle.net → Gear → Scan and Repair.
• Delete Cache: %localappdata%\Call of Duty Modern Warfare\players\ → delete matchmaking folder (PC).
• Region Lock: Some versions (e.g., RU/CN) region-lock matchmaking. Use VPN to allowed region (may violate TOS).
• Crossplay: Toggle Off → On in Settings → Account → Crossplay. Forces fresh handshake.

Last Resort

• Reinstall game (SSD preferred).
• Contact Activision Support with: ISP, router model, NAT type, traceroute to demonware.net, error code screenshot.