Error Messages

Error Messages

What the launcher, the overlay and the game say, and what to do. Use your browser's find (Ctrl+F) with a few words of your message. Parts in <angle brackets> change: a server's name, a version, a number.

For the red and amber items in the Status card, see Status Checks.

Jump to: Connecting · Accounts and names · The client and the game folder · Starting the game · In the game · Updates · Reports · Suggestions · Rate limits

Connecting and switching servers

These appear in the activity bar at the bottom, after Couldn't connect to … or Couldn't switch to ….

Message	Cause	What to do
"<x>" isn't a server address. Type a host name or IP address, without a port.	A typo, or :port added	Type just the name or IP
"<x>" isn't an address this PC can find.	The name doesn't exist, or your internet or DNS is down	Check the spelling and your connection
<x> doesn't answer as a 5th Echelon server.	Nothing that looks like a 5th Echelon server answers there	Check the address; the server may be down
<x> didn't answer in time. It may be restarting or down, or this PC's connection is having trouble: check your internet connection and try again in a minute.	The server didn't say how it's set up, though the launcher waited 10 seconds and asked twice	Check your internet connection and Try again in a minute, or try another server
<ip> doesn't answer on port <p>. Check the server is running and you're connected to its network.	The server answered, but its API port doesn't: it's restarting, or something blocks the port	Try another server, or wait a few minutes
"<x>" is <n> characters, and the game takes at most 27.	The game can't hold a longer server name	Use its IP address, or ask the operator for a shorter name
<x> is at <ip>, which isn't an address on the internet.	A server list pointed you at a private address	Type it yourself if you meant a server on your own network
<server> can't find accounts by player identity, which this launcher needs. Ask its operator to update the server.	The server runs an old 5th Echelon	Ask its operator to update it
<server> answered over HTTPS before but doesn't now, so your password isn't sent to it unencrypted.	The server's HTTPS stopped working; the launcher refuses to fall back to plain HTTP	Try later. If the operator turned HTTPS off on purpose: remove the server in Settings › Servers and accounts, then connect again
This server takes passwords and sign-ins over HTTPS only	Your launcher is too old to use its HTTPS	Update the launcher
No server answered on this network.	Find on my network found nothing	Check the server is running and on the same network, or type its address
A network's address starts with https://, so nobody on the way can change its list.	You typed a network address with http://	Use https://, or just the host name
<host> doesn't answer as a network of servers (its /v1/info).	That address isn't a network (coordinator)	It may be a single server: use A server of your own instead
<address> lists no servers right now; try again in a minute.	The network's servers aren't reporting in	Wait a minute
The server directory couldn't be read: …	The network's list couldn't be fetched	The launcher uses the last list it saw; try later
Quit the game first (on the server card)	You can't switch servers while the game runs	Quit the game

Accounts and names

Message	Cause	What to do
Someone here already has that name / Taken on this server		Choose another (the launcher suggests some)
That name belongs to another player on the servers sharing friends	The name is reserved for another player across the network	Choose another
names are 1 to 32 characters		Shorten it
names can have letters A-Z, digits, _, - and . only		Remove other characters
that name is reserved	Names like admin, moderator, server, ubisoft	Choose another
names can't have admin or 5th Echelon in them	From 0.4.6, no name may contain admin or 5th Echelon, look-alikes included	Choose another
That name isn't allowed (no slurs or hate). Try another one, or if it's a mistake, ask for a review in the launcher's Support.	A word list found a slur or hate in the name	Choose another, or ask for a review
Names can't be web addresses. Try another one.	The name reads as a web address	Choose another
Your name <name> breaks this network's rules (no slurs or hate). Choose another to play (banner on the Play screen), or Choose another first when you press Play	The name breaks the rules: found by the server's check, or the admins asked you to change it	Rename…, or Ask for a review: When you're asked to choose another name
This server doesn't take new accounts	The server's operator closed registration	Ask its operator, or play on another server
<name> is linked to another identity. Import that identity in Settings to use this account here.	The account belongs to an identity this PC doesn't have	Import it: Moving to another PC
Your identity can't be read: … is encrypted for another Windows user or PC	identity.key was copied as a file	Use Copy and Import in Settings › Identity and friends
that isn't an exported 5th Echelon identity / the identity is damaged	The pasted text is incomplete	Copy it again in full
The signature's time is off; check this PC's clock / Not a valid identity signature; check this PC's clock	Your PC's clock is wrong, and identity signatures carry the time	Windows: Settings › Time & language › Date & time › Sync now, with Set time automatically on
Couldn't look for your account / Couldn't create your account / Couldn't link … to your identity	The server didn't answer, or refused	Try again. The message usually says why (a ban, a rate limit)
This server can't rename accounts.	The server is older	Ask its operator to update it
The saved password can't be read here; press Connect on the server again.	The password was saved on another Windows user or PC	Press Connect

"Banned on this server"

This account is banned on this server for good: <reason>, or for <n> more days. Only that server's admins can lift it; ask them, or choose another server.

The client and the game folder

Message	Cause	What to do
Close Splinter Cell: Blacklist first; the client can't be installed while it runs. / The game is running. Close Splinter Cell: Blacklist and try again.		Quit the game, then Try again
uplay_r1_loader.dll is missing from the game folder.	The game's online DLL is gone, often removed by an antivirus	Verify the game's files in Steam or Ubisoft Connect, then Fix everything. See Antivirus Warnings
The game's own uplay_r1_loader.dll was replaced before and no copy of it was kept.	Another tool replaced the game's DLL without keeping the original	Verify the game's files, then Fix everything
<folder> doesn't contain Splinter Cell: Blacklist.	The wrong folder	Pick the one with Blacklist_game.exe (src\SYSTEM)
<exe> was modified or the version is not supported.	An unrecognised game .exe	Try to identify; or verify the game's files
Couldn't save the settings: …	The game folder can't be written (permissions, or an antivirus's folder protection)	Allow the launcher to write to the game folder (e.g. Windows Security › Ransomware protection › Allow an app), or run it once as administrator
Settings from an earlier 5th Echelon were set aside (kept as uplay.toml.old in the game folder); this launcher starts from its own.	You used the original launcher before	Nothing; see Coming from 5th Echelon

Starting the game

Message	What to do
First, say whether the game may send its diagnostics.	Answer the question (either way)
Splinter Cell: Blacklist is already running.	Switch to it, or close it first
The game's executable is missing.	Verify the game's files, or check Settings › Game points at the right folder
Steam is starting the game.	Wait: Steam is launching it (Linux, or Windows with Start the game through Steam)
Steam couldn't start the game (…), so the launcher did: no Steam Input this time.	Start Steam (and sign in), or turn off Start the game through Steam in Settings › Game
First, choose the new game options.	Choose them in the New game options window (either way is fine)
Couldn't start the game: The requested operation requires elevation. (os error 740)	Launchers before 0.4.5: the game is set to run as administrator. Untick Run this program as an administrator in the game .exe's Properties › Compatibility (also under Change settings for all users), or update: 0.4.5 starts it as administrator itself
The game was started as administrator, because it's set to run that way.	Nothing: Windows asked first. Untick the Compatibility setting above if you'd rather it didn't ask
Couldn't start the game: couldn't run wine (…); start the game from the app you installed it with	Linux, non-Steam copies: start it from Lutris or Heroic
The launcher couldn't open its window	Update your graphics driver; in a VM, turn on 3D acceleration
ERROR: The server address is too long for the game	Use the server's IP, or a name of at most 27 characters
ERROR: Original library not found / uplay_r1_loader.orig.dll is invalid: Not Ubisoft version	The game's original DLL is missing or wrong. Verify the game's files, then Fix everything
ERROR: Config couldn't be loaded	Press Fix everything to write fresh settings

In the game

Message	What to do
5th Echelon isn't set up: No server is set for the game.	Choose a server in the launcher and press Connect
Couldn't sign in to the server: Your account or password was refused.	Quit, then Fix everything in the launcher
Signed out by the server: Signing in again didn't work.	Quit, then Fix everything in the launcher
Lost the 5th Echelon server: Reconnecting now. Invites are paused until it's back.	Wait: usually a server restart. If it lasts, check the server in the launcher
Couldn't invite <name>. Host or join a match first, then try again.	Get into a lobby or match first
Couldn't search right now.	Try again shortly
Couldn't sign in. If this lasts, open the 5th Echelon launcher and check that the server shows as online. (after Sign in again)	Check the server in the launcher
Other players can't reach you (amber banner at the top)	The server isn't hearing from your game, usually because a firewall or antivirus blocks its traffic. The banner says what to do: see The In-Game Overlay
Direct, no router port open …: others may not be able to join you (Server tab)	If friends can't join you, set Internet play to Always through the server
Another player has your name on the servers that share friends with this one.	Rename: Settings › Servers and accounts › Rename
Your name <name> breaks this network's rules (no slurs or hate). Choose another in the launcher …	The game isn't let in under that name: rename in the launcher, then start the game again, or ask for a review
Couldn't join: different game data (Everyone in a match needs the same mods)	One of you has a mod the other hasn't. From 0.4.5 the overlay says so whatever error the game gave: see Troubleshooting
Different version of the game / data version mismatch (game's own message)	A mod or changed file: see Troubleshooting

Updates

Message	What to do
This server needs 5th Echelon <x> or newer, and this is version <y>.	Press Update in the Status card
No newer launcher yet / <v> is the latest: the server needs one that hasn't been published. Try again later.	Wait for the release, or use another server meanwhile
This is a development build: it doesn't update itself.	Download the latest release
GitHub didn't answer in time, or the download stalled	Try again, or download the release yourself
release <v> isn't signed yet; try again later	Wait a few minutes
release <v> isn't signed by the project's release key as <v>; not installed	The release's signature doesn't match its version: refused on purpose. Keep your version, don't install it by hand, and report it
<file> doesn't match its published checksum; not installed	Try again; if it repeats, download it yourself and check it

Reports

Message	What to do
This server doesn't take reports yet.	The server is older; open an issue instead
The server couldn't take your report (…). Try again, or send it without your logs.	Try again, or Without logs
The server didn't answer in time.	Try again
Connect to a server first.	Reports go to the server you play on: connect to one first

Suggestions

Message	What to do
Connect to a server first: suggestions are signed with the identity the launcher makes then.	Press Connect on a server, then come back to Roadmap
Give it a title of at least 3 characters. / Keep the title to one line of 80 characters.	Change the title
The project's server didn't answer in time. / The project's server didn't answer. Check your connection and try again.	Try again later

Rate limits

Servers limit how often some things can be done, to keep them fair and safe. All of these clear by themselves:

Message	Wait
Too many failed logins; wait 10 minutes before trying again (try again later before 0.4.6)	10 minutes; the server's admins can reset a forgotten password
Too many new accounts from this address; try again later	Later (a shared address, like a university's, can hit this)
Too many name checks from this address; try again later	A few minutes
Too many requests; slow down	A moment
Too many friend changes; try again in a minute	A minute
Too many invitations; try again in a minute	A minute
Too many searches; try again in a minute	A minute
You've sent 3 suggestions today; try again tomorrow. / Too many suggestions from this address today; try again tomorrow.	Until tomorrow