Screengrab via Valve

How to fix the ‘Cannot queue for matchmaking at this time’ error in Dota 2

You shall not queue, but only for a short time.

Dota 2 servers aren’t made of steel and they can go down on rare occasions, especially when the player count surges to new highs. When new and returning players flood into the servers after a major content release, the servers may struggle to keep up with the demand, causing players to experience various errors.

Recommended Videos

The “Cannot queue for matchmaking at this time” error generally appears whenever there’s a server outage. Players encounter the error when they try to find a match. This error is generally followed by the infamous “Searching for Dota 2 Game Coordinator” message that appears at the top or the bottom of players’ screens.

If you have just encountered the “Cannot queue for matchmaking at this time” error in Dota 2, there are a few troubleshooting methods that can be of use to get you right back into a match.

How do you fix the “Cannot queue for matchmaking at this time” error in Dota 2?

  • Check Dota 2’s server status. If the servers are down, you’ll need to wait for them to come back online before you can queue for another match.
  • Create a custom game or a practice lobby and leave it by using the Disconnect/Leave Game buttons on the main menu.
  • Restart Dota 2.
  • Restart Steam and Launch Dota 2 after re-logging into your account.

More often than not, the “Cannot queue for matchmaking at this time” error will appear when the servers go down. If you encounter this error, make sure to check Dota 2 and Steam server status since you’ll need to wait for a fix to roll out when the servers aren’t functional.

If the “Cannot queue for matchmaking at this time” error appears when the servers are operational, then it might be happening due to a bug. This bug happens when players leave an ending match too quickly. Creating a custom lobby and leaving it manually or restarting Dota 2 often fixes the error when this is the case.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Dota 2’s Crownfall is finally here, but it’s not what anyone expected
Skywrath Mage Arcana skin in Dota 2
Read Article Dota 2 players stuck in Crownfall waiting room as Valve drops Ascension Day comic tease
Crownfall update dota 2
Read Article Notorious Dota 2 pro released from team after mafia betting, match-fixing claims
Taiga watching a monitor while preparing to play Dota 2
Related Content
Read Article Dota 2’s Crownfall is finally here, but it’s not what anyone expected
Skywrath Mage Arcana skin in Dota 2
Read Article Dota 2 players stuck in Crownfall waiting room as Valve drops Ascension Day comic tease
Crownfall update dota 2
Read Article Notorious Dota 2 pro released from team after mafia betting, match-fixing claims
Taiga watching a monitor while preparing to play Dota 2
Author
Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan is a Staff Writer and Fortnite Lead at Dot Esports. Gökhan graduated as an industrial engineer in 2020 and has since been with Dot Esports. As a natural-born gamer, he honed his skills to a professional level in Dota 2. Upon giving up on the Aegis of Champions in 2019, Gökhan started his writing career, covering all things gaming, while his heart remains a lifetime defender of the Ancients.