If your COD Cold War can’t connect to the online services, and you’re stuck with the “connecting to online services” error notification, you’re definitely not alone.

But don’t worry, we sort out some known fixes to help you out.

Before we start troubleshooting, please restart your computer to flush the buffer, as some temporary data may cause faulty DNS configuration and result in this error.

Once you restart your computer, check the following methods:

  1. Check the game’s server status
  2. Re-link your account
  3. Reset your modem and router
  4. Close any other bandwidth-heavy applications
  5. Update your network adapter drivers
  6. Release and renew your IP and flush your DNS
  7. Troubleshoot Windows Firewall
  8. Disable any proxies

1. Check the game’s server status

If you’re having trouble connecting to the online services of Call of Duty: Cold War, the first thing you should do is to check the game’s server status here on this website: https://support.activision.com/onlineservices/

If the status indicator for your platform is not green or an alert is present, you might encounter connectivity issues until service is restored and fully operational.

If the status indicator is green and no alerts are displayed, read on to check other methods to help fix the unable to access online services or not connecting to online services problem for your Call of Duty: Cold War.

2. Re-link your account

You have to make sure you’re signed in to your system account. Otherwise, you won’t be able to connect to the Cold War online services, resulting in this error message.

Follow the steps below to re-link your account:

  1. Login to your account on the official Activision site.
  2. If your account from PS, Xbox, or Battle.net account is not linked, make sure to log in and link it.
  3. If you already have your account linked, unlink it and link it again.

Check if the not connecting to online services problem persists. If so, move on to the next fix.

3. Reset your modem and router

This is the easiest and quickest way to resolve connectivity issues. Resetting your modem and router allows them to re-establish a connection to your ISP.

Follow these steps to completely power cycle the devices in your network connection (Please note that If your modem has a battery backup, you will need to take the battery out or use the reset button on the modem):

  1. Power off your computer connected to the modem/router.
  2. Power off and unplug the modem and the router if you’re using one.
  3. Wait for 60 seconds. Then plug in and turn on the modem and router, and allow them to completely boot up until the front panel connection lights on the modem show a steady connection.
  4. Start the computer and wait for it to boot up.
  5. Start your Call of Duty Cold War again and see if the online services can be accessed.

However, if it fails to resolve the Cold War connection issue, please read on.

4. Close any other bandwidth-heavy applications

Bandwidth-heavy applications on your network can be detrimental to your ability to connect, which therefore causes the Cold War connection error. It’s recommended not to stream music, video or movies, or download files when your Call of Duty Cold War is running.

Try stopping any media-streaming tasks or file-downloading tasks to see if the online services can be accessed. If not, or you’re not even doing any kind of these things, move on to the next fix.

5. Update your network adapter drivers

When you encounter the error message saying Cannot connect to Call of Duty online services, one of the first things you should do is to update your network adapter driver, since an up-to-date network driver always ensures the best gaming performance and fewer bugs.

To update your network driver, here’s what you can do (please note that the following screenshots are taken on Windows 11, but the instructions work on Windows 10 as well):

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and X at the same time, select Device Manager.
  2. Double-click to expand the category Network adapters. Then right-click your network driver and click Update driver (the name of the device can be different on your computer).
  3. Then click Search automatically for updated driver software.
  4. Wait for Windows to find the latest driver available for you.
  5. When the driver update is done, restart your computer for the change to take effect.
  6. Then check and see if the problem is fixed.

If Windows says that it’s already found the latest driver for you, so no newer drivers are found, then you should consider updating your network driver in a different way with the help of Driver Techie.

Its ever-growing driver database allows you to always have access to the latest device drivers that you need. More importantly, Driver Techie simplifies the driver update process, so all it takes is just 3 clicks (for Pro users), and all your drivers are updated.

To use Driver Techie to find you the latest drivers:

  1. Download and install Driver Techie, then launch it.
  2. Click Scan Now.
  3. After the scan, select all the drivers you need to update and click Update All. Then all your drivers will be updated automatically without you having to do anything else.

Please note that Update All is available for Pro subscribers only, otherwise, you can only manually update the driver one at a time. To see how to manually update the drivers one by one, please check this post.

If you’re a Pro user of Driver Techie, and need our technical support to help with the Call of Duty online services connection problem, please feel free to contact <support@drivertechie.com>.

6. Release and renew your IP and flush your DNS

Network conflicts can also lead to this Black Ops Cold War online services connection issue. Releasing, renewing, and flushing your DNS information will help in this case.

To do so:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and R together to invoke the Run prompt. Type cmd and press Shift, Ctrl and Enter at the same time to open the Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. In the command prompt, type ipconfig /release and hit Enter.
  3. Wait until the IP address has been released. Then type ipconfig /renew and hit Enter.
  4. Wait until the IP address has been re-established. Type ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter.
  5. Wait until the DNS has been flushed. Close the command prompt and re-connect your network.

Check if the online services for your Call of Duty Cold War can be accessed. If not, move on to the next fix.

7. Troubleshoot Windows Firewall

Firewalls can restrict packets from unknown sources or change the priority of those packets. This can cause latency, patching issues, and problems connecting to Blizzard services. When you encounter the Cold War online services connection issue, it’s likely to be this case. Allowing the game through your firewall prevents issues like this.

To troubleshoot your Windows firewall:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and R together to invoke the Run prompt. Type Firewall.cpl and hit Enter.
  2. From the left panel, click Restore defaults.
  3. Click the Restore defaults button.
  4. Click Yes to confirm the prompt.

Once the firewall gets restored to defaults, proceed with the following:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and R together to invoke the Run prompt. Type Firewall.cpl and hit Enter.
  2. From the left panel, click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
  3. Scroll down the list until you find Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Then tick it for both Private and Public.
  4. If the game is not listed here, click the Change settings button, and then the Allow another app… button.
  5. Browser for BlackOpsColdWar.exe and add it through the firewall.

If you don’t know where exactly the BlackOpsColdWar.exe file is, follow the steps below:

  1. Launch Blizzard.net.
  2. Navigate to Call of Duty: BOCW. Click Options and select Show in Explorer.
  3. In the come-up folder, you will find the executable file. Remember this file path and add the file through the firewall.

Please note that the next time you use any other application that would be blocked by the Windows firewall, you would receive a prompt to allow the program through the firewall.

8. Disable any proxies

Using any proxies may cause the Cold War connection issue. Follow the steps below to disable your proxy settings.

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key and R together to invoke the Run prompt. Type inetcpl.cpl and hit Enter.
  2. Click the Connections tab. Select Never dial a connection if available.
  3. Click LAN settings. Uncheck Use a proxy server for your LAN. If this setting is already unchecked, try to toggle Automatically detect settings.
  4. Click OK to confirm the changes.

(Please note that if you’ve never used a proxy server, these settings can be enabled or activated by malware without your knowledge. If either of the proxy settings is checked, run antivirus software after unchecking them.)

These are all the tips we recommended to resolve the Call of Duty Cold War online services not connecting issue. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment below