Quick Answer: Summary of Steps
- Check Rockstar's service status. If Red Dead Online is down, no local fix will help.
- Test your speed. Rockstar's targets are 7.5 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up (0.5 Mbps minimum).
- Use a wired connection. Rockstar recommends it when wireless keeps dropping.
- Open the required UDP ports. 6672 and 61455–61458.
- Switch to Google DNS. 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, plus the IPv6 equivalents.
- Restart your router for about 10 minutes. Rockstar's last network step.
- Turn off VPNs and proxies for 0x99380000. Rockstar says they can block game services.
Prerequisites & Materials Needed
Required tools & items
- Red Dead Online or Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC — Red Dead Online is included with RDR2 and also sold on its own.
- A Rockstar Games account — signed in through the Rockstar Games Launcher.
- Router admin access — to forward ports and restart the router.
- A Windows administrator account — to change DNS settings.
- A speed-test website — Rockstar suggests speedtest.net.
- Estimated time — Preparation: about 5 minutes; Execution: 10 minutes for DNS and router fixes; 20–30 minutes if you forward ports
Estimated time
- Preparation: PT5M
- Execution: PT30M
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Step 1: Check Rockstar Games Service Status
Rockstar's articles start here because outages and maintenance cause the same errors as a local problem.
- Open support.rockstargames.com/servicestatus and look at the Red Dead Online and PC entries.
- Pro Tip: If the status says Up, Rockstar says the problem may be your network setup or a connection type that conflicts with other players, so continue with the steps below.
How you know it worked: You've confirmed whether the service is up before changing anything at home.
Step 2: Step 2: Test your connection speed
- Run a speed test (Rockstar suggests speedtest.net) on the PC you play on, with downloads and streaming paused.
- Pro Tip: Rockstar's targets are 7.5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload, with 0.5 Mbps as the minimum upload.
How you know it worked: Your results meet the targets; if not, contact your internet provider or reduce other traffic.
Step 3: Step 3: Switch to a wired connection
- Connect the PC to the router with an Ethernet cable. Rockstar specifically suggests this if you're on wireless and still have problems.
How you know it worked: Disconnects and "Timed out locating session" messages become rarer or stop.
Step 4: Step 4: Open the Red Dead Online ports
Closed ports can stop you joining sessions or cause drops.
- In your router's admin page, forward UDP 6672, 61455, 61456, 61457 and 61458 to your PC's local IP address. Allow the same ports in any third-party firewall on the PC.
- Pro Tip: Give your PC a reserved (static) local IP address in the router first, so the forwarding rules keep pointing at the right device.
How you know it worked: You can find and stay in sessions more reliably.
Step 5: Step 5: Change your DNS servers
Rockstar's article gives exact steps for Windows.
- Open Settings → Network and Internet → Advanced network settings → Change adapter options.
- Right-click your Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection → Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties → Use the following DNS server: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Tick Validate settings upon exit and click OK.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) → Properties → enter 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844. Validate and click OK.
How you know it worked: Windows validates the connection, and the game reaches Rockstar's services.
Step 6: Step 6: Reset your router
- Unplug your router and leave it unplugged for about 10 minutes, as Rockstar advises. Plug it back in, wait until the internet works, then launch Red Dead Online.
How you know it worked: You join a session without the earlier error.
Step 7: Step 7: Fix error 0x99380000 (VPN, proxy, browser)
This error appears when the game can't download or verify user-generated content.
- Turn off any VPN or proxy and make sure your internet provider isn't routing you through one. Rockstar also suggests signing in from a different browser or device and temporarily disabling browser plug-ins.
How you know it worked: The "Failed to connect to Rockstar game services" alert stops appearing.
How this guide was made: researched and drafted with AI assistance from the official support pages and references listed in the sources, and published under Tulasiram Pemmadi's byline. We have not tested these fixes on our own hardware.
This guide helps you fix Red Dead Online on PC when you're disconnected, can't find a session, see "Saving failed", or get error codes such as 0x21002001 or 0x99380000. Every fix comes from Rockstar Games Customer Support. Where Rockstar gives no fix, we say so rather than guessing.
Game page: Red Dead Online on NextPlayIntel · Playing on console? See how to play Red Dead Online on PS5 and Xbox Series · Story-mode crashes? See our Red Dead Redemption 2 PC troubleshooting guide
The Problem
Rockstar's official PC connection article lists the messages players see most: "Saving failed", "Connection to the session lost due to an unknown network error", "Timed out locating session" and "Rockstar Games Services are unavailable". Rockstar also documents error 0x21002001 ("You have been disconnected from Red Dead Online because the connection to Rockstar Games Services was lost") and error 0x99380000 ("Failed to connect to Rockstar game services"), which appears when the game can't download or verify user-generated content.
Likely Causes
From Rockstar Support:
A Rockstar service outage or scheduled maintenance. Always check the status page first.
A slow or unstable connection, below Rockstar's targets of 7.5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.
Wireless interference or packet loss. Rockstar recommends a wired connection if problems continue.
Closed ports. Red Dead Online needs UDP 6672 and 61455, 61456, 61457 and 61458.
Connection types that conflict with other players, which Rockstar mentions when the service is up but you still can't connect.
DNS problems at your internet provider.
A VPN or proxy, which Rockstar says can stop the game reaching its services (error 0x99380000).
Browser plug-ins interfering with sign-in, also listed for 0x99380000.
Reference: Red Dead Online PC errors and network requirements
Item | Value or meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
Download speed target | 7.5 Mbps | Rockstar PC connection article |
Upload speed | 1 Mbps recommended, 0.5 Mbps minimum | Rockstar PC connection article |
Required ports | UDP 6672, 61455, 61456, 61457, 61458 | Rockstar PC connection article |
IPv4 DNS | 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 | Rockstar PC connection article |
IPv6 DNS | 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844 | Rockstar PC connection article |
Error 0x21002001 | Connection to Rockstar Games Services lost | Rockstar: same network checks as above |
Error 0x99380000 | Can't download or verify user-generated content | Rockstar: no VPN or proxy, try another browser or device, disable browser plug-ins |
Router reset | Unplug for about 10 minutes | Rockstar PC connection article |
Error codes for this game
Red Dead Online codes such as 0x20010006 and 0x21002001: Red Dead Online error codes.
Browse every platform in the error-code directory.
When to contact official support
If errors continue while Rockstar's status page shows Red Dead Online as Up, contact Rockstar Games Customer Support from the Red Dead Online section of support.rockstargames.com. Include the exact error code, when it happened, your connection type, speed-test results, and the steps you've already tried. Rockstar also offers a Network Troubleshooter in the same section.
How we checked this guide
Checked 31 October 2026 (IST). Rockstar Support pages returned errors to our direct fetch on the day, so their wording was checked against search-indexed copies of the official articles.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Changing settings during an outage Check the status page first, or you may undo working settings for nothing.
- Forwarding TCP instead of UDP Rockstar lists all five Red Dead Online ports as UDP.
- Forwarding ports to the wrong local IP Without a reserved address, your PC's IP can change and break the rule.
- Leaving a VPN on Rockstar names VPNs and proxies as a cause of 0x99380000.
- Restarting the router for only a few seconds Rockstar suggests leaving it unplugged for about 10 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What does error 0x21002001 mean in Red Dead Online?
Rockstar says it means the connection to Rockstar Games Services was lost. Check service status, test your speed, use a wired connection, open the required ports, change DNS and restart your router.
What ports does Red Dead Online use on PC?
Rockstar lists UDP 6672, 61455, 61456, 61457 and 61458.
Why does Red Dead Online say "Saving failed"?
Rockstar lists "Saving failed" among its PC connection errors. It usually means the game couldn't reach Rockstar's servers, so follow the same network steps.
How do I fix error 0x99380000?
Turn off any VPN or proxy, check your connection and service status, try signing in from another browser or device, and disable browser plug-ins.
What internet speed does Red Dead Online need?
Rockstar's targets are 7.5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload, with 0.5 Mbps as the minimum upload.
Does this guide cover PS5 and Xbox?
These steps are Rockstar's PC article. For console setup, see our Red Dead Online PS5 and Xbox Series guide, and check PlayStation Network or Xbox status if you can't connect.
Sources & verification
Sources last verified on . This article covers published information, not hands-on testing.
Editorial & update notes
New troubleshooting guide, 31 Oct 2026.
