How to Fix Call of Duty Warzone Stuck on Searching for a Match

Call of Duty Warzone can get stuck in an endless “searching for a match” loop where matchmaking never connects you to a game. This problem is usually related to server issues or network settings, and the following fixes will help you get back into matches.

Method 1: Check Server Status

Warzone matchmaking issues are frequently caused by server-side problems that are out of your control.

Visit support.activision.com/onlineservices to check the official server status.
Check downdetector.com and search for “Call of Duty” to see if others are reporting issues.
Check the official Call of Duty X (Twitter) account for outage announcements.
If servers are down, wait for Activision to resolve the issue.

Method 2: Restart the Game

Fully closing and reopening Warzone clears temporary matchmaking data that may be causing the search to hang.

On PC: Close the game through the launcher (Steam or Battle.net).
On PlayStation: Press the PS button, highlight Warzone, press Options, and select Close Game.
On Xbox: Press the Xbox button, highlight Warzone, press Menu, and select Quit.
Wait 30 seconds, then relaunch the game.

Method 3: Restart Your Router

Network congestion or a stale connection can prevent proper communication with game servers.

Unplug your router from power.
Wait 30 seconds.
Plug the router back in and wait for all lights to stabilize.
Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi if possible.
Launch Warzone and try matchmaking again.

Method 4: Change Your DNS Settings

Switching to a faster DNS server can improve your connection to Warzone matchmaking servers.

On PC: Open Settings, then Network, then edit DNS. Set to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare).
On PlayStation: Go to Settings, Network, Set Up Internet Connection, select Custom, and set DNS manually.
On Xbox: Go to Settings, General, Network Settings, Advanced Settings, DNS Settings, and select Manual.
Restart your device after changing DNS settings.

Method 5: Enable or Disable Crossplay

Toggling crossplay changes the matchmaking pool and can help you find games faster.

Open Warzone and go to Settings.
Navigate to Account & Network.
Toggle Crossplay on if it is off, or off if it is on.
Try searching for a match again.

Method 6: Clear the Game Cache

Corrupted cache files can interfere with matchmaking.

On PC (Steam): Go to Steam Settings, Downloads, Clear Download Cache.
On PlayStation: Go to Settings, Storage, Games, select Warzone, delete cached data.
On Xbox: Highlight Warzone, press Menu, Manage game, Clear reserved space.
Relaunch the game after clearing the cache.

Method 7: Update the Game

Running an outdated version can cause matchmaking failures since the game cannot connect to updated servers.

On PC: Check your game launcher for available updates.
On PlayStation: Highlight Warzone, press Options, select Check for Update.
On Xbox: Go to My games & apps, select Warzone, check for updates.
Install any available updates and restart the game.

Method 8: Reinstall the Game

A clean reinstall ensures uncorrupted game files and the latest version.

Uninstall Warzone from your platform.
Restart your device.
Download and install Warzone again.
Launch the game and try matchmaking.