There are many things that can ruin a survivor’s momentum in Rust, such as door campers, trap bases, rats, and massive raids. But perhaps the most frustrating is the Connection Attempt Failed error. What makes this error even more annoying is that it can stem from several culprits, such as your firewall or a corrupted cache. So if you've been hit with the Rust Connection Attempt Failed Error, you're in the right place. Here we'll cover potential causes and solutions to get you back into the game!

How to Fix the Connection Attempt Failed Error in Rust

First, it’s important to note that the possible fixes for the Connection Attempt Failed error in Rust don’t come with 100% guarantees. After all, each system and server situation is different. That said, working through this guide can help you troubleshoot the issue with the most commonly effective options.

Reduce Browser Pings

A browser ping is the estimated latency display for a server in the Rust server selection screen. It represents the period required for data to travel from the computer to the server and vice versa. Oftentimes, this setting is set to “Automatic.” If so, it may provide the incorrect latency, which causes the error. Follow these steps to reduce browser pings and potentially remove the Connection Attempt Failed Error upon attempting to connect to a Rust server:

• Close Rust (if it’s open)
• Go to Steam Settings
• Navigate to the “In Game” tab
• Click the dropdown box next to the “Server browser pings/minute” field
• Set the browser pings per minute to 500
• Wait for about 15 minutes
• Relaunch Rust, and check if the problem persists

Direct Connect to the Server

Generally, players would only need to click on the server’s name to form the connection. However, sometimes the in-game browser makes it challenging for a user to connect to a Rust server, resulting in the Connection Attempt Failed error. Instead, survivors can bypass the sometimes buggy in-game server browser, and here’s how to do it:

• Launch Rust
• Request the server’s IP address and port number (often found on the server’s website or page)
• On the main menu screen, open the command console (press F1 by default)
• Enter the following command: client.connect <server_ip:port> (for example: client.connect 123.456.78.9:28015)
• Wait for the game to establish a connection

Verify Game Files

Sometimes, file corruption occurs without your knowledge, which might come from improper update installation procedures. If so, verifying the game’s files may repair or even remove the Connection Attempt Failed error. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to verify Rust’s game files on your computer:

• Log in to Steam, and navigate to your game library
• Right-click on Rust from the left sidebar to open the context menu
• Select “Properties” from the menu, and click the button labeled “Verify integrity of game files…”
• Wait for the verification process to finish, and restart Steam
• Relaunch Rust and connect to your preferred Rust server to check if the error persists

Note: Ensure that Steam is in Online Mode, or else the verification process won’t start.

Clear Steam Download Cache

A corrupted local cache might be the culprit for the Connection Attempt Failed Error when trying to connect to a Rust server. It might also be due to outdated or conflicting data. Nonetheless, if verifying Rust’s game files doesn’t work, consider clearing Steam’s download cache. So, here’s how to clear the download cache from Steam:

• Log in to your Steam account via the Steam app
• Click the Steam menu in the top-left corner of the window, and select Settings
• Navigate to the Downloads tab, and click on the “Clear Download Cache” button
• Confirm the command, and wait for the process to complete
• Wait for Steam to restart, and then log back into your account
• Relaunch Rust, connect to your preferred server, and check if the issue persists

Disable Auto VPN

Some VPN services have automatic connection features that aim to make server selection smoother. However, this feature may not be as reliable as some might think, causing an obstructed connection, increased latency, or automatic disconnection. If so, check your VPN’s settings to see if it has an automatic connect feature. Then, promptly disable it. Restart the VPN for good measure, and attempt to connect to a Rust server to see if you can now connect to it without a hitch.

Disable the Proxy Server

A proxy server acts as a middleman for your internet traffic. If the proxy is misconfigured, outdated, or no longer functional, it may misroute your connection requests or stop forwarding them altogether. Generally, the Rust client isn’t configured to use a proxy, resulting in connections blocked by this system-level setting. With that, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to disable your Windows PC’s proxy server:

• Close Rust (if it’s open)
• Click the Windows Start Menu on the lower left of the screen, and select Settings
• Alternatively, press the Windows key + I on your keyboard
• Select “Network & Internet,” and then navigate to the Proxy tab
• Toggle off the “Use a Proxy Server” setting under “Manual Proxy Setup”
• Disable “Use Setup Script” if it’s active
• Relaunch Rust and connect to your preferred server
• Check if the Connection Attempt Failed error persists

Change Domain Name System (DNS) Server

The DNS is like the Internet’s phonebook. Its function is to translate human-friendly server names into machine-readable IP addresses. If the DNS server is slow, unreliable, or temporarily inactive, it might fail to interpret the Rust server’s domain name into an IP address, resulting in the Connection Attempt Failed error. So, follow these steps to switch to a public DNS server to help restore your connection to the Rust server:

• Close Rust (if it’s open)
• Click the Windows Start Menu on the lower left of the screen
• Type “Control Panel,” and press Enter
• Navigate to “Network and Internet,” and then click “Network and Sharing Center”
• Select “Change adapter settings” on the left sidebar
• Right-click on your main Internet connection to open the context menu
• Select “Properties” from the context menu
• Choose Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click the “Properties” button
• Select the option to use the following DNS server addresses
• Enter the address of your chosen public DNS provider:
• Google Public DNS: Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8 | Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare DNS: Preferred DNS Server: 1.1.1.1 | Alternate DNS Server: 1.0.0.1
• Save the settings, and relaunch Rust
• Attempt to connect to your preferred Rust server to check if the problem persists

Allow Rust in the Firewall

The built-in Windows firewall is like the security guard of your computer. It controls which programs send and receive data over the Internet using a set of rules. However, this safety measure might mistakenly prevent access to a Rust server, causing the Connection Attempt Failed error. Below is a quick step-by-step guide on how to add a manual rule for Rust to help prevent this issue from occurring:

• Close Rust (if it’s open)
• Click the Windows Start Menu on the lower left of the screen, and select Settings
• Alternatively, press the Windows key + I on your keyboard
• Select “Update & Security,” and navigate to the “Windows Security” tab
• Choose “Firewall & network protection,” and then select your active network
• Click “Allow an app through firewall,” and then choose “Change Settings”
• Search for the Rust client on the list, and ensure that both Private and Public boxes are checked
• If the Rust client isn’t on the list, click “Allow another app,” and then search for the app on your PC
• Choose to add the client to the list, and check that both Private and Public boxes are checked
• Click OK, and attempt to reconnect to your preferred Rust server

Fix Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC)

EAC is a supplementary, widely used application that helps detect and prevent cheating in various online multiplayer games, including Rust. Allowing its services to run in the background while you’re playing Rust can help ensure fair play by monitoring possible usage of cheating software. However, the EAC often needs a clear, secure communication channel to verify the game’s files and system integrity before it allows a user to connect to a server. A network issue, corrupted file, or blocked connection may prevent this check, causing the “Disconnected: Connection Attempt Failed” error. If the EAC is deemed as a possible suspect to the issue, repair it by navigating to the Rust installation folder on your PC. Then, open the “EasyAntiCheat” folder, and search for the “EasyAntiCheat_EOS_Setup.exe” file (without the quotes). Right-click on it to open a context menu, and then select “Create a Shortcut.” Next, select the newly created shortcut and edit its filename. Add “repair” (without the quotes) at the end of the file name, which should look like the following: EasyAntiCheat_EOS_Setup.exe repair. Run EAC through the repair shortcut, and wait for the process to complete. Launch the game afterward to check if the problem continues to exist.

Wait it Out

Ultimately, the “Connection Attempt Failed” error happens when the Rust client can’t establish a connection to the server. This issue can stem from several issues, ranging from planned server maintenance to connection issues with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Waiting for the error to fix itself might become the best solution in this regard, at least after exhausting other options. Doing so helps save additional time and effort you may expend, and it also prevents making unnecessary changes to your system and network settings that might otherwise cause more harm than good.