How to Fix ‘Contacting Server’ Error on Halo Master Chief Collection

Halo MCC (The Master Chief Collection) is one of the most popular first-person shooter games. The game has had its share of issues from its launch in 2014. One of the most persistent Halo MCC issues in all these years is the Contacting Server issue. The issue is mainly reported on Windows and Xbox. The problem occurs when a user tries to play a Halo MCC game but is greeted with the following:

What causes Contacting Server in Halo MCC?

There are numerous reasons for the Halo MCC contacting server message but the following are the main factors reported to cause the issue:

Outdated Game or Outdated OS of the Device: If the Halo MCC or the device’s OS is outdated, it may become incompatible with the other and this conflict can lead to the issue at hand.
DNS Server: If the DNS server of your system could not resolve the Halo MCC web addresses, then the game may fail to contact its servers.
Corrupt Game Files or Corrupt Installation of the Halo MCC: If the essential game files or the game installation itself is corrupt, then this corruption may stop the game from contacting its servers.
Conflicting Applications: Many applications like Easy Anti-Cheat and RGB controlling applications are reported to conflict with the Halo MCC and thus cause the issue.

Update the OS of Your Device to the Latest Build

If the OS of your system is outdated, it may conflict with the updated Halo MCC’s game modules resulting in the error under discussion. Here, updating the PC’s Windows to the latest build may solve the MCC’s server issue.

Click Windows and search for Check for Updates. Now open the System Setting of Check for Updates.

Open Check for Updates
Then, in the Windows Update, click on Check for Updates. If some updates are available, download and install the Windows updates. In the case of a Windows 7 PC, make sure to install SP3.

Check for Windows Updates
Afterward, reboot your PC and upon reboot, check if the Halo MCC is clear of the server contacting issue.

Update the Halo MCC from the MS Store

The Halo MCC contacting server issue could also be a result of incompatibility between the outdated MCC game on your device and its servers. In such a scenario, updating the Halo MCC through the MS Store may solve the problem.

Click Windows, type, and open Microsoft Store.

Open Microsoft Store
Now, in the Search box, type Halo: The Master Chief Collection and open the result.
Then check if an update of the game is available. If so, update the MCC game and restart your computer afterward.

Re-log into Halo Master Chief Collection

The MCC’s contacting server issue can also be the result of a temporary communication glitch between the game and its servers. In such a case, re-logging into the Halo MCC may solve the problem.

Re-Login to the Game

Near the top right of the Halo MCC, click on your Gamertag and select Change Profile.

Open Change Profile in Halo MCC
Now log in using your Halo credentials (the same credential which you were using before) and check if the Halo MCC is working fine.

Re-Login Through the Gamebar

If logging out of the game did not work, close the MCC game and click Windows.
Now search and open Xbox Game Bar.

Open the Xbox Game Bar
Then, in the Game Bar, click on the gear or Settings icon (near the right corner) and head to the Accounts tab.

Sign Out of the Accounts in the Xbox Game Bar
Now click on the Sign Out button and then confirm to sign out. Make sure to sign out of the Halo MCC linked accounts as well.
Then relaunch the Halo MCC and use your credentials to log in. Afterward, check if the game is working fine.

Remove the Login Credentials from the Credential Manager

If the GameBar method did not work, exit the Halo MCC gaming client and press the Windows key.
Now search and open Credential Manager.

Open Credential Manager
Then head to the Windows Credentials tab and in the General Credentials section, select XBL/DeviceKey.
Now click on Remove and then confirm to remove the entry.
Then relaunch the MCC gaming client and log in using your credentials to check if the MCC contacting server issue is resolved.

Remove the Proxy from Your System Settings

If your system is configured to use a proxy to connect to the Internet, the proxy may hinder the attempt to communicate with servers and thus cause the issue. In such a case, removing the proxy from your system Settings may solve the problem.

Click Windows, type, and open Proxy Settings.
Now disable the proxy of Use Setup Script and Use a Proxy Server (in the Manual Proxy section).

Disable Proxy in Windows
Then restart your system and upon restart, launch Halo MCC and check if its server contacting issue is resolved.

Disable Relays in the Halo MCC’s Network Settings

Relays in MCC are used to hide the user’s IP from the host booters or untrusted connections. This setting can hinder the matchmaking feature of MCC, and thus cause the server contacting issue at hand. In such a scenario, disabling Relays in the Halo MCC’s network settings may solve the problem.

Launch the Halo MCC and open its Settings.
Now, head to the Network tab and disable Relays by setting its switch to the off position.

Disable Relays in the Network Settings of Halo MCC
Then relaunch the Halo MCC and afterward, check if it is working fine.

Change the DNS Settings of Your Device

Halo MCC might show the contacting server issue if your device cannot resolve the domain address of the Halo servers. In this case, changing the DNS settings of your device to use another DNS server (like Google) may solve the problem. For elucidation, we will discuss the process of changing a DNS server on a Windows machine.

Right-click Windows and open Network Connections.

Open Network Connections
Now open Change Adapter Options and right-click on your network.

Open Change Adapter Options
Then open Properties and double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

Open Properties of Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP IPv4)
Now enter any of the following (or another DNS server as per your liking) in the Preferred DNS Server and Alternate DNS Server fields:
```
Google

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4


Cloudflare DNS

1.1.1.1

1.0.0.1
```
Change the DNS Server of Your PC
Then apply your changes and afterward, check if the Halo MCC server issue is resolved.

Verify the Integrity of the Game Files of the Halo Master Chief Collection

Halo MCC might show the contacting server issue if the essential game files of MCC are corrupt. Here, verifying the integrity of the MCC game files may solve the problem.

Open the Steam Library and right-click on Halo: Master Chief Collection.
Then select Properties and head to the Local Files tab.
Now click on Verify Integrity of Game Files and let the process complete (it may take some time and data).

Verify Integrity of Game Files of Halo MCC
Once the verification process is complete, launch the MCC game and check if its contacting server issue is resolved.

Edit the Network-Related Settings of Your Device

This problem also arises if your ISP is restricting connections to Halo servers or if any of the essential network-related settings are misconfigured. In such a case, trying another network/VPN or correcting the network-relates settings (like Shield or Parental Controls, etc.) may solve the problem.

Try Another Network or a VPN

Firstly, disconnect your system from the current network and then connect to another network (like a phone’s hotspot). You can also use a VPN connection.
Now check if Halo MCC is working fine. If so, then either your ISP or any of the related network settings are causing the issue.

Disable ISP Filters or Parental Controls

Many ISPs give their users a portal to manage and filter violent/adult content. If your ISP marks Halo MCC as a violent game or NSFW, it may block it. Here, you may have to disable the filters or exempt Halo MCC from filtering.

Launch a web browser and steer to the Sky Broadband Shield website.
Login using your credentials and disable the Sky Shield.

Disable Sky Broadband Shield
Now launch the Halo MCC and check if it is working fine. If so, you can add the Halo website to the Safelist of the Sky Broadband Shield. You may also try to find the setting causing the issue like Blocking of Violent Content, NSFW, etc.

Disable the Bluetooth Network Adapter

Right-click Windows and open Network Connections.
Now select Change Adapter Options and then right-click on the Bluetooth network adapters.

Disable Bluetooth Network Connection
Then select Disable and launch the Halo MCC game to check if it is operating fine.
If not and you are using a Wi-Fi connection, then check if using a LAN connection while disabling all other network connections including the Wi-Fi connection solves the issue.

Fix the Xbox Networking

Click Windows, type, and open Xbox Networking.
Now, click on the Fix it button (if shown) and let it complete its process.

Click the Fix it Button in the Xbox Networking Settings
Then launch Halo MCC and check if it is clear of the contacting server issue.
If that did not work, click Windows and search for Command Prompt. Then right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Now execute the following:
```
netsh interface teredo set state type=enterpriseclient
```
Set the Teredo State as Enterprise Client by Using the Command Prompt.png
Then check if the Halo MCC server issue is resolved.

Delete the MCC Folder in the AppData Directory

On a Windows machine, the game stores its temporary data in the MCC folder in the AppData directory and if the contents of that MCC folder are corrupt, the game may fail to connect to its servers. In this context, deleting the MCC folder in the AppData directory may solve the problem.

Firstly, exit the MCC game and its launcher. Also, make sure to end the MCC-related processes in the hidden icons of the system tray and Task Manager of your system.
Then, right-click Windows and open Run.

Open the Run Command Box from the Quick Access Menu
Now navigate to the following path:
```
AppData
```
Open the Run Command Box from the Quick Access Menu
Open the LocalLow directory and delete the MCC folder there. If you want to play safe, you may place the folder in another location.
Now relaunch the MCC game and check if it is clear of the contacting server message.

Delete the Saved Data of Halo MCC

If the saved data of Halo MCC has become corrupt, it may cause a hindrance in the operation of the game. In such a case, deleting the saved data of Halo MCC may solve the problem. Keep in mind that you may lose your saved data and maps, etc.

Launch My Apps and Games on Xbox and select Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Now press the Menu button on the controller and in the menu shown, select Manage Game & Add-ons.

Open Manage Game & Add-ons of Halo MCC on Xbox
Then, in the left pane of the window, head to the Saved Data tab and select your Gamertag.

Head to the Saved Data Tab of Halo MCC and Open Your Profile
Now select Delete Everywhere and then confirm to delete the data.

Delete the Saved Data of Halo MCC
Then launch the Halo MCC and check if it can contact its servers.

Clean Boot Your PC and Uninstall the Conflicting Applications

You may encounter the Halo MCC contacting server issue if an application on your system is conflicting with the MCC game. Here, clean booting your PC and uninstalling the conflicting applications will solve the problem.

Firstly, clean boot your PC and check if the Halo MCC working fine.
If so, then try to find the problematic application or service causing the issue.

The following are reported by users to cause the MCC server issue for them:

ASUS GameFirst
RGB Controlling Applications
Easy Anti-Cheat
Steelseries Applications
Lenovo Vantage
Corsair’s iCue

If you have any of these applications running on your system, you may disable them at your system’s start. If that did not work, then you may have to uninstall the conflicting applications. For illustration, we will discuss the process of uninstalling SteelSeries GG.

Right-click Windows and open Apps & Features.
Now expand SteelSeries GG and click on Uninstall.

Uninstall SteelSeries GG
Then confirm to uninstall SteelSeries GG and follow the prompts to uninstall the SteelSeries application. .
Now reboot your PC and upon reboot, check if Halo MCC is working fine.

If nothing has worked for you, then check if reinstalling the Halo MCC game clears out the issue. If that did not work, then you may reset your device to the factory defaults e.g., hard resetting your Xbox.

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