Table of Contents
If you are a fan of co-op shooters, you probably have been eagerly waiting for Payday 3, the much-anticipated sequel to one of the most popular games in the genre. Payday 3 promises to deliver a thrilling heist experience with your friends, where you can plan, execute, and escape from various criminal scenarios. However, as with any online game, you may encounter some issues that prevent you from enjoying the game as intended.
One of these issues is matchmaking not working, which means you cannot join or create a game lobby with other players. This can be very frustrating, especially if you have been looking forward to playing with your squad. In this article, we will explain how to fix Payday 3 matchmaking not working, what causes it, and what you can do while waiting for an official solution.
Article Contents
What is Payday 3 and What is Matchmaking?

Payday 3 is a co-operative first-person shooter action game developed by Starbreeze Studios and published by Deep Silver. It is the successor to Payday 2, which was released in 2013 and has since become one of the most successful co-op games ever. Payday 3 follows the exploits of the legendary Payday Crew, a group of notorious criminals who have come out of retirement to deal with a new threat in New York City.
The game features a variety of heists that you can pull off with up to three other players, such as robbing banks, casinos, museums, or even nuclear facilities. You can also customize your weapons, masks, outfits, skills, and perks to suit your playstyle and preferences.
Matchmaking is a feature that allows you to find and join other players who are looking for a game. You can either use matchmaking to join a random lobby or create your own lobby and invite your friends or other players. Matchmaking is essential for playing Payday 3 online, as it enables you to cooperate with other heisters and enjoy the full potential of the game. If you are interested in knowing more details about Payday 3, then read, Payday 3 Telemetry Settings Explained.
How to Troubleshoot Payday 3 Matchmaking Error on Your End?

Sometimes, matchmaking may not work in Payday 3 because of issues on your end. This means that there are problems with your device, your game, or your internet connection that prevent you from connecting or staying connected to the game servers. These issues can be caused by various factors, such as outdated software, corrupted files, incompatible settings, or weak signal. When there are issues on your end, matchmaking may be slow, unavailable, or unreliable.
To troubleshoot Payday 3 matchmaking error on your end, you can try the following methods:
- Exit and restart the game. This is the simplest and most effective way to fix most issues with online games. Sometimes, the game may encounter a temporary glitch or bug that affects its performance or functionality.
- By exiting and restarting the game, you can refresh its system and clear any errors or cache. To exit and restart the game, you can either use the in-game menu or close the application from your device’s dashboard. Then, you can launch the game again and try matchmaking.
- Restart your PC or console. This is another simple and effective way to fix most issues with online games. Sometimes, your device may encounter a temporary glitch or bug that affects its performance or functionality.
- By restarting your device, you can refresh its system and clear any errors or cache. To restart your device, you can either use the power button or the settings menu. Then, you can turn on your device again and launch the game.
- Update the game with the latest patches and fixes. This is an important and necessary way to fix most issues with online games. Sometimes, the game may have some bugs or errors that affect its performance or functionality. The developer may release patches and fixes to address these issues and improve the game’s quality and stability.
- By updating the game with the latest patches and fixes, you can ensure that your game is running smoothly and correctly. To update the game, you can either use the automatic update feature or manually check for updates from your device’s store or library.
- Check and adjust your antivirus and firewall settings on PC. This is a possible way to fix some issues with online games on PC. Sometimes, your antivirus or firewall software may block or interfere with your game’s connection to the internet or the game servers. This may prevent you from joining or creating a game lobby with other players.
- By checking and adjusting your antivirus and firewall settings, you can make sure that your game is allowed to access the internet and communicate with the game servers. To check and adjust your antivirus and firewall settings, you can either use the software’s interface or control panel. Then, you can add Payday 3 as an exception or allow it through your firewall.
- Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi for better stability. This is a recommended way to improve your online gaming experience. Sometimes, your Wi-Fi connection may be unstable, weak, or interrupted by various factors, such as distance, interference, congestion, or weather.
- This may affect your game’s connection to the internet or the game servers. By using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, you can ensure that your connection is stable, strong, and consistent. To use a wired connection, you need an Ethernet cable that connects your device to your router or modem.
How to Check Payday 3 Server Status and Updates?
One of the most common reasons why matchmaking may not work in Payday 3 is that there are server issues on the developer’s side. This means that there are problems with connecting or maintaining a stable connection between your device and the game servers. Server issues can be caused by various factors, such as high player traffic, technical glitches, maintenance downtime, or cyberattacks. When there are server issues, matchmaking may be slow, unavailable, or unreliable.
To check if there are any server issues or updates for Payday 3, you can use several sources:
- The official website: payday3. Here you can find news, announcements, trailers, pre-order information, and more about Payday 3.
- Downdetector: Here you can see if there are any reports of outages or problems with Payday 2 and 3. You can also see a live map of the affected areas and a timeline of the incidents.
How to Wait for an Official Fix from Starbreeze Studios?
Sometimes, there is nothing you can do but wait for an official fix from Starbreeze Studios. This means that there are issues that are beyond your or the developer’s control. These issues may be related to the game’s design, code, or engine, which require more time and resources to fix. When there are issues that need an official fix, matchmaking may be unavailable or unreliable for a long period of time.
To wait for an official fix from Starbreeze Studios, you can try the following tips:
- Customize your weapons and masks. Payday 3 offers a lot of options to personalize your weapons and masks, which are essential for your heist success and style. You can choose from different models, colors, patterns, attachments, and mods to create your own unique arsenal and appearance.
- Customizing your weapons and masks can be fun and rewarding, as you can unlock new items and achievements as you progress in the game. To customize your weapons and masks, you can use the inventory menu in the game.
- Play offline mode. Payday 3 also offers an offline mode, where you can play solo or with AI teammates. Offline mode can be a good way to practice your skills, explore the maps, complete the objectives, and earn some money and experience.
- Offline mode can also be a good way to enjoy the game’s story, characters, and dialogue, which are rich and immersive. To play offline mode, you can use the offline option in the matchmaking menu.
FAQs
How do I Invite my Friends to Play Payday 3 Online?
To invite your friends to play Payday 3 online, you need to create a game lobby using the matchmaking menu. Then, you can use the invite option to send invitations to your friends who are online on your device’s platform. Your friends need to accept your invitation to join your lobby.
How do I Join a Public Game lobby in Payday 3 Online?
To join a public game lobby in Payday 3 online, you need to use the matchmaking menu and select the quick join option. This will automatically search for an available game lobby that matches your preferences and criteria. You can also use the browse option to manually look for a game lobby that suits your needs.
How do I Change my Matchmaking Preferences and Criteria in Payday 3 online?
To change your matchmaking preferences and criteria in Payday 3 online, you need to use the matchmaking menu and select the settings option. This will allow you to adjust various parameters that affect your matchmaking experience, such as difficulty level, heist type, region, language, ping limit, etc.
How do I Report a Bug or Issue with Payday 3 Online?
To report a bug or issue with Payday 3 online, you need to use the support page and select the submit a request option. This will allow you to fill out a form with details about your bug or issue and attach any screenshots or videos if possible.
How can I Fix the Payday 3 Matchmaking Error?
Some of the common methods to fix Payday 3 Matchmaking Error are: Exit out of the matchmaking and try again. Restart the game and the platform (PC, PlayStation, or Xbox). Check the Payday 3 server status and wait for any updates or fixes from the developers. Ensure that your internet connection is working and stable.
Conclusion
Payday 3 matchmaking not working is a common issue that many players face when trying to play online with their friends or other players. Matchmaking not working can be caused by various factors, such as server issues, device issues, internet issues, or game issues. To fix Payday 3 matchmaking not working, you can check the server status and updates, troubleshoot the error on your end, or wait for an official fix from Starbreeze Studios.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to fix Payday 3 matchmaking not working and why it happens. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading and happy heisting!