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KaffinMustakif's avatar
KaffinMustakif
Rising Newcomer
3 days ago

Can’t join BF3 multiplayer servers – session stuck after disconnect

Hello,

I’ve been unable to join any Battlefield 3 multiplayer servers for several days now. This started after a sudden disconnect during a match. Since then, I always get stuck at "Joining Server" and then returned to the browser with an error.

I’ve tried every possible fix including:
– Resetting network (flushdns, winsock, TCP/IP)
– Deleting .dlf license files
– Clearing BF3 config files from Documents
– Reinstalling EA App and BF3
– Running everything as admin
– Using Firefox instead of Chrome
– Even clean reinstalling Windows

But nothing worked.

The strange part: Battlelog still shows my account as “in-game” when I’m not, which seems like a stuck session or broken token on EA’s side.

I’ve contacted EA Support and was told this will be reported as a bug.

If anyone has had the same issue, please upvote or share your experience here.

Thanks.

bf 3
bug
technical issues

1 Reply

  • Fezuesz's avatar
    Fezuesz
    Seasoned Traveler
    21 hours ago

    It usually means your account has a stuck session ID or server join token on EA’s side. That’s managed by the EA backend + PunkBuster/Origin handshake, and if it gets corrupted during a crash, the session never resets properly.

    What Might Still Help
    These aren’t guaranteed, but some users have reported success with:

     1. Log Out of Everything and Wait 24–48 Hours
    Fully log out of EA App / Battlelog / Origin on all devices.

    Then do not log in again for 24–48 hours. Sometimes, stuck tokens expire after ~48h.

    Several players have had sessions clear after this wait, especially if they don’t keep refreshing Battlelog or launching the game repeatedly.

    2. Use a VPN to Change Server Region Temporarily
    Some users reported success joining a server in another region (e.g., Asia or South America) using a VPN.

    This can force a new backend handshake, bypassing the stuck session.

    Suggested VPN locations to try:

    Singapore

    Brazil

    Germany

    After joining once successfully, you can disable the VPN and go back to your region.

     3. Use Origin Instead of EA App
    BF3 was built for Origin. The EA App sometimes doesn't release stuck sessions properly.

    Download Origin here

    Install, log in, and try launching from there.

    Many players have found that Battlelog + Origin works better than EA App + Battlelog for multiplayer sessions.

     4. Try a Server Without PunkBuster
    Some PunkBuster-protected servers can reject stuck tokens silently.

    On Battlelog, use Server Browser filters:

    Turn PunkBuster = OFF

    Join a low-pop server first (easier to connect)

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