How to fix “Failed to authenticate with servers” error in Content Warning

While Content Warning has received a few bug patches already, there’s still one glaring error that players are encountering. If you’re experiencing the “Failed to authenticate with servers” error in Content Warning, we’ll try to help you figure out how to fix it.

Content Warning: How to fix “Failed to authenticate with servers” error

Players like “Killawolf17” on the Content Warning subreddit have posted evidence of this error, explaining that the game will automatically shut down once you press the “Okay” button. There’s also a strange text below the error that can confuse you even more.

There doesn’t seem to be one easy solution or reasoning behind this error, which can make this issue frustrating, such as the audio voice chat bugs. If you’re encountering this “Failed to authenticate with servers” error, here are some possible solutions you can try.

Update Steam and Content Warning

Since this error seems to have to do with connecting to the online servers in Content Warning, you may have just missed a quick update or patch. Leave the game and check your downloads page on Steam to see if Content Warning has a scheduled update that hasn’t been downloaded yet.

You should also make sure to update the Steam application itself. Select the “Steam” button at the top left corner of the application, then select “Check for Steam Client Updates.” Although your game may be updated, perhaps Steam isn’t.

Run Steam as administrator

One of the developers replied to that Reddit post with some good tips on how to combat this error, one of them being running Steam as administrator. You can do this by right-clicking your Steam shortcut and selecting “Run as administrator.”

This can also be aided by making Steam an exception in your antivirus program. If you currently have an antivirus program installed on your PC, it could be blocking Steam for some reason. Make sure to check that Steam is allowed to run according to your antivirus program.

Launch through your Steam Library

Another good tip that the developer suggested on that Reddit post was to launch Content Warning through your Steam Library. Instead of launching Content Warning through the shortcut you have on your desktop, find Content Warning in your Library and select “Play.” Although this may seem like a silly workaround, it could be a solution in your case.

Verify the integrity of game files

One last possible solution to this error message is to verify the integrity of your game files. This is a function in Steam that allows it to verify whether or not your game’s files are installed correctly. Luckily, this shouldn’t affect any of your save files, so it’s safe to do at any point. Just follow these steps:

1. Right-click Content Warning in your Library
2. Select “Properties“
3. Head to “Installed Files“
4. Select “Verify integrity of game files“

Hopefully, at least one of these tips will work out for you. As a last-case scenario, you may have to uninstall and reinstall Content Warning or check your Wi-Fi connection to see if it’s a problem on your end. Otherwise, wait until the developers fix this error in a future patch. Speaking of patches, a recent update fixed audio bugs, but also added apples!