The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a First-Person Shooter (FPS) game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. It was announced earlier in 2019. The Call of Duty has diversified its fan base over Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, 5 users.
Modern Warfare is still among the best Call of Duty games ever launched, and most gamers are still addicted to this game. Meanwhile, Call of Duty also announced two more game titles, i.e., Black Ops and Vanguard, and since then, the developers have been more inclined towards them.
Since developers have to deal with other titles, it’s a little problematic to provide an update for every issue on time. The latest pacific update for Call Of Duty Modern Warfare was announced with more features to delight the gamer’s community.
After rolling out the Pacific update, Modern Warfare started getting issues with the statistical data. However, if you’re also facing issues while playing the multiplayer mode in the game, look no elsewhere. This article will enlist some troubleshooting methods to fix COD Modern Warfare Multiplayer not working for PC, PS4 & PS5, and Xbox.
Why is COD Modern Warfare Multiplayer Not Working?
Raven Software has not made any official statement about this bug, but many players have already figured out some reasons that spark this problem. Here are some of the reasons why is Multiplayer not working on COD Modern Warfare
- Corrupted cache files on launcher or gaming consoles
- ‘Missing’ Multiplayer package on the newer consoles
- Launching the game through a Cold War launcher
- Inappropriate game license
Fix COD Modern Warfare Multiplayer Not Working
Four methods can fix the multiplayer mode on the Call of Duty Modern Warfare. These fixes cover both PC and gaming consoles. So no matter whether you play Call of Duty on PC, Xbox, or Play Station, you can try them.
1. Run the Game from its Dedicated Launcher
Since Activision decided to merge Modern Warfare MultiPlayer and Cold War into one game launcher, it resulted in various problems for both the games available on the launcher. Launching the COD: Modern Warfare via the Cold War launcher generates the issue that disables the Multiplayer mode’s access.
We recommend running COD: Modern Warfare from its dedicated launcher to solve this bug instead of launching it via the Cold War launcher.
For PC users: Double click on the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare executable file to launch the game separately.
For gaming consoles: Launch the COD Modern Warfare from its dedicated list of games and not run it from the Cold War interface.
If the above method doesn’t work for you and still you cannot use the multiplayer mode, then hold on. We’ve curated more solutions to fix the multiplayer not working on Call of Duty.
2. Clear The Cache Files (PS4, PS5, Xbox & PC)
One of the core reasons Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is not working could be the corrupted cache data. You might have installed some temporary files to install Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
You’d installed Call of Duty: War Zone, which usually blocks the license system to check the ownership of the paid version Modern Warfare. The problem usually occurs due to cache issues on both PC and gaming consoles, affecting the multiplayer functionality to work correctly.
You can resolve it by clearing the cache on the game launcher on a PC or gaming console. However, the instructions may vary for different users depending on which device they’re playing the game on, whether a gaming console or a PC using Steam or Battle.Net for playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
How to Clear Cache on PS4 & PS5
Sony’s PlayStation doesn’t have a dedicated feature to wipe cache on PS4 and PS5. If you’re wondering how to clear the cache on any PlayStation, don’t worry. With the steps enlisted below, you can clear the cache on PS4 or PS5.
Step 1: Long press the power button on your PlayStation console until you hear a beep sound. Ensure that your PS4/PS5 is on while doing it.
Step 2: After doing so, the indicator light will stop blinking. It’s the moment to unplug the power cord from the back of the PS4/PS5.
Step 3: Wait until 30 seconds to let the PlayStation console drain the power capacitors. Doing this will clear all the temporary cache files.
Step 4: Now, plug the power cord back into your PS4/PS5 and restart it.
Once the reboot finishes, relaunch the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and the issue should resolve by now.
How to Clear Cache in Xbox One
If you’re someone who owns an Xbox One and looking for a solution to clear cache, follow these instructions mentioned below:-
Step 1: Turn on your Xbox One first; afterward, Long press the power button on your gaming console until the LED placed in the rear switches off.
Step 2: As soon as the Xbox One turns off, it’s time to unplug the power cable.
Step 3: Wait for around 30 seconds, and clear the cache data on your Xbox One.
Step 4: Plug the Xbox one power cord back and power it again.
After following the steps above, re-launch the Xbox One and navigate towards Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and launch and re-check if the multiplayer functionality is working fine or not.
How to Clear Cache on Xbox Series S and Series X
The hassle of clearing cache files is much easier in the newer iterations of Xbox consoles. Unlike other gaming consoles, the Xbox Series S and Series X offer a software-based approach to clearing their cache. The following steps mentioned below will help how to clear the cache:-
Step 1: Move towards the home screen of the Xbox series S/X console and press the glowing Xbox logo on the controller itself.
Step 2: Navigate towards Profile & System – Settings – All Settings.
Step 3: After launching the Settings section, head towards the Device & Connection tab and choose the Blu-ray option from the list.
Step 4: Afterwards, move towards the Persistent Storage and hit on the Clear Persistent Storage to wipe all the cache files.
Step 5: Now, reboot your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X once.
When reboot completes, launch the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and run down the Multiplayer option to see if that started working or not.
How to Clear Cache on Steam (PC)
If you’ve bought Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on Steam and you’re encountering troubleshooting while proving the ownership of the game. Thus, this method will work like a charm for both previous owners of the COD: Modern Warfare and someone who recently spent gigs for this game.
To resolve this issue, you’ll need to run the integrity verification of the game files. The integrity checks not just re-scan and replace the corrupted or damaged files but also ensure to wipe the cache and update the cache of the COD: Modern Warfare. Here are the steps mentioned below on how to run the integrity check on the Steam app:-
Step 1: Launch the Steam app and log in with your game account.
Step 2: Visit the Library from the top-down menu and navigate towards Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare, and hit right-click on it.
Step 3: After reaching the game’s properties successfully, navigate towards the Local files and hit on the ‘Verify integrity of the game files’ button.
Step 4: Hit on Yes to confirm the selection and wait for the scan to complete the ongoing process.
After following the methods mentioned above, reboot your PC once, and you’re all set to run the Multiplayer mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
How to Clear Cache on Battle.net
Suppose you are someone who had bought the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare through Battle.net launcher on your PC. You can clear corrupted cache files by following the below steps.
Step 1: Hit three buttons simultaneously on the keyboard, including Ctrl + Shift + Enter, to run the Task Manager and kill all the Blizzard programs running in the background. These blizzard programs include apps like Battle.net agent, Battle.net Update Agent, and so on).
Step 2: After killing the blizzard program, hit Win + R and type ‘%ProgramData%’ and press enter. With this, it’ll open the ProgramData folder on your PC.
Step 3: Search for Blizzard Entertainment and Battle.net folders and erase them permanently from the PC.
After completing the steps mentioned above, all you need to do is perform a reboot. Once the system is booted up, launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to check if the Multiplayer option has started working for you or not.
3. Updating the License (Works on PS4 and PS5 Only)
If you cannot run the multiplayer option in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, then there is a high possibility that there are some issues with the licensing of the game on your PlayStation 4 and 5 gaming consoles. Sony’s consoles usually struggle to keep track of the ownership records of the purchased games.
The licensing inconsistency can be the reason for the issue you’re facing while trying to launch the multiplayer option in COD: Modern Warfare. Knowing this in mind, Sony introduced a feature that enables its users to update the license file to let the parent company know that they are the actual owner of the game. To fix this problem, you’ll have to update your license by following the methods mentioned below:-
Restoring License on PlayStation 4
Step 1: Beginning from the home screen, hit on the setting section on your gaming console.
Step 2: Move towards Account Management in the settings section and then hit on the Restore License. Hit confirm on the prompt flashing above.
Step 3: Wait until the process completes; it will take 5-10 minutes to restore the license credentials.
When the process finishes, perform a reboot on your system and re-launch the multiplayer mode in COD: Modern Warfare on your PlayStation 4.
Restoring License on PlayStation 5
Step 1: Hit on the Settings available in the top-left corner of the home screen.
Step 2: Visit Users and Accounts – Other – Restore Licenses.
Step 3: Now, hit the Restore button and confirm Yes on the following prompt.
Step 4: Wait until the process completes. It might take almost 5-10 minutes. Afterward, reboot your PlayStation 5, and you’re all set to use the multiplayer mode on the COD: Modern Warfare.
4. Install Required Data Packs (Works on PS4, PS5, and Xbox)
Since various additional data packs are available, it becomes confusing for the gamers to pick which Multiplayer Data Packs will be the best companion or exactly be needed to play the Multiplayer functionality in the COD: Modern Warfare.
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a heavy and graphic intensive game, and for that, developers have distributed the game into multiple split packages. Every split package brings different functionalities to the game, which persist in the multiplayer mode.
For playing the multiplayer mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, the required multiplayer data packages must be installed alongside the game size of around 90.2GB.
After downloading and using these data packages, fix the Missing Data Pack error that most gamers usually encounter while playing the MultiPlayer mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. However, to know which are the required additional multiplayer data packs are mentioned below:-
- MULTIPLAYER PACK (6 GB)
- MULTIPLAYER SPEC OPS PACK (6.7GB)
- MULTIPLAYER/ SPEC OPS PACK (12.3GB)
- MULTIPLAYER PACK 2 (22.1GB)
If you lack all these drivers mentioned above, you’ll not be able to play the multiplayer game in the COD: Modern Warfare. , you’re unaware of how to install these data packs on any gaming consoles, follow the instructions below:-
Install Missing Data Packs on PlayStation 5
These missing data packs can either be installed from the PlayStation Store or downloaded within the game. The more convenient approach towards the installation is within the game itself. Before moving further into the process, ensure at least 90 GB of storage space is available on the PS5 console.
Step 1: Open the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on the PlayStation 5 and wait until the game properly launches.
Step 2: Hit ‘R3’ on the gamepad controller to navigate toward the Manage Install menu.
Step 3: Switch towards the MODERN WARFARE GAME PACKS tab and install the necessary multiplayer data packs mentioned above; and are required to play multiplayer mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Once the required multiplayer data pack gets downloaded, reboot your PS5 and check whether the issue is fixed for you or not.
Install Missing Multiplayer Data Packs on Xbox Series S and Series X
Step 1: Open Microsoft Store from the Home screen of the Xbox Series gaming console and search for Modern Warfare.
Step 2: In the Microsoft Store, search for the Modern Warfare game from the search results.
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom, hit on the ‘In the bundle’ section, and install the missing data packs required to run the multiplayer feature in COD: Modern Warfare.
Step 4: After all the process is done, hit reboot on your Xbox series consoles.
After rebooting your Xbox-based gaming console, it will fix the multiplayer mode in the COD: Modern Warfare.
Final Words
We sum up our solution to resolve the multiplayer mode not working issue in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with this last fix. All the methods listed above will most probably fix the bugs you’re encountering while playing Call of Duty with your friends.
A lot of gamers face such errors after the Pacific game update. Usually, this problem gets solved by updating missing data packs, but we’ve curated four ways to fix the COD: Modern Warfare.
