Fixing the BG3 Server Shutting Down Error: A Comprehensive Guide

Experiencing the dreaded “Bg3 Server Shutting Down Error” can be incredibly frustrating when you’re eager to dive into Baldur’s Gate 3. While the error message might suggest a server-side issue, in many cases, the problem actually lies within your local system or game files. This guide will walk you through a series of troubleshooting steps to help you resolve this error and get back to your adventure in Faerûn.

It’s important to clarify that the “server shutting down error” in BG3 is often a misnomer. It rarely indicates a problem with Larian Studios’ servers, especially in single-player mode. Instead, this error message frequently pops up when there are issues with saving or loading your game, which can be triggered by various factors on your end. Let’s explore the common causes and their solutions.

Initial Checks & Basic Troubleshooting

Before diving into more technical fixes, let’s start with some quick and easy checks that can often resolve the issue.

Restart the Game and System

This might sound obvious, but restarting both Baldur’s Gate 3 and your computer is a crucial first step. A simple restart can clear temporary glitches, close conflicting processes, and refresh your system’s resources. Completely close the game, wait a few moments, and then reboot your computer. After restarting, launch BG3 again and see if the error persists.

Check Manual Saves

Automatic saves can sometimes become corrupted, leading to loading errors. Try loading a manual save instead. If you can successfully load a manual save, it might indicate an issue with a specific autosave file. In this case, try to rely more on manual saves going forward and consider deleting potentially corrupted autosaves (located in your save game folder, detailed later).

Close Non-Essential Programs

Conflicting software running in the background is a common culprit for game errors. Before launching Baldur’s Gate 3, close any unnecessary programs. This includes:

• Overlays: Programs that display in-game overlays, such as Discord, Steam Overlay, or FPS monitoring tools (MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner).
• Antivirus and Firewalls: While essential for security, these programs can sometimes mistakenly interfere with game processes.
• Graphics Tweaking Software: Applications like Reshade or custom graphics drivers can sometimes cause instability.
• Chat Programs: Voice and text chat applications like Discord, Teamspeak, or web-based chat clients.
• Web Browsers: Even minimized browsers can consume system resources and potentially cause conflicts.

By closing these programs, you free up system resources and eliminate potential software conflicts that might be triggering the “server shutting down error.”

Antivirus and Firewall Interference

Antivirus and firewall software can sometimes be overly aggressive and mistakenly block legitimate game processes, leading to save and load errors. Baldur’s Gate 3 needs to create and access files in specific folders to save and load your progress. If your antivirus is preventing this access, it can trigger errors.

Whitelist BG3 in Antivirus Software

You need to ensure that your antivirus software is not blocking Baldur’s Gate 3. This is done by “whitelisting” or adding exceptions for the game’s executable files and relevant folders in your antivirus settings. The process varies depending on your antivirus software, but here are general steps and examples for common programs:

General Whitelisting Steps:

1. Open your antivirus software’s control panel.

2. Look for settings related to “Exceptions,” “Exclusions,” “Allowed Apps,” or “Trusted Applications.”

3. Add exceptions for the following:

   • Game Executables: bg3.exe and bg3_dx11.exe (located in the ..SteamAppscommonBaldurs Gate 3bin folder if you are using Steam, or the equivalent GOG installation folder).
   • Larian Studios Folder: The entire Larian Studios folder in your local AppData directory. The easiest way to find this is to copy and paste %LocalAppData%Larian Studios into your File Explorer address bar and press Enter. Add this entire folder to your antivirus exceptions.

Examples for Specific Antivirus Programs:

• Bitdefender: Go to Protection > Advanced Threat Defense > Exceptions. Click + Add an Exception and add the game executables and Larian Studios AppData folder.
• Windows Defender: Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Virus & threat protection settings > Add or remove exclusions. Click + Add an exclusion and choose “Folder” to add the Larian Studios AppData folder, and then choose “File” to add the game executables.
• Avast/AVG: The steps vary slightly between versions, but generally, you’ll find exceptions settings under Menu > Settings > General > Exceptions or Exclusions. Add the game executables and Larian Studios AppData folder.

After adding these exceptions, restart your computer and try running Baldur’s Gate 3 again.

Check Firewall Settings

Similar to antivirus software, your firewall could also be blocking BG3’s access to the internet or local network, although this is less likely to cause save/load errors directly. However, it’s still worth checking your firewall settings to ensure that Baldur’s Gate 3 is allowed to communicate through your firewall. Ensure that both bg3.exe and bg3_dx11.exe are allowed through your firewall. You can usually find firewall settings in your operating system’s security settings (e.g., Windows Firewall).

Game File Issues

Corrupted or outdated game files can also lead to various errors, including save and load problems.

Delete LevelCache Folder

The LevelCache folder stores temporary game data that can sometimes become corrupted. Deleting its contents can resolve issues related to loading game areas or saves.

1. Close Baldur’s Gate 3 completely.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. In the address bar, paste %LocalAppData%Larian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3LevelCache and press Enter.
4. Delete all files and folders within the LevelCache folder.
5. Restart Baldur’s Gate 3.

Deleting the LevelCache folder forces the game to recreate these temporary files, potentially resolving corruption issues.

Verify Integrity of Game Files

Game platforms like Steam and GOG have built-in tools to verify the integrity of your game files. This process checks for missing or corrupted files and redownloads them if necessary.

For Steam:

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 in your game list.
3. Select Properties.
4. Go to the Local Files tab.
5. Click on the Verify integrity of game files... button.
6. Steam will verify the game files. This process may take some time.

For GOG Galaxy:

1. Open the GOG Galaxy client and go to your game library.
2. Select Baldur’s Gate 3.
3. Click on the Settings icon next to the “Play” button (top right corner).
4. Under Manage Installation, select Verify / Repair.
5. GOG Galaxy will verify and repair the game files if necessary.

After verifying the game files, restart BG3 and check if the error is resolved.

Launcher and Cloud Sync Issues

The game launcher and cloud save synchronization features can sometimes contribute to save and load errors.

Run Game Directly from Executable

Sometimes, launching the game directly from its executable file, bypassing the Steam or GOG launcher, can resolve launcher-related issues.

1. Close the Steam or GOG Galaxy client completely.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to your Baldur’s Gate 3 installation folder.
   • Steam: ..SteamAppscommonBaldurs Gate 3bin
   • GOG: (Your GOG installation directory)Baldur’s Gate 3bin
3. Locate bg3.exe (for Vulkan) or bg3_dx11.exe (for DirectX 11).
4. Right-click on the executable file and select Run as administrator.

Try launching the game this way and see if the save/load error persists.

Disable Steam Cloud Sync

Steam Cloud (or GOG Cloud) automatically synchronizes your game saves to the cloud, allowing you to access them on different computers. However, cloud sync can sometimes cause conflicts or errors, especially if there are issues with your internet connection or Steam Cloud itself. Disabling cloud sync can sometimes resolve save-related problems.

To disable Steam Cloud globally:

1. Open the Steam client.
2. Click on Steam in the top left corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Cloud tab.
4. Uncheck the Enable Steam Cloud synchronization for applications which support it box.

To disable Steam Cloud for only Baldur’s Gate 3:

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 in your game list.
3. Select Properties.
4. Go to the General tab.
5. Under the Steam Cloud section, uncheck the Keep games saves in the Steam Cloud for Baldur's Gate 3 box.

After disabling Steam Cloud, restart the game and see if the error is gone. If this resolves the issue, you might want to investigate your internet connection or Steam Cloud status if you rely on cloud saves.

Profile and Save Data Problems

Problems with your game profile or save data folders can also lead to save and load errors.

Rename Baldur’s Gate 3 AppData Folder

Your game profile, settings, and local saves are stored in the Baldur's Gate 3 folder within your AppData directory. Renaming this folder forces the game to create a new, clean profile folder on startup, which can resolve issues caused by corrupted profile data.

1. Close Baldur’s Gate 3 completely.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. In the address bar, paste %LocalAppData%Larian Studios and press Enter.
4. Locate the Baldur's Gate 3 folder.
5. Rename it to something like Baldur's Gate 3_Backup.
6. Restart Baldur’s Gate 3.

When you launch the game, it will create a new Baldur's Gate 3 folder. Test if you can start a new game and save/load properly. If this fixes the issue, you can try copying your old saves from the Baldur's Gate 3_Backup folder into the new save folder (located in ..PlayerProfilesPublicSavegamesStory within the new Baldur's Gate 3 folder). Copy saves in small batches to identify if a specific save file is corrupted.

Rename Baldur’s Gate 3 Documents Folder (Older Saves)

If you played Baldur’s Gate 3 in earlier patches (especially Patch 6 or earlier), older save profiles might be located in the DocumentsLarian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3 folder. These older profiles can sometimes conflict with newer game versions. Renaming this folder can prevent potential conflicts.

1. Close Baldur’s Gate 3 completely.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. Navigate to your Documents folder.
4. Open the Larian Studios folder.
5. Locate the Baldur's Gate 3 folder.
6. Rename it to something like Baldur's Gate 3_Documents_Backup.
7. Restart Baldur’s Gate 3.

This step is mainly relevant if you are upgrading from a very old version of the game and suspect compatibility issues with older save data.

Advanced Troubleshooting

If the basic and intermediate steps haven’t resolved the “server shutting down error,” you can try these more advanced troubleshooting techniques.

Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps to isolate if a background program or service is causing the conflict with Baldur’s Gate 3.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows:

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter to open System Configuration.
2. In the General tab, select Selective startup.
3. Uncheck Load startup items. Ensure Load system services and Use original boot configuration are checked.
4. Go to the Services tab.
5. Check Hide all Microsoft services.
6. Click Disable all. (Make a note of currently enabled services if needed to restore later).
7. Click Apply and then OK.
8. Restart your computer.

After the clean boot, launch Baldur’s Gate 3 and check if the error persists. If the error is resolved in clean boot, it indicates a background program or service was the cause. You can then re-enable services and startup items in Msconfig one by one or in groups to identify the culprit. Remember to revert to normal boot configuration after troubleshooting.

Create a New Windows User Account

Creating a new Windows administrator user account can help determine if the problem is related to your user profile settings or permissions. A new user account starts with default settings and a clean user profile.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Click Add someone else to this PC.
3. Follow the prompts to create a new user account. Make sure to select “Administrator” as the account type.
4. Log out of your current account and log in to the new user account.
5. Launch Baldur’s Gate 3 from the new user account.

If the game runs without errors in the new user account, it suggests that the problem is related to your original user profile. You can then investigate user-specific settings or permissions issues in your original profile, or consider migrating your important data to the new user account.

Contact Support (If Nothing Works)

If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps outlined above and are still encountering the “BG3 server shutting down error,” it’s time to contact Larian Studios Support for further assistance.

When contacting support, provide them with the following information to help them diagnose the issue effectively:

• Detailed description of the error: Specifically, the “BG3 server shutting down error” message.
• When the error occurs: Is it when starting the game, loading a save, during gameplay, or at specific locations?
• Troubleshooting steps you have already tried: Mention all the steps from this guide that you have attempted.
• Your system specifications: CPU, GPU, RAM, operating system, and storage device.
• Your latest save game file: If the error is related to loading saves, provide your latest save file and, if possible, an older save that loads correctly. You can find your save files in the ..AppDataLocalLarian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3PlayerProfilesPublicSavegamesStory folder. Zip the save folder and provide it to support through a file-sharing service like Dropbox or Google Drive.

By providing detailed information, you will help the support team understand your issue and provide more targeted assistance to resolve the “BG3 server shutting down error” and get you back to playing Baldur’s Gate 3.