How to Fix “Unexpected Disconnection Occurred” in Path of Exile 2?

When the error “Unexpected Disconnection Occurred” appears in Path of Exile 2, it means the game client has abruptly lost its connection to the realm server. One of the most frequently reported client-side causes is misconfigured or unreliable DNS settings, although server-side congestion—especially during peak hours or post-patch rollouts—is also a major factor. Other contributing causes include corrupted game files, unstable graphics configurations, or overloaded system resources during gameplay.

If you’re on Wi-Fi, consider switching to a wired connection, as wireless networks are more prone to latency spikes and packet loss that may desynchronize the client.

Before You Begin: Check Server Status and Select a Different Gateway

Before making any changes to your system, first rule out server-side issues from Grinding Gear Games (GGG), especially if the error started after a patch or during peak hours. Server instability, maintenance, or regional congestion can lead to unexpected disconnections even if your system is working correctly.

• Visit the Path of Exile Down Detector page to confirm that all realms and gateways are online.
• Check @pathofexile on Twitter for any recent announcements about downtime or server maintenance.
• At the game’s login screen, manually select a different gateway (e.g., switch from “Amsterdam” to “London” or “Frankfurt”) to avoid overloaded regions.
• If a specific gateway always triggers disconnections, avoid it until stability returns.

If the servers are stable and the issue continues across multiple gateways, proceed with the following client-side fixes.

1. Disable Discord Hardware Acceleration (if applicable)

Hardware acceleration in Discord uses your GPU to improve visual performance. However, on lower-end systems or when playing GPU-intensive games like Path of Exile 2, this feature can create resource conflicts. These conflicts may interfere with the game’s rendering pipeline or network stability, especially if overlays are enabled.

Disabling hardware acceleration can free up GPU and system resources, leading to a more stable connection and smoother gameplay. It also disables Discord’s overlay, which is known to occasionally cause issues in games that use DirectX or Vulkan-based engines like Path of Exile.

1. Open Discord.
2. Click on the User Settings (⚙️ gear icon) in the bottom-left corner.
   
3. In the left sidebar, scroll down and click Advanced.
4. Find the setting labeled Hardware Acceleration and toggle it Off
   
5. Click Okay & Restart when prompted to restart Discord.
6. Relaunch Discord and then start Path of Exile 2 to check if the issue persists.

2. Disable IPv6 Temporarily

In some cases, Path of Exile 2 may experience connection instability if your system is using IPv6, especially on ISPs with poor IPv6 support or tunneling. Disabling IPv6 forces the system to use IPv4, which is generally more stable with PoE’s networking.

1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and click OK.
   
2. Right-click your active network adapter and select Properties.
   
3. Scroll down and uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
   
4. Click OK and restart your computer.

If the issue doesn’t resolve, please make sure to re-enable the IPv6 option by following the same steps.

3. Change DNS Settings to Google DNS

Before changing your DNS servers, it’s recommended to flush your local DNS cache. This clears outdated or corrupted DNS entries and ensures the new settings apply cleanly.

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   ipconfig /flushdns

3. Close the Command Prompt window and proceed with the steps below to change your DNS settings.

DNS (Domain Name System) works like the internet’s phonebook—it translates domain names like ‘login.pathofexile.com’ into IP addresses that your system uses to connect to websites or game servers. If you’re using your ISP’s default DNS server, it might not always provide the fastest or most reliable connection, which can lead to connection issues in games.

To improve stability, you can manually switch to a trusted DNS provider like Google DNS, which is known for being fast, reliable, and more consistent—especially useful for gaming and online services.

1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and click OK.
   
2. Right-click on your internet connection and select Properties.
   
3. Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then select Properties.
   
4. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the following:

   Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
   Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

5. Click OK to save the changes.
   
6. Restart your computer and launch the game to see if the issue persists.

4. Reduce In-Game Graphics Settings

If you’re able to access the game, try lowering the graphics settings. This reduces system load and helps avoid GPU or memory-related bottlenecks that can cause the disconnection to the game server.

High graphics settings can strain your system resources, potentially leading to stutters, freezes, or crashes. In some cases, this may interrupt the connection to the game server if the client becomes unresponsive.

Use the following graphics settings as a baseline to reduce GPU load and improve stability. These values are optimized for minimizing disconnection risks on mid-to-high-end systems:

• Renderer: DirectX12 (Default)
• Display: Your dedicated GPU (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti)
• Mode: Fullscreen
• VSync: Off
• Dynamic Resolution: Disabled (slider far left)
• Window Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (use 1920×1080 for weaker systems)
• Upscale Mode: NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR (if supported)
• Image Quality: Quality (or Balanced)
• Sharpness: 45%
• HDR: Off
• Scene Brightness: +0.6
• UI Brightness: +0.5
• Texture Quality: High (Lower to Medium if on older GPU)

Example low-impact graphics settings for Path of Exile 2 (optimized for stability)

5. Reinstall the Game

Before going for a full reinstall, first try verifying the game files. On Steam, right-click Path of Exile 2 → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. If verification doesn’t resolve the issue, a full reinstall may be necessary.

Reinstalling the game can often resolve the “Unexpected Disconnection Occurred” error, especially when the issue is caused by corrupted files, cached data, or misconfigured settings. These problems can interfere with the game’s ability to establish a stable server connection. A clean reinstall removes all existing game data, ensuring a fresh setup that allows the game to connect properly without legacy issues.

1. Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and click OK.
   
2. Find Path of Exile 2 in the list, right-click on it, and select Uninstall.
   
3. Once uninstalled, restart your computer.
4. Open Steam or your game client and download the latest version of the game.
5. Launch the game and check if the issue persists.

6. Reset the Network Settings

If none of the previous solutions worked, the issue might be rooted in your system’s network configuration. You can try resetting the network settings, which will clear DNS, proxy settings, and adapter configurations that may be interfering with your connection. This process restores all network-related settings to their default state.

Warning: A network reset will remove all saved Wi-Fi networks, VPN profiles, and any manually configured IP settings. Be sure to back up any important network information before proceeding.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click Network & Internet and select Advanced network settings.
   
3. Click Network reset.
   
4. Click the Reset now button.
   
5. Once finished, restart your computer and launch the game. This hopefully resolved the error.

Still Getting Disconnected?

If none of the above solutions resolve the “Unexpected Disconnection Occurred” error, the issue may be related to your ISP’s routing or deeper network instability between your system and the game’s servers. In such cases, you should gather a WinMTR trace while the disconnections are happening and open a support ticket through the official Path of Exile support page.

Be sure to include your selected gateway, your IP address (if comfortable), and attach the trace results. This will allow the Grinding Gear Games network team to analyze your connection path and determine if there’s a problem with routing, packet loss, or latency outside your system that requires escalation or ISP follow-up.