Fix: Searching for Dota 2 Game Coordinator

Dota 2 game coordinator is an application within the game Dota 2 which is available on Steam’s platform. It matches your account to the game and displays your information. Without it, you cannot queue for any matches online.

There comes a problem where Dota 2 game coordinator doesn’t sync with your game and without it, you are unable to play any match. It should be noted that sometimes this problem occurs when the coordinator is updating itself or when the Steam servers are down for maintenance. If there isn’t a problem at Steam’s end, there is probably a problem with your game. Follow the steps listed below to fix the issue.

Solution 1: Practicing with bots

The issue seems to get solved if you practice with bots in the game. Launch the game and play for around 5-10 minutes. Later on Disconnect and you will see yourself connected with the Dota 2 game coordinator. Follow the steps listed below.

1. Open the Steam client and launch Dota 2.
2. There will be a problem where your Dota 2 game coordinator wouldn’t be connected with your client. On the top of the game, a red line will be visible stating “Connecting to Dota 2 Game Coordinator”. To fix this, click on Play Dota 2 present on the bottom right side of the screen.
3. After clicking Play, select the option of “Practice with bots” and check the line which says “Solo”.

4. Start your game and pick any hero of your choosing.

5. Now scout the map using your mouse and play the game for at least 5-10 minutes.

6. After playing for the required time, Disconnect from the game after pressing the menu button present on the top left side of the screen.

7. When you return to the main screen, your Dota 2 game coordinator would be connected and the issue would have been resolved.

Solution 2: Playing as Learner

The issue seems to get solved if you use the mode “learn” in the game. Launch the game and play for around 5-10 minutes. Later on Disconnect and you will see yourself connected with the Dota 2 game coordinator. Follow the steps listed below.

1. Open the Steam client and launch Dota 2.
2. There will be a problem where your Dota 2 game coordinator wouldn’t be connected with your client. On the top of the game, a red line will be visible stating “Connecting to Dota 2 Game Coordinator”.
3. Now click on the Learn tab found at the top of the game. Here you will see the button to start the learning tutorial. Start the tutorial and keep it going for 5-10 minutes.

4. Disconnect from the game and check if the game coordinator started working or not.

Solution 3: Playing in Arcade mode

The issue seems to get solved if you play the game in Arcade mode. Launch the game and play for around 5-10 minutes. Later on Disconnect and you will see yourself connected with the Dota 2 game coordinator. Follow the steps listed below.

1. Open the Steam client and launch Dota 2.
2. There will be a problem where your Dota 2 game coordinator wouldn’t be connected with your client. On the top of the game, a red line will be visible stating “Connecting to Dota 2 Game Coordinator”.
3. Now click on the Arcade tab found at the top of the game. Here you will see a number of arcade games loading. Wait for a few seconds and play any one of them. Start the game and keep it going for 5-10 minutes.

4. Disconnect from the game and check if the game coordinator started working or not.

Solution 4: Changing your Download region

One of the basic fixes includes changing the download region. Sometimes, some servers may have their matchmaking services unavailable due to some technical error or it may be going through the scheduled maintenance.

The Steam content system is divided into different regions. The client automatically detects your region through your network and sets it as default. Sometimes, servers in a specific region may be overloaded or may be going through a hardware failure. Therefore changing the download region may solve the problem in question. It is not necessary to change the download only one time, you should try changing it to a couple of different locations. Also try setting the download region to some place either in your nearby region or someplace far away.

1. Open Steam and click ‘Settings’ on the drop-down menu in the upper left corner of the window.
2. Select ‘Downloads’ and navigate to ‘Download Region’.
3. Select other regions other than your own and restart Steam.

Solution 5: Checking integrity of game files

It may be the case that your game files may be corrupted or may have some missing game files. Because of this Dota 2 Game coordinator might not be working properly. Your library files can also be in the incorrect configuration which may lead to a bugged Steam overlay.

1. Open your Steam client and click Library present on the top. Here all your installed games will be listed. Select the game in which Steam overlay fails to open.
2. Right click on the game which is giving you the error and select Properties.
3. Once in the properties, browse to the Local Files tab and click on the option which says Verify Integrity of Game Files. Steam will then start verifying all the files present according to the main manifest it has. If there is any file missing/corrupted, it will download that files again and replace it accordingly.

4. Now navigate to your Settings by pressing the Settings option after clicking Steam present in the bottom left corner of the screen. Once in the Settings, open the Downloads tab present at the left side of the interface.
5. Here you will see a box in which it is written “Steam Library Folders”. Click it

6. All your steam content information will be listed. Right-click on it and select “Repair Library Files”.

7. Restart Steam and check if the coordinator connects successfully.

Solution 6: Using –tcp in your Steam client

Steam originally uses the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) for transmission of data. We can try changing it to TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). As we all know TCP is more reliable whereas UDP is mostly faster. If we encounter an error, we can try changing protocols to see if the problem at hand gets fixed.

You always have the option to resort back to the default setting by removing the launch option/command line.

1. Navigate to your Steam directory. The default Steam directory is “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam”. If you installed Steam to another one, you can browse there.
2. Once in the main Steam folder, locate the file “Steam.exe”. Right click on it and select Create Shortcut.
3. Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties from the drop-down menu.

4. In the target dialogue box, write “-tcp” in the end. So the entire line looks like:

“C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe” –tcp

Please remember to give a space after the default line in the target dialogue box.

5. Apply the changes and close the window. Launch Steam using the shortcut and hopefully, it will run as expected.

If the Dota 2 Game Coordinator is still unable to connect, it means that the problem is at Steam’s end. Normally this kind of technical issue gets resolved within a day or two.

If you are having a problem with Steam not connecting to the internet, you follow our guide here.