Fix: Ubisoft Connect Error Dolphin-028 (Login Loop)

The “Dolphin-028” error in Ubisoft Connect prevents users from moving past the login screen, displaying a persistent “Restart” message in a continuous loop. The exact message reads:

“There was an error during your login to Ubisoft Connect. Please restart your client and try again. (Error dolphin-028)”

This issue typically occurs when the launcher cannot establish a stable connection with Ubisoft’s servers. In most confirmed cases, it’s caused by a server-side outage or maintenance, often acknowledged on Ubisoft Support pages.

However, local network misconfigurations can also be responsible. These include DNS issues (DNS is like the internet’s phonebook that turns website names into numeric server addresses), high MTU values, VPN interference, or traffic-filtering tools like GoodbyeDPI, which can disrupt the TLS handshake—the secure, encrypted greeting Ubisoft needs before it lets you log in.

This error affects all Ubisoft Connect games—including single-player titles—by blocking the authentication process. Until it’s resolved, you won’t be able to launch or play any games through the launcher.

1. Run Ubisoft Connect as Administrator

Running the launcher with administrator privileges ensures it has unrestricted access to network settings, system files, and firewall exceptions. Without these permissions, background processes necessary for connection may be blocked.

To do this: Right-click the Ubisoft Connect shortcut and select “Run as administrator.” To make this permanent, go to Properties > Compatibility and enable “Run this program as an administrator.”

Now launch Ubisoft Connect and confirm whether the login loop has stopped.

2. Reset Your Ubisoft Password and Refresh the Login Token

Resetting your Ubisoft password can resolve the Dolphin-028 error if the authentication session has expired or your account was temporarily frozen due to multiple failed login attempts. This action refreshes your login session and may restore access.

1. Go to the Ubisoft official website.
2. Log in to your Ubisoft account.
   
3. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Account Management.
   
4. Navigate to the Security tab.
   
5. Click Change under the Password section.
   

Note: You’ll receive a password reset link at your registered email address.

After resetting your password, enable two-factor authentication (2FA):

1. Return to the Security tab and click Activate under 2-Step Verification.
   
2. Select the email address where you want to receive verification codes.
3. Enter the received code and click Submit.

Important: Sign out of Ubisoft Connect on any other PCs first, then save your recovery codes in case you lose access to your chosen email address.

Sign back into Ubisoft Connect on this PC to see whether Dolphin-028 has cleared.

3. Sync Your System Clock and Change to a Reliable Time Server

Ubisoft Connect uses time-sensitive security tokens for secure login. These tokens automatically expire after a short period to protect against unauthorized access.

If your system clock is not in sync with the server, even by a few seconds, the token may become invalid and cause the Dolphin-028 error.

1. Right-click the clock in the taskbar and click Adjust date and time.
   
2. Click Sync now to resynchronize your clock with Windows’ time server.
   
3. Restart Ubisoft Connect and attempt to log in again.

If this doesn’t work, your default time server may be unstable. Switch to NIST’s server for better accuracy:

1. Open Control Panel > Clock and Region > Date and Time.
2. Go to the Internet Time tab and click Change settings.
   
3. Enter time.nist.gov as the server and click Update now.
   
4. Click OK and try logging in again.

4. Use a Mobile Hotspot to Bypass Local Network Blocks

Connecting through a mobile hotspot can help bypass router or ISP-level restrictions that interfere with Ubisoft Connect. It creates a clean connection path using a different network, which can confirm whether the issue is with your existing Wi-Fi setup.

1. Connect your phone to the PC via USB and enable Mobile Data.
2. Go to Settings on your phone and search for Mobile Hotspot.
3. Enable USB Tethering or Ethernet Tethering.
   
4. Your PC should detect the mobile data as a new network.
   

If Ubisoft Connect logs in successfully, your main network is likely causing the problem. Reconnect to Wi-Fi and try the following:

• Restart your router to refresh routing and clear cache.
• Temporarily disable VPNs or proxies before launching Ubisoft Connect.

Reconnect to your normal Wi-Fi, open Ubisoft Connect, and see if the login succeeds.

5. Switch to a Public DNS Server (Google or Cloudflare)

If your current DNS server is misconfigured or experiencing delays, switching to a public DNS like Google or Cloudflare can fix the error by improving name resolution and connection stability.

1. 1. Right-click the Internet icon in the taskbar and select Open Network & Internet settings.
   2. Click on Ethernet or Wi-Fi (depending on your connection).
      

1. Under Related Settings, select Change adapter options.
   
2. Right-click your active connection, go to Properties, select IPv4, and click Properties again.
   
3. Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:

   Preferred: 8.8.8.8
   Alternate: 8.8.4.4

   

Open an elevated Command Prompt, run ipconfig /flushdns (press Enter) or simply reconnect to Wi-Fi. Then launch Ubisoft Connect to check if the error persists.

6. Set Your Network MTU to 1430 for Stable Packets

The Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is simply the largest chunk of data your PC is allowed to send at once without being split up. If the MTU is too high, it can cause packet fragmentation, which disrupts secure communication between your PC and Ubisoft’s servers.

Ubisoft Connect requires a clean and stable packet transfer to complete the authentication process. Setting the MTU to 1430 ensures that your data packets pass through your router and ISP without fragmentation, improving connection reliability.

1. Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run the following command to view current MTU settings:

   netsh interface ipv4 show subinterfaces

   Press Enter after typing the command.

3. Find your active network adapter name (e.g., “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet”).
4. Type the following command (replace YOUR_INTERFACE_NAME with your actual adapter name):

   netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface "YOUR_INTERFACE_NAME" mtu=1430 store=persistent

5. Restart Ubisoft Connect and try logging in again.

Disconnect and reconnect to your network (or restart your PC) so the new MTU takes effect, then open Ubisoft Connect to test the login.

netsh interface ipv4 show subinterfaces   
netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface "YOUR_INTERFACE_NAME" mtu=1500 store=persistent

7. Renew Your Local IP Address and Clear the Launcher Cache

If Ubisoft’s servers have temporarily blocked your current IP due to repeated failed login attempts or suspicious activity, renewing your IP address can help reset the connection and fix the Dolphin-028 error.

This method clears existing network configurations and assigns a new IP address from your router, often resolving connectivity conflicts.

1. Clear the cache folder located at:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher\cache

2. Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
3. Type the following command to release your current IP:

   ipconfig /release

   

4. Once the release is complete, type:

   ipconfig /renew

   Note: This action temporarily disconnects you from the internet while Windows requests a new IP address. Ensure no critical downloads, online games, or video calls are running before you proceed.

5. After the process finishes, launch Ubisoft Connect and attempt to log in.