GeForce NOW is stuck on Connecting, and you're still waiting for your game to open. Start with service status and your connection, then work through the fixes for your app or browser. If you hear game audio behind that stuck screen, jump to the frozen-session fix below.
Check whether the service or game is down
A service outage or game maintenance stops connections on NVIDIA's side.
Open NVIDIA's service-status page.
Check active incidents for your server region and the game you're trying to play.
If NVIDIA reports a matching incident, follow its instructions or wait for resolution before retrying. Changing settings on your device won't resolve server maintenance.
If you play through a GeForce NOW Alliance partner, check the status page's Alliance Partner Services section for your region, and the provider's own support channels.
Disconnect your VPN and restore automatic server selection
If you use a VPN or selected a server region manually, check these settings next. NVIDIA recommends disconnecting the VPN and letting GeForce NOW select the server automatically.
Disconnect your VPN through its app or your operating system's VPN controls.
On Windows or macOS, open the top-left menu in GeForce NOW and go to Settings > Server Location.
On Android, open the Settings gear > GeForce NOW > Service location.
On SHIELD, open NVIDIA Games > Settings > GeForce NOW > Service Location.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Server Location.
Select Auto in your device's location setting.
Retry the game.
If you're still stuck, select another nearby region through the same setting. Available regions depend on your provider.
Give your connection a clean test
On Windows or macOS, open the top-left menu > Settings > Server Location.
Select Auto.
Choose TEST NETWORK.
On Android, run the test through the Settings gear > GeForce NOW > Test network.
On SHIELD, use NVIDIA Games > Settings > GeForce NOW > Test network.
For iPhone or iPad, test with another supported device on the same network. Neither has a built-in tester.
Review the test's warnings before changing your connection.
Connect by Ethernet, or switch to your router's 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Move closer to the router if you're staying on Wi-Fi.
Pause competing downloads, uploads, and video streams.
Restart your router using its manufacturer's restart procedure. Don't use a factory reset.
Run the network test again after reconnecting.
For persistent congestion, retest outside peak hours; for unreliable mobile data, try Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or available 5G service.
Try the browser and remove launch blockers
The supported browser client gives you another way to play and helps narrow down native-app problems.
- 1.Open NVIDIA's GeForce NOW download page and select Launch on Browser for a supported browser and device combination.
- 2.Sign in and launch your game. If it connects, focus the next checks on the native app.
- 3.For a gray launch or advertisement screen, disable extensions that block audio or video autoplay. In desktop Chrome, open More > Extensions > Manage extensions and turn off the suspected extension.
- 4.If your membership displays queue advertisements, add geforcenow.com to your ad blocker's allow list or disable the blocking extension, then retry. NVIDIA blocks play when it detects ad blocking.
Restore the picture when you can hear the game
If game audio plays behind Connecting, a loading screen, or a splash screen, the session has already started streaming. Use NVIDIA's frozen-screen workaround for this situation.
Click the game window with your mouse to restore focus.
With a controller, hold START to open the GeForce NOW overlay.
Use the overlay's virtual mouse and keyboard controls to click the game window.
For a black screen, open the overlay by holding START, pressing Ctrl+G on Windows, or pressing Command+G on macOS.
Check whether the remaining session time decreases or streaming statistics change.
Allow a few minutes for a slow-launching game.
Inspect minimized windows at the bottom left for a launcher needing attention.
If Steam Big Picture remains visible, return to Steam.
Launch the game again within the existing session.
If the picture remains frozen, reopen the overlay using your device's shortcut above.
Quit the session through the overlay.
Launch the game again. These overlay controls apply after streaming begins.
Update a desktop app that's falling behind
Use NVIDIA's manual-update route when the Windows or Mac client fails to update automatically.
- 1.Open GeForce NOW and select Settings > ABOUT to inspect the installed version.
- 2.Open NVIDIA's official download page and select Download for your device.
- 3.Install the current application, then reopen GeForce NOW.
- 4.Return to Settings > ABOUT to recheck the version, then retry your game.
Tackle Android launch and local app problems
For older Android phones, tablets, and Android TV devices stuck at the NVIDIA logo or a black screen, install the latest Android update available for the device. On Pixel, use Settings > System > Software update; other devices use their manufacturer's update controls. NVIDIA recommends updating Android for this launch-screen problem.
In Google Play Store, open Android System WebView and select Update if available. If Developer options prevents the update, turn it off temporarily and complete the update. Re-enable Developer options afterward if needed.
For an unresponsive app on a Google Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > GeForce NOW > Force stop > OK. Reopen GeForce NOW. Other Android manufacturers use different labels.
If the app still hangs, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > GeForce NOW > Storage & cache > Clear cache. This is general Android app troubleshooting, with no guarantee of resolving a GeForce NOW connection failure.
Escalate persistent connection trouble
Some routers' traffic-prioritization settings worsen GeForce NOW performance. If your home router has QoS enabled, temporarily disable it through the router's administration interface, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Retest the connection.
On a school or workplace network, ask the administrator to review GeForce NOW traffic restrictions.
Contact your ISP if the connection problem points to restrictions on its network.
If these checks fail, submit a report through the in-app exclamation icon or Send Feedback, including the game, exact stuck-screen text, device, server region, and any error code.
For direct assistance, contact NVIDIA Customer Care through CHAT NOW or Ask a Question. If an Alliance Partner provides your service, contact that provider's support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I delete the Windows CefCache folder to fix Connecting?
NVIDIA provides no official CefCache-only procedure for this connection problem. Its clean-reinstallation procedure is documented for repairing a failed update: uninstall the app, delete the full GeForce NOW application folders, then install the current version. For a failed installation, NVIDIA instead says to end running GeForce NOW processes, make sure nothing else is using the app's install folder, apply pending Windows updates and retry, then uninstall, reboot, and reinstall if needed.
Does running GeForce NOW as administrator fix it?
NVIDIA recommends administrator privileges when the desktop app cannot complete an update. Elevation is an update-repair step, with no official recommendation to use it as a general Connecting fix.
What if GeForce NOW shows error 0x8008201c?
For persistent 0x8008201c launch failures, NVIDIA recommends briefly testing with real-time antivirus protection disabled, then restoring protection. If that identifies the cause, update antivirus definitions, report the false positive, and work with the antivirus vendor to configure an exclusion.
What does clearing Android storage remove?
Clearing storage or app data permanently deletes everything the app has saved on your device, so expect to sign in and set GeForce NOW up again. On Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > GeForce NOW > Storage & cache > Clear storage. Other devices use labels such as Clear data. This is a general app-reset option, with no guarantee of fixing a GeForce NOW connection failure.