Black Ops 3 Not Able to join Friends: Released in 2015, Call of Duty: Black Ops III has established itself as a leading title in the first-person shooter genre, developed by Treyarch and published by Activision.
As the twelfth installment in the Call of Duty series and a direct sequel to 2012’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the game has garnered significant popularity among gamers. However, it is not without its challenges, as many players have reported issues that detract from their gaming experience.
A notable concern is the inability to join friends in online parties. Players frequently encounter the error message “Failed to Join Party. Unable to join party. (3)” when attempting to connect.
This problem has been observed across multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, effectively hindering access to the multiplayer features of the game. The root causes of this issue could range from conflicts within the game lobby to unstable internet connections, temporary network glitches, or even problems related to game account logins.
Fix: Black Ops 3 Not Able to join Friends
As we’re now aware of the possible reasons, it’s time to jump into the troubleshooting methods below. You should follow all methods one by one until the problem gets fixed.
1. Reboot the PC or Console
To begin with, it’s advisable to manually restart your PC or console to eliminate any potential temporary system glitches. On your device, navigate to the home screen and access the Power menu, where you can select the Restart option. For console users, simply press and hold the Power button to initiate a reboot.
2. Check the Internet Connection
It’s important to verify your internet connection to rule out any potential issues related to network instability or latency. A weak or unreliable connection can significantly hinder your experience in online multiplayer games and crossplay modes.
If you’re currently using Wi-Fi, consider testing a wired connection, or if you’re wired, try switching to Wi-Fi to see if that resolves the issue. Additionally, restarting your Wi-Fi router can help refresh the network and improve connectivity.
3. Power Cycle the Wi-Fi Router
To ensure a stable connection and prevent temporary glitches with your Wi-Fi router, it’s advisable to perform a power cycle. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Begin by turning off your Wi-Fi router.
- 2. Next, disconnect the power adapter from both the router and the electrical outlet.
- 3. Wait for a few moments to allow the device to reset.
- 4. Reconnect the power cable to the router and the power source.
- 5. Finally, turn the router back on and check to see if the connectivity issue has been resolved.
Following these steps can help restore optimal performance to your network.
4. Check the Activision Online Services Status
It is advisable to verify the status of Activision’s online services to confirm that there are no problems with the game servers.
Should you encounter any disruptions or if the servers are entirely offline, it is recommended to wait for a few hours before attempting to reconnect.
As of the time this article was composed, the online services for Black Ops III are functioning normally and performing well.
5. Check for Black Ops 3 Updates
An outdated version of a game can often lead to issues when trying to connect to servers or join friends in crossplay. To ensure your game is up to date, follow the instructions specific to your platform.
**For Battle.net (PC):
- 1. Launch the Battle.net desktop application on your computer.
- 2. Select the game “Call of Duty: Black Ops III.”
- 3. Click on the settings icon (represented by a cogwheel) next to the Play button.
- 4. Choose the option to Check for Updates and allow the process to finish.
- 5. If an update is found, be sure to download and install it.
**For Steam (PC):
- 1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate and select “Call of Duty: Black Ops III” from the list on the left.
- 3. Steam will automatically check for any available updates.
- 4. If an update is available, click the Update button.
- 5. Allow the update process to complete, and consider restarting your PC to implement the changes.
**For PlayStation:
- 1. Turn on your PS4 or PS5 and access the Home screen.
- 2. Navigate to the main menu at the top.
- 3. Go to the Games tab and find “Call of Duty: Black Ops III.”
- 4. Highlight the game and press the Options button on your controller.
- 5. From the drop-down menu, select Check for Update.
**For Xbox:
- 1. Power on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S console.
- 2. Press the Xbox button on your controller to bring up the menu.
- 3. Scroll to the right and select Settings.
- 4. Navigate to Updates & downloads.
- 5. On the following screen, ensure that both options—Keep my console up to date and Keep my games & apps up to date—are checked.
By keeping your game updated, you can enhance your gaming experience and avoid connectivity issues.
6. Repair the Game Files
Corrupted or missing game files on your computer often go undetected until you attempt to launch the game, at which point you might experience crashes or issues, particularly in multiplayer mode. To resolve these problems, you can easily verify and repair your installed game files. Follow the instructions below for both Battle.net and Steam to ensure your game runs smoothly.
**For Battle.net:
- 1. Open the Battle.net application on your computer.
- 2. Navigate to the Library and select COD Black Ops 3.
- 3. Click on the Options menu, then choose Scan and Repair.
- 4. Select Start Scan and wait for the process to finish.
- 5. Once completed, restart the Battle.net client to apply the changes and ensure optimal performance.
**For Steam:
- 1. Launch the Steam client and go to your Library.
- 2. Right-click on COD Black Ops 3 from your list of installed games.
- 3. Select Properties, then navigate to the Local Files tab.
- 4. Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files and wait for the verification process to complete.
- 5. After it’s done, restart your computer to finalize any adjustments.
By following these steps, you can effectively address issues related to corrupted or missing game files.
8. Try Disabling Crossplay
To address the ‘Failed Fetching Crossplay Friends List’ error in Call of Duty Black Ops III, a helpful troubleshooting step is to toggle the crossplay feature off and then back on. Here’s how to do that across different platforms:
**For PlayStation Users:
- 1. Start the Black Ops III game on your PS4 or PS5.
- 2. Press the Options button on your controller.
- 3. Navigate to the Settings menu and scroll down to Account and Network.
- 4. Disable the Crossplay feature.
- 5. Wait a moment, then re-enable the Crossplay option.
**For Xbox Users:
- 1. Power on your Xbox console and go to General Settings.
- 2. Select Online Safety and Family.
- 3. Proceed to Privacy and Online Safety, then choose Xbox Privacy.
- 4. Click on View Details and Customize.
- 5. Find Communication and Multiplayer settings.
- 6. Locate Cross-network play and turn it off. Wait for about a minute before turning it back on.
- 7. Restart the game and check if the issue persists.
**For PC Users:
- 1. Launch Call of Duty Black Ops III and click on the Settings menu located in the top-right corner.
- 2. Select the Account & Network tab and navigate to Activision Account.
- 3. Disable the Crossplay toggle.
By following these steps, you can potentially resolve issues related to the crossplay friends list.
9. Delete the Friend from the list and Retry
To resolve crossplay issues in Call of Duty: Black Ops III, consider removing the problematic friend from your friend list and then re-inviting or joining them. This approach may effectively address the problem.
- 1. Launch Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
- 2. Navigate to the Social menu within your account.
- 3. Identify the friends experiencing crossplay difficulties.
- 4. Select their profile and choose the option to delete them from your list.
- 5. After deletion, re-add them using their Activision account IDs.
- 6. Restart the game and verify whether the issue persists.
Additionally, you can test the functionality of your crossplay friends list by sending a friend request to a player on a different platform. Here’s how to do that:
- 1. Open Black Ops III and access the social menu.
- 2. Select the “Add Friend” option and enter the player’s username or gamertag to send a request.
- 3. This action will attempt to establish a connection with the crossplay servers and refresh your friends list.
If the connection is successful, the “Failed Fetching Crossplay Friends List” error should no longer appear. After completing these steps, it is advisable to restart the game to ensure all changes take effect immediately.
10. Try Creating a Party in Warzone
If you are having trouble reconnecting with your friends in Call of Duty: Black Ops III even after re-adding them, don’t despair.
Some users have suggested that creating a party in Call of Duty: Warzone before switching back to Black Ops III could help resolve the issue. It may be worth trying this approach to see if it allows you to successfully form a party.
11. Adjust Party Settings in COD Black Ops III
Finally, if you’ve tried all the previous methods without success, it’s important to verify your party settings in Call of Duty: Black Ops III. Ensuring that these settings are configured correctly can make a significant difference. Start by adjusting the party size to include a maximum of 18 friends. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Launch Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
- 2. Navigate to the Social menu.
- 3. Select Manage Party and set the party size limit to 18 friends or fewer.
- 4. Additionally, check that your party is set to either open or friends-only.
That wraps up our guide! We hope you found this information useful. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
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