Darktide Error 5002 | Error 5002 in Warhammer 40,000

Error 5002 in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a Backend Connectivity Error. It almost always means your game client cannot complete the “handshake” with the Fatshark servers.

Most of the time (about 90% of cases), this happens because the servers are down for maintenance, not because something is wrong with your PC.

Here is the step-by-step checklist to get you back in.

1. The “Is It Just Me?” Check

Before you change any settings, confirm if the servers are actually offline.

• Check the Fatshark Forums: Look for “Maintenance” posts.

• Check Discord: The official Darktide Discord has a #status or #announcements channel that is faster than Twitter.

• Rule of Thumb: If the error happened suddenly while you were playing or right after a patch dropped, the servers are likely overloaded or down. Wait 15 minutes and try again.

2. The “Handshake” Fixes (If servers are definitely UP)

If your friends are playing but you are stuck on Error 5002, the issue is your connection routing.

• Toggle a VPN (High Success Rate):

  • Fatshark’s backend sometimes blocks specific ISP routes.

  • Fix: If you have a VPN, turn it ON (connect to a nearby country/region) and try to log in.

  • Conversely, if you normally use a VPN, turn it OFF.

• Change DNS to Google/Cloudflare:

  • Your ISP’s phonebook (DNS) might be failing to find the game server.

  • Fix: Change your PC’s DNS settings to Primary: 1.1.1.1 and Secondary: 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare) OR 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 (Google).

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3. The “Cache Clear” (For corrupted data)

Sometimes an old “session token” gets stuck in your game files, making the server think you are already logged in (or invalid).

1. Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard.

2. Type %appdata% and hit Enter.

3. Open the Fatshark folder -> Darktide.

4. Delete the console_logs folder.

5. Aggressive Option: If that fails, delete the entire Darktide folder in this location. ( Warning: This will reset your graphics/keybind settings, but not your characters).

4. The “Time Sync” Glitch

Backend authentication requires your PC’s clock to match the server’s clock exactly. If your Windows clock is off by even a minute, the handshake fails.

• Fix: Right-click your Windows clock > Adjust Date/Time > Toggle “Set time automatically” OFF and then ON again to force a resync.

Summary:

If you see this error immediately after a patch, stop troubleshooting and wait. It is server maintenance. If it has been happening for days, use the VPN method first.