Big Walk Can't Host or Join Any Game: Sync Your Clock

If Big Walk cannot host or join any online game, check the device's date, time, and time zone first. The official Big Walk FAQ says a system clock that differs significantly from the correct online time can prevent both hosting and joining. Enable automatic time, sync the clock, fully restart Big Walk, and try again.

This page is for the specific case where every lobby fails or the host menu stays on Connecting.... If only one friend's session fails while other games work, use the connection error guide instead. Last checked: August 9, 2026.

Quick fix for Big Walk hosting and joining

Close Big Walk completely before changing the clock. Open the device's date-and-time settings, enable automatic date and time, confirm the correct time zone, and use the system's sync option when one is available. Then reopen the game and try to create a host session.

Wait for the host menu to display a Join Code. Start the world and let the host character finish loading before another player tries to connect. If the menu never moves past Connecting..., compare the displayed clock with a reliable online clock and confirm that the device is actually applying the automatic setting.

Do not manually guess the time. A clock can look close while still being far enough out of sync to interfere with online authentication. Automatic synchronization is safer and easier to reverse than changing firewall rules, router ports, or security software.

How to sync the system clock

On Windows, open Settings > Time & language > Date & time. Turn on automatic time and automatic time zone where available, then choose Sync now. Close and reopen Big Walk after the sync completes.

On macOS, open System Settings > General > Date & Time. Turn on automatic date and time and confirm the correct time zone. Restart Big Walk before testing the host menu again.

On PS5 or Nintendo Switch 2, open the console's date-and-time settings and use the internet or automatic clock option. Menu wording can change with system updates, so follow the current console labels. Do not change the date to another day as a workaround.

Confirm that this is the right problem

A clock-related failure usually affects both directions: the player cannot host a usable session and also cannot join other sessions. The Join Code area may remain on Connecting..., or every attempt may end with a connection error even though other online games work.

If the player can host normally but one friend cannot enter, the cause is more likely the host state, a version mismatch, an old Join Code, or a guest-specific problem. Compare the first two Big Walk version numbers and use the can't join friends guide.

If the group enters the world but characters move erratically or voices drop out, the session has connected. That symptom points to bandwidth, host performance, or local FPS rather than the clock. Use the low FPS guide when the local camera is choppy.

Retry the official connection checks

After the clock is synchronized, confirm that the host has a working internet connection and no connection warning in the lower-left corner. Fully close and reopen Big Walk instead of returning only to the title screen.

The host should load into the intended world before guests connect. Every player should compare the version number at the bottom of the main menu; the first two numbers must match. Use a new Join Code after restarting the host session.

If hosting still fails, test once from a different network only when that is easy and safe, such as a trusted home connection. Do not disable the firewall, delete antivirus rules, or pay for a VPN as the first response. Those actions are not part of the official Big Walk checklist.

When the clock fix does not work

Record the device, platform, Big Walk version, exact error text, and whether the Join Code area stays on Connecting.... Note whether the device can host, join, neither, or both. Those details separate a total online-login failure from a problem with one host.

Send the report to the official support address listed in the Big Walk FAQ. Include the result of the automatic clock sync and full restart so support does not need to ask you to repeat the first check.

Keep the test focused. Try one host attempt and one join attempt after synchronization, rather than repeatedly entering expired codes. A short record of those two results gives support clearer evidence than many retries made under changing conditions.

Players have reported that Windows clock synchronization restored their ability to connect, but one report does not make it a guaranteed fix for every network problem. The reason this step comes first is that the developer now lists the system clock as an official cause of total host-and-join failure.

Big Walk hosting FAQ

Why does the host menu say Connecting instead of showing a Join Code?

First synchronize the device's date, time, and time zone, then fully restart Big Walk. The official FAQ says an inaccurate system clock can prevent hosting and joining.

Why can I join some games but not one friend's session?

That pattern is probably not the total host-and-join problem covered here. Confirm that the host is loaded into the world, compare the first two version numbers, and use a current Join Code.

Should I reinstall Big Walk?

Not first. Synchronize the clock, restart the game, confirm the internet connection, host state, and compatible versions before considering a reinstall. Reinstalling does not correct an inaccurate device clock.

Does changing the host transfer the save?

No. The original host owns the saved world progress. A different player can create a test world to diagnose the connection, but that does not transfer the group's existing save.

Sources

• Official Big Walk FAQ
• Reddit player report: Windows clock synchronization fixed connection errors

Big Walk Help is an unofficial fan help site and is not affiliated with House House or Panic.