Dead by Daylight 'Connection to Host Lost' & EAC Disconnect Fix
The 'Connection to Host Lost' error occurs in Dead by Daylight when UDP heartbeat packets between your client and Behaviour's dedicated servers or EAC matchmaking servers drop due to NAT strictness, aggressive firewall rules, or DNS resolution latency.
- ▸Execute Windows TCP/IP & WinSock network reset via Command Prompt
- ▸Flush Windows DNS cache and switch to Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) / Google (8.8.8.8) DNS
- ▸Whitelist DeadByDaylight-Win64-Shipping.exe in Windows Defender Firewall
Step-by-Step Resolution Steps
Click steps to track progressFlush DNS & Reset Windows Sockets (CMD)
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and execute the network stack reset sequence to eliminate stale IP routing and DNS congestion.
ipconfig /flushdns && netsh int ip reset && netsh winsock resetSet High-Performance Gaming DNS (Cloudflare & Google)
Open Windows Network Connections (ncpa.cpl) → Right-click your Ethernet adapter → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Use the following DNS server addresses: Preferred: 1.1.1.1 | Alternate: 8.8.8.8 → Click OK.
Whitelist Dead by Daylight in Windows Firewall (PowerShell)
Open PowerShell as Administrator to create outbound/inbound firewall allowances for the Dead by Daylight client binary.
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName 'Dead by Daylight Allow' -Direction Inbound -Program 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dead by Daylight\DeadByDaylight\Binaries\Win64\DeadByDaylight-Win64-Shipping.exe' -Action AllowDid these steps resolve your error?
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Wi-Fi 6E PCI-E Gaming Adapter with External Antenna
Upgrade your desktop wireless connection to Wi-Fi 6E with low-latency OFDMA to eliminate mid-match server disconnects.
Why Does This Error Happen?
Understanding the root cause prevents recurrence during competitive matches:
- 1Corrupted TCP/IP stack or stale DNS cache preventing server ping authentication
- 2Strict NAT type or IPv6 misconfiguration dropping peer-to-dedicated-server UDP packets
- 3Windows Defender or third-party firewall blocking inbound UDP ports 27015-27030
- 4Packet loss on Wi-Fi connections during EAC heartbeat validation
Frequently Asked Questions (Connection to Host Lost / NAT Issue)
Does this fix the matchmaking ban timer after a disconnect?
Fixing the underlying network connection stops recurring disconnects, but matchmaking penalty cooldowns imposed by Behaviour servers expire automatically after a set waiting period (15 minutes to 24 hours depending on penalty tier).