[[TOC]]

= Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) =
'''(Last updated: Fall '21)'''
== '''Troubleshooting''' ==
      {{{#!div class="important" style="background: #ffd"
  **NOTE:** If the problem remains ask for help either on the [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/forum/145-help-amp-feedback/ forum] or via IRC [https://wildfiregames.com/irc.html #0ad], the game is maintained by volunteers who do all sorts of tasks, be patient.
      }}}

=== General ===
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Issue
    }}}
    {{{#!th style="border: none"
possible Solution
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
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>Crash when starting the game
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Do you have any antivirus software running? Try disabling it or add an exception for 0AD.
    }}}
  }}}
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    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>Crash when starting a match
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Try to disable `Post-processing` in the game options, while leaving `Prefer GLSL` on.
    }}}
  }}}
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>Game does not render correctly/[[BR]]Rainbow colors
    }}}
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See this forum thread [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/36656-game-does-not-render-correctly/ Game does not render correctly] (22/Feb/21).
    }}}
  }}}
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>No replay files are generated
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Do you have any antivirus software running? Try disabling it temporarily or add an exception for 0AD.
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>Errors are displayed/[[BR]]Game crashes on startup
    }}}
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(1) Try to disable all mods not compatible with the new version via the `Mod Selection` page.[[BR]](2) If you cannot access the `Mod Selection` page, you should locate your `user.cfg` file (see [https://trac.wildfiregames.com/wiki/GameDataPaths wiki/GameDataPaths]) and either delete it or search for `mod.enabledmods`. Replace this line with `mod.enabledmods = "mod public"`.[[BR]][[Image(FAQ:enablemods_user_cfg.jpg,center,500)]]
    }}}
  }}}
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>How do I increase or decrease the user interface? 
    }}}
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Add `gui.scale = "1.2"` to your `user.cfg` file (see [https://trac.wildfiregames.com/wiki/GameDataPaths wiki/GameDataPaths]), you can increase or decrease this number if you like, this will likely become an option with A26.[[BR]][[Image(FAQ:user_cfg.jpg,center,500)]] 
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
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>Where do I find my replays, save files and configuration files (e.g `user.cfg`)?
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
See [https://trac.wildfiregames.com/wiki/GameDataPaths wiki/GameDataPaths]
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
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>Game is lagging
    }}}
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Yes, this is a common problem with the game. It will lag on most machines it is actually CPU bound, not your GPU. Try playing on smaller maps and limit the population to 600-800 units on the entire map.[[BR]]Rendering, simulation (e.g. gathering / attacking) and pathfinder all contribute to the lag.  If you have more units, more things need to be drawn which affects rendering, more things to calculate for unit activity affects simulation, larger map sizes cause longer paths which affects the pathfinder.
      {{{#!div class="important" style="background: #ffd"
  **NOTE:** Multiplayer games are calculated on all computers simultaneously, with the slowest PC determining the game speed. If your computer is a bit outdated, you should reduce the graphics settings to a minimum. This might make the game faster for everyone.
      }}}
[https://trac.wildfiregames.com/wiki/GamePerformance Wiki/GamePerformance] summarizes the problems, that need to be solved, to improve performance.
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
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>Frame rate - CPU and GPU workload
    }}}
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(1) Every frame that is calculated by the GPU is "prepared" by the CPU, one of them will limit your frame rate (FPS). When you select graphics effects, you create additional workloads for your GPU and CPU, causing your framerate to drop. Current PCs are mostly CPU limited in 0 A.D. because the game is not yet multi-threaded. That means they usually only use 1 core. Since graphics effects mostly affect the GPU, you can (on newer PCs) choose the higher graphics effects without sacrificing performance. [[BR]](2) Heating up the hardware leads to thermal throttling of the hardware. This effect is especially known for mobile PCs. If the hardware gets too hot, it throttles its performance until the hardware cools down again. Therefore, a limited but constant frame rate is usually better than a frame rate that fluctuates due to thermal throttling. [[BR]](3) VSync will also limit the framerate to the framerate of the monitor (I estimate 60 frames/Herz).[[BR]]See forum thread - [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/34409-recomandet-fps-throttling/?do=findComment&comment=417420 Recommended FPS Throttling?] (16/Dec/20)
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
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>When hosting a game, the PC/laptop can barely cope with the required technical prerequisites, leading to game lag.
    }}}
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A way to ease the load on the PC/laptop is: [[BR]](1) Host a game, but let the host PC/laptop be a spectator. [[BR]](2) When the match starts, turn all graphics settings on the PC/laptop to a minimum, then choose one of the player's perspective. The idea is that normal observer/overload perspective allows you to see every detail on the map, which increases load. If you switch to a player's perspective, the PC/laptop only needs rendering what that player can see. This would only require the PC/laptop to render a small portion of the map, hence the load is smaller. Even better: Add an unassigned player and switch to that perspective. The unassigned player will never explore or expand, so its field of view would be limited to just the starting civic centre. [[BR]]Related forum thread - [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/38692-is-it-possible-to-run-0-ad-in-a-server-mode-or-otherwise-consuming-less-resources-when-only-hosting/?tab=comments#comment-424584 Is it possible to run 0 A.D. in a "server-mode"? Or otherwise consuming less resources when only hosting?] (20/Apr/21)
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>Optimal GFX settings
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
To achieve an optimal balance between nice graphics effects and enough performance for a smooth game, consider this in 0 A.D. gfx settings: [[BR]](1) Enable GLSL [[BR]](2) Enable FXAA (no impact) and MSAA (little impact on performance, except for very weak GPUs) [[BR]](3) Enable water transparency [[BR]](4) Disable other water effects (reflection, refractions) [[BR]](5) Disable shadows [[BR]]Related forum thread - [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/41600-find-optimal-gfx-game-settings/?do=findComment&comment=431736 Find optimal gfx/ game settings?] (1/Jun/21)
    }}}
  }}}
}}}

=== Platform-Specific ===
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Issue
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    {{{#!th style="border: none"
possible Solution
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↓ macOS ↓
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
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>0 A.D. cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified.
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
The reason for this message is that 0 A.D. would need to be signed with a developer AppleID, which costs an annual subscription. At the moment, this problem can be bypassed for the installation by `right-clicking` and clicking `Open`.[[BR]][[Image(FAQ:macOS_installation.jpg,center,600)]][[BR]]Related forum thread - [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/26149-macos-catalina-requires-notarization/?tab=comments#comment-376810 MacOS Catalina requires notarization] (4/Jun/19)
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!th colspan=2 align=center style="border: none"
↓ Linux ↓
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>Game does not capture the left `ctrl` key press.
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
The left `ctrl` problem seems to be a result of the `show cursor` functionality of gnome-tweak.[[BR]]Related forum thread - [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/48361-crash-on-map-selection-and-hotkey-problem/?do=findComment&comment=442582 Crash on map selection and hotkey problem] (19/Jul/21)
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!th colspan=2 align=center style="border: none"
↓ Windows ↓
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>Game crashes on startup.
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Maybe the wrong GPU is simply being used. This Youtube video might help you solve the problem:[[BR]][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wXMHSvssQ How to set NVIDIA as default graphics card for Windows 10 computers and laptops - 2021 Tutorial] (21/Apr/20).[[BR]] Related forum thread - [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/51184-alpha-25-could-not-start/ Alpha 25 could not start] (8/Aug/21).
    }}}
  }}}
}}}
  
=== Multiplayer ===
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    {{{#!th style="border: none"
Issue
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    {{{#!th style="border: none"
possible Solution
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  {{{#!tr
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>My friend cannot join my game and I cannot join their game.
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
__Firewall:__[[BR]]Try disabling it or add an exception for 0AD.[[BR]]Related forum thread: [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/18104-how-open-ports-for-0ad-multiplayer-match/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-370260 How open ports for 0AD multiplayer match?] (8/Mar/19)[[BR]][[BR]]__Router:__[[BR]]If you forward the port, everyone will be able to join you. If you use STUN when hosting, probably many but not everyone will be able to join you. If you can't join someone else's game, there's nothing you can do about it other than informing the host that he should port forward or host your own game.
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>Failed to connect to the server. UDP port 20595 not being forwarded.
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
This error message is almost always caused by an incorrect network configuration on the host side, not by a bug in the game. Please ensure that the host has the UDP port 20595 forwarded at their router to their private IP address. 
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>How to do port forwarding?
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Port forwarding is a way to make a computer on your network accessible to computers on the Internet, even though they are behind a firewall/router. This is commonly used when playing games or downloading files. If you have forwarded a port in the router settings, it is referred to as an open port. 0 A.D. uses the port 20595 by default.[[BR]]Related wiki article with links to some router manuals: [https://trac.wildfiregames.com/wiki/Manual_SettingUpAGame#Settingupyournetwork wiki/Manual_SettingUpAGame#Settingupyournetwork][[BR]][[Image(FAQ:router_port_forwarding.jpg,center,500)]]
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>Registering for the `Game Lobby` does not work:[[BR]][[BR]]''- "Certificate expired"[[BR]]- "The stream has been closed by the server"[[BR]]- "An I/O error occurred''"
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Try to disable `TLS` via `Settings` => `Options` => `Lobby`[[BR]][[Image(FAQ:lobby_tls.jpg,center,500)]]
      {{{#!div class="important" style="background: #ffd"
  **NOTE:** There is a limit to the number of accounts you can submit per hour; if it doesn't work, try again later.
      }}}
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>''"Authentication Failed"''
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
This message usually appears, when you have got a typo in your password or username. If you are sure your password is correct, you could create a forum account and contact [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/profile/21426-user1/ user1].[[BR]][[Image(FAQ:password.jpg,center,500)]]
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>I forgot my  `Game Lobby` password.
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Resetting is currently not possible via the user interface, you would need to create an account on the forum and contact [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/profile/21426-user1/ user1].
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>The multiplayer lobby is empty.
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
You are probably using an older version of the game, see [https://play0ad.com/download/ play0ad.com/download] for the latest version.
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>How to play online?
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
Go to `Multiplayer` --> `Game Lobby` --> `Create a new account`, then you should see this page, now you can join a game or set one up yourself via `Host Game`.[[BR]][[Image(Game_Lobby.jpg,center,500)]]
    }}}
  }}}
  {{{#!tr
    {{{#!th style="border-left:none;text-align:left"
>How to play via LAN? 
    }}}
    {{{#!td style="border-right:none;padding-left:0.5em"
See this forum thread with detailed instructions - [https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/21614-multiplayer-on-lan/?do=findComment&comment=325645 Multiplayer on LAN] (16/Jan/17).
    }}}
  }}}
}}}