First identify which StarCraft you are using: these steps distinguish StarCraft II with SC2API from original StarCraft/Brood War with BWAPI. They use different bot interfaces, so an SC2API WebSocket setting will not fix a BWAPI attachment problem. Then determine whether the game client itself fails to open or whether it opens but the bot cannot connect.
Identify the game and where startup fails
“Fails to launch” and “fails to connect” can describe separate problems. A game that never opens points first to the client or its launch configuration. A running game with a disconnected bot points instead to the integration, endpoint, or attachment path. A local bot connection is also different from a failure to reach Battle.net.
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Before changing settings, record the information that identifies your setup:
- StarCraft II or original StarCraft/Brood War.
- Bot framework or library, including its version, revision, or commit.
- Operating system and the exact error text.
- Whether the game executable opens and whether a local match starts.
- The launch command and arguments, plus relevant game and bot logs.
- What action triggers the failure and when it occurs.
StarCraft II: troubleshoot the SC2API connection
SC2API is a protobuf protocol carried over WebSockets. The game client acts as the server; its command line supplies the listening address and port, and the API endpoint path is /sc2api. See the SC2 protocol documentation.
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- Full multiplayer support, with competitive features and matchmaking utilities available through Battle.net
1. Confirm the client starts
Check that the StarCraft II process is running before diagnosing the bot’s socket connection. If the client never opens, focus on the client launch and its error first; a bot cannot connect to a server that is not running.
2. Match the listening address, port, and endpoint
Compare the client’s configured -listen address and -port with the bot’s WebSocket target. Confirm that the bot is connecting to the /sc2api path. A connection failure can result from a client that did not launch, a different address or port, or a mismatched endpoint or protocol setup. Check these possibilities before treating the issue as an account or internet problem.
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3. Check client and library compatibility
Blizzard publishes the protocol definitions and the C++ s2client-api wrapper. The wrapper supports Windows, Linux, and Mac; the protocol overview describes SC2API availability in retail Windows and Mac clients and provides Linux client packages. Those descriptions do not guarantee every library revision works with every installed client build. Record the exact client build and library or protocol commit, and verify compatibility for that combination.
4. If you use the C++ coordinator
Inspect the coordinator’s launch and connection errors and verify that it starts the client you intend to use. The s2client-api repository includes coordinator-based launch examples, but no single coordinator change is established as a general fix for connection failures.
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Brood War: troubleshoot BWAPI attachment
BWAPI is a separate integration path from SC2API. Confirm that the intended StarCraft instance is running and that the bot is attached to that instance. BWAPI states that each bot instance connects to one StarCraft instance; its documentation also identifies Starcraft/Errors/ as the location for error logs. Consult the BWAPI documentation for framework-specific details.
When investigating or reporting a BWAPI issue, keep the logs and screenshots, and include the BWAPI version or commit, operating system, and steps that reproduce the problem. Do not apply SC2API WebSocket addresses or ports to BWAPI.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the game client itself will not launch or reach Blizzard
Use Blizzard’s current StarCraft II support page for current, error-specific guidance. Its technical support categories include installation and patching, crashes, and connection problems. A general service-connectivity problem should be diagnosed separately from a local SC2API WebSocket failure: Blizzard’s connection troubleshooting guidance concerns connectivity to game services and does not by itself identify a local bot endpoint problem.
For an active connection issue, save the exact disconnect or error text and note what action triggers it. Blizzard’s connectivity guidance recommends running WinMTR while the problem is occurring when network escalation is needed; it also identifies possible contributors such as software conflicts, bandwidth use, game or UI data, and routing.
Older support-forum reports describe narrow, historical cases, not universal fixes. A June 2023 launch report associated one symptom with OneDrive linked to Documents, while a separate login issue involved old backups or discs. Treat those as symptom- and version-specific context, and use current support guidance rather than assuming either cause applies to your setup.
Quick Recap
Use the failure boundary to choose the next check
| What happens | Likely layer to investigate first | Useful evidence or check |
|---|---|---|
| Game client never opens | Game client or launch configuration | Exact error, launch arguments, operating system, and current Blizzard error-specific support guidance. |
| SC2 opens, but the bot cannot connect | SC2API WebSocket configuration or protocol compatibility | Confirm client is running; compare -listen, -port, and /sc2api with the bot target; record client build and library revision. |
| Brood War opens, but the bot does not attach | BWAPI and the StarCraft instance | Confirm the intended instance, inspect Starcraft/Errors/, and preserve logs and reproduction details. |
| Game or account cannot reach Blizzard services | Game-service connectivity or network | Capture the exact message and timing; use Blizzard’s current connection guidance and, if needed, WinMTR during the active failure. |
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