GameGuard errors 340 and 350 generally indicate a failed GameGuard update. Start by checking your internet connection, completing any required Wi-Fi sign-in, and reviewing firewall or security-software blocks. Then check for an unintended proxy, managed-network restrictions, and problematic hosts-file entries. Neither code is, by itself, evidence of defective hardware or proof that you intentionally canceled an update.
What GameGuard errors 340 and 350 mean
GameGuard errors 340 and 350 usually mean that nProtect GameGuard could not complete its update. They do not, by themselves, show that your PC is defective or that you need new hardware. GameGuard checks for a current update when it starts, and the update can fail when a firewall, security program, proxy, restricted network, authentication page, or hosts-file entry prevents the connection.
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nProtect’s official FAQ places both codes in the same broad Update fail category. A historical technical reference gives error 340 the narrower label download error and error 350 the label update cancellation. Those older labels are useful clues, but they are not guaranteed diagnoses for every game or current GameGuard build. Error 350 does not prove that you deliberately canceled anything; an interrupted or failed update can produce the same visible code.
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- Write down the exact code and affected game. GameGuard is integrated into different games, and each publisher can use different installation folders, security rules, and support procedures.
- Verify the connection and complete any network sign-in. Open several ordinary websites. If you are on hotel, school, library, airport, café, or public Wi-Fi, open a browser and complete the captive-portal sign-in before starting the game. If the connection repeatedly disconnects, fix that first.
- Check firewall and security-software blocks. Review blocked-event logs and allow the affected game and the GameGuard files installed with that title, where appropriate.
- Check whether an unintended proxy is enabled. Disable it if you do not intentionally use one.
- Consider restrictions on the network. A work, school, public, or managed network may block the game server or GameGuard’s update server. Ask the network administrator for help rather than repeatedly reinstalling the game.
- Inspect the Windows hosts file carefully. Back it up first and remove only entries clearly related to the affected game or GameGuard and known to be unwanted.
- Contact the affected game’s official support team. Include the game title, exact code, operating-system version, when the failure occurs, and the troubleshooting steps already attempted.
1. Check your internet connection and network authentication
GameGuard must reach an update service before the game can start. A normal-looking Wi-Fi connection may still be unusable for this purpose if it is unstable or requires a separate browser sign-in.
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- Open a browser and visit more than one website.
- Look for a Wi-Fi or network sign-in page and complete it.
- If possible, retry on a different trusted connection, such as a personal mobile hotspot, only as a diagnostic comparison.
- Stop large downloads or uploads temporarily and check whether the connection drops.
If error 340 or 350 disappears on another network, that points toward the original network’s firewall, proxy, authentication, or stability—not necessarily a problem with the game installation.
2. Check firewall permissions for GameGuard
Security software and firewalls can block the connection required by the update. A publisher support notice specifically lists GameGuard errors 340, 350, 360, 361, and 380 among the cases where users may need to permit GameGuard files through their firewall or security software.
Use the files and folders actually installed by your game. Names and paths vary between titles and can change after an update. GameGuard.des and NPSCAN.DES are examples cited in publisher guidance, not a universal file list for every GameGuard game.
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- Open your antivirus or endpoint-security application.
- Find its quarantine, blocked-events, firewall, application-control, or allowlist section.
- Search for the affected game and the GameGuard files in that game’s installation folder.
- Restore or allow a file only when you recognize that it belongs to the official game installation and the publisher’s instructions support doing so.
- Restart the game and check whether the update completes.
Windows Defender Firewall can also be reviewed through Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall. The exact options shown depend on the Windows edition and other security software installed. If a third-party security suite controls the firewall, make the change there instead.
Do not leave antivirus or firewall protection disabled as a permanent workaround. If you temporarily disable a protection feature for a controlled test, re-enable it immediately and create a specific, justified allow rule instead. If the security product reports that a GameGuard file is malicious rather than merely blocked, stop and contact the game publisher or security vendor; do not blindly whitelist it.
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3. Disable an unintended proxy
A proxy can prevent GameGuard from reaching its update service. Check this only if you do not intentionally use a proxy for work, school, privacy, or another managed configuration.
On current Windows versions, open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Review both the automatic and manual proxy sections. Turn off a manually configured proxy that you do not recognize or need, then retry the game. Organizations may deliberately deploy proxy settings; ask the administrator before changing those settings on a managed PC.
The legacy GameGuard FAQ may refer to older Internet Explorer or LAN-settings menus. The current Windows Settings path is preferable, but the labels can vary by Windows release.
4. Check for a managed or external network firewall
Your own PC may be configured correctly while the network blocks the destination GameGuard needs. This is common on company, school, campus, hotel, library, and public networks. The restriction may affect either the game server or the separate GameGuard update server.
Contact the network administrator and explain that the game’s anti-cheat component cannot complete its update. Provide:
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- the game title;
- error 340 or 350;
- the approximate time of the failed attempt;
- whether ordinary web browsing works;
- whether the issue occurs only on that network.
Do not assume that changing DNS, using a VPN, or buying a new router will fix the problem. Those are not universal remedies in nProtect’s guidance, and a managed network may prohibit workarounds.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors5. Inspect the hosts file cautiously
The Windows hosts file can redirect a domain before an application connects to it. nProtect notes that entries can interfere with game or GameGuard connections and that unwanted changes may result from spyware or malware.
Because the hosts file can affect other software, treat this as an advanced check:
- Open File Explorer and go to
C:WindowsSystem32driversetc. - Make a backup copy of the
hostsfile before changing it. - Open it with administrator permission using a plain-text editor.
- Look for entries clearly associated with the affected game or GameGuard.
- Do not delete unrelated entries simply because they look unfamiliar. If you cannot determine what an entry does, save the backup and ask an administrator or qualified security professional.
- Save only clearly justified changes, then restart the game.
If you find suspicious redirects or the file keeps changing, run a reputable security scan and seek support rather than repeatedly editing it.
What error 340 and error 350 do—and do not—tell you
| Error | Current practical interpretation | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 340 | GameGuard update failure; historically described as a download error. | The historical label is not a guaranteed explanation for every current implementation. |
| 350 | GameGuard update failure; historically described as an update cancellation. | It does not prove that you intentionally canceled the update. A failed or interrupted process may result in the same code. |
In both cases, start with connectivity and access controls rather than assuming damaged hardware. The code alone cannot identify whether the fault is your PC, security software, the local network, the update server, or the game’s particular GameGuard integration.
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Should you delete the GameGuard folder or reinstall the game?
Not as the first step. Community reports describe error 340 and 350 in different circumstances, but those reports do not establish one universal fix. Deleting a GameGuard folder, reinstalling the entire game, running the launcher as administrator, changing DNS, using a VPN, or disabling antivirus may help in a title-specific situation, but none is guaranteed by the official guidance.
Reinstalling can also waste time if the real cause is an external firewall, proxy, captive portal, or blocked update server. Use the game publisher’s instructions if they specifically recommend repairing or reinstalling that title, and make sure the launcher is closed before changing its files.
When to contact official support
If the ordered checks do not resolve the problem, use official support for the affected game before making more invasive system changes. The publisher controls the game’s GameGuard integration and may know the current file names, required permissions, supported network configuration, and any live service outage affecting updates. nProtect also provides GameGuard support material, but the game publisher is often the best first escalation point.
Send support a concise diagnostic report:
- game title and launcher;
- exact GameGuard code and screenshot, if available;
- Windows version;
- when the error appears;
- whether browser access and network sign-in work;
- whether the game works on another network;
- firewall or security software name;
- proxy status;
- any relevant blocked-event message;
- the steps that changed—or did not change—the result.
On a work, school, hotel, or public connection, also contact your network administrator. They may be able to determine whether the update destination is blocked, authentication is incomplete, or a proxy rule is interfering.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does GameGuard error 340 mean?
GameGuard error 340 usually means that the GameGuard update failed; a historical reference calls it a download error. Check whether a firewall, security program, proxy, unstable connection, or restricted network blocked the download.
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What does GameGuard error 350 mean?
Error 350 is also in GameGuard’s current update-failure category. Although an older reference calls it an update cancellation, it does not prove that you intentionally canceled the update; an interrupted update can produce the same code.
Do errors 340 and 350 mean I need new PC hardware?
No. These codes are update-process failures and are not proof that your computer is defective or needs new hardware. Network access and security restrictions are more appropriate first checks.
Which GameGuard files should I allow through my firewall?
Review the affected game’s installation files and your security product’s blocked-event log. Publisher guidance gives GameGuard.des and NPSCAN.DES as examples, but file names and paths vary by game. Allow only recognized files and do not permanently disable protection.
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Can public or school Wi-Fi cause GameGuard error 340 or 350?
Yes, if the network requires browser authentication or blocks the game or GameGuard update server. Complete any captive-portal sign-in, then ask the network administrator for help on managed networks.
The Bottom Line
GameGuard errors 340 and 350 are generally update failures. Check network access and captive-portal authentication, review firewall and security-software blocks, remove an unintended proxy, and consider managed-network or hosts-file interference. Do not treat either code as proof of faulty hardware, intentional cancellation, or a need to buy a product. If the issue persists, use the affected game’s official support channel.
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