This means the FACEIT Anti-Cheat client or service is not running, so you cannot connect, sometimes looping on a request to run it. Getting it running fixes it. Jump to your situation below or work through the methods in order.
You need to have the Anti-cheat client running to connect, and the related The service cannot be started, mean the FACEIT Anti-Cheat client or its Windows service is not running, so you cannot join a match, and it can loop asking you to run the anti-cheat. The usual causes are the client not installed or not launched, its service stopped or blocked, antivirus interfering, or a corrupted client. The fixes are to install and launch the FACEIT AC client (from FACEIT's official download) and let it start before you queue, run it as administrator so it can start its service, and check the FACEIT service is running in services.msc and set it to start. Whitelist FACEIT AC in your antivirus and firewall, since security software often blocks the service, and if it still will not start, reinstall the FACEIT AC client to replace a corrupted install. A quick reboot clears a stuck service too. Because this is a client or service problem rather than a ban, getting FACEIT AC running restores your connection.
FACEIT's anti-cheat runs as a client and a Windows service that must be active before you connect. These errors mean the client or its service is not running, often because it is not installed or launched, its service is stopped or blocked, or antivirus is interfering.
Getting FACEIT AC running fixes it: install and launch the client, run it as administrator so it can start its service, and check the service in services.msc. Whitelisting it in antivirus stops it being blocked, and a reinstall replaces a corrupted client.
“This is the anti-cheat client not being up when FACEIT expects it, and it loves to loop, keep asking you to run the anti-cheat. So I make sure the FACEIT AC client is actually installed and launched, and I run it as admin, because it needs those rights to start its service. If it says the service cannot be started, I check services.msc and set the FACEIT service going, and whitelist it in the antivirus, since that is a frequent blocker. A reboot clears a stuck service, and a reinstall fixes a corrupted client.”
services.msc
FACEIT you need the anti-cheat client running to connect, or the service cannot be started, means the FACEIT AC client or service is not running. Install and launch the client, run it as administrator, and start the FACEIT service in services.msc. Whitelist FACEIT AC in antivirus and firewall, reboot to clear a stuck service, and reinstall the client if it still will not start.
If the service still refuses to start, check the FACEIT AC logs and Windows Event Viewer for the failure code, and make sure no other kernel-level anti-cheat is holding the driver open. You can also submit your error to us for a tailored fix.
