Is This Game Down
Browse games
You can fix thisConfirmed

RuneScape 3 Jagex Launcher: "Could not authenticate"

RuneScape 3 server status →RuneScape 3 servers →

Written by

IsThisGameDown

Last checked

September 25, 2026

Jagex Support: Jagex Launcher known issues ↗

The Jagex Launcher shows "Could not authenticate" when you open it, so you can't get to RuneScape.

Also appears as: Could not authenticate, jagex launcher could not authenticate, runescape could not authenticate, jagex launcher error authenticate, jagex launcher wont load

Jagex's Launcher known-issues article says this error is usually associated with using a VPN when the Launcher loads, and tells you to disable the VPN before launching. The article is about the Jagex Launcher, which starts both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, and it is not tagged for a single game. Jagex lists no other cause for this specific message.

What to try

  1. 01

    Disable your VPN, then reopen the Jagex Launcher

    Disable your VPN, then open the Jagex Launcher again. Jagex says this error is usually associated with using a VPN when the Launcher loads.

    Confirmed
  2. 02

    Other Launcher messages are covered in Jagex's known-issues article

    If a different Launcher message appears instead, check Jagex's Launcher known-issues article: it covers "Please wait while an update is applied", the Windows installer's "Timeout waiting for window to load", and the Rosetta prompt on Mac.

    Confirmed

Did this fix it for you?

Your answer helps the next player know whether these steps are worth trying first.

Hit this error? Leave a comment

Say where you are, what you see on screen, and whether any fix worked for you.

No links. Anonymous, no account. Keep it about the game.

What people are saying

Notes from players who've hit this one — no time limit, an answer from months ago is still an answer.

  • Nothing reported here yet.
← HAS-BEEN-UPDATED-RESTARTLOADING-APPLICATION-RESOURCES →

Other RuneScape 3 error codes

Recently added