“There was an error during your login to Ubisoft Connect. Please restart your client and try again. (Error dolphin-028)”
This issue typically occurs when the launcher cannot establish a stable connection with Ubisoft’s servers. In most confirmed cases, it’s caused by a server-side outage or maintenance, often acknowledged on Ubisoft Support pages. However, local network misconfigurations can also be responsible. These include DNS issues (DNS is like the internet’s phonebook that turns website names into numeric server addresses), high MTU values, VPN interference, or traffic-filtering tools like GoodbyeDPI, which can disrupt the TLS handshake—the secure, encrypted greeting Ubisoft needs before it lets you log in. This error affects all Ubisoft Connect games—including single-player titles—by blocking the authentication process. Until it’s resolved, you won’t be able to launch or play any games through the launcher.
1. Run Ubisoft Connect as Administrator
Running the launcher with administrator privileges ensures it has unrestricted access to network settings, system files, and firewall exceptions. Without these permissions, background processes necessary for connection may be blocked. To do this: Right-click the Ubisoft Connect shortcut and select “Run as administrator.” To make this permanent, go to Properties > Compatibility and enable “Run this program as an administrator.” Now launch Ubisoft Connect and confirm whether the login loop has stopped.
2. Reset Your Ubisoft Password and Refresh the Login Token
Resetting your Ubisoft password can resolve the Dolphin-028 error if the authentication session has expired or your account was temporarily frozen due to multiple failed login attempts. This action refreshes your login session and may restore access. Note: You’ll receive a password reset link at your registered email address. After resetting your password, enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Important: Sign out of Ubisoft Connect on any other PCs first, then save your recovery codes in case you lose access to your chosen email address. Sign back into Ubisoft Connect on this PC to see whether Dolphin-028 has cleared.
3. Sync Your System Clock and Change to a Reliable Time Server
Ubisoft Connect uses time-sensitive security tokens for secure login. These tokens automatically expire after a short period to protect against unauthorized access. If your system clock is not in sync with the server, even by a few seconds, the token may become invalid and cause the Dolphin-028 error. If this doesn’t work, your default time server may be unstable. Switch to NIST’s server for better accuracy:
4. Use a Mobile Hotspot to Bypass Local Network Blocks
Connecting through a mobile hotspot can help bypass router or ISP-level restrictions that interfere with Ubisoft Connect. It creates a clean connection path using a different network, which can confirm whether the issue is with your existing Wi-Fi setup. If Ubisoft Connect logs in successfully, your main network is likely causing the problem. Reconnect to Wi-Fi and try the following:
Restart your router to refresh routing and clear cache.Temporarily disable VPNs or proxies before launching Ubisoft Connect.
Reconnect to your normal Wi-Fi, open Ubisoft Connect, and see if the login succeeds.
5. Switch to a Public DNS Server (Google or Cloudflare)
If your current DNS server is misconfigured or experiencing delays, switching to a public DNS like Google or Cloudflare can fix the error by improving name resolution and connection stability.
Open an elevated Command Prompt, run ipconfig /flushdns (press Enter) or simply reconnect to Wi-Fi. Then launch Ubisoft Connect to check if the error persists.
6. Set Your Network MTU to 1430 for Stable Packets
The Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is simply the largest chunk of data your PC is allowed to send at once without being split up. If the MTU is too high, it can cause packet fragmentation, which disrupts secure communication between your PC and Ubisoft’s servers. Ubisoft Connect requires a clean and stable packet transfer to complete the authentication process. Setting the MTU to 1430 ensures that your data packets pass through your router and ISP without fragmentation, improving connection reliability. Disconnect and reconnect to your network (or restart your PC) so the new MTU takes effect, then open Ubisoft Connect to test the login.
7. Renew Your Local IP Address and Clear the Launcher Cache
If Ubisoft’s servers have temporarily blocked your current IP due to repeated failed login attempts or suspicious activity, renewing your IP address can help reset the connection and fix the Dolphin-028 error. This method clears existing network configurations and assigns a new IP address from your router, often resolving connectivity conflicts.
