: If the keyboard bypass fails, tap the Spacebar repeatedly as soon as the validation window pops up to force the screen to dismiss.
: Navigate to your mods folder (usually %userprofile%\Games\Age of Empires 2 DE\ [Steam ID] \mods\subscribed ) and delete the contents. The game will re-download clean versions upon restart. aoe2 validating subscriptions
Few things are more frustrating than preparing for a medieval battle in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (AoE2 DE), only to be stopped by a loading screen. The error is a known issue that freezes the game while it checks your installed mods. : If the keyboard bypass fails, tap the
If the game freezes before you can access the in-game mod manager, you can unsubscribe from buggy mods using your Steam profile in a web browser. Few things are more frustrating than preparing for
Next time you see that red clock, don't smash your keyboard. Don't rage quit. Lean into the meta. Type in all chat: "Sorry, my subscription is being validated."
For over two decades, Age of Empires II has survived countless technical hurdles, and this one is no different. With patience and the right troubleshooting steps, you’ll be back to building your empire, launching trebuchets, and yelling “Wololo” at your friends in no time.