What is ‘Join failed because you are on a different version’ error in MW3

Have you attempted to play MW3 until you wondered what the strange error ‘Join failed because you are on a different version’ meant?

If you’re trying to figure out how to fix this issue and why it’s happening, we’re here to help. Let’s discuss why you’re getting this error and how to stop it from happening again.

MW3: How to fix ‘Join failed because you are on a different version’ error

If you’re receiving this error message while trying to play MW3, what this ‘Join failed because you are on a different version’ means is that you’re probably on the wrong version of the game. Sometimes when games update, most players will see the update right away, while others may accidentally boot up MW3 without updating.

You’ve either forgotten to make your game automatically update, or you’ve somehow missed an update. Fixing this error is quite easy and shouldn’t take long to figure out. Here are some ways to make sure you’re on the latest version of MW3 depending on your console of choice:

• Steam:
  1. Right-click MW3 in Library
  2. Select ‘Properties’
  3. Head to the ‘Updates’ page
  4. Set it to ‘Always keep this game updated’
• Battle.net:
  1. Select the gear icon beside the ‘Play’ button
  2. Click ‘Check for Updates’
• PlayStation:
  • Press the Options button while on MW3
  • Choose ‘Check for Update’
• Xbox:
  • Press the Start button while on MW3
  • Choose ‘Manage game and add-ons’
  • Select ‘Updates’

Related: How to fix ‘Can’t play on PS5’ error in MW3

No matter which console you have, these steps should ensure that you’re playing MW3 on the most recent version. This should fix the ‘Join failed because you are on a different version’ error immediately. If it doesn’t, restart MW3 and restart your PC/console if necessary.

Now that you know how to fix this annoying error, if you ever believe that the MW3 Warzone servers are simply not online, perhaps you should check if the Warzone servers are down. That’s also super easy to figure out with the right resources.

Other Call of Duty articles

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is available on Steam, Battle.net, PlayStation, and Xbox.