Connection issues with a friend

[Soul]

We both grabbed dark souls 3 on sale and wish to play through it together, but our connection seems to fail, or struggle to connect entirely. This isn't an issue for most every other game we play, so how can I fix this? We use the password system, and I just recently cleared my DNS cache. My ISP is rather ♥♥♥♥♥♥ so they don't even let us have access to their router, nor let us change to a router of our own so router settings are off the counter like UPnP checking.

Thanks in advance!

[quacksouls]

This is a common problem. You might know this already, but here is a list of the usual things to check to help you debug the issue:

1. Quit and start your game again.
   
2. Are you playing online? Can you see bloodstains and messages?
   
3. Are you embered? Must be embered to summon a white/gold phantom for boss or area co-op.
   
4. Is the boss dead? Cannot summon a white/gold phantom in an area if the area boss is defeated.
   
5. If the co-op is for the Dancer, then the fight should be triggered first before you can see summon signs. Trigger the fight, and quit and restart.
   
6. If the co-op is for Midir, then you must first knock Midir off the bridge.
   
7. Are you able to summon a red/purple phantom with and without a password?
   
8. Have you clearly stated where to place a summon sign? At a bonfire? Near fog wall?
   
9. Go to your inventory and look for an item called "Way of White Circlet". Try to use this item via the "Use" option. If you can use it, this means your character is temporarily disconnected from online play.
   
10. Use the Dried Finger. Some areas restrict you to summoning only 1 phantom. Using the Dried Finger would allow you to summon multiple phantoms.
    
11. In the Network tab, set "Cross-region play" to "Matchmaking ON".
    
12. In the Network tab, set "Password Matching" to a password that you and your friend use.
    
13. In the Network tab, set "Summon sign visibility" to "Unrestricted".
    
14. Are you banned from online play? Have English text enabled. Quit and restart your game. Read the pop-up message after you log in to the Dark Souls III game server.
    
15. If you're using a VPN, try to change your connection point.
    
16. If you're using a VPN, try to disable IPv6 address detection.
    
17. If you're using wifi, consider plugging in an ethernet cable.
    
18. Does your firewall prevent you from accessing certain area or region of the world?
    
19. Allow "Edge traversal" for DS3 in your firewall settings:
    https://steamcommunity.com/app/374320/discussions/0/2268069450227118334/
    
20. Reset your network:
    https://steamcommunity.com/app/374320/discussions/0/3949028569227255745/

If all else fails, it might be a problem with internet connection, servers might be busy/overloaded during certain times of day for particular regions of the world.

As a last resort, use a VPN and/or change your ISP.

[My Name is Mud]

The servers have been particularly poor over the holidays. I really hope they improve again soon.