[2023] Launcher update Failed, Check internet connection

In this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.  

Sure looks like there's a comms issue here:

2023-01-14 11:50:41 [main] [ERROR] Unable to send telemetry:
Post https://prod-telemetry.paradox-interactive.com/v2/launcher_2: write tcp 192.168.0.210:55507->44.207.252.10:443: wsasend: An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host.

You need to make sure all these apps are in the exceptions lists in all your firewalls:

stellaris.exe and dowser.exe (in the Steam stellaris folder)
C:/users/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2023.1.1/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

If you use Windows Defender, they need to be in both the Public and Private lists there.

Good luck!  

_Sus_ said: is there any reason the game would suddenly get blocked? it worked fine earlier this week. Thank you for the reply and ill see if I can get this sorted.

Not that I can think of, sorry - the game itself did not change this week.  

Antivirus won't be causing communications problems. Firewalls though, often do.

Is kaspersky also your firewall?  

Please install and run the free utility Speccy. That tells you what AV and firewall apps are active as far as Windows is concerned, and which are installed but disabled.  

_Sus_ said: it says Windows Defender is disabled and under the Firewall section is Kaspersky

Okay, so you would need to make sure all those .exe files I liste din post #4 above are in all the kaspersky firewall exceptions lists. You may need help from their support on that.

Note that there may also be firewalls in your internet router/modem, and your ISP!  

Try making a new Windows user on this machine and log into it with that. Do you get the same problem there?  

The vast majority of players of this game use the Steam edition. If all of them got this problem we'd know about it well before now!

There can also be firewalls in your internet router/modem, and your ISP. Can you connect this machine to the internet via a VPN, or failing that a mobile hotspot, and see if you still get this problem then?  

I see. I still suggest that test with a VPN or mobile hotspot!