I’m running Zwift on a desktop computer connected to my apartment’s WiFi.
When I start Zwift, I’ll get to the “Logging in…” animation, at which point it will ask me to re-enter my password. I’ll do so, and then it hits me with a “Login failed. Check your internet connection.” message. And interestingly, if I Alt+Tab away from Zwift and try to launch a page in a Chrome or Edge browser, the page won’t load! So it would seem like my internet isn’t working.
However, if I right-click and close Zwift from my Windows taskbar, the page I’m trying to load in my browser loads immediately. So it does really seem like Zwift is the problem - the fact that it’s running makes me “unable to connect to the internet”.
My Windows 11 PC is not a work computer, so I’m not connecting through a VPN. The wireless network I’m connected to is set up as a “Private” network and I have allowed “zwiftapp” permission in my Windows Firewall settings (on both public and private networks).
Previously, I had noticed that if my work laptop was connected to my wireless network while trying to launch Zwift, I’d see the same problem. Shutting down the laptop allowed me to connect to Zwift again. Now, though, that device is not connected and I still can’t connect.
Well, I just tried disconnecting one of my SmartTVs from the network: (coincidentally?) it is the one that is connected to the desktop PC running the game. It really was immediate - I disconnected the TV, tried logging in again (without exiting the game from my previous failed login), and immediately it logged me in.
Would still like an explanation of why this might be happening - I’d prefer not to have to disable this TV’s internet connection every time I do Zwift, as I also watch Netflix and other streaming apps on it.
Shuji at Zwift HQ here. This is the first time I’ve heard of a smart TV interfering with Zwift somehow. I don’t have any firm answers for you, but let me posit a technical guess since you strike me as a tech-capable person.
When different devices attached to your local network seem to be fighting for resources, I’d suspect it’s something in your router setup. Specifically, I’d suspect it’s the way the router assigns IP addresses - is there anything you assigned a static IP address in the lower end of the subnet range when they should have them assigned at the higher end?
Start with just rebooting the router, pulling the power plug from your TV / repowering, then rebooting your Zwifting computer(s). That might do the trick right there by reassigning dynamic IP addresses to your computer and TV.