You’ve finally cleared your schedule to train your favorite horse girl, but the screen just hangs. Then, that dreaded window pops up: a Umamusume Pretty Derby connection error. Honestly, it’s the quickest way to ruin a good mood. Whether you're playing the Japanese original or the global version that launched on Steam and mobile recently, these technical hiccups feel like they happen at the worst possible times—usually right before a major race or a critical training session.
It's frustrating.
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Most people think it’s just "bad internet," but with a game this complex, the reality is often more nuanced. Sometimes it's a regional lock acting up; other times, it's a conflict between two different versions of the game sitting on your hard drive.
What’s Actually Happening When You See That Error?
When the game hits a wall, it usually throws a code at you. If you’re seeing Error Code 102, you aren't alone. Cygames has actually acknowledged this one officially in the past, often linking it to login spikes or server-side instabilities. Then there are the others: 390, 501, and 201. These aren't just random numbers; they are the game’s way of saying something is "desynced."
If you’re on the PC version, specifically through Steam or DMM, the "Connecting..." loop is a common sight. You click a button, wait five seconds. You click "Race," wait another five. It’s been called "Connecting Derby" by the community for a reason. Often, this is just server congestion—too many trainers trying to pull for the latest SSR support card at the same time.
The DMM and Steam Conflict
Here is something most people get wrong. If you originally played the Japanese version via DMM and then tried to install the Global Steam version on the same PC, your folders might be fighting.
The game looks for data in AppData\LocalLow\Cygames. If there’s a folder named Umamusume already there from your DMM days, the Steam version gets confused. A quick fix that actually works for a lot of people is simply renaming that old folder to something like Umamusume_Old or Umamusume1. Once you do that and restart the Steam launcher, it often triggers the correct installation path and clears those persistent 501 errors.
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Why Your VPN Might Be the Enemy (Or Your Only Friend)
Region locking is the "elephant in the room" for Umamusume. Even with a global release, certain regions are still sensitive.
- The "Shadow" Block: Sometimes your ISP in parts of Asia or Europe might block the game's specific ports without telling you.
- The VPN Paradox: For some, a VPN is the only way to get past the title screen. For others, having a VPN active is exactly what triggers the connection error. Cygames’ official support stance is that they don't guarantee stability if you’re using one.
If you're stuck, try the "Toggle Test." If you're using a VPN, turn it off and try a mobile hotspot. If you aren't using one and get an instant error, a high-quality VPN set to a supported region might actually be the bridge you need.
The "Brute Force" Repair Method
When the game files themselves get corrupted—which happens a lot during those massive 8GB+ updates—you need to go deeper than just restarting the app.
- Data Repair: On the title screen, look for the little menu icon (usually three horizontal lines). There is a "Repair Data" option. Use it. It doesn't delete your progress, but it validates every file.
- Download All: After a repair, hit "Download All." It’s a pain and takes forever, but it prevents the game from trying to "fetch" data during a race, which is where most mid-game crashes happen.
- The Admin Hack: On Windows, navigate to your game’s installation folder and find
UmamusumePrettyDerby.exe. Right-click it, go to properties, and check "Run this program as an administrator." This prevents Windows "Ransomware Protection" from blocking the game when it tries to write temporary save data.
Network Tweaks That Actually Matter
If your internet is fine on YouTube but failing in the Tracen Academy, the issue might be your DNS. Your PC's default DNS provided by your ISP can be slow to resolve Japanese or global gaming servers.
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Try switching to Google DNS. Set your Primary to 8.8.8.8 and your Secondary to 8.8.4.4. It sounds like "tech-bro" advice, but for gacha games that require a constant handshake with the server, a stable DNS is often the difference between a smooth run and a "Retry" loop.
Also, if you're comfortable with the Command Prompt, running ipconfig /flushdns and netsh winsock reset is the digital equivalent of blowing into a GameBoy cartridge. It clears out the old "pipes" and forces a fresh connection.
Is it a Server Problem?
Before you uninstall the whole thing in a rage, check the official sources. Cygames is usually pretty good about announcing maintenance. In 2026, they've been running more frequent "Helping Hand" events and updates, which almost always come with a few hours of downtime. If the "connection error" happens exactly at the top of the hour when a new banner drops, it’s not you—it’s the millions of other trainers breaking the server door down.
Sometimes, external factors play a role too. In late 2025, a major earthquake near Japan actually caused widespread instability for several JP-based games because the AWS (Amazon Web Services) nodes they rely on were flickering. It’s rare, but it happens.
Next Steps for You:
If you are currently staring at an error screen, start with the Data Repair from the title menu first. It is the most reliable "soft fix" that doesn't involve messing with your system settings. If that fails and you're on PC, try renaming your AppData folder as mentioned above to ensure no version conflicts are sabotaging your connection.
Once you get back in, make sure to link your account to a "Link Password" or a social account immediately. There's nothing worse than fixing a connection error only to realize your guest account was lost in the shuffle.