How to fix Sea of Thieves Charcoalbeard error

When things go wrong in Sea of Thieves, you’ll always be given an error code, but every code is a beard. While this helps figure out the issue, it doesn’t always mean there’s an easy fix.

Since Sea of Thieves is an online seafaring game that challenges you to explore its vast seas in search of treasure and ships to steal or destroy, it’s had its fair share of server issues. These usually occur around major milestones for the game, such as the launch of a new platform or a period of early access. One of the most common errors you’ll see around these times is the Charcoalbeard error, to which there’s a potential fix you can quickly try.

How to fix the Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves

Image via Microsoft

To fix the Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves, you need to quit the game, check if there are any updates for you to download, and then relaunch it to try getting into a session once more. The cause of this error is on the server’s side, so only developer Rare can fix it by implementing changes on its end.

The Charcoalbeard error usually clears up pretty quickly, but restarting your game and devices always helps. At times, the issue can already be fixed, but because you’ve still got the game running, you’re preserving your instance of the error. Restart your game and device every 10 minutes or so, but if it’s not fixed after three attempts, it might be time to check to see if the Sea of Thieves servers are down.

This error appeared most recently on April 25, 2024, around the early access launch of Sea of Thieves for PS5. I suspect the influx of new players caused some issues, which is why the error was so widespread and stopped quite a few of us from getting into sessions right when we wanted to most.

What is the Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves?

Image via Microsoft

The Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves is a matchmaking error that’s caused in the main menu when you attempt to join a session with other players. Something, and I don’t know exactly what, goes wrong and reports this error.

Strangely, there’s no official explanation for the error on the Sea of Thieves server status page, but I’ve found forum posts discussing it going back four years. Rare always resolves the issue by pushing an update to the game’s servers. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to fix it by changing your settings. You’ve simply got to wait until you can get into a session.

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