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How to fix Helldivers 2 ‘Difficulty not unlocking’ (Solver)

Why is it so difficult to make a game more difficult?

When everything functions properly, Helldivers 2 allows me to control how challenging the missions are. But sometimes, there's an issue that prevents me from doing that. Here's how to fix the Helldivers 2 "Difficulty not unlocking" error.

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Helldivers 2 has a very intricate difficulty system that allows players to set their difficulty settings very precisely. There are nine difficulty levels, from Trivial to Helldive, and being unable to unlock all of them is pretty irritating for players. Here are some of the ways you can solve this problem.

How to fix the 'Difficulty not unlocking' error in Helldivers 2

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To solve the "difficulty not unlocking" error in Helldivers 2, you must host your game. Checking your files might also help, as well as reinstalling the game. If nothing works, report the problem to the developers and wait for a bug fix patch. Below, you'll find a complete list of possible solutions to the Helldivers 2 'Difficulty not unlocking' error.

Related: All Weapons in Helldivers 2 and how to get them

All solutions to the Helldivers 2 'Difficulty not unlocking' error

  • Watch your progress - Check your progress in Helldivers 2, and make sure you are at the right difficulty level to unlock the next one. Also, update your game regularly; updates include bug fixes and various performance enhancements.
  • Host your own games - Some players report that hosting their own game can help unlock the higher difficulty. While playing with friends (or strangers), ask them to finish the mission without you so they can unlock the next difficulty level.
  • Join sessions -You can bypass the difficulty lock by joining other people's games while hovering over the desired difficulty. The game will recognize you have already unlocked it.
  • Inspect the game's files - Sometimes, the cause of the problem is bad files messing up how the game works. The difficult but quicker way is to find which files are bad and fix them. The easier but slower way is to reinstall the game.
  • Look for help - If you tried everything and nothing works, you should report the problem to the developers. This issue is bugging many players, so developers are expected to find a solution soon. You can also look for advice from the players on Reddit or Discord.

For more related articles, check out How to fix Helldivers 2 Quickplay not working – Failed to join error on Pro Game Guides.


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Author
Image of Nenad Grujić
Nenad Grujić
My name is Nenad Grujić, and I'm a Staff Writer for Pro Game Guides since November 2023. My specialties are fighting games, action adventures, RPGs, driving simulations and anime games. I've been writing about video games since 2012, and I worked for IGN Adria, Blue Moon Game, Emulation Galaxy, and many other gaming sites. In my free time I like to study martial arts, watch movies and TV shows, sing karaoke, and make fandubs and AMVs.