How to fix Nightingale ‘error getting shards for client’

Nightingale prides itself on mystery and magic, going so far as to display quirky messages for very real in-game errors. If you've received the Nightingale "error getting shards for client" message, read on below to learn how to fix it.

How to fix "error getting shards for client" in Nightingale

While this pop-up may look like an error message, it's actually Nightingale's way of indicating that your PC failed to connect to the game's servers. Even if you're playing solo, you still need a working internet connection to play Nightingale. Here are all the best ways to fix the Nightingale shards error message.

Wait for maintenance to end

The most common reason you'll encounter this error is due to server maintenance by Inflexion Games. Nightingale is online-only, and when maintenance of this kind is performed, the game's servers need to be taken offline. This temporarily prevents players from accessing Nightingale. Unfortunately, the only solution for this problem is to wait until maintenance ends. Once server functionality is restored, the game will become playable again.

Related: Nightingale Accessibility Options Guide

Restart your router

If the connectivity issue is on your end, restarting your router is a tried-and-true method of resolving it. While the process may be different depending on your specific equipment, most routers can be reset by following these steps:

• Unplug your router's power cable.
• Wait at least 60 seconds, then reconnect the power cable.
• Wait for your router to reboot, which may take a few minutes.

Once your router is finished rebooting, check your PC's internet connection, then try launching Nightingale again.

Relaunch or reinstall Nightingale

Like many early access titles, Nightingale is no stranger to bugs or errors that can prevent you from enjoying the game. If your internet connection is working and Inflexion Games hasn't announced any ongoing server maintenance, I recommend simply relaunching the game and trying again. However, if you're still getting the "error getting shards for client" message, you may need to uninstall Nightingale completely and download it again.

To reinstall Nightingale on Steam, head to your library and right-click on Nightingale. Then, select Manage and click Uninstall. The game will still appear in your library; simply click the blue Install button to download it again. For the Epic Games Launcher, head to your library and click the three dots next to Nightingale, then click Uninstall. From there, just click the Install button when it appears under the game's icon. Reinstalling will not delete any save data, and is an easy solution for most errors you'll encounter.

For more Nightingale guides, check out Nightingale Roadmap & Update Schedule here at Pro Game Guides!