How to fix ‘Failed to Download or Apply Critical Settings’ on Roblox

After years of exploring the Roblox platform, I of all people know that it's no stranger to errors, bugs, and glitches, but that doesn't make experiencing them any less annoying—especially when they're ones I don't even understand! Though this connection error does come with a description when it appears, said description doesn't offer much actual information and can be confusing, which is why I've created the brief guide below that explains how you can fix this pesky error.

What does 'Failed to Download or Apply Critical Settings' mean on Roblox and how to fix

To put it simply, "Failed to Download or Apply Critical Settings" means that somewhere in the connection process, Roblox encountered an error that forbade it from accessing a working server. Like most Roblox error codes, this particular connection error can, unfortunately, occur for a multitude of reasons. Server disruptions, poor wifi connectivity, client updates—you name it, this error code could appear. In most cases, however, players who receive this error can fix it by simply restarting their wifi router and reconnecting to it.

If this doesn't work, try some of the quick fixes listed below.

• Ensure the server you're trying to join on Roblox isn't a private one that you don't have access to
• Check and see if the version of Roblox you're attempting to run, or the browser you're using, needs an update
• Restart your device/delete and reinstall the Roblox app
• Clear your browser data/history, which will clear up all space taken up by cookies, cached images and files, and your general browsing data
  • When your computer gets too bogged down with stored data, any websites you try to access or games you try to play can begin experiencing issues and will load slower, which could be the case for Roblox if you're receiving this error.

Related: Roblox Error Code 1001, explained

The final suggestion associated with this bug is to alter your DNS server, or Domain Name System server. Some people online have said that going through this process has helped clear the error, but it requires quite a few steps, so I've included the video below that showcases it in detail.

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As mentioned above, this error code can randomly appear for many reasons, but is typically associated with the issues highlighted above. Most of the time, adjusting your internet should resolve this issue. If you receive this error code consistently, however, and none of the tips in this guide help, you may need to contact Roblox support directly and explain your situation.

Looking for more Roblox error code help? Check out some of our other guides on How to Fix ‘This experience is restricted’ Roblox Error or How to fix Roblox Expected Channel Name Error here on Pro Game Guides!