Launcher won't start

[Bongaboi]

I am getting this error persistently when firing up the Launcher.

A system error has occurred: -2146697211.
HTTPS System Error

I reset the modem, the computer, even changed the cfg file, deleted the FFXIV_Boot.cfg file...none of these options have worked. I would like a resolution to this.

[Bongaboi]

I have also been getting 2002 lobby error, and failure to version check in launcher. I have reason to believe this is DDoS, and you have a duty to fix this.

[Rhaervis]

Good afternoon and thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

Please try the following troubleshooting steps:

- The game will use the Internet Explorer web browser to connect to the internet. Open Internet Explorer, then open the "Tools" setting, go to "Internet Options" and adjust the following settings:
- Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
- Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
- Under the "Privacy" tab, click “Advanced” and select ‘Accept’ under both First Party and Third Party Cookies.
- Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
- Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED. [SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
- Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
- Please RESTART your PC now. Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"

-Make sure your fire wall or antivirus program is not interfering with the game

- Check to see if the following port ranges are opened on your router. You can contact your ISP and request they open them for you:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040

-Try disabling background applications and do a clean boot by opening the task manager and selecting the “Start up” tab. Disable everything and then restart the PC.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

[Packetdancer]

To add to Rhaervis' suggestions... this definitely sounds like something's gone horribly wrong in the encryption/security layer of things, so I wonder if it's possible that either the root certificates on your computer are outdated (i.e., some Windows Update didn't get installed that would have updated a certificate that's in the chain of trust for FFXIV's encryption certificate) or that your computer's clock is off by enough to invalidate something somewhere in that chain of trust? You'd think no, but I've seen both of those things affect people before when it comes to SSL or TLS failing.

[RylaBee]

I'm looking at the very same error poping erraticaly over the weekend and also today. All the IE settings are done as suggested
although I don't understand the need to "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid"
Cant SE sign their own software ??

Given the erraticity of this behaviour, this is not problem of missing / invalid certificates. The time CAN be a problem if SE loging servers are so slow that time-outs occur thou.

[RylaBee]

PS: I just got past the "A system error has occurred: -2146697211" error,
and inputing my credentials run into second error that is often occuring:
"
Unable to complete version check.
[30410][30607][20459][10009][10019]
"

[RylaBee]

PPS: and now, after about 7 tries, I finally logged in

This is definitely caused by communication with logging servers, can't think of any other reasons than time-outs or time-sync issues with SSL.

[Packetdancer]

I'm looking at the very same error poping erraticaly over the weekend and also today. All the IE settings are done as suggested
although I don't understand the need to "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid"
Cant SE sign their own software ??

One reason that setting is a common suggestion from CS folks to fix issues is that if you are missing a system update that included new CA root certificates (or some other situation which breaks the chain of trust), then signature validation will fail (i.e., the signature will appear invalid). Turning that setting on will cause any software affected by that to still run.

[Bongaboi]

This is now persisting again, these same 10105, 2002, 90002, and fail to complete version check.

[Strahotski]

This is now persisting again, these same 10105, 2002, 90002, and fail to complete version check.

I've been getting the same errors since yesterday. In addition to those errors, sometimes the "News" section of the launcher will not load, displaying just a "network error" message instead.
I did manage to log in a couple of times through sheer persistence, but got disconnected shortly afterwards.

This is happening both on my desktop PC and laptop, which makes the corrupted data hypothesis extremely unlikely.

I have tried all the steps above (internet settings, firewall settings, run as admin, cleaning the FFXIV data folder, etc) and nothing worked.

EDIT: Since 07-13-2020 night, this seems to have been fixed. I can log in normally again, and didn't change anything else on my end.