Common problems
Safe fixes for the messages you are most likely to see.
The installer or Windows says the app is already running+
Check the system tray for the Anti-cheat icon. If it is unresponsive, close it from Task Manager and start it again. Restart Windows if an old update process is still holding the executable.
The browser link or device code does not work+
Make sure you are logged into the correct CSGOPREMIER.com account in your default browser. Close the Anti-cheat, reopen it to generate a fresh code, and approve only that newest code.
It never reaches Protected — monitoring+
Start Counter-Strike first, use the same Steam account linked to this site, and leave both programs open. Install any offered Anti-cheat update. If it still does not recover, restart Counter-Strike and the Anti-cheat.
The Anti-cheat can't reach csgopremier.com+
Check that this PC is online and that you can open CSGOPREMIER.com in your browser. Turn off any VPN or proxy, or switch to a different VPN location, and allow the Anti-cheat through your firewall or security software. It keeps retrying on its own, so you do not need to reinstall it.
It says Signed out or Link unavailable+
Select Re-link device in the Anti-cheat window, sign in to the correct CSGOPREMIER.com account in your browser, and approve the new code. This happens after a long time without use or when the link was removed. You are not banned.
The client says game protection is blocked+
Restart Windows, install the newest Anti-cheat release from this page, and accept its administrator prompt. Do not run Counter-Strike or the Anti-cheat inside a sandbox or compatibility layer. If the message remains, contact support with the exact status text; technical detection details are intentionally not displayed locally.
A program is blocking the Anti-cheat from reading Counter-Strike+
Close any tool that protects, hides, or modifies the game, including overlays or security software set to guard Counter-Strike. Then restart Counter-Strike and the Anti-cheat, approve the administrator prompt, and wait for Protected — monitoring. You are not banned.
Gameplay is blocked because of a modified csgo.exe+
Close Counter-Strike. In Steam, right-click the game, open Properties, then Installed Files, and select Verify integrity of game files. Remove any mod or launcher that replaces the game executable, then start the game again. The block clears on its own once the original file is back. You are not banned.
Gameplay is blocked because a program has write access to Counter-Strike+
Close the program named in the message, then restart both the Anti-cheat and Counter-Strike. Restarting the Anti-cheat is required: the block lasts until a new session starts. If the program starts with Windows, disable its autostart or uninstall it. You are not banned.
I fixed the problem but queueing is still blocked+
Restart Windows when the fix requires it, then start a fresh Anti-cheat session and wait for Protected — monitoring before queueing. Old sessions do not carry over a fix made after they started.