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Categories

Take the Xfire Product Tour!

Questions




Answers


* Does Xfire have a Product Tour?

Yes! You can access the product tour by clicking here.
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Xfire General

Questions




Answers


* What is Xfire?

Xfire is a free gaming tool that automatically keeps track of when and where gamers are playing PC games online and lets their friends join them easily. It doesn't matter which online game your friends are playing, which server browser they are using, or which gaming service they're playing on; Xfire is intelligent enough to recognize where your friends are at any time.
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* How can I get Xfire?

You've come to the right place! Download Xfire at the Download section of this website. Xfire is a free tool, with a small download which requires a simple installation.
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* Is Xfire really free? What's the catch?

Xfire is completely free. Xfire is supported by leading sponsors in the gaming industry, and brings relevant advertising messages to you. But rest easy; we do not sell, exchange, or share any user information with anyone. If you need further clarification on how we handle user information, read our privacy policy.
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* Who makes Xfire?

Xfire was created by the team at Ultimate Arena, the leading online tournament platform. For further information on the company, visit the About Us section of this website.
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* What games does Xfire currently support?

Xfire supports the latest and best PC games, with more being added constantly! Mosey on over to the Games page on the Xfire website to peruse the current list of games that Xfire supports.
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* How is Xfire different from a game server browser?

Game server browsers help you find game servers to play on, but leave you on your own when it comes to playing with your buddies. Gamers regularly deal with the hassles of finding a game server to play on together and resort to having to cut & paste server IPs or call each other.

We at Xfire believe gaming should be gamer-centric rather than game server-centric. It's simply more fun to play with your buddies than it is to play on some random game server against strangers. You still get the standard server browser info in Xfire (e.g. ping, # of players, map, etc.), but we show you when and what games your buddies are playing, what server they're playing on, and you can join their server with a click of a button.
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* How can I make suggestions for new games that I want Xfire to support? How does Xfire decide on which new games to support?

You can post your suggestions for games you would like to see supported by Xfire in our New Game Ideas forum. Threads with the most replies and Users requesting a given title will be more likely to get noticed. We are always going to add the new releases and now Xfire can release support right away via the Xfire Download System!
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* How can I make suggestions for improvement or enhancement to Xfire?

Xfire couldn't exist without your help and support. Got an incredible idea? Heck, got a mild improvement? Then we'd love to hear it! Create a thread in our Feature Suggestions section of the forums and tell us all about it!
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* Is it pronounced X-Fire or Cross Fire?

It's pronounced X-Fire.
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* Can Xfire sponsor my clan or E-sports team?

We are currently not sponsoring any teams other than Team 3D and GoodGame.

We hand pick other teams to participate in Xfire events.

Thanks for your interest in Xfire! Good luck in your tournaments and keep us informed of your performances.
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* Does Xfire provide games for free?

While there are some games that are free to download, Xfire does not actually supply games for free that are sold at retail. Instead, you must purchase a game (from a retailer) and install it on your machine. Then Xfire detects your game and provides various features depending upon the game.

There are a limited number of games that are actually free to download and play. They can be found on our Xfire Files page, but can also be found for free on their respective websites. If you click the 'Full Games' link, found under the 'By file type' heading, you will find the following page with a list of downloadable games: http://www.xfire.com/files/type/game/

There is also a list of Free Games that Xfire supports on the Xfire Supported Games Page (click the ‘Free Games’ heading just to the left of the alphabet).

You can also find more free games in this thread.
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Downloading / Installation

Questions




Answers


* What are the system requirements for Xfire?

  • PC with a Pentium processor running Windows XP, 2000 or Vista
  • 10 MB available hard drive space recommended
  • Desktop resolution of 800 x 600 at 256 colors (1024 x 768 at 16 bit color or higher recommended)
  • Internet Explorer 5.0 with Service Pack 1 or higher
  • Internet connection (broadband recommended)
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* How do I install Xfire?

Installation is a breeze. You can find detailed instructions to install Xfire on the Download page on Xfire's website.
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* I didn't choose to have the Xfire shortcuts placed on my desktop and system tray during installation, but I changed my mind. How do I create shortcuts now?

Having a single button to create shortcuts for Xfire is something that could be coming down the road for a future release, but for now you'll have to do it the old fashioned way. Xfire's default install location is "C:\Program Files\Xfire". Navigate to there, or to wherever you decided to actually install it. Right-click on Xfire.exe, and click "Create Shortcut." You can then put the shortcut wherever you want on your desktop, in your system tray, in Internet Explorer - wherever you might have a sudden craving to launch it. Alternatively, you could click on the Xfire.exe icon, hold the Alt key, and drag it anywhere. This will automatically create a shortcut as well.
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* Can I set up Xfire on multiple PCs?

Of course! You can install Xfire on as many computers as you like (being that Xfire is free and all) and log in to any of them. Your list of friends and favorite servers will follow you around! Right now, however, your custom statuses are linked to only the machine you create them on, so you'll have to think of new, witty phrases to use at each system. But you can setup Xfire at home, on your laptop, at work, and at your friends' computer. The small installation makes it easy to download anywhere!
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* Do users get automatic updates to the Xfire software?

You betcha. You'll automatically receive Xfire updates the next time you (as an Xfire user) log in, once an update is available. If you have your Xfire Downloads enabled you will get the updater file a day ahead of everyone and be able to login right away once the servers are updated.
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* Is there a Macintosh or Linux version of Xfire?

No. While we do want to support gamers regardless of operating system, right now we're focusing on working out the features and development of XFire on Windows based systems. This makes the development cycle much faster, and then can be ported over to other operating systems when necessary.
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* How do I uninstall Xfire?

Xfire's uninstallation service can be accessed from the Add or Remove Programs tool in Windows XP. To access Add or Remove Programs, go to Start -> Control Panel and double click on Add or Remove Programs. Scroll down to Xfire and click Remove.
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Xfire User Account

Questions




Answers


* I just installed Xfire. How do I start using it?

Follow the three point plan below:
  • Launch the Xfire client application which you can access by clicking on the Xfire desktop icon or on your Start menu.
  • Once the login screen appears, you'll notice the "New User Registration" button underneath the Username field. Click that button to open up the Registration page.
  • Once you've created your account, you can enter your Xfire Username and Password at the login screen. Click on the Login button and you'll fire up Xfire. The next steps? Adding friends to your buddy list, then going online gaming with them!
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* How do I register as an Xfire user?

The process is as simple as it is quick. You've downloaded and installed the Xfire application, right? Then click on the "New User Registration" link where prompted at the log in screen. Spend a few seconds thinking of a suitably cool/ironic/l33t Username, type it in, followed by your email address (don't worry; we aren't sharing this information!) and then type in a Password. Make sure the Password is something you'll remember easily, and at least 5 characters.

We do need your actual email address because this will be the primary way for us to communicate with you about password retrieval, customer support, etc. In addition, if your friends want to search for you but don't know your Username, your e-mail address will be one of the easiset ways for them to find you.

Your Username isn't case sensitive at this point in time, all the Usernames are lower case for simplicity. Your password, however, is case sensitive, so if you mix up upper and lower case letters be sure to remember which ones you used!
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* Can I have more than one Username on Xfire?

Yep. Each Xfire account is free and usable anywhere Xfire is installed. So if you need a different Username for each of your groups of friends or have decided that your last Username just doesn't get the right amount of respect, go ahead and make a change! Unfortunately, there's no way to transfer your network of friends over to the new Username, so you'll have to invite them again.
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* Can I change my Xfire Username and Password?

You cannot change your Username, but what you CAN do is change your Nickname. This will change how you appear to all other users in XFire. To do this go to Tools menu, select Options, and under the General tab you will see a field to add a Nickname. Type in your new Nickname and click Ok. Now whenever your friends log in again, you'll appear in their lists with that Nickname! If they open the expanded infoview window, they'll still be able to see your original username (so that people can't go around spoofing anyone!). This option is great if you've got a clan tag or some other preferred name so you can appear as that name to other people.

To change your password launch XFire, then go to the XFire menu, and select My Profile. This will launch your browser and bring you to your Profile page. Click the 'Edit Profile' link. There is a field where you can enter in a new password. Type your new password twice, and select Save Changes. We suggest that you use a combination of letters, numbers, and upper/lower case for better security results.
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* How can I update my email address?

You can update pretty much all your information right from the Xfire Profile page. Launch Xfire, open the Xfire menu, and select My Profile. This should launch your default web browser and take you to your Xfire Profile page. Once it comes up click the "Edit Profile" button next to your information. You can change your name, e-mail address, password, website, avatars...pretty much anything you could want here. Once you are done make sure to save your changes.
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* Can I register on the Xfire application instead of on the website?

The very first time you launch the Xfire application, you will be given the option to register a new User account. If you choose not to or close that window by mistake, right below the Username field you'll notice a link title "New User Registration." This will bring you to the web registration page. Either way, you have to register a user name in order to get into our database and be able to login!
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* I forgot my Xfire Password. What do I do?

Ack! There's nothing worse than a login screen with a Password you've forgotten/mislaid/eaten. Our lost password process is a little different. Go to the Lost Password Recovery page, type in just your username and click the "Go to next step" button. This will send you a Confirmation Code to the email you originally registered your Xfire account with.

In the email you will have a hyperlink which takes you back to the lost password page and pre-populates your confirmation code. Click the Submit button to receive a temporary password.

Login to the website with the temporary password, click Profile, Edit Profile, scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter a new password. Click Save Changes.

If you do not receive an email within 24 hours, please send an email to support@xfire.com listing both your Xfire username and the email address that you originally registered the account with.
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* I forgot both my Xfire Username and Password. What do I do?

Now you're in trouble. Just kidding. If the Lost password recovery system is not working for you (not getting the email, invalid code), please send an email to support@xfire.com with the user name you wish to recover and the email you believe it was registered with. Make the subject of the email “Lost Password”.

Requests are usually replied to within three business days from being received.
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* Why do I have to enter my email address while registering on Xfire? What are you going to do with my email address?

We're certainly not going to share it with anyone, so don't worry. However, for our users' security, Xfire only responds to the email addresses that you specify. This is especially relevant if you lose your Password and need to retrieve it. Remember, we're not in the business of selling, exchanging, or sharing our users' information with a third party. We are in the business of making your online gaming as stress-free and friend-packed as possible. Check our Privacy Policy, this tells you just how we handle user information.
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* Is there a way to remove a game from my profile?

No. It is our policy to not edit profiles individually.

Currently, there is no User option for this but there may be in the future.
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* If I create a new Xfire User account, can I move all my stats and gameplay hours to the new account?

No. There is no option for Users to edit their profiles individually.

Xfire will not transfer stats from one account to another.
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* The Username I wanted is taken, but that person has 'No Games Played'. Can I have that account?

No, we do not reset Usernames or accounts.

We may clear out the unused accounts in the future, but there is no timetable for this.
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* Some Users have more hours played for "this week" than is possible in seven days. Why?

Xfire records your game time as "sessions". As long as Xfire and the game are both running you are recording that session. Let's say you leave a game sitting at the main menu for three days. When you quit the game, Xfire will record 72 hours for that session. This is why some Users Profile (or miniprofile) show more hours for "This week" than there are in seven days.
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* How do I cancel or delete my Xfire account?

Currently there is no User option to cancel an account.

Like many other free services on the internet we do not recycle accounts.

Here's one thing you can do to protect your info before discontinuing your use of the program. In your Xfire client go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab and uncheck "Show on my profile and miniprofile." This will hide your extended profile information, gaming history and friends list from other users browsing the website.
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* How do I verify my email address?

Xfire is now requiring a valid email address for certain features of the website.

If you need to validate your email address, first add noreply@xfire.com to your email safe list then follow these steps:
  • Login to Xfire.com.
  • Click Profile.
  • Click Edit Profile.
  • In the 'Real Email' field, be sure your email address is correct.
  • Click Verify your email address.
  • Click the Verify button.
At this point an email is sent to your registered email address. Login to that email account and simply click the link in the email you received from Xfire. For security purposes, this must be done from the same browser and IP address you clicked the Verify link from.

If at any time you change your registered email address you will need to verify it again.
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Connecting to Xfire/Login troubleshooting

Questions




Answers


* How can I automatically log in to Xfire when I start my computer?

You've got places to see, people to frag and quests to fulfill. If typing in a Username and Password eats into your online gaming time, we'd recommend checking the "Save Password" and "Auto-Login" boxes on the login screen. Now the next time you login to Xfire it will launch directly into the last Username and Password used.

If you did not check "Run Xfire when Windows Starts" in the installation process, you can always enable this feature later from the Tools | Options | General tab in your Xfire client. Check the box next to "Automatically launch Xfire when I startup my computer".
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* I am behind a firewall and cannot connect to Xfire no matter what I do. I think I need to configure my firewall, but what port does Xfire use?

Now we're getting technical. First off, you don't need to jeopardize your security to use this service. Xfire uses TCP port 25999, and you'll be connecting to the cs.xfire.com server. Make these changes to your firewall, and you'll soon be locating your online compadres with the best of them. If there's still no joy in logging on after you fiddle with the firewall modifications, post in the Technical Support - OPEN forum. Be sure to include pertinent information on your firewall (the brand, model, and software version number), and we'll toil with you until the problem is fixed.

For more in-depth information on what ports Xfire uses see the advanced FAQ here: What ports does Xfire use?
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* I have Norton Internet Security and can't login to Xfire! Why?

As of the 2005 edition, go to Norton Personal Firewall. Click Configure. Click Custom Level. Then check the box that says "Enable Control Access alerts". Then Norton will give you a pop up that allows you to permit Xfire to connect to the internet.

You can also do this manually. Configure> Programs tab> Click Add. Browse to the xfire.exe. (Default is C:\Program Files\Xfire) You may need to also add xfire_exception.exe to the list as well.

You will have to repeat this everytime Xfire updates, since the firewall will view Xfire as a new or changed program.
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* How do I allow Xfire into the Windows XP firewall?

To allow Xfire into the Windows firewall built into WinXP:
  • Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel.
  • Double click Windows Firewall.
  • Click the Exceptions Tab.
  • Click Add Program.
  • Find Xfire in the list, highlight it and click OK.
You may need to also add xfire_exception.exe to the list as well.


You can also add the Xfire connection port on the Exceptions tab:
  • Click Add Port.
  • In the Name field enter: cs.xfire.com
  • In the Port field enter: 25999
  • Make sure the TCP radio button is checked.
You may have to re-add Xfire to your exceptions list each time we update.
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* How do I allow Xfire into McAfee Personal Firewall?

Open your McAfee Security Center.
  • Click Personal Firewall.
  • Click "View the Internet Applications List".
  • Click "New allowed application".
  • Browse to the Xfire.exe in your Xfire directory and select it.
  • Click "Ok".
You may need to also add xfire_exception.exe to the list as well.

This should allow Xfire to connect. You may have to repeat these steps each time Xfire updates. McAfee can be configured to alert you and give you the option to permit after the program is "changed".
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* Xfire just auto-updated and I can no longer log in. I receive a DNS error or the connection times out. How do I resolve this?

This is commonly caused by security software after Xfire updates or is reinstalled. This is a security measure to prevent programs that have been altered from connecting to your network. Since each Xfire update replaces the .exe, security software views it as a 'new or changed' program.

Even if you previously allowed Xfire.exe in your security software, after each update you may need to re-allow the new version of Xfire on your firewall, anti-virus and other programs with 'permissions'. In some security programs you may need to remove the permissions for Xfire completely and reboot your PC. Your software should prompt you to allow the new version of Xfire.

Rebooting your PC after updating your permissions is usually a good idea since some security programs require a system restart in order for the new permissions to take effect.

If you have completely disabled your firewall and/or security software, please try re-enabling it and then make the appropriate permission changes (remove them and add them back) followed by rebooting your machine. Then try to connect again.

If you aren’t sure how to configure your permissions, please consult the online support or documentation that came with your security software for "allowing internet applications" or "program permissions".

If you still have trouble after re-allowing Xfire, then please head over to our Technical Support - OPEN forum and create a new topic with details about your network conditions and the troubleshooting steps in this FAQ that you have already tried. It also helps to post a screen shot of your running processes so we can get an idea of what is running on your PC. Sort your process list by Image name and make sure we can clearly see the entire name of the .exe files in the list. If it takes two screen shots to see the entire list that's fine.

We hope this FAQ helped you get re-connected to Xfire!
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* Xfire freezes right when I login! What is causing this?

Some anti-spyware programs like "Spyware Doctor" or "Stopzilla" will view Xfire as a threat and halt the process before it can connect to the internet. This is why Xfire appears to crash or freeze when you login.

To prevent this, be sure to allow Xfire.exe and xfire_exception.exe in your anti-spyware programs exceptions list or allowed programs list.

For details on how to do this please consult the online support or documentation that was included with your security software.
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* Xfire will not save my username and password even if I check the ‘Save Password’ box at the login screen. Why?

This usually occurs with non-English versions of Windows. Xfire cannot read non-English (ASCII) characters such as ό, з, ś. Any letters that are not within A-Z, a-z, or 0-9 will result in Xfire being unable to save to the folders required for remembering your login information.

You cannot fix this by simply changing your Windows username because all of your user data is already saved in folders with the non-English characters .Instead, you’ll need to create an entirely new Windows username that does not use non-English characters.
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Privacy and Security

Questions




Answers


* With whom does Xfire share my information?

Nobody. We're not the sort of company to sell, exchange, or share any personal information with anybody. Nothing you type in when you register your UserName, Password, and email ever leaves our database. The best place to learn how we handle user information is the Privacy Policy page.
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* Why do I have to enter my email address while registering on Xfire? What are you going to do with my email address?

We're certainly not going to share it with anyone, so don't worry. However, for our users' security, Xfire only responds to the email addresses that you specify. This is especially relevant if you lose your Password and need to retrieve it, or when updates are available to download. Remember, we're not in the business of selling, exchanging, or sharing our users' information with a third party. We are in the business of making your online gaming as stress-free and friend-packed as possible. If you need to check our Privacy Policy, this tells you just how we handle user information.
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* When I type in my friends email addresses to invite them to use Xfire, will you spam them with future emails?

We don't keep your friends' email addresses until they become registered Xfire users, and we certainly don't spam them with annoying email clutter!
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* How do I block another Xfire User from messaging me?

If someone is "spamming" you or being abusive, they are either on your Friends list or Friends of Friends list.

If the User is on your Friends list, you should delete them by highlighting their name and pressing the "Delete" key on your keyboard or right clicking their name and selecting "Delete".

If they are on your Friends of Friends list, right click on their name and select “Add User to block list”. You can also get this menu under Tools | Friends. This will prevent the blocked user from sending you instant messages, Chat Room, Voice Chat and Friend invites. You can also do this right from the Instant message window, Actions | Block User.

To unblock someone go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab. Highlight their username in the Block list and click “Remove”.

If you wish to disable the Friends of Friends feature altogether, go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab and uncheck "Show friends of my friends".
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* Where do I find my Privacy settings and how do they work?

Some features of the Xfire website and miniprofile are actually controlled from the Xfire software client.

To get to your Privacy settings go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab. The list of options and their functions are:
  • Show my friends - Displays what game you are playing to people on your Friends list (this must be enabled for Xfire to track your game hours).
  • Show on my profile and miniprofile - Displays your current status and Gaming History on your Xfire.com Profile and Xfire Miniprofile.
  • Show my game server data - Displays the IP address and other info about the server you are currently playing on.
  • Track kill/death stats for display on profile - This allows Xfire to collect kills and deaths for games that are supported by Xfire Game statistics. See here for more info: Game Statistics FAQs
  • Show Friends of my friends - Displays a list of common friends in your Xfire friends list and will allow people not on your Friends list to message you, join your game or send you a friend invite.
  • Show my Voice Chat server to my friends - Allows friends to see your Teamspeak or Ventrilo IP address.
  • Show people when I type to them - Displays a notification in the IM window when you are typing a message back to a friend.
  • Idle Status - Allows you to set the time when Xfire will set your status to AFK (Away from keyboard)
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* Why does my security software detect Xfire as a keylogger?

The file that is actually causing this false positive is xfire_toucan_xxxxx.dll. This dll will hook into windows watching for keyboard and mouse activity. The reason it does this is for our 'auto-afk' feature which you can enable on the Tools | Options | Privacy tab. In order to know whether or not you're afk, we have to monitor the keyboard.

We also use toucan to do In-Game messaging. For In-Game it actually injects itself into every running process to determine if it's a game, and if it is a game, whether or not it supports XIG and should 'hook in' to the process.
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* How do I prevent my inbox spam filter from blocking Xfire emails?

When you register your Xfire account, you should receive a welcome email from us. Other than that, Xfire typically will only send you an email if you request it. Those cases being "Lost passwords" and "email verification" for using the Xfire website features like Clans & Guilds.

Two of the more popular free email services are Hotmail and Gmail. We're going to list the steps to add noreply@xfire.com (Xfire emails) to the "whitelist" for those two services.

For Gmail: Typically Xfire emails are sent straight to the inbox in Gmail. However, if you want to make sure you get emails from us:
  1. Login to your Gmail account/inbox.
  2. Select "Contacts" on the left navigational bar.
  3. Select the + button ("add contact")
  4. fill in the required information, with the email address: "noreply@xfire.com"
For Hotmail:
  1. Log into your Hotmail account.
  2. Select "Options" (right side, on the top navigational bar)
  3. Select "More options..." on the options drop down menu.
  4. Under the "Junk Email" category, select "Safe and blocked senders".
  5. Select Safe senders.
  6. Enter "@xfire.com"
  7. Click the "Add to list >>" button.
We hope this helps you get your Xfire emails delivered in a timely manner. For all other email services and clients, please consult the topics on "whitelists" or "spam filters" included with the help documentation for those products.
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Friends/Status/Joining Games

Questions




Answers


* Is there an easy way to invite friends to use Xfire?

Most definitely. Locate the easily accessible Invite a Friend section on the Xfire website. Then log in with your Xfire Username and Password. Once done, there's an option to enter your friend's email address, and/or customize the default invitation email message we've prepared for your convenience. Your Xfire Username is automatically included in the invitation so your friend can easily add you to his or her Xfire Friends List after he/she installs Xfire.
Remember; the more friends you invite, the more use you'll get out of Xfire!
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* How do I add friends to my Friends list?

With extreme ease. Is your friend already an Xfire member? Then add them to your Xfire friends network by selecting "Tools", and "Add Friend" in the Xfire interface. Or, you can just click on the "Add" button at the bottom of the screen. Type in your friend's Xfire Username (or search for them using the fields available), and when he or she logs onto Xfire the next time, your friend will receive an invitation to join your Friends List. Assuming your friend accepts your offer, both of you are added to each other's Friends List.
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* When I add a friend, I type in his Xfire Username, send an invitation message, and click OK, but he still doesn't appear in my Friends List. Why?

Because you've jumped the gun a little bit. Your friend needs to approve the request for the addition to be complete. When that happens, you'll see his or her name appear.
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* I'd like to find out more about the friends of my friends on Xfire. Can I see their profiles (e.g. who are they friends with)?

Profiles are a huge part of the Xfire experience. If you go to the Xfire website www.xfire.com and log in, you'll be able to access your profile and make any updates necessary (your name probably isn't a blank space, for instance.) You'll also see a list of your friends and can link to their profiles, and then to their friends, and then to their friends, etc etc, all the way down the line. We encourage you to fill out at least some basic user info for yourself. It makes it a lot easier for your friends to search for you.
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* I'm just way too popular. How do I delete friends from Xfire?

If your initial enthusiasm with Xfire now has you responding to messages from your newfound friends 24 hours a day, it may be time to pare down the list a little. Simply right click on a friend in the "Friends Online" or "Friends Offline" section, hit delete, and that person will be removed from your list. However, since the "Friends of Friends" section is created from your friends' buddy lists, there's no way to remove people individually from that section. You can collapse the entire section by going to the Tools menu in Xfire, clicking Options, and unchecking "Show Friends of my Friends" on the Privacy Tab.
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* What does it mean if my Friend is online but has no status displayed next to their Username?

It means they have logged onto Xfire, but are not currently playing a game. To start a chat, make contact by double-clicking on their Username.
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* I know my friend has a lot of friends signed up on Xfire, but why don't I see them under my "Friends of Friends Playing" section?

Only friends of friends who are playing a game will appear in your Xfire interface. Look for them under the Friends of Friends category on the Friends tab in the Xfire client.
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* How can I set a customized status (e.g. I'm up for Halo right now!) for myself once I log on to Xfire?

Xfire gives you the ability to put up whatever custom message you want, so you can tell your friends exactly what they need to know. At the bottom of the Xfire client, note the little arrow button next to your default status. If you click that and select, Set Custom Status, you can type in whatever status message you like.
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* How do I erase my custom status messages?

There is no way to delete the custom status messages with the Xfire user interface. However, once you have five custom status messages and you create a sixth, the oldest custom status message will be erased automatically.

This will happen each time a new custom status message is created and you already have five custom status messages. The oldest message will be bumped off and the newest one added.

Your other option is to delete them out of the XfireUser.ini file. Here's how:
  • First, make sure Xfire is not running.
  • Locate the XfireUser.ini file. On WinXp it is located in C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Xfire. *Note* You will need to have show hidden files enabled to find the XfireUser.ini file
  • Once you have found this file open it with Notepad.
  • Inside this file you should see a section that looks like the following:
[Status]
Custom1=Example 1
Custom2=Example 2
Custom3=Example 3

Simply delete the status line that you no longer want. When you delete them however, make sure that you change the Custom# so that the list is still in order.

Make your changes and save the file. Start Xfire and check your status messages, they should appear exactly as you left them in the XfireUser.ini.
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* I have a game installed on my computer that is supported by Xfire, but when I start playing my status never shows the game. Why does this happen?

If you are running a game on your computer that is on our list of supported games, it will not show up in Xfire if the Windows registry tags are missing or incorrect. If you have relocated the game on your hard drive without doing an actual installation, or installed on a Windows NT-type computer but not as an administrator, this could cause the problem. Xfire uses the game's registry tags to know where a game is installed, and how to detect it.
  • To fix this, go to your Tools | Options | Games tab.
  • Find the games you have on your system in the 'Not installed' list.
  • Highlight the game name and the "Manual Setup" radio button.
  • Click 'Browse'.
  • Find the folder that contains the .exe file for that game and click 'Ok'.
  • Click 'Apply'.
Check your Tools | Launch menu to verify that the game is now detected.
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* Does Xfire support mods and expansion packs of games?

We support some mods and expansion packs, but it does depend on how well the mod was designed. For instance, many mods call identical .exe files and resources, with the only difference being in loading certain maps or skins. Xfire is unable to distinguish between this usage and playing the base game. We're working on some better ways to detect the usage of mods and expansion packs for almost any game, but for now we're only able to support certain mods. This is why, for instance, you'll be see "Battlefield 1942" when you play Desert Combat, or "Battlefield2" when you're playing BF2: Special Forces. We're continually working to provide better detection and launching of mods and expansion packs!
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* My friend is playing a game online in multiplayer mode as indicated on Xfire. When I double click on his Username, I only get an IM pop-up but do not have the option to join him instantly. Why is this happening?

There's a couple possibilities. First, the online game your friend is playing may not be currently supported by Xfire's "One Click Join" feature. Xfire is proud to support many of the most popular online titles, with more being added all the time. However, in instances when Xfire displays the name of the game your friend is playing (plus his or her status with the game), and you can't instantly join him, you'll have to begin your game the old fashioned regular way. One Click Joining (double-clicking your friend's Xfire UserName and clicking "Join") is an incredibly cool Xfire element, and we're striving to add Xfire with Instant Joining functionality with as many online games as possible.

Second, if Xfire does support the game you're trying to join, but your join button is greyed out, make sure there is a valid IP showing for your friend in the "Expanded Info View" pane. They may be playing single player, or on a server that is not joinable. Once you've ensured there is an IP, make sure that Xfire detects you actually have the game installed. If it doesn't know where the game is, it can't launch it to let you join! The fastest way to check is to add yourself to your own friends list, launch the game, and then alt-tab or alt-enter out and see what your status says. If Xfire isn't detecting your gameplay, see the FAQ Here!! Follow the instructions to get your games showing up in the Xfire Launch menu.

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* My friend is playing a game online in multiplayer mode as indicated on Xfire. When I click Join, I get an error message and can't join him. What's wrong?

Be sure that you have the game loaded onto your computer and have the latest build of it. Another reason for this error message may be that the game itself has a problem that is preventing you from joining. For instance, if it has had a server time-out, or if the server filled up with other players as you were joining.
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* Sometimes when I hit the enter key (or the "send" button) to send an IM to a friend, nothing happens. I suspect that my message is never sent. Why does this occur?

When sending IMs, Xfire waits patiently for confirmation from your friend's Xfire client. Then it sends over the message. You won't spot the message in the upper part of the chat window until your friend's machine has informed your client that the message was received. If your compadre is having network predicaments, the message text may stay in the lower window of the chat session.
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* My friends say they can't see any of my server info. What's going on?

There's a couple things that could be going on here. First, ensure that you've connected to an external server. If you start the server in the game itself, then there is no IP address to send to your friends (127.0.0.1 isn't very useful!) You need to connect to a server outside of your machine in order to allow Xfire to detect the server info and send it to your friends. You MAY be able to launch a separate dedicated server on your own machine, and then connect to that, but you'll have to try it and see if it sends the proper info to your friends - each instance is a little different.

If you're connected to an external server but your friends can't see the IP address, make sure you're moving around and interacting in the game. If you're dead or otherwise just spectating in the game, there is no IP traffic from your machine back to the server, and hence no way for Xfire to know you are actually playing.

Also, make sure that you've enabled the ability of other people to see your server info (which is on the Privacy Tab of the Options Menu.) If you're active in the game, however, and you've allowed people to see your server info, the problem may be in your Xfire installation. Try hopping onto a couple different servers - we have seen some servers that aren't able to be detected, so make sure it's not just the one server you happen to be on. If that doesn't work, you may want to try uninstalling Xfire, rebooting your machine, reinstalling, and then rebooting again to ensure Xfire is able to be properly installed.

Finally, if your IP address is showing but there is no list of players, it may be that we're still working on parsing out the server info for that game. While we generally support server info as soon as we support the game, it may need some tweaking, particularly if the game developers have changed the communication protocols in a patch or upgrade. We'll have that info working as soon as we can!

If none of this works, feel free to post in the Technical Support - OPEN forum and we'll see what we can do. We haven't worked out all the possibilities here yet, but we'll try to get you up and running if possible!
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* Why can't I join games like JointOps and Ravenshield?

These developers do not allow their multi-player servers to be joined using a "command line". This is the way Xfire allows you to "one click join" into servers.

Since there is no joining, there is no server list in the Xfire servers tab. You should still be able to launch the game from Xfire and track your hours.

Visit our Games page to see which games have "one click join" support from Xfire.
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* Why doesn’t my server show up in the Xfire “All” servers list?

We track every time someone joins your server via their Xfire client. Once enough Xfire users have joined your server we recognize it as a “good” server. Then it should be added to the “All” servers list.

We will send out a query every week to verify your server is still active.
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* How do I set up a Game Lobby?

The Chat Room admin (or whoever is "hosting" the game) sets the Chat Room as a Game Lobby for their installed game.

Your friends in the Chat Room click the Join Game button. This puts them in the Game Lobby "ready state". (In the Info View) They should remain there and not click the button again. If they click the button, they will un-ready themselves and not join.

Once everyone is "ready", the host clicks the 'Join Game' button. Your game should launch and bring you to the in-game lobby screen.

Your friends in the Xfire Game Lobby in the ready state should then be automatically launched into the game created by the host.

The limiting factors would most likely be firewalls. The easy way to test this is can the host go onto other sites like Gamespy or MSN Zone and host this game online.

In order to host a lobby, you must open some ports in your firewall or router. For Directplay 7 games you need to forward TCP and UDP traffic on port range 2300 to 2400 and port 47624. For Directplay 8 games you need to forward TCP and UDP traffic on port range 2302 to 2400 and port 6073.

Here is the Microsoft knowledge base article on this topic: Ports required to play on a network.

Click the link below to see games that are supported by Xfire Game Lobbies:

http://www.xfire.com/supported_games/lobby/
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* Xfire does not detect my Private server or No-Cd version of a game. Why?

Xfire only supports full retail versions of games.

We do not test with or support "no-cd" cracks or Private Server versions of MMO games.
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* Why does my game server show up in Xfire as the wrong country?

We use the database from http://ip-to-country.webhosting.info/ which is updated about once a month.

If you find an IP address that is displayed incorrectly in Xfire, you may want to report it in the IP-to-Country Bug Report forum.
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* When I try to join Call of Duty 2 MP (Steam) from Xfire, it launches single player. Why?

Call of Duty 2 uses two different exe files. One for Multiplayer and one for single player.

Steam changed their applaunch command to use the same applaunch # for both MP and SP.

There is currently nothing Xfire can do about this to our knowledge.
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Xfire In Game Messaging

Questions




Answers


* I really want to use Xfire In-Game but I do not have a Scroll Lock key on my keyboard. Is there a way fix I can change the keys?

Yes! You can define your own two key combination to bring up the Xfire In-Game interface.

Here's how:
  1. Go to your Tools menu in Xfire.
  2. Choose Options.
  3. Click on the Chat tab.
  4. Find the Key Binding button and click it.
  5. Now press and hold a two key combination and release them to set it.
  6. Press OK and you're done.
The next time you run a game the new key combination will take effect. You will also need to press the keys in the order you set them.
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* When I receive messages in game or try to send one the Xfire In-Game interface is blurry. What can I do to fix this?

This issue happens if Anisotropic Filtering is enabled in your game. Currently, the only work-around for this problem is to turn off Anisotropic Filtering in your game(s).

We realize this is a less than ideal work-around, which is why we are digging into the problem. If we can find a fix we will certainly put it out with an update.

On a side note, apparently Anti-Aliasing seems to not cause this problem to occur.
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* I'm running Windows 98/SE/ME and I can't get Xfire In-Game messages or use Scroll Lock + X. Why?

Xfire In-Game is no longer supported on Win9x systems
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* How do I enable or disable Continuous In Game mssaging?

Start up a game. Press Scroll Lock + X (or whatever your key bind is) to bring up the In Game Menu.
  1. Press F2 (Menu). Selection 2 (Game you are playing options).
  2. Selection 4 (Enable Continuous/Alert mode).
  3. Press Enter to confirm.
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* Xfire In Game messaging does not work for me at all. Why?

There are a number of factors that allow Xfire to run along with your games and send and receive messages from within the game. Things to check on your system are as follows:
  • What OS?
    Xfire In-Game messaging is currently only supported on Windows Vista, XP and 2000. If you are running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista or XP, some games will run in 64-bit mode and Xfire will not be able to detect them at all.
  • What Xfire Skin?
    Some older User created skins do not have the latest In-Game support if any at all. The Xfire skin (default), Standard and Combat skins were created and tested by Xfire and always guaranteed to work with Xfire In-Game.
  • What game is not working?
  • Is this game on the Supported Games page? (Currently over 200 with In Game support)
  • Is the game on your Xfire Tools | Launch menu and can it be launched from there?
  • What is your key bind set to? (Tools> Options> Chat tab.)
  • Is In Game messaging enabled? (Tools> Options> Chat tab. Requires Exit and restart of Xfire.)
  • Can this game be run in different render modes? (Example: CS 1.6 runs in both OGL and D3D9)
  • If so, what renderer are you running?
  • Are you running Fraps?
    Fraps is a software video recording application. Older versions did not work well with OGL games and Xfire which could cause low fps or lockups. If you are running newer versions of Fraps, Xfire will detect it and not hook into your game. This will cause XIG and Screenshots to stop functioning
  • Are you running a “No CD” patch or a mod to launch the game?
    If your game is using a different .exe to launch the game, there is a possibility that Xfire will not detect it.
  • Does Xfire In-Game work for any of your other games?
  • What video card are you using?
  • What driver version for the video card?
  • What version of DirectX?
If you run through the steps listed here and still can't get In Game messages, copy and paste the above questions with your answers in theTechnical Support - OPEN section of our Forums with the subject "XIG not working - " so we can troubleshoot the problem further.
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* What is the new In-Game interface and how do I use it?

As of Xfire 1.77, we have added Xfire In-Game 2.0 support for Dawn of War as well as the Winter Assault and Dark Crusade expansion packs. We plan to add a few games at a time until all of our *possible XIG supported games are using XIG 2.0.

XIG 2.0 looks and functions more like the Xfire client outside of game, including the ability to use the mouse to drag the skin around the screen, resize your friends list, chat window and alert window.

For more detailed information on how to manually enable the new In-Game skin in other games, see the announcement in the Xfire In-Game 2.0 forum.

*some games which currently support XIG may not be able to use the new In-Game system.
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* Nothing happens when I try to send a message in All Chats view. Why?

The All Chats view allows you to see all of your incoming messages in one window. To send a message in this view, you must specify which user you want to send a message to by using a /t (tell) or /msg (message) command (/tell also works). You must use your friend's user name, not nick name when typing to them. Here's an example:

If you are in game chatting with "[Xfire] mfive" and "[Xfire] Wyndairn" at the same time and want to reply to a message from "[Xfire] mfive", you would type:

/msg mfive "your message here"
Or:
/t mfive "your message here"

Without the quotes.
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* What skins support Xfire In-Game 2.0?

Currently, the three skins that come bundled with the Xfire software are the only officially supported XIG 2.0 skins.
These skins are Shadow, Xfire and Standard.
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* Which games have official XIG 2.0 support?

You can find a list of games that have received XIG 2.0 support in the Xfire In-Game 2.0 forum here:

Xfire In-Game 2.0 supported games.
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* When I play Starcraft with Xfire In-Game enabled I get black bars on my screen. How can I fix it?

You are likely running on a DirectX 10 supported graphics card. This is currently a known issue with Xfire In-Game's DDRAW rendering mode and dx10 supported cards.

Unfortunately, the only workaround is to turn off Xfire In-Game messaging.

To disable In Game messaging for individual games:
  • Make sure you exit any games that are running.
  • In Xfire, go to the Tools | Options | Games tab.
  • Under Installed Games, highlight the title of the game you wish to disable In-Game messaging for.
  • Click the Advanced Options button.
  • Check "Disable Xfire In-game."
No Exit or log off is required for this change.

The next time you launch that game, XIG should be disabled.
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Xfire Download System

Questions




Answers


* I'm trying to download files from Xfire. Whenever I click "download now" it just opens up Xfire? Why?

The first thing to look at is what Xfire skin are you using? Most older or User created skins do not have a "Files" tab and do not support the Xfire download system.

The three skins that are "Official" Xfire skins are guaranteed to work with the Xfire download system. Those skins are Standard, Xfire (default) and Combat.
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* My Xfire download says 99% complete but is still in the Active category and requesting sources. Why?

If a file you downloaded from Xfire says “99 or 100%” try right clicking on the file name and selecting “Stop Download”, then right click again and “Start Download”. This will cause Xfire to immediately look for new sources or move the file to its completed state. You can also do this by logging off of Xfire and logging back on.
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* Why is Xfire downloading files I did not ask to download?

Check the categories in your Files tab.

You may have inadvertently subscribed to a channel which automatically delivers content via the Xfire download system. Simply right click on it and 'Unsubscribe Channel'.

Delete any unwanted files from the C:\Program Files\Xfire\downloads folder. Set your download options to 'Disabled' to avoid this in the future. The download throttle settings are found in Tools> Options> Files tab.
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* Can I add or upload my own files to the Xfire Download system?

No. We control all the content for the Xfire download system to ensure that we are providing clean files to the Xfire Users.

Feel free to post a link to something you have created and we can review it. If the content manager feels it is appropriate and something the Xfire Users will enjoy, we may contact you and add it to the download system.
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* What are these .dat files in my downloads folder?

When you select a file to download, the first thing you see in your Xfire Files tab is "Getting Metadata". This adds an entry to the fileids.ini files.

Then we add a temporary file to your downloads folder. That is the .dat file. What this .dat file does is reserve the hard drive space necessary for the file you are downloading. This way you no matter what other functions or files you are working on on your machine, you will not run out of hard drive space for your download.

If you still have that download active in your Xfire files tab, you will not be able to delete the .dat file as it is "in use" by Xfire.

Once the download is complete, the .dat files are deleted automatically.
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* Why is Xfire uploading data? What is it uploading?

The Xfire File system is a P2P system. If you download files from Xfire and leave them in the default directory with your download settings on, they are eligible to be "shared" with others using the Xfire File system.

If you do not wish to share files:
  • Move the files out of the downloads folder when they are complete.
  • Set your Tools | Options | Files settings to 'Disabled'.
If you disable your Xfire downloads, you will still get interim game updates for the latest game support and Xfire Updates via P2P but they will not be shared with the Xfire network.

Remember, if everyone just downloaded the files they wanted and then set those options to disabled, the file system would be considerably slower.
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* Why can't I send a file using Personal File transfers?

There are two likely cases where sending a file through Xfire would not work for you.
  • You or the person receiving the file are running an older Xfire skin that does not support Personal File transfers.
  • You are behind incompatible firewalls.
The way to check if it is firewall related is by finding out what "NAT type" both users are. To check this, go to your files page, open the info view, scroll to the bottom, you should see NAT Check Failed. If both users are NAT type 3 it will not work either. For more info on how to fix this see here:

How to forward a port to allow Xfire P2P.
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* I have Automatic Patch downloads on but I'm not getting any patches, why?

You will get automatic patches when a new patch is released for a game that your Xfire client detects.

A new patch usually stays in the system for about two weeks. So if you install a game while that patch is still live, it should be pushed to you automatically in the Patch channel.

If there are no patches currently in the channel, you can go to the Xfire Files page and search for your game title. We try to have patches available for most games we support and we will usually have the latest patches for the most popular titles on Xfire.
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* I can't download files at all on Xfire, why?

See more details in the Advanced FAQ here:

http://www.xfire.com/faq#170
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* How do I send a file directly to a friend with Xfire?

Xfire Personal File Transfers use the same P2P network as the Xfire Download system.

Here's how to send a file:
  1. Right click on a friend in your friends list
  2. Click Send File.
  3. You should get a window to select the file you wish to send. Browse to the file and click OK.
  4. You then get the File Transfer Confirmation window. Here you can add some text to describe the file and select to "Use your rate cap". This means the Personal File Transfer rate will respect your download settings in the Tools | Options | Files tab.
  5. Click Ok. You should get a chat window to your friend that says "Requesting file transfer. Waiting for response"
At this point, your friend clicks Ok and selects a directory to save the file in. The file transfer should begin.

If at any point either user gets disconnected or logs off, the partial file transfer can be resumed if the sender re-sends the same file.
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* Xfire tried to download an update but gets stuck halfway and won’t finish the download. What can I do?

Sometimes users with dial-up or unstable connections are unable to complete Xfire updates through the client itself. The good news is there is another way to update your Xfire client!

If you are having trouble updating through the Xfire client, try the following:
  • (Without uninstalling) Download the full installer from here.
  • Install it over your current copy of Xfire.
  • If there have been any ‘game updates’ since the last client release, you’ll need to download the game update as well to have support for the most recently supported games.
And that's it! You should be all up to date without waiting for the Xfire client to download it.
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Xfire Voice Chat/Chat Rooms

Questions




Answers


* How do I use the new Xfire Voice Chat feature?

First of all you must have a working microphone and speakers (or headphones/headset mic) attached to your computers sound card. It is a good idea to test your microphone and speaker levels before starting a voice chat. You can do this by going Tools> Options> Voice tab and clicking the ‘Test’ buttons there.

There are several ways to start a voice chat but they all start by highlighting a Friend in your Friends list. Left clicking the “Mic” button on the Info View of the main client or an IM window will instantly open a chat window to your Friend with an incoming voice call. Once they accept the call, you can start voice chatting!

You can also get to this menu by right clicking on a Friend or selecting Tools | Friends | Call.
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* Why do I hear my voice echoing on my headphones when I voice chat with someone?

It is likely that the Friend you are voice chatting with has a combination of loud headphones and a sensitive microphone. What you hearing is the sound from their headphones coming back through their microphone.

The best way to tone this down is to have your Friend adjust their headphone volume and possibly the microphone input sensitivity as well.
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* My friend sent me a voice chat invite and I didn’t get it. Why?

Xfire Voice Chat uses a peer to peer system. It is possible that you and your Friend are both behind firewalls that aren't compatible. If you think this may be the case, try forwarding port 25777 in your router or firewall. Details in this FAQ here.

Another possibility:

Are you already in a voice chat with someone else? You currently can only voice chat with one Friend or Chat Room at a time on Xfire Voice Chat.
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* How do I voice chat with more than one person?

As of version 1.46 we have implemented Xfire Voice enabled Chat Rooms.

To enable it, start a new Chat Room or join a persistent room from your servers tab. Select the "Actions" menu in the Chat Room window. Then select "Host Voicechat".

You are now the Peer to Peer host of the Voice Chat. You can use the "Actions" menu to disable and enable your microphone, but continue to host the others in the room.

If you select "Stop Hosting", all voice chat stops until someone else in the Chat Room selects "Host Voicechat" and becomes the host. Only those with a permission level of Power User or higher may host voice chat.

This feature is brand new and still under active development so your feedback in the Feature Suggestions and Tech Support forums will help us improve Voice Chat in future updates of Xfire.
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* My headset microphone is not working with Xfire Voice chat. Why?

Check the drop down menus in Tools> Options> Voice tab. Make sure the device you are trying to use is selected in the “Input and Output” fields.

If you have a device that is installed properly and working with other programs but Xfire is not finding it, please post some details including the brand and model number of the device in our Technical Support - OPEN forum and we will check into it.
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* How do I disable the "phone ringing" sound when I receive a voice invite?

To disable the ring sound, go to Tools | Options | Chat tab. Uncheck "Play a sound when: I send or receive voice chat requests."
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* Why does Xfire say 'Low quality' when I voice chat even though I have set my options to the highest quality?

Xfire will negotiate the setting between the two users voice chatting. An example would be if your options are set to 'Highest' quality and you send an invite to a friend who is set to 'Medium' quality, Xfire will set the voice chat to 'Medium' to accomodate the user with the lower bandwidth setting.
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* Xfire is set to play a sound when I get a voice chat request, but I don't hear it in my USB headset. Why?

In order to hear the ring sound when you get an Xfire voice call, you must set the USB headset as the default device in Windows XP.

To do this:
  • Go to your Windows Start menu | Settings | Control Panel.
  • Double Click Sounds and Audio Devices.
  • Click the Audio tab
  • In the pulldown menu for "Sound Playback Default Device:" select your USB headset.
  • Click OK

You should now hear the ring for incoming voice calls in your USB headset.
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* How do I start a Chat Room?

Start by right clicking on any Friend and selecting 'Invite to new chat room'. Your friend must be using an Xfire skin that supports Chat Rooms in order to receive the invite. The default Xfire skin will always work.

Once you get a Chat Room started you can invite more friends, set up permissions, set voice options and save it in your Xfire Servers tab (persistent room) so you can always rejoin the conversation. This is all done from the Actions menu in the Chat Room window.

For a more visual explanation of these features, check out Chat Rooms in the Xfire Product Tour!
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* I can't voice chat at all on Xfire, why?

See more details in the Advanced FAQ here:

http://www.xfire.com/faq#170
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* Can I answer a voice call while in a game?

If you are running a Xfire In-Game 2.0 supported skin (Shadow, Standard, Xfire) in an Xfire 2.0 supported game, then you can answer 1 to 1 voice calls by clicking the phone icon on the XIG interface or pressing Scroll Lock + T.

You can customize the key bind under Tools | Options | Chat tab.
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Screenshots

Questions




Answers


* How do I add screenshots to my Xfire Profile page?

First launch Xfire and any game that has Xfire In-Game messaging support. Then while in game take screenshots by pressing Scroll Lock + S. (This can be reassigned to a single key or a different key combo in Tools | Options | Chat tab.)

When you quit the game, you will be presented with the Manage Screenshots dialog. Here you can preview the shots you just took, choose which ones to upload, and even add captions! If you want to upload at a later time, click Cancel and access this dialog from Tools | Manage Screenshots.

In the Manage Screenshots dialog, click Process Screenshots to begin uploading to your Xfire Profile page. Please note the upload rate is not the same as the P2P rates you set in Tools | Options | Files. Screenshot uploading will use whatever your maximum available upload speed is.
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* Can I add other images not taken with Xfire In-Game to my profile?

No you cannot upload images not created with Xfire. Xfire adds encryption to the file to show what game you were playing, time and date and server IP.
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* Help! I can’t take screenshots at all. Why doesn’t Xfire screenshots work for me?

Xfire can only take screenshots in games that have Xfire In-Game messaging support. For a list of those games, see our Games Page.

If Xfire In-Game messaging is not working for your supported game, see here: http://www.xfire.com/faq/#178

Xfire In-Game is no longer supported on Windows 98/SE/ME systems.
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* Why does it take so long to login to Xfire now that I have taken some screenshots?

If you have a virus scan program that has real time file scanning or protection, it will attempt to scan all the files residing in your screenshots and downloads folder. This causes Xfire to appear stuck when logging in.

To prevent this, check your virus scanner options for an exception list for real time scanning. Add Xfire.exe to the list and you should login much faster.
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* What is the maximum number of screenshots I can add to my Profile page?

The maximum data storage is 150mb. So if you run in a very high resolution, you will have fewer screenshots on your Profile page.
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* Why have some of my screenshots disappeared from my Profile page?

If you add more screenshots than your maximum of 150mb, the oldest “unlocked” file will get bumped off of your Profile page.

If you still have the one that got deleted on your local machine, you can re-upload it.
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* How do I add captions or comments to my screenshots?

You can add a caption in the Xfire Screenshots dialog prior to uploading.

You can also go to your Profile page, click "View full screenshot gallery" then click the "Edit screenshot description" button to edit the caption directly from the website. You can edit them on the website by clicking the screenshot and then clicking the 'edit' option (looks like a little pencil).

In Xfire, you can go to Tools | Manage Screenshots. Under the 'Remote' category highlight the one you wish to edit, type in the 'Screenshot info' field and click OK. You can also do this directly from the Files tab in the Xfire client.
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* What key do I use to take Xfire Screenshots?

The default key combination is Scroll Lock + S. You can change this in Tools | Options | Chat tab. Click ‘Screenshot key binding’ and set a single key or two key combination.
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* Can I take screenshots using a button on my mouse or joystick?

If the mouse or joystick included software for mapping buttons to keyboard keys or macros, then yes you should be able to.

Set your Screenshot key or key combo in Tools | Options | Chat tab. Then using your mouse or joystick configuration software, map that key to a button on the gaming device.
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* How do I delete a screenshot from my Profile?

Go to your Xfire Profile page. Click "See all screenshots". On the Screenshots page you can delete, lock and edit captions for your screenshot