What To Do if you see ‘Please download the PUBG mobile client again’

If you see the ‘Please download the PUBG mobile client again’ message, chances are you’re using a cracked or modified copy and not the original or are using an unsupported mobile emulator instead of Tencent Gaming Buddy. The message appears when the PUBG server detects the client version does not match the profile it expects to see and shows the message before allowing you to play.

The full message reads:

‘Please download the PUBG Mobile client app again from App Store or Google Play. You will not be able to log in and may be penalized if you use a cracked version. Unlocks on DATE. Customer service email: [email protected].’

As far as I can tell after asking around, this message only appears if the server thinks you have a cracked client or are using something other than Tencent Gaming Buddy. If you have a different version or your copy is out of date, you get a different message that reads something like ‘This player and you have different versions of the game.’

Please download the PUBG mobile client

We don’t judge here at TechJunkie but if you want to get around the ‘Please download the PUBG mobile client again’ message you will either have to buy the original game, remove any hacks you’re using or use the Tencent Gaming Buddy.

If you’re using another emulator and a cracked APK of PUBG then you need to use the original. If you’re using hacks such as wall hacks, aimbots or other annoyances, you will need to remove them, reinstall the original app and go from there.

The good news is that PUBG is not expensive and the Tencent Gaming Buddy is free to use. The bad news is that your account may have been banned and all your progress to date has been lost. The PUBG app is actually free but does contain in-app purchases so in theory, you don’t have to spend a dime to play the game. That never happens of course as there are lots of things to buy and we want them all, but in theory the game is not P2W.

Tencent uses the banhammer very freely and has apparently banned upwards of 13 million accounts so far. Yours may or may not be one of them if you’re seeing the ‘Please download the PUBG mobile client again’ message. You won’t know until you start playing using the legit app or legit emulator.

Install the PUBG mobile client

You can get the genuine PUBG app from the Google Store or the App Store. You can download the Tencent Gaming Buddy from here.

Install the game on your phone or install Tencent Gaming Buddy onto your PC and then install the game. Run an update of it just in case, log in and begin playing. It’s a simple setup that reflects other games.

Erroneous update errors

If you are using the genuine app or the genuine emulator and still see ‘Please download the PUBG mobile client again’ errors, something is wrong. The best way to handle it is to do a full uninstall and reinstall of the app and try again. If you’re lucky your account won’t have been flagged. If you’re not so lucky, you’re starting again.

1. Perform a full uninstall of the PUBG app and/or Tencent Gaming Buddy from your phone or computer.
2. Select to wipe all data if prompted for a full reset. All your progress is recorded server-side so you won’t lose your characters.
3. Download a fresh copy of the app and Tencent Gaming Buddy if you use it and install them.
4. Log into the new PUBG app and hope your account has not been banned.

A lot of the banning seems automated but there is not enough data available to say whether you get a second chance or whether your account is banned the minute you try to log in and unauthorized changes or versions are detected. Unfortunately, this is one of those things you have to try to see what happens and by then it may be too late.

It may seem a harsh system but with a game as cutthroat as PUBG, any hacking at all will annoy the player base. The game is hard enough as it is without having someone headshot you from across the map or shoot you through a wall!

Have you seen the ‘Please download the PUBG mobile client again’ message while using legit copies of the game or emulator? Know of any other reason why it appears? Tell us about it below if you do!