Battle.net Error BLZBNTBNA00000005, the Battle.net agent went to sleep

Error BLZBNTBNA00000005 appears with the message that the Battle.net agent went to sleep, which means the background agent that handles downloads, updates, and logins lost its connection to Battle.net. Dismissing the message usually brings it straight back, because the agent itself is still failing to connect.

The fix, in order

  1. Restart the computer and reopen Battle.net. A restart clears a stuck agent process, and the agent starts fresh with the app.
  2. Run Battle.net as administrator. Right-click the Battle.net shortcut and choose Run as administrator, which gives the agent the permissions it needs to run and connect.
  3. End the agent and let it restart. Close Battle.net fully, open Task Manager, end any Agent.exe process still running, then reopen Battle.net.
  4. Clear the agent cache. Close the app, delete the Battle.net folder in ProgramData, then reopen the app and let it rebuild the cache and the agent.
  5. Check the firewall and antivirus. Make sure Battle.net and Agent.exe are allowed through Windows Firewall, and check that security software is not blocking the agent's connection.
  6. Check Blizzard service status. If Blizzard's login or download services are down, the agent cannot connect no matter what you change locally, so check the status page and wait.

If it still happens

If the agent keeps going to sleep on every launch, uninstall Battle.net, delete the leftover Battle.net folders in ProgramData and %localappdata%, then install a fresh copy from Blizzard. If the error only appears on one network, try a different network, since a strict router or network filter can block the agent's connection.

Common questions

What is the Battle.net agent? The agent is a background helper program that Battle.net uses for downloads, updates, and sign-in. When it loses its connection, Battle.net cannot manage games, and it shows this error.

Why does the error keep popping up after I dismiss it? Dismissing the message does not fix the agent, so it fails again a few seconds later and shows the message again. The agent has to be restarted or its cache cleared before the message stops.

Is BLZBNTBNA00000005 caused by my internet? It can be. A dropped connection, a firewall block, or a router filter can all cut the agent off. It can also be a Blizzard-side problem, so check the service status before changing local settings.

Related errors

Battle.net Error BLZBNTBGS000003E8 · Battle.net Error BLZBNTAGT00000840

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