Fix “An Unknown Error Has Occurred” in Rematch

Rematch is a popular add-on for World of Warcraft that streamlines and automates the process of pet battling, a beloved feature of the game. However, for many players, Rematch occasionally throws up a frustrating error message: “An unknown error has occurred.” This issue can severely affect the user experience, especially for competitive pet battlers and achievement hunters. Understanding what triggers this error and how to fix it can help restore Rematch’s seamless functionality.

TLDR: Fixing “An Unknown Error Has Occurred” in Rematch

If you encounter the “An unknown error has occurred” alert in Rematch, it is most likely due to corrupted saved variables, a conflict with another add-on, or cache issues. Start by backing up and resetting Rematch-specific saved variables. Make sure all other add-ons are up to date and temporarily disable those that might conflict. If the error persists, consider reinstalling Rematch or performing a clean UI reset.

What Causes the “Unknown Error” in Rematch?

This vague error message might seem unhelpful, but it typically points to a few predictable problems. The root of the issue can usually be traced back to one of the following:

• Corrupted saved variables: Rematch saves user configurations, pet loadouts, and settings in local configuration files. Sometimes, these files become unreadable or malformed.
• Conflicts with other add-ons: Other add-ons interacting with the pet journal or UI might interfere with Rematch’s operations.
• Incomplete game updates: After a World of Warcraft patch, some APIs or data structures may change, causing incompatibility.
• Cache corruption: Game cache inconsistencies often disrupt how data is processed, including how UI-modifications behave.

How to Fix “An Unknown Error Has Occurred”

Because there isn’t one single cause for the error, applying a strategic troubleshooting approach is your best bet. Follow these steps in order, testing Rematch after each one to see if the problem resolves.

1. Reset Rematch Saved Variables

The most common cause is corrupted saved variables. To reset Rematch settings:

1. Log out of the game.
2. Navigate to your World of Warcraft installation folder (typically World of Warcraft/_retail_/WTF/Account/[YourAccountName]/SavedVariables).
3. Locate the files named Rematch.lua and Rematch.lua.bak.
4. Backup these files by copying them elsewhere, then delete them from the folder.
5. Start World of Warcraft again and see if Rematch functions without the error.

Note that this will remove all your current pet teams and settings, so it’s crucial to back up these files if possible.

2. Disable and Isolate Conflicting Add-ons

If resetting saved variables does not help, the next likely culprit is interference from another add-on:

• Temporarily disable all other add-ons by launching the game and turning off everything except Rematch at the character select screen.
• Check if the error persists.
• If Rematch works fine, enable the other add-ons one by one until the error reoccurs. This helps isolate the conflicting add-on.

Some known add-ons that occasionally interfere with Rematch include PetTracker, Zookeeper, and UI overhaul suites like ElvUI.

3. Reinstall the Rematch Add-on

In some cases, the Rematch add-on files themselves may have become corrupted or improperly updated. Here’s how to cleanly reinstall:

1. Close World of Warcraft completely.
2. Navigate to your Interface/AddOns folder and delete the Rematch folder entirely.
3. Download the latest version of Rematch from a trusted source like CurseForge.
4. Install the fresh version to the AddOns directory.
5. Restart World of Warcraft and reload your UI using /reload or by restarting game.

This ensures you’re running a clean, updated build that’s free from tampered or leftover files.

4. Clear Game and Interface Cache

If issues persist, you may want to clear your cache to eliminate any problematic residuals:

1. Exit the game.
2. Fully close the Battle.net client to ensure files aren’t being read or locked.
3. Navigate to the main World of Warcraft directory.
4. Delete the Cache folder. (Don’t worry; it will regenerate upon game launch.)
5. Delete any outdated or unnecessary folders in WTF and Interface, ensuring only what’s needed is retained.
6. Launch the game to recreate fresh cache and configuration files.

5. Perform a Full UI Reset

If no previous step has resolved the error, a full reset of the user interface can eliminate all variables at once:

• Back up the Interface, WTF, and Cache folders by moving them to a backup directory.
• Delete these folders entirely from your game directory.
• Launch the game to allow World of Warcraft to build a fresh set of those folders.
• Reinstall only Rematch initially. If the error disappears, begin reintroducing your other add-ons one at a time.

This process can be time-consuming but ensures the most thorough resolution possible.

Preventing the Error in the Future

Once you’ve resolved the issue, here are a few best practices for ensuring it doesn’t happen again:

• Keep add-ons updated: Regularly check for the latest versions on trusted platforms like CurseForge.
• Back up your saved variables: Especially important before major patches or when modifying many teams at once.
• Use add-on managers: Tools such as WowUp or Ajour can help automate updates and highlight version incompatibilities.
• Minimize simultaneous UI overhauls: Try not to install major UI mods alongside Rematch unless verified to be compatible.

When to Reach Out for Help

If all else fails, the issue may be more than local corruption or conflicts. In such cases:

• Post your problem with details on the WoWInterface forums or CurseForge comments.
• Include the game version, Rematch version, a list of running add-ons, and what steps you’ve already tried.
• Optionally, include relevant Lua error logs from /WTF/Errors or by enabling Lua error display with /console scriptErrors 1.

Developers and community members are often highly responsive and may offer unique insights or patches for rare issues.

Conclusion

The “An Unknown Error Has Occurred” message in Rematch can be both perplexing and disruptive, especially given how integral pet battling can be to a player’s World of Warcraft experience. Fortunately, most causes of the error are user-side and resolvable through a series of troubleshooting steps that involve clearing out saved data, resolving add-on conflicts, and refreshing your UI environment.

By approaching the issue systematically and staying vigilant about update hygiene, you can enjoy Rematch’s full functionality without interruption. If needed, don’t hesitate to reach out to the broader WoW modding community—many users have faced the same issue and are eager to help others get back into the game.