diff --git a/backend/services/versionManager.js b/backend/services/versionManager.js
index 46002b7..3cf0010 100644
--- a/backend/services/versionManager.js
+++ b/backend/services/versionManager.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ async function getLatestClientVersion(branch = 'release') {
     console.log(`Fetching latest client version from API (branch: ${branch})...`);
     const response = await axios.get('https://files.hytalef2p.com/api/version_client', {
       params: { branch },
-      timeout: 5000,
+      timeout: 40000, // fixed from 5000 to 40000 to make sure the client trying to connect on the server with slow internet
       headers: {
         'User-Agent': 'Hytale-F2P-Launcher'
       }
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ async function getLatestClientVersion(branch = 'release') {
       console.log(`Latest client version for ${branch}: ${version}`);
       return version;
     } else {
-      console.log('Warning: Invalid API response, falling back to default version');
-      return '4.pwr';
+      console.log('Warning: Invalid API response, falling back to latest known version (7.pwr - 2026-01-29)'); // added latest version fallback and latest known version as per today 
+      return '7.pwr';
     }
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error fetching client version:', error.message);
-    console.log('Warning: API unavailable, falling back to default version');
-    return '4.pwr';
+    console.log('Warning: API unavailable, falling back to latest known version (7.pwr - 2026-01-29)');
+    return '7.pwr';
   }
 }