{"id":3831,"date":"2026-10-27T17:12:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/unturned-dedicated-server-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T17:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:12:24","slug":"unturned-dedicated-server-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/unturned-dedicated-server-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Unturned: How to Host a Server (Dedicated Server Setup, Settings and Ports)"},"content":{"rendered":"

To host an Unturned server, install the free Unturned Dedicated Server tool from your Steam library, launch it, and share the 17-digit Server Code it prints with your friends.<\/strong> That’s a working private server in about five minutes, with no port forwarding. To list it publicly, pick a map, add Workshop mods or switch the difficulty, you edit a few text files and add a login token. This tutorial covers both: the five-minute version, then the full setup with SteamCMD, Linux, plugins and the fixes for “this server lost your connection”.<\/p>\n

Three ways to play Unturned with friends<\/h2>\n

You don’t always need a dedicated server. Pick the option that matches how your group plays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Option<\/th>\nHow it works<\/th>\nGood for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Join a public server<\/td>\nBrowse the server list and join<\/td>\nPlaying with strangers on big modded, RP or PvP servers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Host on your own PC with the Dedicated Server tool<\/td>\nRun U3DS next to the game; friends join by Server Code or Steam invite<\/td>\nA private server for you and a few friends, while your PC is on<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rent a dedicated server<\/td>\nThe server runs 24\/7 at a host<\/td>\nA world that’s always up, public listing, more players<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

You also don’t need a third-party “server maker” app: U3DS is the official tool, and everything below uses it. If you’ve seen guides about playing Unturned with friends over Hamachi: you don’t need it anymore. Server Codes and Fake IP (below) let friends connect without port forwarding or a fake LAN.<\/p>\n

How to make an Unturned server: the simple setup<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Install the tool.<\/strong> In your Steam library, find Unturned Dedicated Server<\/em> (often shortened to U3DS) and install it. It’s free, like the game.<\/li>\n
  2. Launch it.<\/strong> A server console window opens. The first boot takes a few minutes while it generates files and loads the map. It’s ready when you see Loading level: 100%<\/code> and a Server Code.<\/li>\n
  3. Invite your friends.<\/strong> Invite them through your Steam friends list, or give them the 17-digit Server Code. They enter it in the game’s Connect Directly<\/strong> menu. You join the same way.<\/li>\n
  4. Save before you close.<\/strong> Type Save<\/code> in the console to save, or Shutdown<\/code> to save and close properly. Don’t just close the window.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Two things to know about this setup. The Server Code changes every time the server restarts, unless you add a login token (see making it an Internet server<\/a>). And the server is a LAN server by default, so it doesn’t show in the Internet server list. For a private server with friends, that’s exactly what you want.<\/p>\n

    Unturned servers run on Windows and Linux. There’s no macOS version of the server tool, so you can’t host an Unturned server on a Mac without another machine or a hosted server.<\/p>\n

    Where the server files are<\/h2>\n

    Every server you create gets its own folder in ...\\U3DS\\Servers\\<\/code>. The simple setup uses ...\\U3DS\\Servers\\Default\\<\/code>. Stop the server before editing; most settings are only read at startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    File<\/th>\nWhat it controls<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Server\\Commands.dat<\/code><\/td>\nBasic setup: name, map, password, max players, owner, cheats, PvE, port<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Config.txt<\/code><\/td>\nGame rules and advanced options: loot, zombies, the login token, Fake IP, scheduled restarts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    WorkshopDownloadConfig.json<\/code><\/td>\nSteam Workshop mods and maps to download<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Adminlist.dat<\/code><\/td>\nPlayers with admin rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Servers created before update 3.25.8.0 have a Config.json<\/code> instead. The server converts it to the newer text format on startup, one file per difficulty (for example Config_NormalDifficulty.txt<\/code>).<\/p>\n

    Configure your Unturned server: Commands.dat<\/h2>\n

    Most of what people want to change lives in Commands.dat<\/code>: one command per line, and lines starting with \/\/<\/code> are ignored. A good starting point for a private server with friends:<\/p>\n

    \/\/ Name in the server list (5 to 50 characters)\nName Our Unturned Server\n\n\/\/ Map to load. Official maps: PEI, Washington, Yukon, Russia, Germany\nMap Washington\n\n\/\/ Player cap (default 8, maximum 200)\nMaxPlayers 16\n\n\/\/ Your steamID64, gives you admin rights\nOwner 76561198000000000\n\n\/\/ Let admins use cheat commands\nCheats\n\n\/\/ Keep it private\nPassword pick-something\n\n\/\/ No player-vs-player damage\nPvE\n\n\/\/ First person, third person, or both\nPerspective Both\n\n\/\/ Difficulty: Easy, Normal or Hard\nMode Normal<\/code><\/pre>\n
    Save the file, start the server, and the changes apply. For the full list of commands (kick, ban, teleport, give, day and night, and what needs Cheats<\/code>), see our Unturned server commands<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n
    How to change the map on an Unturned dedicated server<\/h3>\n
    Change the Map<\/code> line in Commands.dat<\/code> and restart. For an official map, that’s all. For a Workshop map, the server has to download it first, so add its File ID to WorkshopDownloadConfig.json<\/code> as well (next section), then set Map<\/code> to the map’s name.<\/p>\n
    How to change difficulty<\/h3>\n
    Unturned keeps separate rule files for Easy, Normal and Hard, and servers use Normal unless you say otherwise. Set the preset with Mode Hard<\/code> (or Easy<\/code>) in Commands.dat<\/code>. To fine-tune loot, zombies or anything else, edit the matching config file. Every option in Config.txt<\/code> has a comment explaining what it does and what its default is, so you don’t need a wiki open.<\/p>\n
    How to enable cheats on an Unturned dedicated server<\/h3>\n
    Add a line with just Cheats<\/code> to Commands.dat<\/code>, and make yourself an admin with Owner <your steamID64><\/code> or by adding yourself to Adminlist.dat<\/code>. Restart, join, and type cheat commands in chat with a \/<\/code> or @<\/code> in front, for example \/give [item ID]\/[amount]<\/code>. The commands guide lists them.<\/p>\n
    How to add Workshop mods and maps<\/h2>\n
    Unturned servers download Workshop content themselves, and players download it automatically when they connect. To add something:<\/p>\n
      \n
    1. Open the item on the Steam Workshop and copy the number at the end of the URL (?id=1753134636<\/code> \u2192 1753134636<\/code>).<\/li>\n
    2. Add it to the File_IDs<\/code> list in WorkshopDownloadConfig.json<\/code>, comma-separated:\n
      \"File_IDs\":\n[\n    1753134636,\n    1702240229\n],<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
    3. Restart. The server installs and updates the listed items, and their dependencies, on every startup.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      Curated maps and a few official arena maps are only on the Workshop, so they go through this file too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Map<\/th>\nWorkshop File ID<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Hawaii<\/td>\n1753134636 (plus Hawaii Assets, 1753131903)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Greece<\/td>\n1702240229<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Ireland<\/td>\n1411633953<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Belgium<\/td>\n1727125581<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      France<\/td>\n1975500516<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Kuwait<\/td>\n2483365750<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Carpat<\/td>\n1497352180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      California<\/td>\n1905768396<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Elver<\/td>\n2136497468<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Rio de Janeiro<\/td>\n3416057692<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      A6 Polaris<\/td>\n2898548949<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
      A modded server is just a longer File_IDs<\/code> list. Keep it lean: every mod adds to the download players face on their first join.<\/p>\n
      Make it an Internet server (GSLT, Fake IP and ports)<\/span><\/h2>\n
      A server shows up in the Internet server list once it has a Game Server Login Token (GSLT). Without one, it counts as “anonymous” and stays hidden. The token also keeps your Server Code the same between restarts.<\/p>\n
        \n
      1. Go to steamcommunity.com\/dev\/managegameservers<\/a> while logged in, and create a token with Unturned’s app ID 304930<\/strong>. Use the memo to note which server it’s for.<\/li>\n
      2. Put the token in Config.txt<\/code> (the Login_Token<\/code> option in the Browser section), or add GSLT <token><\/code> to Commands.dat<\/code>.<\/li>\n
      3. Pick how players reach you: Fake IP or port forwarding. You don’t need both.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        Option 1: Fake IP (no port forwarding)<\/h3>\n
        Set Use_FakeIP<\/code> to true<\/code> in Config.txt<\/code>. After startup, run CopyFakeIP<\/code> in the console to copy the address. Players paste it into the Connect menu. Traffic goes through Steam’s relay network, which hides your real IP. The catch: the fake address changes on every restart.<\/p>\n
        Option 2: Port forwarding<\/h3>\n
        Each Unturned server uses two ports in a row: 27015<\/strong> for server list queries and 27016<\/strong> for game traffic, both UDP. Forward 27015-27016 to the server PC’s local IP (run ipconfig<\/code> to find it). Since update 3.23.14.0, port forwarding is only needed if you want players to join by IP or a domain name. A second server on the same machine uses Port 27017<\/code> (so 27017-27018), a third Port 27019<\/code>, and so on.<\/p>\n
        Advanced setup: SteamCMD, Linux and multiple servers<\/h2>\n
        To run more than one server on a machine, or to host on a Linux box, install U3DS with SteamCMD instead of the Steam library. The SteamCMD app ID is 1110390<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
        login anonymous\napp_update 1110390 validate\nquit<\/code><\/pre>\n
        The files land in steamapps\/common\/U3DS\/<\/code>. Then start a server by ServerID. The ServerID is the folder name under Servers\\<\/code>:<\/p>\n
        # Windows (put this in MyServer.bat inside the U3DS folder)\nstart \"\" \"%~dp0ServerHelper.bat\" +InternetServer\/MyServer\n\n# Linux\n.\/ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer\/MyServer<\/code><\/pre>\n
        Use +LanServer\/MyServer<\/code> instead for a LAN server. On Linux, run it inside screen<\/code> so it survives closing your SSH session.<\/p>\n
        Updates, autosave and daily restarts<\/h3>\n
        Run app_update 1110390<\/code> again to update. Unturned has no built-in autosave, so a crash loses everything since the last Save<\/code>. Smart Dressed Games recommends restarting once every 24 hours, and two Config.txt<\/code> options help:<\/p>\n