How to Make an Unturned Server

There are two honest ways to run an Unturned server, and which one you want depends almost entirely on whether it needs to be online when your computer is not. Unturned's dedicated server tool is free, and for a few friends playing together on an evening it is genuinely all you need. This guide covers that route properly before covering the rented one, and explains the LAN-by-default behaviour that confuses nearly everyone on their first attempt.

Which route do you need?

If you are here because you want to play with two or three friends tonight, start with the free route — see also How to Play Unturned With Friends, which covers the fastest options including ones with no server at all.

Self-hosting with the dedicated server tool

Unturned ships a separate Unturned Dedicated Server application, often abbreviated U3DS. It is free with the game.

1. Install it

Find Unturned Dedicated Server in your Steam Library under Tools and install it. For a more advanced setup — or to run several servers on one machine — you can install it through SteamCMD instead, using app ID 1110390.

Hosting is supported on Windows and Linux. There is no macOS server build.

2. Launch it

Run the app. A console window opens and the server generates its files and loads the world. This takes a few minutes the first time.

You are looking for Loading level: 100% and a Server Code — a 17-digit number printed in the console.

3. Invite people

Two ways in, immediately:

• Steam friends list — invite directly, the simplest option.
• Server Code — share the 17-digit code. Players enter it in Connect Directly.

Your server is LAN-only until you change that

By default the dedicated server is a LAN server. It does not appear in the internet server browser, and nobody outside your network can find it by searching. Steam invites and Server Codes still work, so it feels online — but it is not listed. This is the single most common source of "why can't anyone find my server".

Note also that the Server Code regenerates every time you launch the server unless you set a login token, so yesterday's code will not work today.

4. Configure it

Settings live in Servers/Default/:

• Server/Commands.dat — name, map, slots, password, admins
• Config.txt — gameplay rules and browser listing
• WorkshopDownloadConfig.json — workshop maps and mods

A minimal Commands.dat:

Full details in Unturned Server Commands and Cheat Codes.

There is no autosave

The server writes data on the Save command and on a clean Shutdown. Closing the console window without shutting down cleanly loses everything since the last save.

Putting a self-hosted server on the internet

To appear in the public server list you need two things.

A Game Server Login Token

Servers without a GSLT are treated as anonymous and are hidden from the internet server list. Create one at steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers using Unturned's app ID 304930, then set it in your config.

A login token also fixes the rotating Server Code — with one set, your code stays stable between restarts.

Fake IP or port forwarding — not both

Fake IP is the easier option and is adequate for most servers. Set Use_FakeIP to true in your config, then run CopyFakeIP in the server console to get the address. It routes through Steam Datagram Relay, which hides your real IP address, protects against direct denial-of-service attacks, and often finds a faster path than the public internet would.

Its drawback: the address and port change on every restart, so you cannot point a domain name at it without scripting, and it does not work with Steam's Favourites and History lists.

Port forwarding gives you a stable address, at the cost of configuring your router and exposing your home IP. Unturned uses your chosen port plus the next two — leave room.

Port forwarding exposes your home connection

A publicly listed server running from your home network advertises your IP address to everyone who joins. For a private group this is usually acceptable; for a public server it is a real risk, and it is one of the better arguments for renting instead.

Renting a server

A hosted server removes the parts above that are least fun: it is already internet-visible, the ports are already open and firewalled, updates apply on restart, and your home IP is never exposed.

On a GSK server the sequence is short:

1. Start the server from the Console tab.
2. First boot pulls roughly 4 GB of server files — allow eight to twelve minutes.
3. Wait for the console to show the level loaded and the server listening.
4. Connect using the Address shown at the top of the Console tab.

Your configuration files are in the File Manager, in the same layout as a self-hosted server.

Do not set Port in Commands.dat on a hosted server

The panel allocates your port and opens the firewall for that specific allocation. Writing your own Port line points the game somewhere nothing is forwarded, and the server vanishes from the browser. Leave it out — your real port is on the Network tab. This is the most common way people break a working hosted server while following a self-hosting guide.

For an orientation tour of the rest of the panel, see How to use your server panel.

Connecting to your own server

In Unturned: Play → Servers. Use Connect Directly with your address and port, or find it in the list once it is public.

If you cannot see it in the browser, the cause is almost always the LAN default or a missing login token rather than anything broken.

Next steps

Once it boots and people can join:

• Unturned Server Commands and Cheat Codes — admins, moderation, spawning items
• Unturned Workshop Mods and How to Change Maps — custom maps and mods
• Install RocketMod and OpenMod on Unturned — plugins, kits, economy
• Unturned Server Config and Difficulty Settings — spawn rates and gameplay rules
• Manage and Troubleshoot an Unturned Server — backups, updates, connection problems

FAQ

Is making an Unturned server free?

Yes, if you host it yourself. The Unturned Dedicated Server tool is free with the game and runs on Windows or Linux. You pay only if you want it online when your own machine is not, or you want the networking and updates handled for you.

Why can nobody find my server?

Dedicated servers are LAN-only by default and are hidden from the internet list without a Game Server Login Token. Steam invites and Server Codes work regardless, which is why the server feels online but unlisted.

Why does my Server Code keep changing?

It regenerates on every launch until you set a login token. With a GSLT configured, the code stays linked to it between sessions.

Can I host an Unturned server on a Mac?

No. There is no macOS build of the dedicated server. You would need a Windows or Linux machine, or a rented server.

Do I need to port forward?

Only for a self-hosted server that you want publicly listed, and even then Fake IP is the easier alternative. On a rented server, ports are already open — and you should not set Port yourself.

Can my friends on Xbox or PlayStation join?

No. The console editions are separate releases on separate server pools and cannot connect to PC servers. See Is Unturned Cross-Platform?.

How much RAM does an Unturned server need?

Unturned is light compared to most survival games. A small private server runs comfortably in 2 GB; plugins, large workshop maps and higher player counts are what push it up.

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