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If a 7 Days to Die server stays on “Initializing,” start by matching the game version, mods, and world files on every machine. Then test the network, EAC, firewall and antivirus, clean the client, and only after that troubleshoot router ports on a self-hosted server. A loading hang can be caused by either the joining computer or the server, so work through the checks in that order rather than waiting indefinitely.
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What “still initializing” usually means
The initializing message appears while the client and server negotiate a compatible session and establish a network path. It is not a reliable indication that the server simply needs more time. A version mismatch, different mod set, missing custom-world files, blocked Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) traffic, an unstable Wi-Fi link, or an incorrectly forwarded port can all stop that negotiation.
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Use the scope of the symptom to choose your first move:
| Symptom | Most useful first check |
|---|---|
| You cannot join any server | Confirm your game is current, remove client mods, and test firewall, antivirus and network settings. |
| Only one friend’s server fails | Compare the host’s version, mods and world files with yours, then check the host’s firewall and router. |
| PC players can join but crossplay players cannot | Verify that EAC is enabled on the server and allowed through security software. |
| Players on the same home network can join, but outside players cannot | Check the dedicated server’s port forwarding and host-firewall rules. |
| A previously working client now hangs at launch or join | Remove mods and use the Native Launcher Clean tool before changing server settings. |
1. Match the version, mods and world files
Check the game build on every machine
The server and every client must run the same 7 Days to Die version. A game that updated on one computer while another remained on an older build can reach the server list but fail during initialization. Have the host read the exact version shown by the game and compare it with each player’s installation before trying more invasive fixes.
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Make the content identical
Required mods and custom-world files also need to match. The safest diagnostic is a temporary vanilla session: disable or remove client-side mods, ask the host to use the server’s expected content, and try again. If the vanilla connection works, add the required modifications back in a controlled way so the incompatible file or mod is identifiable.
Crossplay and EAC
Crossplay servers require EAC to be enabled on the server. A server with EAC disabled may still be usable for supported PC-only play, but a crossplay attempt can fail before the world loads. Confirm the server’s EAC setting with the host rather than changing random client files.
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Turn off a VPN for the test
Disable any active VPN temporarily. A VPN can alter routing or filtering in a way that prevents the client from reaching the host. Re-enable it only after a successful connection test if your network policy requires it.
Search through the alternate path
If the normal server browser does not find the session, use the peer-to-peer tab and, where the interface provides it, search by the host’s SteamID. This bypasses a failed or incomplete listing and tests whether the session itself is reachable.
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2. Stabilize the local network before changing configuration
Use a wired diagnostic
The official 7 Days to Die Help Center’s Basic Network Troubleshooting guidance, updated October 1, 2026, says: “If you are using a wireless connection, try using a wired connection as this is typically more stable.” Connect the affected computer to the router with Ethernet for the test. This does not prove that Wi-Fi is permanently unsuitable; it separates a radio-interference or signal problem from a game or server problem.
Restart the equipment and close competing software
- Exit 7 Days to Die and the platform client on the affected computer.
- Restart the router, wait for its internet and local-network indicators to return, and then restart the computer.
- Close downloads, streaming applications, overlays and other programs that could consume bandwidth or interfere with the game.
- Launch the game again and retry the same server.
Keep the test simple: use the same server, account and content after each change so you can identify which change matters.
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Install pending updates for Windows, 7 Days to Die, the platform client and your network drivers. An outdated driver or operating-system networking component can produce connection failures that look like a server-side initialization hang. Reboot after driver or operating-system updates before testing again.
3. Remove EAC, firewall and antivirus interference
Understand what EAC changes
EAC is not required for every server. However, a server that enables it can reject or disconnect a client when the EAC service, firewall, antivirus or network path interferes. A failed EAC handshake can therefore look like an endless initialization screen rather than a clear error message.
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Create security-software exceptions carefully
For a controlled test, exclude the game client from antivirus active and passive scans and add firewall rules for the game’s executables. Use the executable paths from your own installation rather than copying a path from another computer. Test once, then restore the stricter protection or replace broad exclusions with narrowly scoped rules if the connection succeeds.
Apply the same check to a self-hosted server: the server executable must be allowed through the host operating system’s firewall, and security software must not quarantine or block its networking components. If the host uses managed security software, its administrator may need to approve the rule.
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If the firewall and antivirus rules are correct but the client still cannot complete EAC or networking, install the current driver for the Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter and reboot. Do not assume that a general Windows update installed the manufacturer’s latest driver.
4. Clean a client whose launch or join state is corrupted
Remove mods and retest first
Move or remove the client’s mods temporarily and retry a server that is known to use compatible, unmodded content. This is reversible and has less impact than deleting configuration or save data.
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Run the 7D2D Native Launcher Clean tool
The official support guidance identifies the 7D2D Native Launcher’s Clean tool as a client recovery step. Close the game, open the Native Launcher, run Clean, allow it to finish, and then launch the game and test the connection again. The tool is intended to clear problematic client state without requiring a new server configuration.
Exclude the game and save folders from antivirus scanning
The support article also advises excluding both the game folder and the %appdata%7DaysToDie save folder from antivirus scanning. Add those exclusions only for troubleshooting and keep the exact paths used by your installation. If the problem persists, follow the same guidance to delete the 7 Days to Die settings file in AppData, taking care not to remove the other files in that folder.
Deleting the settings file resets client preferences; it does not substitute for matching the server’s version, mods or world files. After the reset, check those compatibility items again before concluding that the server is at fault.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Forward the correct ports on a self-hosted server
Port forwarding matters when the server runs behind a home router and players connect from outside that local network. Forward each required port from the router to the computer running the server, and allow the same traffic through that computer’s firewall. The Fun Pimps FAQ lists these dedicated-server ports:
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| Setting or service | Port and protocol | Use |
|---|---|---|
| BasePort | 26900/TCP | Game details |
| BasePort | 26900/UDP | Master-server interface |
| Steam communication | 26901/UDP | Steam networking |
| LiteNetLib networking | 26902/UDP | LiteNetLib traffic |
| Additional game port | 26903/UDP | Currently unused, but may be necessary for joining |
| WebDashboardPort (optional) | 8080/TCP | Web dashboard |
| TelnetPort (optional) | 8081/TCP | Telnet administration |
Apply forwarding to the right machine
- Identify the server computer’s current local IP address.
- Create router rules that send the listed traffic to that computer, not to a different PC or console.
- Permit the server program and the forwarded protocols in the host firewall.
- Restart the dedicated server and have an external player retry the connection.
Keep the server’s configured BasePort in mind: the FAQ values above are the common defaults, while a server configured with another base port requires the corresponding port set for that configuration. Do not expose the optional dashboard or Telnet ports unless you actually use those services and have secured them.
6. Separate a local-network problem from a public-server problem
Test from the same network
Have a second player connect from the same home network as the host. If that player can join while an outside player cannot, the game files and basic server process are less likely to be the cause; focus on router forwarding, the host firewall and the external route. If nobody can join locally, return to version, content, EAC and server-process checks.
Test a known-good server
Try joining another compatible server from the same client. Success elsewhere points toward the original host’s configuration or network path. Failure everywhere points back to the client, its security software, its network connection or its game installation.
Do not wait for an undefined timeout
The official pages do not promise a universal wait time or identify one fix that resolves every “still initializing” case. If the message remains unchanged after the ordered checks, treat it as a reproducible connection failure and collect evidence instead of leaving the game open indefinitely.
7. What to record before contacting support
When escalation is necessary, preserve the information that distinguishes a client failure from a server failure:
- The exact game version on the server and each client.
- The server configuration, including its BasePort and whether EAC is enabled.
- The complete mod list and the names of any custom-world files.
- Whether the affected player is on PC-only play or crossplay.
- Whether a VPN was active, whether the connection was wired or wireless, and whether another player could join locally.
- The relevant client and server logs, captured after reproducing the initialization hang.
Include the steps that changed the result, such as disabling a VPN, running the Native Launcher Clean tool or adding a firewall rule. This gives official support a reproducible sequence rather than only the symptom.
Quick Recap
A practical order for the next attempt
- Confirm identical versions, mods and world files.
- For crossplay, confirm EAC is enabled on the server.
- Disable the VPN and try the peer-to-peer tab or the host’s SteamID search.
- Switch to Ethernet if possible, restart the router and computer, close competing applications, and update Windows, the game, the platform and network drivers.
- Check antivirus and firewall rules for the client, EAC and, if applicable, the server executable.
- Remove mods, run the Native Launcher Clean tool, and follow the AppData settings-file cleanup guidance.
- If the server is self-hosted, forward TCP 26900 and UDP 26900 through 26903 as required by the configuration, then allow them on the host firewall.
- Retest from both the local network and an outside network, and escalate with versions, configuration and logs if the hang remains.
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