To change a Garry’s Mod dedicated server’s branch, update Steam App ID 4020 with SteamCMD and add the required -beta value. Use -beta dev, -beta prerelease, or -beta x86-64 for the documented alternate branches. To return to the normal release, run app_update 4020 -beta public validate; removing -beta by itself may leave SteamCMD on the previously selected beta.
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Stop the server first, back up its configuration and add-ons, update the correct install directory, then restart the executable. Players must select the same Garry’s Mod branch in Steam under Properties → Betas or they may be unable to connect.
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Which Garry’s Mod branch should you use?
A branch is a separate Steam build channel. The dedicated server is distributed through SteamCMD as App ID 4020, and the branch is selected by the -beta parameter on app_update. The normal release is the safest choice for a public server. Alternate branches are useful for testing an upcoming update or running the 64-bit server build, but they can change frequently and may not work with every add-on.
| Branch | What it contains | Stability and update behavior | Architecture or compatibility note |
|---|---|---|---|
public (normal release) |
The standard live version. | Most predictable option for production play; receives normal public updates. | Use when clients and add-ons are set up for the regular release. |
prerelease |
The next update before it becomes the normal release. | Earlier access to upcoming changes; expect more risk than the public branch. | Every connecting player needs the corresponding client build. |
dev |
The development build with changes planned for a future update. | Updated regularly and may be unstable. Steam describes it as a bleeding-edge build with more bugs than usual. | Best kept for testing rather than an always-on public server. |
x86-64 |
The documented 64-bit dedicated-server beta. | Use only after checking your add-ons, launch environment, and client rollout. | It changes the server architecture from the standard build to x86-64; clients need a compatible Garry’s Mod branch. |
Branch names and their contents can change. Before putting a beta in an unattended production script, check the current branch list and notes on the official Garry’s Mod documentation and Steam announcements.
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Before you switch a dedicated server
- Schedule downtime. Stop the running server cleanly so map, player and configuration files are not being written during the update.
- Back up configuration and add-ons. Copy
garrysmod/cfg, server configuration files, workshop or add-on content, and any custom scripts to a separate location. A branch update can expose incompatibilities, and a backup gives you a rollback path. - Confirm the install directory. SteamCMD updates whichever directory is selected by
force_install_dir. Updating a different directory than the one your startup script launches is a common reason for seeing no change. - Prepare SteamCMD. You need SteamCMD installed for your operating system and an internet connection. Anonymous login is sufficient for App ID 4020.
- Plan client coordination. A server on a development branch can require players to select that same branch in their own Steam client.
Change the server branch with SteamCMD
The sequence is the same on Windows and Linux: select the directory, log in anonymously, run app_update with the desired beta name and validation, then quit SteamCMD. Run these commands from the SteamCMD prompt, one at a time.
- Stop Garry’s Mod and make the backups described above.
- Start SteamCMD.
- Set the directory that contains (or will contain) the server files. On Windows, for example:
force_install_dir c:my_garrysmod_server
On Linux, for example:force_install_dir ../gmodds - Log in without a Steam account:
login anonymous - Run the update command for the branch you want. The commands are listed below.
- Wait for SteamCMD to finish downloading and validating. Do not launch the old server process while files are still being replaced.
- Leave SteamCMD with:
quit - Start the server from the same directory you selected in step 3.
Install or update the normal release
For the standard public build, use:
app_update 4020 validateThis command also validates the files, so missing or damaged files are downloaded again.
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Select the development branch
Use:
app_update 4020 -beta dev validateThe development branch contains changes intended for a future update. Because it is updated regularly, an add-on that worked yesterday can fail after a new server build.
Select the pre-release branch
Use:
app_update 4020 -beta prerelease validatePre-release is the candidate channel for the next normal update. It is generally a better fit for compatibility testing than the bleeding-edge development channel, but it is still not the same as the public release.
Select the x86-64 branch
Use:
app_update 4020 -beta x86-64 validateThis selects the documented 64-bit dedicated-server beta. Treat it as a separate runtime target: verify your launch scripts, native modules and add-ons rather than assuming that a standard-build setup will behave identically.
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Windows and Linux launch commands
After SteamCMD exits, start the executable from the updated server directory. On Windows, the usual server executable is:
srcds.exeOn Linux, launch the supplied script with the Garry’s Mod game parameter:
./srcds_run -game garrysmodKeep your existing map, mode and networking arguments when restarting; the branch switch changes the installed game files, not your server’s normal launch configuration.
Linux prerequisites
Linux operators may need 32-bit compatibility libraries for SteamCMD and for server binaries, depending on the distribution and installed architecture support. If SteamCMD or the server exits immediately with a missing-library error, install the distribution’s appropriate 32-bit runtime packages, then retry the update and launch. The exact package names differ by distribution, so use its official package documentation rather than copying a package name intended for another release.
macOS availability
Garry’s Mod dedicated-server binaries are no longer shipped for macOS. A macOS machine cannot follow this procedure as a native dedicated-server host; use a supported Windows or Linux environment instead.
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Return a server to the stable branch
Do not simply remove -beta from a script and assume the server has reverted. Facepunch specifically warns that SteamCMD can continue updating the last activated beta. Explicitly select the public branch:
login anonymous app_update 4020 -beta public validate quitYou can enter that as a sequence in SteamCMD or use the same command arguments in an automated SteamCMD invocation. The important part is -beta public together with validate. After it completes, restart the server from the updated directory and have players return their clients to the normal branch if they had opted into a beta.
Change the branch on a player’s Steam client
A dedicated server and its players do not switch together automatically. Each player who needs a non-public build must change Garry’s Mod’s beta participation in Steam:
- Exit Garry’s Mod.
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click Garry’s Mod and choose Properties.
- Open the Betas tab.
- Under Beta Participation, select the branch that matches the server: the normal option,
prerelease,dev, or the available x86-64 option. - Close the Properties window and wait for Steam to download the required files.
- Start Garry’s Mod again and connect to the server.
The Private Betas field is not used for Garry’s Mod’s documented branch selection. If a player remains on the normal build while the server is on a beta, the game may reject the connection or show a version-mismatch error.
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Match the branch before diagnosing networking
When a server has just moved to dev, prerelease or x86-64, first confirm that the affected player selected the same branch and completed Steam’s download. A player who has the right IP address but the wrong Garry’s Mod build can still fail to join.
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Test add-ons on a copy
Branch updates can alter engine behavior, Lua APIs or binary interfaces. Test the selected branch with a copy of your configuration and add-ons before changing a busy public server. If a test server works with no add-ons but fails after they are restored, re-enable content in small groups to identify the incompatible item. Keep the backup of the previous working installation until the branch has proved reliable.
Expect development builds to move
The development channel is not a fixed version number. Steam may deliver another build when you run the next update, so record the date and build information shown by your server tooling when testing. Avoid treating a successful test on one day as a guarantee for the next update.
Consider architecture-dependent components
The x86-64 branch changes the server architecture. Native extensions, binary modules and other components compiled for the standard environment may need a compatible build or may not work at all. Check each component’s own support statement before moving an established server, and keep a separate launch directory if you need an immediate rollback.
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SteamCMD accepts command-line arguments for unattended updates. Facepunch documents this Windows form for the normal release:
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir c:my_garrysmod_server +app_update 4020 validate +quitTo automate a beta, add the same branch selector used at the interactive prompt, for example -beta dev or -beta x86-64, before validate. Keep the branch explicit in the scheduled command. A script that omits the selector can continue tracking a previously activated beta, while a script that explicitly uses -beta public can return the installation to the normal channel.
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- Run updates while the server process is stopped.
- Use the exact production directory in
force_install_dir. - Keep dated backups before a first update to a new branch.
- Review update output for download or validation errors instead of starting the server unconditionally.
- Notify players which branch is active and when the restart will occur.
Troubleshooting branch changes
The server still reports the old branch
Check that force_install_dir points to the directory used by your startup script. Then run the branch-specific app_update 4020 ... validate command again and watch for completion. If you were trying to return to stable, use -beta public; deleting the beta argument alone is not a reliable rollback.
SteamCMD says files are current but the server will not start
Confirm that SteamCMD finished in the intended directory and that the launch command is being run there. On Linux, inspect missing 32-bit library errors. On Windows, ensure the executable in the startup shortcut or service is the one inside the updated directory, not an older copy elsewhere.
Players receive a version or protocol mismatch
Have the player exit the game, select the server’s branch under Properties → Betas, wait for Steam to finish updating, and relaunch. If several players fail at once after a server update, verify the server branch and update completion before changing ports or other network settings.
An add-on or module stopped working
Disable the suspected add-on on a test copy and reproduce the problem. If the failure disappears, obtain a build that supports the selected branch or remain on the public branch until the component is updated. Do not overwrite your only production copy while experimenting.
The beta is too unstable
Stop the server, retain your backup, and run:
login anonymous app_update 4020 -beta public validate quitRestart from that installation and have players select the normal branch. If you kept separate directories for testing and production, point the production startup script back to the stable directory after validating it.
A practical branch-selection policy
- Public community server: stay on
publicunless a required fix or feature is unavailable there. - Compatibility test server: use
prereleaseto test the next update with a controlled group of players. - Feature or bug testing: use
devon an isolated server and expect frequent changes. - 64-bit evaluation: use
x86-64only after checking modules, add-ons, operating-system support and client availability.
Whichever policy you choose, document the active branch beside the server’s startup command. That single note prevents an administrator from applying a stable update command to a beta installation or asking players to troubleshoot a mismatch they cannot see.
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