The reliable way to host a Thorium server is to run a dedicated tModLoader server with the same Terraria branch, tModLoader build, Thorium version, dependencies, enabled mod list, and world files used by every player. Install the loader with the official Dedicated Server Utils workflow, enable Thorium, create a server configuration, open TCP port 7777, and give friends your public address. The most common connection failures come from version mismatches, an incomplete enabled.json or install.txt, an incorrect world path, or a firewall/router that still blocks the port.
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What you need before hosting
A Thorium multiplayer server is not a separate game executable. It is a dedicated Terraria server running through tModLoader, with Thorium and any required dependencies installed on the server and enabled for the world. Players also connect through tModLoader rather than an unmodded Terraria client.
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- A legal Desktop Terraria installation and a tModLoader installation on the server machine.
- The same Terraria branch and tModLoader branch that your players will use.
- Thorium and every dependency required by the selected Thorium release.
- A world file in
.wldformat, either newly created or copied from an existing game. - A machine that can remain online for the hours your group wants to play.
- Firewall access and, when players connect from outside your home network, router port-forwarding access.
Version matching is especially important because tModLoader mod compatibility is tied to the Terraria and loader branches. An official Thorium wiki snapshot lists Thorium 1.7.2.8 for Desktop Terraria 1.4.4.9 with tModLoader 2023.11.3.3. Treat that pairing as a dated example, not a permanent requirement: check the live Thorium compatibility information and the tModLoader release you intend to run immediately before installing.
Choose where the server will run
There are three practical arrangements. The right choice depends less on Thorium itself than on who will maintain the machine, how often it must be online, and how much network control you have.
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| Hosting arrangement | Cost model | What you control | Main work and risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Windows or Linux machine | Lowest direct cost if you already own the hardware and connection | Operating system, files, mods, firewall, backups, and restart schedule | You must configure port forwarding, keep the machine online, apply updates, troubleshoot failures, and protect the world backups |
| Docker on a VPS | Recurring fee for a virtual private server | Container image or files, Linux configuration, modpack, firewall, and restart policy | Requires Linux and Docker familiarity; you also manage updates, storage, logs, and the provider’s network controls |
| Managed Terraria/tModLoader host | Recurring hosting fee | Usually the game panel, selected mods, worlds, and basic settings | The provider handles more operations, but you must verify Thorium support, supported tModLoader branches, backups, locations, and modpack controls |
Compare services on monthly cost, CPU and RAM headroom, geographic latency for your players, backup policy, mod and version control, firewall access, automated restarts, and support for custom modpacks. A managed host is convenient only if it supports the exact Thorium and tModLoader combination you need; a cheap plan that supports vanilla Terraria but not custom mods will not solve the problem.
Match the game, loader, and mod versions
Use one compatibility target
Decide the target before creating the world. Write down the Terraria branch, tModLoader branch, Thorium release, and dependency versions. Install that same target for every client and for the dedicated server. Do not let one player remain on a different tModLoader branch while the server is updated: a client can fail to connect even when the displayed mod name appears correct.
The Thorium version pairing documented in the retrieved official wiki snapshot is Thorium 1.7.2.8, Terraria 1.4.4.9, and tModLoader 2023.11.3.3. Because these labels change, recheck the current Thorium page and tModLoader release notes at setup time. If the live page lists a newer compatible set, use that set consistently instead of forcing the older snapshot.
Make the enabled mod list identical
Thorium must be installed and enabled on the server, and every player should have the same enabled list with compatible versions. The tModLoader server tooling uses an install.txt file to identify mods to install and an enabled.json file to identify mods that should be active. Keep these files with your server configuration so a restart or reinstall does not silently produce a different mod set.
When the server guide calls for a mod path or modpack setting, use the documented modpath and modpack options rather than copying an arbitrary client directory. A mod can exist on disk but still be disabled, and a mod can be enabled in the list while its file or dependency is missing. Both conditions can prevent startup or cause clients to be rejected.
Install tModLoader on a dedicated server
Use Dedicated Server Utils
The official tModLoader Dedicated Server Utils workflow is designed to install the loader, install the mods, and start the server through a management script. Use its SteamCMD method or the GitHub release appropriate to your operating system. If you prefer containers, use the project’s Docker workflow and mount persistent directories for the world, configuration, mods, and logs.
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- Install the server utility and its prerequisites for your operating system.
- Select the Terraria and tModLoader branch that matches the clients’ target.
- Place Thorium and its dependencies in the mod installation list. Confirm that the resulting
install.txtcontains the required entries. - Run the mod installation action. On a Linux installation using the management script, the documented command is
./manage-tModLoaderServer.sh install-mods. - Confirm that the installed files correspond to the intended versions and that
enabled.jsonenables Thorium and its dependencies. - Keep the server’s mod directory, configuration files, and world directory on persistent storage. A container replacement or utility update should not erase them.
On Windows, the utility’s generated or supplied server workflow normally leaves you with a start-tModLoaderServer.bat launcher. On Linux, use the corresponding management-script workflow supplied by the utility. Do not invent a second launcher with different paths unless you also update the configuration and service that calls it.
Create or copy the Thorium world
Use a dedicated world file
You can create a new world from the server’s world-selection flow or copy an existing .wld file into the server’s world directory. Stop the server before replacing or copying a world. Keep a dated backup before the first modded session and before changing the mod list; a world may depend on content that is no longer present after a mod removal.
Check storage and memory needs
The official Terraria server documentation describes a small world as needing 500 MB of free RAM. That is a documented baseline, not a universal Thorium requirement. Actual memory use varies with world size and player count, and a larger mod list can increase pressure. Leave headroom instead of sizing a machine exactly to the baseline. If the operating system begins swapping, players may see delays or disconnects even though the server process remains running.
Write the server configuration
Create a serverconfig.txt file and provide the values the server needs to select the world, accept players, and load the mod set. The essential settings identified by the tModLoader server workflow are:
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world: the full or correctly relative path to the chosen.wldfile.maxplayers: the maximum number of simultaneous players you want the server to accept.port: the listening TCP port. Terraria uses 7777 by default.password: an access password if you do not want an open server.modpathandmodpack: the locations or pack definitions used by your tModLoader setup, when the selected workflow supports them.
Use the exact option names and syntax shown by the tModLoader server guide for your release. A correct value in the wrong file does nothing: verify that the launcher actually passes serverconfig.txt to the server process. Keep the configuration outside temporary download directories so an update does not overwrite it.
Start the server
- Open the server directory and confirm that the world path, mod files, and enabled list are present.
- On Windows, run
start-tModLoaderServer.bator the launcher generated by your Dedicated Server Utils installation. - On Linux or in Docker, use the corresponding management-script or container startup workflow and ensure the persistent configuration directory is mounted.
- Watch the console until the server finishes loading the world and reports that it is listening for connections.
- Leave the console or service logs available during the first connection test; load errors and missing dependencies are easiest to diagnose there.
Do not close a terminal-hosted server by killing the process while players are active. Use the server’s normal save and shutdown behavior so the world has a chance to write its latest state.
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Open the firewall and router
Allow the local firewall
Create an inbound firewall rule for the server executable or for TCP port 7777, depending on how your operating system manages rules. The server runs on TCP 7777 by default. If you selected another port in serverconfig.txt, allow that port instead and make the same port visible to players.
Forward the port through NAT
Players on the same home network can normally connect to the server’s private LAN address. Players outside your network usually need a router port-forwarding rule that sends the chosen external TCP port to the server machine’s private address. Reserve the server machine’s LAN address in the router or assign it a stable address so the rule does not point to a different device after a reboot.
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Test from the right network
A test made from the same LAN can succeed even when the router does not permit outside connections. After a local test, ask a player on a different network to connect, or use another genuinely external connection. If the external test fails, check the router rule, the machine’s current private address, the firewall profile, and whether the server is listening on the port you forwarded.
Tell friends how to join
- Have every player install the same Terraria branch and tModLoader branch used by the server.
- Have them install Thorium and every dependency, then enable the same mod list and compatible versions.
- Start tModLoader and use its multiplayer join flow.
- Enter the server’s public IP address or hostname and the external TCP port, normally
7777. - Enter the server password if one is configured.
For players on the same network, provide the server machine’s private address instead. If the server uses a non-default port, include that port every time; a correct IP with the wrong port reaches the wrong service or nothing at all.
Begin with a small group. A two- or three-player test confirms the mod list, world path, firewall, and router before a larger session makes diagnosis harder.
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Choose between a home server, VPS, and managed host
Home Windows or Linux server
A home server is the least expensive direct option when you already have suitable hardware. You retain complete control over the mod files, world backups, server configuration, and update timing. The trade-off is operational responsibility: the machine must stay powered on, the operating system and tModLoader must be maintained, the router must forward the port, and someone must notice when the process stops.
This option suits a small group that plays from one region and has a reliable connection. It is less suitable when the host’s upload connection is unstable, the machine is shared with demanding workloads, or nobody can perform backups and restarts.
Docker on a VPS
A VPS provides an always-on Linux machine in a data center. Docker can make the deployment reproducible by separating the server files and dependencies from the host operating system, and it can simplify restarts when the container is configured correctly. You still need Linux and Docker knowledge, persistent storage, firewall rules, logs, and a plan for updating the image and mods.
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Choose a location geographically close to most players to reduce latency. Confirm that the VPS provider permits the required game traffic and gives you control of the firewall. A container is not a backup: copy worlds and configuration to separate storage or a separate location.
Managed Terraria or tModLoader hosting
A managed host is a company that provides server hosting for a fee. Its panel may offer automated restarts, file management, backups, and one-click mod installation, reducing the amount of system administration you perform. Before paying, verify that the plan supports Thorium, the required tModLoader branch, custom modpacks, your desired world size, and the number of players you expect.
Ask how often backups run, how long they are retained, whether you can download them, where the server is located, and what happens when a mod update breaks the world. Provider support, prices, locations, backup policies, and affiliate terms change, so confirm them on the current plan page rather than relying on an old description.
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Backups, updates, and routine maintenance
Back up the world before changes
- Stop the server cleanly before copying the
.wldfile. - Keep more than one dated backup and store at least one copy away from the server machine.
- Back up
serverconfig.txt,enabled.json,install.txt, and any modpack definition with the world. - Record the Terraria, tModLoader, Thorium, and dependency versions used for each backup.
Update as a controlled change
Do not update the server first and ask players to discover the new requirements during a session. Announce a maintenance window, stop the server, back up the world and configuration, update the selected branch and mod files, run the mod installation step, and then have one player verify a join before the full group returns. If the update fails, restore the previous files and the matching world backup rather than mixing old world data with a new mod set.
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Automated restarts are useful on a VPS or managed host, but configure them only after confirming that the process saves the world and that persistent storage is mounted. A restart loop can repeatedly launch a broken modpack and obscure the original error. Keep logs from the first failed start.
Troubleshoot the failures that matter most
The server will not start
- Confirm the Terraria and tModLoader branches match the intended client branch.
- Check that Thorium and every dependency are present in the installation directory.
- Open
install.txtandenabled.json; a missing entry or malformed list can leave the server without the required mod. - Verify the world path in
serverconfig.txtpoints to an existing.wldfile. - Read the first error in the server console or log rather than relying on the final cascade of messages.
Players get a version or mod mismatch
Compare the complete enabled list, not just Thorium’s name. The client and server need compatible versions of Thorium and its dependencies, the same tModLoader branch, and the same Terraria branch. Re-run the server’s mod installation step if a file is missing, then have players refresh their own mod files and enabled list.
Players cannot reach the server
- Confirm the server is listening on the configured port, normally TCP 7777.
- Check the operating-system firewall rule and the router’s port-forwarding destination.
- Verify that the router rule still points to the server’s current private IP address.
- Make sure remote players use the public IP or hostname, while local players use the private LAN address when appropriate.
- Test from an external network; a same-LAN success does not prove that NAT forwarding works.
The world loads slowly or the process runs out of memory
The documented 500 MB figure applies to a small world and does not define the requirement for every Thorium configuration. World size, player count, and the active mod set change memory use. Reduce simultaneous players, close unrelated workloads, and move to a machine with more available RAM if the operating system is swapping. Preserve the world backup before changing hardware or migrating hosts.
The server worked, then stopped after an update
Restore the last known-good combination of loader, Thorium, dependencies, enabled list, configuration, and world backup. A partial update can leave the server with new mod files but an old enabled list, or a new world state that cannot be opened by the previous branch. Treat the version set as one unit during rollback.
A launch checklist
- Terraria and tModLoader branches selected and recorded.
- Thorium version and dependencies verified against the current compatibility information.
install.txtcontains the required mods.enabled.jsonenables the same list that clients use.- A valid
.wldfile exists and has a backup. serverconfig.txtcontains the world path, player limit, port, password, and applicable mod settings.- The server starts through
start-tModLoaderServer.baton Windows or the corresponding Linux/Docker workflow. - The firewall allows the selected TCP port.
- The router forwards the external port to the server’s stable private address when remote players need access.
- A local join test and an external-network join test both succeed.
- Players have the same enabled mods and compatible versions before the session begins.
What should you use?
Use a home Windows or Linux server when you want maximum control and already have dependable hardware and a connection. Use a VPS with Docker when repeatable deployment and remote uptime matter and you are comfortable administering Linux. Use a managed Terraria/tModLoader host when reducing maintenance is worth a recurring fee, provided the host explicitly supports your Thorium branch, custom modpack, backups, and preferred location.
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