TShock turns a Terraria dedicated server into an administrable, permission-controlled server with logging, bans, server-side characters, and plugin support. A reliable setup has four checkpoints: download the build that matches your Terraria version, extract it into a writable server folder, complete the first-run authentication flow, and protect the resulting world and database with backups.
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What you need before installing TShock
TShock is a server application, not a Terraria client mod. Players still use Terraria, while TShock runs alongside the dedicated server process and adds permissions, commands, authentication, logging, server-side character options, and plugins.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- A legal Terraria installation or server-capable host.
- A machine that can remain online for the sessions you want to host.
- File-system access to create a dedicated server directory and write configuration files.
- The TShock release that explicitly matches the Terraria protocol used by your clients.
- A runtime supported by that particular release.
- Permission to open the listening port in the host firewall or router if players will connect from outside your local network.
Match the release, Terraria, runtime, and plugins
Release compatibility is volatile. The official Pryaxis/TShock releases page listed TShock 6.2.1 for Terraria 1.4.5.8, released September 27, 2026, when this guide was prepared. That is a dated example, not a permanent version recommendation: check the release title and notes immediately before installing.
Do not assume that a newer or older Terraria executable will work with an existing TShock binary. The server, every connecting client, and any plugin that hooks server internals must agree on the supported protocol and major version.
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The older official getting-started documentation lists Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 for Windows and Mono 4 or newer for Linux, BSD, and other UNIX systems. Current major releases may require a newer .NET runtime. Use the runtime note packaged with the release you actually download rather than installing an old runtime solely because an older page mentions it.
Choose where the server will run
You can run TShock on a computer at home, on a virtual private server, or through a managed game-server provider. The software is the same; the operational responsibilities differ.
| Option | Control over files, plugins, and runtime | Maintenance and networking | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local computer | Complete control over worlds, configuration, database, runtime, and plugins. | You handle power, operating-system updates, backups, firewall rules, and router forwarding. Friends can connect only while the machine and network are reachable. | Testing, private worlds, and small groups that already have an always-on computer. |
| VPS | Usually full administrator access and flexible file or runtime changes. | You handle the operating system, security updates, firewall, process supervision, backups, and capacity planning. The data-center region affects player latency. | Operators who want a persistent public server and are comfortable administering Linux or Windows. |
| Managed hosting | Control depends on the provider’s panel and supported TShock builds; custom runtimes or plugins may be restricted. | The provider commonly supplies a control panel and network address, while you still need to configure TShock, permissions, worlds, and plugin compatibility. Backup retention and restore features vary. | Owners who value a simpler control panel over low-level control. |
Compare these choices by file and plugin access, setup effort, who owns backups, firewall and port handling, CPU and RAM capacity, geographic latency, recurring cost, and whether you can change the runtime or database path. No universal player limit or performance figure applies: world size, plugins, simulation load, hardware, and network conditions all matter.
Install TShock from a release archive
1. Download a compatible release
Open the official Pryaxis/TShock releases page and select the archive whose title names your Terraria version. Read the release notes for runtime requirements, platform-specific instructions, and known breaking changes. Keep the archive until the server has started successfully so you can identify exactly which build is installed.
2. Create a dedicated, writable folder
Make a directory used only for this server, such as a folder under your home directory or a dedicated data volume. Avoid protected operating-system locations where the server cannot write its database or logs. Give the account that will run TShock read and write access to this directory.
3. Extract the complete archive
Fully extract the archive into the dedicated folder before launching anything. The official documentation emphasizes: Be sure to extract the archive!
Running an executable directly from a compressed archive can make settings appear to vanish when the process exits, because the application may not be writing to a normal persistent directory.
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After extraction, you should see the server executable and the files supplied by the release. The executable’s exact filename differs by release and operating system; do not rename supporting files unless the release instructions tell you to.
4. Install the required runtime
Install the runtime identified in the selected release’s notes. On Windows this may be a .NET installation; on Linux, BSD, or another UNIX-like system it may be a supported .NET or Mono runtime. If the process reports a missing framework or assembly, stop and install the version it requests instead of copying random DLLs into the TShock folder.
5. Start the server and choose a world
Run the included server executable from the extracted directory. The first launch prompts you to select an existing world or create one. Choose a world suitable for the intended player count and make a note of its file location.
When asked for a listening port, use 7777 unless you have a specific reason to change it. TShock’s official documentation identifies 7777 as the default Terraria server port. A different port is valid, but every local client, firewall rule, router rule, and connection instruction must use the same number.
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<server-executable> -world "/path/to/world.wld" -autocreate 2 -port 7777 -configpath "/path/to/config"Replace the executable and paths with real values for your platform. If you omit -world, use the interactive world selector or the release’s normal world configuration.
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Complete first-run authentication and become an administrator
1. Test from the same machine
Before opening the server to the internet, start Terraria on the server computer and connect to 127.0.0.1 or localhost on the selected port. A local connection separates TShock setup problems from router and firewall problems.
2. Copy the temporary setup code
The server console prints a one-time authentication or setup code during first run. Treat it as a secret. Do not post it in a chat, commit it to a script, or send it to another player.
3. Use the command printed by your version
TShock’s command name has changed between major versions. Older official instructions use /auth, while newer releases may use /setup. In the Terraria chat, enter the command and code exactly as the running server prints them. For example, a release may show a form similar to /setup 123456; an older release may show /auth 123456. The displayed command is authoritative for your build.
4. Create a named administrator
After authentication, follow the server’s prompts or help text to create a named administrator account. Use a long, unique password that is not used for Steam, email, or any other service. A named account is safer and easier to audit than sharing the temporary code or relying on an unnamed console identity.
Many releases expose account commands in forms such as /user add <name> <password>, assigning the account to an administrative group, and /login <name> <password>. Exact syntax and group names can differ, so run /help in the server and use the commands shown by your version rather than blindly pasting an example.
5. Log in and disable setup mode
Log in with the new account, verify that an administrative command works, and then turn off setup mode using the instruction supplied by the release. Some versions provide a form such as /setup off; others expose a different command. Leaving setup enabled allows additional setup authentication and is an avoidable security risk.
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Configure the server before inviting players
On first run TShock creates a tshock directory. Important files commonly include:
config.jsonfor server behavior such as the name, password, player limit, permissions-related settings, bans, and logging.sscconfig.jsonfor server-side-character policy and related character controls.tshock.sqlite, the SQLite database containing TShock-managed data such as users, groups, permissions, and bans.- The configured plugin directory, where compatible server-side extension assemblies are placed.
Open configuration files only while the server is stopped or use the documented in-game commands. Editing a file while the process is writing it can discard changes or leave a malformed JSON file. If you relocate configuration and database data, use -configpath and confirm that the new directory is writable before deleting the original.
Server identity and access
Set a recognizable server name and decide whether a connection password is appropriate. A password helps a private group, but it is not a replacement for TShock accounts and permissions. Set a player limit that the machine and network can handle rather than choosing a number solely because the setting permits it.
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Review the default groups and grant only the commands each role needs. Keep superadministrator privileges for the owner or a very small trusted group. Configure bans and logging before public play so moderation actions have an audit trail. Test a normal player account to confirm it cannot run administrative commands.
Server-side characters
Decide whether to enforce server-side characters. This policy affects how player inventories and progression are stored and is especially important for public worlds. Explain the policy to players before they join; changing it later can alter how characters are accepted or saved.
Open the port for remote players
Local testing
If everyone plays on the same computer, use localhost. If players are on the same home network, they generally connect to the server machine’s private address. Local testing does not require exposing the server to the public internet.
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Home network or firewall access
For internet players, allow the selected Terraria port through the host operating-system firewall and forward that port on the router to the server machine’s private address. The forwarding rule must point to the correct device and remain valid if the device’s local address changes. Tell players the public address and port, not the private 192.168.x.x or similar address.
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Only expose the port when needed. Keep operating-system updates current, restrict administrative access, and avoid placing unrelated services on the same publicly reachable machine. If local connections work but friends cannot join, the TShock process is often healthy and the remaining fault is the firewall, router forwarding, public address, or an upstream carrier-grade NAT limitation.
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Plugins are server-side extensions loaded by TShock. They are not tModLoader mods, and .tmod files or Steam Workshop mod collections cannot be dropped into TShock’s plugin folder.
Check compatibility before copying a DLL
Use a plugin built for the exact TShock and Terraria major/protocol combination. A plugin compiled for another release may fail during startup, silently disable a feature, corrupt data, or prevent the server from loading. Read the plugin’s own installation notes for required dependencies and configuration files.
Install and load
- Stop the server and make a backup of the current installation and database.
- Place the compatible plugin DLL and any documented dependency in the configured plugin directory.
- Start the server, or use the plugin’s documented reload command if that release supports safe reloads.
- Watch the console for a successful load message, warnings, and stack traces.
- Test the plugin with a non-administrator account before granting players access to its commands.
If a plugin fails, remove it or move it out of the plugin directory, restart, and read the console and log. Do not keep adding unrelated DLLs while the server is in a failed state; isolate one change at a time.
Back up, upgrade, and recover
What to back up
Stop the server before copying data. Keep a dated, restorable copy of the world files, tshock.sqlite, the entire tshock directory, configuration files, and plugins. Include logs when you may need to investigate bans, crashes, or a failed migration. Store at least one copy away from the server machine and periodically test that the archive can actually be opened.
How to perform an upgrade
- Announce downtime and stop the TShock process cleanly.
- Copy the complete backup described above.
- Read the new release notes and confirm that its Terraria protocol and runtime are suitable for your clients.
- Extract the new release archive and overwrite the installation with the release files, as the official upgrade guidance describes. Do not overwrite your only backup.
- Review plugin compatibility and remove extensions that have not been rebuilt for the new server version.
- Start the server privately, inspect the console, connect locally, and verify worlds, accounts, permissions, and plugins.
- Reopen the public port only after the local test succeeds.
Rollback after a bad upgrade
Stop the failed server, move the broken installation aside, restore the complete pre-upgrade copy, and start that known-good version. If the old files start but a plugin does not, leave the plugin disabled and choose a release or replacement explicitly compatible with the server before trying again.
Troubleshoot by symptom
| Symptom | Checks and corrective action |
|---|---|
| The server will not start | Confirm the runtime named by the selected release, verify executable permissions on Linux or other UNIX-like systems, run it from the extracted directory, and check whether another process already occupies the configured port. |
| Settings disappear after shutdown | Make sure the archive was fully extracted and that the account running TShock can write to the installation and configuration directories. Do not launch from inside a compressed archive. |
| Local connection fails | Confirm the server finished loading a world, use 127.0.0.1 with the same port shown in the console, and check that the client and server Terraria versions are compatible. |
| Local connection works but friends cannot join | Check the host firewall, router forwarding, public address, selected port, and whether the internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT. Verify that forwarding targets the current private address of the server. |
| The authentication command is rejected | Use the command and temporary code printed by the running release. Major versions have used /auth and /setup variants; do not substitute one for the other without checking the version’s help text. |
| A plugin fails to load | Remove or update the plugin, verify its target TShock and Terraria versions, check required dependencies, and read the server console and log for the first error rather than the final cascade of messages. |
| An upgrade breaks worlds or commands | Stop the server, restore the complete backup, then select a release that explicitly matches the Terraria protocol and replace or rebuild incompatible plugins. |
Security practices for a public TShock server
- Use stable, supported releases and apply updates after testing them privately.
- Use a unique, long password for every administrator account; never reuse a superadministrator password elsewhere.
- Never publish the temporary setup or authentication code.
- Grant the minimum permissions required and periodically remove inactive accounts.
- Limit public exposure to the Terraria port and restrict administrative access wherever your hosting environment allows it.
- Keep tested backups of worlds, the TShock database, configuration, and plugins.
- Monitor logs for repeated login failures, unexpected commands, crashes, or suspicious inventory changes.
Pryaxis’ security overview notes that protocol defects can still lead to crashes, item duplication, or denial-of-service conditions even in supported patched versions. Keeping TShock and Terraria current reduces known risk, but it does not make an internet-facing server risk-free.
Quick Recap
Final pre-launch checklist
- The TShock release title matches the Terraria version used by the server and clients.
- The required runtime is installed and the archive is extracted into a writable folder.
- The world loads and the selected port is recorded.
- A local connection succeeds before public networking is enabled.
- The temporary code was used once, a named administrator was created, and setup mode was disabled.
- Server name, password policy, player limit, permissions, bans, logging, and server-side-character settings are intentional.
- Every plugin is built for this TShock/Terraria combination and loads without console errors.
- Worlds,
tshock.sqlite, thetshockfolder, configuration, and plugins exist in a restorable backup. - Firewall and router rules expose only the selected Terraria port, and remote players can connect using the correct public address.
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