The simplest private Unturned server uses the official Unturned Dedicated Server, a unique server ID, and a password in that instance’s Commands.dat. For friends on the same network, use the LAN/Steam Server Code route. For players outside your network, choose Fake IP or forward Unturned’s two consecutive ports and provide a Game Server Login Token.
Godlike.Host offers hosted Unturned servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
Choose the right private-server setup
“Private” means you control who can enter, usually with a password and a small player limit. The networking method determines how much configuration you need.
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| Approach | Who can connect | Router changes | Best for | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAN or Steam Server Code | People on your local network, or friends invited through Steam where supported | None in the usual setup | A short co-op session with friends | Only while the host computer is running |
| Fake IP | Players connecting over the Internet | Use the provider’s Fake IP route rather than direct forwarding | Internet play when you do not want to expose router ports | Requires an Internet server configuration and a Game Server Login Token |
| Port forwarding | Players connecting over the Internet | Forward two consecutive UDP ports and permit them through firewalls | Self-hosting from a home connection or VPS | Requires the host and network service to remain available |
Fake IP and port forwarding are alternatives. You do not normally configure both for the same connection method.
What you need before installing
- A Windows or Linux computer that can remain on while people are playing.
- The Unturned Dedicated Server application, installed from the Steam Library or through SteamCMD.
- A unique instance ID, such as
MyServer. - A password and the map and player limit you want to use.
- For Internet hosting, a Game Server Login Token, plus either Fake IP or router port forwarding.
- For direct forwarding, access to the router and the host computer’s firewall.
A home PC is adequate for occasional sessions. Linux is usually the better fit for an always-on machine or VPS because the supplied helper script can be managed as a system service.
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Install the Unturned Dedicated Server
Install from the Steam Library
- Open Steam and locate the Unturned Dedicated Server in your Library. Install it as an application separate from the normal game client.
- Choose a storage location with enough room for the server files, world saves, logs, and any future content.
- After installation, open the dedicated-server directory. You will create the individual server instance from this installation; you do not need a second copy of the application for every world.
This is the least complicated Windows route because Steam supplies the application and updates through the normal library interface.
Install with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is the advanced, scriptable installation path. Log in anonymously and install application ID 1110390:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 1110390 +quitThe dedicated-server files are placed in the U3DS directory. SteamCMD is useful on Linux, on a headless machine, or anywhere you want updates and startup to be repeatable from scripts.
Create a server instance
Every private world needs its own instance directory and configuration. Start the server with a unique ID, for example MyServer. On the first launch, Unturned creates the instance’s savedata and configuration directory. Keep the ID consistent: it is part of the launch command and the path to that instance’s Commands.dat.
Windows launch pattern
The documented Windows pattern uses batch mode and disables graphics:
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Unturned.exe -nographics -batchmode +secureserverServerReplace the final instance name with your own ID when you create a private world:
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteUnturned.exe -nographics -batchmode +secureserverMyServerRun this from the directory containing the dedicated-server executable, or use the full path to that executable. The first successful launch creates the configuration folders you will edit.
Linux launch pattern
Linux installations include ServerHelper.sh. Select the hosting mode and instance ID in the argument:
./ServerHelper.sh +LanServer/MyServerUse the Internet variant when the server must be reachable beyond the local network:
./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServerFor an always-on Linux host, place the helper-script command in a systemd service. Configure the service to start after the machine boots, restart if the process fails, and stop it cleanly during shutdown. This avoids leaving a terminal session open and gives you a standard place to view startup and shutdown logs.
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Set the password and core rules in Commands.dat
Open the Commands.dat file inside the instance directory created for MyServer. Put one setting on each line. The essential settings are the server name, map, player limit, and password.
Name My Friends Server
Map PEI
MaxPlayers 8
Password cedar-moon-42The password above is only an example; replace it with a value you can share privately. Do not publish it in a public server listing or reuse a password that protects another account.
What each setting controls
- Name: The label friends see when identifying the server.
- Map: The map loaded by this instance. Use the map’s exact internal name.
- MaxPlayers: The maximum number of simultaneous players. Set it to the size of your group rather than leaving capacity open.
- Password: The gate for joining. Anyone without the exact value should be rejected.
For administrative control, add an Owner setting followed by the administrator’s SteamID64. Use the SteamID64 belonging to the person who should receive owner-level commands; do not substitute a display name or a shorter Steam nickname.
Save the file before starting the instance. If a setting appears to have no effect, stop the server, check spelling and capitalization, confirm that you edited the selected instance’s file rather than another server’s file, and start it again.
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Start a LAN server for nearby friends
- Start the instance with the LAN mode for your platform. On Linux, that is
./ServerHelper.sh +LanServer/MyServer; on Windows, use the dedicated executable with the instance path and batch-mode switches. - Wait for the server process to finish loading the map and report that it is ready for connections.
- Give friends the password from
Commands.dat. - Have them find the server through Steam friends or join with the randomly generated Steam Server Code shown by the server.
This is the lowest-effort private setup because it avoids direct router configuration. The host still has to keep the server process running, and friends must be able to reach the host through the local network or the Steam-assisted route being used.
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Make the server reachable over the Internet
The official hosting guidance requires an Internet server to use either Fake IP or port forwarding. It also requires a Game Server Login Token for Internet hosting. Configure the token for the server instance before asking people outside your network to connect.
Option 1: Fake IP
Choose the Fake IP route when you want Internet connectivity without manually exposing the host computer through your router. Start the instance as an Internet server, supply the required Game Server Login Token, and give friends the connection information produced by that hosting mode. Because availability and behavior depend on the service providing the Fake IP, follow its current setup instructions and verify that the instance is actually published before troubleshooting local ports.
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Direct forwarding uses two consecutive ports. The documented defaults are 27015 and 27016. If you set a custom Port value, Unturned uses that port and the next one.
- Give the host computer a stable local address, preferably with a router DHCP reservation, so the forwarding rule does not point to a different machine later.
- In the server instance configuration, use the desired
Portvalue, or keep the defaults. - Forward both ports in the router: the selected port and the immediately following port. Forward them to the host computer using the protocol required by your router’s Unturned rule.
- Allow the same ports through the host operating system’s firewall and any firewall supplied by a VPS or hosting provider.
- Start the server in Internet mode and provide the Game Server Login Token required by the official guide.
- Test from a different network, such as a friend’s connection or a phone hotspot. Testing from inside the same LAN can produce a false failure when the router lacks NAT loopback.
Forwarding only 27015 is incomplete; the second consecutive port is part of the documented requirement. If you change the base port later, update the router and firewall rules together.
Let friends join without accidentally opening the server
- Share the password through a private message, not a public post.
- Give friends the exact server name or Steam Server Code; names can be duplicated.
- For Internet play, share only the connection information needed for your selected Fake IP or forwarding method.
- Keep
MaxPlayersat the intended group size and remove the password only for a deliberate public test. - Do not give the owner SteamID64 setting to every player. Add only the administrator who should control the instance.
A private password controls admission, while the owner setting controls administration. They solve different problems and should be configured separately.
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Windows versus Linux: which host should you use?
| Factor | Windows | Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Most approachable for a first server through the Steam Library | Best suited to SteamCMD and a headless machine |
| Access scope | Supports LAN, Fake IP, and forwarded Internet hosting | Supports the same dedicated-server modes |
| Uptime | Runs while the desktop PC and server process are on | Works well on an always-on computer or VPS |
| Automation | Usually started manually or with a Windows task | ServerHelper.sh can be placed under systemd for automatic startup and graceful shutdown |
| Maintenance | Steam Library updates are straightforward | SteamCMD makes repeatable updates practical, but you must maintain the service and operating system |
Choose Windows when you will host occasionally from the same computer on which you play. Choose Linux when uptime, unattended restarts, or a separate VPS matters more than a graphical setup.
Troubleshoot the common failure points
The server starts, but the settings are unchanged
- Confirm that the instance ID in the launch command matches the directory whose
Commands.datyou edited. - Check that each setting is on its own line and that the file was saved before startup.
- Stop the process fully and start it again after changing the file.
Friends on the same network cannot join
- Verify that the server finished loading and is running in LAN mode.
- Check the host firewall and permit the dedicated-server executable or the configured ports on the private network.
- Have friends use the Steam Server Code or Steam-friends route rather than guessing a local address.
- Confirm that everyone is using the same server password and that the server is not already at
MaxPlayers.
Internet players time out
- Confirm that the instance is running in Internet mode, not only LAN mode.
- Check that a Game Server Login Token is configured; Internet hosting requires one.
- For forwarding, verify both consecutive ports, the host’s local address, and firewall rules on the router, host, and VPS.
- Test from outside the home network. A successful local test does not prove that the public route works.
- If you selected Fake IP, verify that the service has generated and published its connection information before changing router rules.
The password is rejected
Retype it exactly as it appears in Commands.dat, including capitalization and punctuation. Make sure you are connecting to the intended server instance; duplicate names can make a correct password appear to fail.
Updates, backups, and safe shutdowns
Update the dedicated-server application through Steam or by rerunning SteamCMD’s app_update 1110390 command. Stop the instance cleanly before updating so world data is not being written while files change.
Back up the instance’s savedata and configuration directory before major updates or configuration changes. Keep at least one known-good copy of Commands.dat and the world save. If an update causes a problem, restore the backup only after stopping the server and preserving the current files for diagnosis.
For Linux, a systemd-managed process provides consistent startup and shutdown behavior. For a desktop Windows host, create a repeatable launch shortcut or script containing the same instance ID and switches each time; starting a different ID can make it appear that a world or password has disappeared.
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Quick decision checklist
- Only nearby friends? Install the dedicated server, create an instance, set
Password, and use LAN or the Steam Server Code. - Friends outside your network? Start an Internet server, obtain a Game Server Login Token, then choose Fake IP or forwarding.
- Using forwarding? Forward the configured base port and the next consecutive port, with matching firewall rules.
- Need an always-on world? Run the Linux helper script under systemd on a machine that stays online.
- Need admin commands? Add the administrator’s SteamID64 to the instance’s
Ownersetting.
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