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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo make an Unturned LAN server, install the separate Unturned Dedicated Server (U3DS) tool, launch it with +LanServer/<ServerID>, wait until the console reports Loading level: 100%
, and invite players through Steam or give them the newly generated Server Code. Everyone joining a LAN server must be on the same home, school, or office network; Internet port forwarding is not required for local play.
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This guide covers Windows and Linux hosts, Steam Library and SteamCMD installation, world configuration, Workshop content, joining, saving, and the point at which a LAN setup becomes an Internet server.
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What you need before hosting
U3DS is installed separately from the normal Unturned game. The dedicated-server tool supports Windows and Linux; macOS is not supported as a hosting platform. The computer running U3DS is the host, and other players connect to it over the same local network.
- A Windows or Linux computer that can remain running while people play.
- U3DS installed through the Steam Library or SteamCMD.
- Unturned installed for each person who will play. Players do not need to run the game on the host machine at the same time, but the host needs the server tool.
- A shared LAN connection. Wired Ethernet can be preferable for a stationary host, while Wi-Fi is more convenient for portable systems.
- A unique ServerID, such as
MyServer, for this world.
Decide whether this is strictly local play. A LAN server and an Internet server use different launch modes and networking requirements, so do not configure port forwarding or Internet authentication unless people outside the local network must connect.
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Install the Unturned Dedicated Server
Install from the Steam Library
- Open Steam and switch to the Library.
- Find and install Unturned Dedicated Server (U3DS). It is a separate tool from the Unturned game.
- Open the installation folder after Steam finishes. You will place the launch script there in the next step.
This is the simplest option when you are running one server interactively on a Windows or Linux desktop. Steam handles the initial download and normal updates.
Install or update with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is useful for a headless machine, scripted maintenance, or multiple server installations. In SteamCMD, use the anonymous login and U3DS app ID shown below:
login anonymous
app_update 1110390
quitThe files are placed under steamapps/common/U3DS/. To update an existing installation, run app_update 1110390 again. Add validate when you want SteamCMD to check and repair the downloaded files:
app_update 1110390 validateRun these commands from the SteamCMD prompt. After installation, identify the U3DS directory because the Windows batch file or Linux shell command must be created or executed there.
Launch the server in LAN mode
The launch argument is what makes this a LAN server. Replace MyServer with the ServerID you want to use. The ID determines which saved-data and configuration directory U3DS uses; selecting a different ID creates a separate server setup rather than overwriting the first one.
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Windows
- In the U3DS folder, create a new text file.
- Rename it with a
.batextension, for exampleStartLAN.bat. Ensure Windows has not left it asStartLAN.bat.txt. - Put this line in the batch file:
start "" "%~dp0 ServerHelper.bat" +LanServer/MyServer- Save the file and double-click it to start the server.
The %~dp0 portion points the script at its own directory, allowing the batch file to remain in the U3DS folder when you move the installation. If you choose a different ServerID, change only the text after +LanServer/.
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Linux
- Open a terminal in the U3DS directory.
- Run the Linux helper script with the LAN argument:
./ServerHelper.sh +LanServer/MyServerIf the shell reports that the file cannot be executed, check that you are in the directory containing ServerHelper.sh and that the file has execute permission. The command and ServerID are otherwise the same concept as on Windows.
Complete the first startup
On the first launch, U3DS creates the server folders and default files. Do not try to join while the world is still loading. Wait for the console message Loading level: 100%
. Once that appears, the world is ready for connections.
For initial configuration, type Shutdown in the server console after the first load. This closes the server safely and leaves the generated files ready to edit. Keep the console window available whenever you need to issue server commands.
Configure the world before inviting anyone
U3DS stores each server under U3DS/Servers/<ServerID>/. For the example ID, the directory is U3DS/Servers/MyServer/. The main settings file is Server/Commands.dat inside that directory.
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Commands.dat accepts one command per line. Close the server before changing most settings, then restart it with the same LAN launch command. A basic configuration might look like this:
Name My Unturned Server
Map PEI
MaxPlayers 24
Owner YourSteamID64
Password ExamplePassword1234
PvE
Perspective Both
Port 27015Replace the example values rather than copying them unchanged. The following table explains what each line controls.
| Command | What it controls | What to check |
|---|---|---|
Name |
The name shown to players. | Use a recognizable name if several people see multiple servers. |
Map |
The world loaded by the server. | The map name must be valid. A misspelled or unavailable map prevents the intended world from loading. |
MaxPlayers |
The player-cap value for this server. | 24 is an example value, not a universal requirement; choose a limit appropriate for the host. |
Owner |
The owner and administrative identity. | Use the owner’s SteamID64, not a display name. |
Password |
A password required to enter. | Give it only to the intended group and change it by editing the file while the server is closed. |
PvE |
Enables player-versus-environment rules. | Leave the line out if you want the server’s normal player-versus-player behavior. |
Perspective |
Controls the camera perspectives available to players. | Both allows first- and third-person perspectives; use the value your group wants. |
Port |
The server’s network port. | 27015 is a common configured value. A LAN server does not need router forwarding for local access. |
Keep each setting on its own line and avoid adding punctuation to command names. After editing, save the file, relaunch the server, and wait for the 100-percent loading message again before testing.
Install Workshop maps and mods
Workshop content is configured separately from the ordinary map and gameplay commands. Add the relevant Steam Workshop file IDs to WorkshopDownloadConfig.json in the server’s configuration area. On startup, U3DS installs the listed mods and their dependencies. Players joining the server then download the required content automatically.
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Let friends join the LAN server
Confirm the server is ready
Keep the host running until the console says Loading level: 100%
. Starting a client connection earlier can make the server appear unavailable even though the process is still preparing the world.
Use Steam invitations
A server launched in LAN mode is visible by default to players on the same LAN connection. The host can use Steam’s invitation function to invite friends who are connected to that network. The invite route is usually the least error-prone option because it avoids manually transcribing an address.
Use the Server Code
U3DS also creates a 17-digit Server Code. Give the current code to your friends, then have them open Unturned’s direct-connection screen and enter it under Connect Directly. The code is generated for the running session and can change each time the server launches, so copy a fresh code after every restart.
If a friend cannot connect, first verify that both devices are on the same LAN rather than one being on a separate guest or cellular connection. Then check that the host has finished loading and that the launch script uses the +LanServer/<ServerID> form, not the Internet-server form.
Save the world and stop the server safely
Unturned does not provide built-in autosave according to the server setup documentation. Treat saving as an explicit host task.
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- While the server is running, click its console and type
Save, then press Enter. Wait for the command to finish before closing the window. - When you are finished playing, type
Shutdown. This saves and closes the server cleanly. - Only after the shutdown completes should you close the terminal or batch-process window.
Use Save before a planned restart, configuration edit, or operating-system update. A different ServerID points to a different saved-data directory, so always relaunch the same ID when you want to continue the existing world.
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LAN hosting versus Internet hosting
Port forwarding is not needed when every player is on the same local network. The router only needs to carry traffic between devices inside that network.
Direct access from outside the home or office is a separate setup. The port-forwarding documentation specifies two consecutive UDP ports for each server. The default pair is UDP 27015 and 27016, both forwarded to the host computer’s local IPv4 address. Forwarding only one port is incomplete.
The Internet-hosting setup also describes a Game Server Login Token and either Fake IP or port forwarding. Those authentication and exposure steps are not part of a LAN-only server. Do not switch to +InternetServer/<ServerID> merely because a friend is having trouble joining a local session; first resolve the LAN connection or use the current Server Code.
Choose the right installation and network arrangement
| Decision | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Library U3DS | A single desktop host where Steam’s graphical installation is convenient. | Less convenient for unattended operation and scripted multi-server management. |
| SteamCMD U3DS | Headless machines, repeatable updates, or multiple separate server directories. | Requires command-line installation and maintenance. |
| Windows host | Hosts already managed as Windows gaming PCs. | Uses a batch file and the Windows helper script syntax. |
| Linux host | Dedicated or headless systems managed from a terminal. | Uses the shell helper script and Linux permissions. |
| LAN-only | Friends playing in the same home, school, or office network. | People outside that network cannot connect directly. |
| Internet mode | Players connecting from other networks. | Requires additional authentication and network configuration, including two consecutive UDP ports when forwarding. |
| Wi-Fi | Portable hosts or rooms without convenient cabling. | Wireless conditions can be less consistent than a physical link. |
| Wired Ethernet | A stationary host where stability is the priority. | Requires a cable and a suitable router or switch connection. |
Troubleshoot the common failure points
The server does not appear in the LAN list
- Confirm every player is connected to the same LAN, not a different network or isolated connection.
- Wait for
Loading level: 100%
in the host console. - Check that the launch argument begins with
+LanServer/and includes the intended ServerID. - Restart the server after correcting the launch file, then distribute the new Server Code.
The Server Code no longer works
Copy the code again from the current server session. A new launch can produce a different 17-digit code, so an old code may point nowhere even when the server is healthy.
The wrong map loads or startup fails after a map change
- Check the spelling and availability of the
Mapvalue inCommands.dat. - For Workshop maps, verify that the map’s file ID and all required mod IDs are present in
WorkshopDownloadConfig.json. - Make configuration edits while the server is closed, then start it again and watch the console through the complete load.
Players are asked for content they do not have
Review the Workshop configuration and allow startup to install the listed items and dependencies. Joining players download the configured content automatically; an absent or incorrect file ID prevents that process from matching the server.
Progress is missing after a restart
Use the save-and-shutdown procedure before planned restarts and confirm that you are relaunching the same ServerID. Different IDs use different server folders, so they do not share a world.
Someone outside the LAN cannot connect
That is expected for a local-only setup. Internet players require the separate Internet-hosting configuration, including a Game Server Login Token and either Fake IP or forwarding both consecutive UDP ports to the host’s local IPv4 address.
Quick Recap
First-session checklist
- Install U3DS from Steam or with SteamCMD app ID
1110390. - Choose a ServerID and create the Windows batch file or Linux command using
+LanServer/<ServerID>. - Launch once, wait for
Loading level: 100%
, then useShutdown. - Edit
U3DS/Servers/<ServerID>/Server/Commands.datfor the name, map, player limit, owner, password, PvE, perspective, and port. - Add Workshop file IDs to
WorkshopDownloadConfig.jsonif the world needs custom maps or mods. - Start the same ServerID again and wait for the completed load.
- Invite players through Steam or provide the current 17-digit Server Code through Connect Directly.
- Type
Savebefore planned restarts andShutdownwhen the session ends.
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