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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Install the separate 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server tool through SteamCMD, not the player client. The dedicated-server App ID is 294420; App ID 251570 is the game you launch to play. After downloading the files, copy and edit a custom serverconfig.xml, start the supplied script with that file, forward the configured ports, and test from outside your home network.
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What you need before installing
A dedicated server can run on a spare Windows or Linux computer, a virtual machine, or a rented game-server instance. The host must remain powered on whenever people want to play. Reserve enough disk space for the server files, generated worlds, saves, logs, backups, and any server-side mods you add later.
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The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- A stable internet connection and a fixed local IP address for the server machine.
- Administrator access to install SteamCMD, create firewall rules, and edit the server files.
- A separate SteamCMD installation directory and a dedicated directory for the 7 Days to Die server.
- A way to back up saves, configuration files, administrator permissions, and mods before updates.
- Players running a client build compatible with the server build.
Running the process as a dedicated, non-login service account is the safer Linux arrangement. On Windows, use a separate local account when practical and avoid granting more permissions than the service needs.
Choose the right Steam app
Steam distributes the player game and the dedicated server as different applications. Install App ID 294420 for the server. App ID 251570 installs the player client and is not a substitute for the server tool. SteamCMD can download the dedicated server anonymously, so you do not need to sign in with a personal Steam account for this installation.
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Install the server on Linux
1. Create a service account and directories
Install SteamCMD using your distribution’s package method or the official SteamCMD files, then create a non-login account and a directory owned by that account. The example below uses the account name sdtd and installs into /home/sdtd/7dtd-server; substitute your own paths.
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/sdtd/7dtd-server
+login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit+force_install_dir selects the destination, +login anonymous uses anonymous access, and +app_update 294420 validate downloads or repairs the dedicated-server files. The final +quit closes SteamCMD after the operation.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2. Preserve a custom configuration
Move into the installation directory and copy the shipped configuration before changing it:
cd /home/sdtd/7dtd-server
cp serverconfig.xml myserver.xmlKeeping your edits in myserver.xml separates your settings from the vendor-supplied default. This matters because an app update can replace files that ship with the server package.
3. Start the server with the copied file
./startserver.sh -configfile=myserver.xmlRun the script as the service account. For unattended operation, invoke it from a systemd service, a supervisor, or another restart wrapper. The wrapper should stop cleanly, start the process again after a crash, and write logs somewhere you can inspect.
Install the server on Windows
1. Install SteamCMD and download App ID 294420
Extract SteamCMD to a working directory such as C:steamcmd. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:
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steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:7dtd-server +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quitUse a path with sufficient free space and grant the account running the server read and write access to that directory.
2. Copy both the configuration and launch script
The installation includes serverconfig.xml and startdedicated.bat. Copy the configuration to a name such as myserver.xml. Copy the batch file as well if you want your local launch settings to survive future updates. Edit the copied batch file so its -configfile argument points to myserver.xml, then launch that copy rather than the original.
Keep the console window or run the batch file through Task Scheduler, a service wrapper, or PowerShell automation if the machine must restart the server automatically. Make sure the account has permission to write saves and logs.
Configure serverconfig.xml safely
Use a text editor that preserves XML syntax. Do not edit the shipped file when a custom copy is available. If an update provides new settings, compare the new default with your copy and merge only the changes you understand.
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Settings to decide before the first launch
- Server name: Choose a unique, recognizable name so players can identify the correct listing.
- World and game name: Select the intended world and save-game name before anyone begins playing. Changing these later can create a different save or make an existing world appear missing.
- Password: Set a strong password for a private or friends-only server. Share it through a private channel rather than placing it in a public listing.
- Save location and capacity: Plan for world growth, backups, logs, and temporary update files. A nearly full disk can stop saves or prevent an update from completing.
Older guides often list XML properties from earlier branches. The current V3 guidance warns that legacy properties may no longer control every gameplay value. Treat the configuration shipped with your installed build and the documentation for that branch as authoritative; do not paste a large block of old settings without checking each property.
Open the firewall and forward the game ports
The commonly documented default player ports are TCP 26900 and UDP 26900–26902. These are defaults, not a promise that every branch or custom setup uses the same values. Confirm the active port settings in your configuration before creating rules.
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| Traffic | Default ports | Where to allow or forward |
|---|---|---|
| Game connection | TCP 26900 | Host firewall and router/NAT to the server’s fixed local IP |
| Game and related UDP traffic | UDP 26900–26902 | Host firewall and router/NAT to the same server IP |
Assign a stable local address
Create a DHCP reservation in the router or configure a correctly managed static address for the server. A forward aimed at an address that changes after a reboot will eventually point to the wrong computer.
Create host-firewall rules
Allow the configured TCP and UDP ports on the operating system firewall. Match the protocol exactly: opening TCP does not open UDP, and opening UDP does not open TCP. Restrict the rule to the server program or the intended network profiles where your operating system permits that level of control.
Create router/NAT rules
Forward each required port or range from the public interface to the server’s fixed local IP. Do not forward to a different gaming PC, and check whether the router has separate fields for TCP, UDP, or both. If you change the configured game port, update the firewall and router rules together.
A wired connection between the host and router is useful for consistency, but the server can work over another stable network path. The important requirements are a reachable host, correct forwarding, and adequate upstream bandwidth for the number of players you expect.
Launch and verify the server
- Start the Linux script or your copied Windows batch file with the custom configuration.
- Watch the console and log output for XML parsing errors, a failure to bind the port, or a save-directory permission error.
- Confirm that the process is listening on the configured TCP and UDP ports on the server machine.
- From a computer on the same network, try a local connection only as an initial check. A successful local connection does not prove that internet players can join.
- Ask a player on a different network, such as a mobile hotspot, to find and join the server. Testing from outside the LAN verifies the router path and public reachability.
If the server appears in a listing but joining fails, check the server log at the exact time of the attempt. A port that is open on the host but not forwarded at the router produces a different failure pattern from a server that never started.
Troubleshoot connection failures in order
The server is not listening
- Confirm that the launch script points to the file you actually edited.
- Fix XML syntax errors, file ownership, and write permissions.
- Check that another process is not already using the configured port.
- Read the startup log for a failed bind, missing dependency, or early crash.
The host firewall blocks players
Verify separate TCP and UDP rules for every active port. Temporarily testing with a narrowly scoped rule can identify a firewall problem, but restore a restrictive rule after the test rather than leaving the firewall disabled.
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The router sends traffic to the wrong machine
Compare the forwarding destination with the server’s current local IP. Rebooting the server or router can expose a stale DHCP address if no reservation exists.
The ISP uses CGNAT
Some internet providers place customers behind carrier-grade NAT, so the router has no directly reachable public address. In that case, ordinary port forwarding cannot accept unsolicited inbound connections. Ask the provider whether a public IPv4 address or an alternative inbound service is available, or use a managed host that supplies public reachability.
A same-LAN test works but an outside test fails
This usually points to NAT, firewall, or ISP routing rather than the game configuration itself. Repeat the test from a genuinely different network and verify the public address and forwarding destination.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Update the server without losing your settings
Stop the server cleanly and back up the save directory, custom configuration, serveradmin.xml, and Mods/ directory before maintenance. Then run the same SteamCMD update command again:
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/sdtd/7dtd-server
+login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quitOn Windows, run the equivalent steamcmd.exe command with your Windows installation path. The validate option checks and repairs downloaded files; it does not replace the need for backups.
Schedule restarts during a maintenance window and tell players when the server will be unavailable. If you intentionally use an experimental or pinned branch, specify that branch deliberately in your SteamCMD workflow and record the choice so an unattended update does not silently move to a different build.
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After updating, compare the new shipped configuration with your custom file, review the release notes for changed properties, launch the server, and perform an external connection test. Every client must run a compatible build; a client that is ahead of or behind the server can be refused or behave unpredictably.
Automate restarts and backups
Restart wrapper
A batch file, PowerShell script, systemd unit, or equivalent supervisor can restart the process after a crash and start it automatically after a machine reboot. Add a short delay between attempts so a malformed configuration does not create a tight crash loop. Keep the wrapper separate from files SteamCMD may replace.
Backup set
- The complete save directory for each world.
- Your custom
serverconfig.xmlcopy and any launch scripts. serveradmin.xmland other permission files.- The server’s
Mods/directory and a record of each mod version. - A dated copy stored on a different disk or host from the live server.
Test restoring a copy on a separate installation before relying on it. A backup that has never been restored is only an assumption.
Manage administrators and mods
Administrator permissions
Use serveradmin.xml for administrator permissions rather than granting broad operating-system access. Limit the list to trusted Steam IDs and remove IDs that no longer need control. Keep this file in the backup set and review it when ownership or staff changes.
Server-side mods
Place server-side mods in the server’s Mods/ directory. Keep client and server mod versions aligned, document the installation order when a mod requires one, and back up the directory before changing it. A mod update can be as disruptive as a game update, so change one variable at a time when troubleshooting.
Moving to another machine
Stop the old server, copy the save directory and relevant Mods/ directory, transfer the custom configuration and administrator file, and install the same or a compatible server build on the new host. Update the router and firewall rules to the new machine’s fixed local IP before testing from an outside network.
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Self-hosting is appropriate when you already have an always-on machine and want complete control over files, settings, mods, update timing, and network policy. It also makes you responsible for uptime, operating-system updates, port forwarding, backups, security, and troubleshooting.
Managed hosting is the practical alternative when you prefer a control panel or provider support. The provider normally supplies the machine and public network path, while you still need to choose settings, manage permissions, and verify that the service supports the mods and branch you intend to use.
| Decision factor | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Direct access to files, scripts, operating system, and update timing | Control-panel and provider limits may apply |
| Network work | You configure the local firewall, router/NAT, and public reachability | Provider supplies the public endpoint; you configure in-panel options |
| Maintenance | You handle SteamCMD updates, restarts, security, and recovery | Provider handles much of the machine maintenance; read its update policy |
| Mods | Install and version the Mods/ directory yourself |
Check supported mod types, upload limits, and version controls |
| Backups | You design, store, and test backups | Compare retention, restore procedure, and whether backups cost extra |
| Location and players | Bound by your home’s geography and upstream connection | Choose an available data-center location and player-slot plan |
| Cost | Uses your hardware, electricity, and internet service | Requires a recurring provider charge; exact prices vary by location and plan |
Before renting, confirm the supported game branch, player-slot limits, geographic location, mod policy, backup retention, update timing, cancellation terms, and how you can download your save if you leave. Before self-hosting, confirm that your ISP permits inbound connections and that your hardware can remain online.
Quick Recap
Operational checklist
- Install App ID 294420, not the player client.
- Run the server under a dedicated account where possible.
- Copy
serverconfig.xmlto a custom filename and launch with-configfile. - Choose a unique name, world, game name, password, and save location.
- Verify active ports; the commonly documented defaults are TCP 26900 and UDP 26900–26902.
- Reserve the server’s local IP and match router forwards to it.
- Allow the correct protocols through the host firewall.
- Test from a different network, not only from the same LAN.
- Back up saves, configuration, administrator permissions, and mods before updates.
- Re-run SteamCMD for maintenance and keep client and server builds compatible.
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