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Yes. Garry’s Mod supports online and LAN multiplayer, including cooperative and player-versus-player play. For a small group, the quickest setup is a peer-to-peer listen server launched with Start New Game; Steam friends can be invited or use Join Game. You can also browse public servers, or run a dedicated server when you need a persistent, independently managed world.
Which method is best depends on whether you want a private session in minutes, a public game with strangers, or a server that stays configured for a community. The steps below cover each route, the requirements that can stop someone joining, and the fixes for common browser, firewall, version, and addon problems.
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What multiplayer modes does Garry’s Mod support?
Steam lists Garry’s Mod with Online PvP, LAN PvP, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op, and Cross-Platform Multiplayer features. The game is a physics sandbox rather than a single objective-driven campaign. As the Steam description puts it, there are no predefined aims or goals: players get tools and decide what to build or play. In multiplayer, the actual experience is determined largely by the map, gamemode, server rules, and addons in use.
- Online co-op: Play sandbox, role-play, survival, or other modes with people over the internet.
- Online PvP: Join competitive or combat-focused servers.
- LAN play: Discover games on the same local network.
- Peer-to-peer hosting: Let one player’s game act as the host for a private session.
- Dedicated hosting: Run a separate server process for a persistent or larger community session.
Steam’s store listing also identifies cross-platform multiplayer, but it does not specify a complete platform-by-platform compatibility matrix. Treat that label as evidence that cross-platform functionality is offered, not as a promise that every device combination or addon works together. A server’s gamemode and Workshop content can impose additional compatibility conditions.
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How do I play Garry’s Mod with friends quickly?
Use a peer-to-peer session from the main menu. Valve’s July 6, 2016 update says servers created through Start New Game can use Steam P2P networking and, on most networks, friends can connect without manual port forwarding.
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Set up a private peer-to-peer game
- Add everyone you want to play with to your Steam friends list.
- Launch Garry’s Mod and choose Start New Game.
- Select a map and gamemode. Set the player limit for your group.
- Enable Peer-To-Peer. If strangers should be excluded, also enable Peer-To-Peer: Friends Only.
- Start the game and wait until the map has loaded.
- Open the Steam friends list and invite players, or have them open your profile and choose Join Game when the session is visible.
The friends-only option was added in Valve’s October 10, 2016 update. It is the simplest way to keep a casual session limited to people connected to the host on Steam without configuring a public server. Before inviting everyone, agree on the map, gamemode, and any required addons; doing so prevents players from downloading different content or joining a session they cannot load.
What the host controls
The host chooses the map, gamemode, player limit, and any content loaded into the session. Changing those choices generally requires starting a new game or changing the relevant server settings. The host’s computer is also the active game server for this type of session, so closing the game ends that session for everyone. If the group wants a world that remains available when one person is away, use a dedicated server instead.
For a first test, start with the default Sandbox gamemode and a standard map. Once everyone can connect, add Workshop content one collection or addon at a time. This makes it easier to identify which map, script, or model causes a download or connection problem.
Can I play with friends without port forwarding?
Usually, yes for a peer-to-peer game. Valve’s documentation says Steam P2P allows friends to connect to a server started from Start New Game without special network configuration such as port forwarding on most networks.
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How do I invite someone to my Garry’s Mod server?
Start the session first, then use Steam’s social overlay or friends list to invite the person. A friend can also select your profile and use Join Game if the session is discoverable.
- Confirm both players are signed in to Steam and appear on each other’s friends lists.
- Make sure the host actually started the game with Peer-To-Peer enabled.
- Use Peer-To-Peer: Friends Only when the session should not appear as an open public game.
- If an invite does nothing, have the friend try Join Game from your Steam profile after the map has loaded.
- When neither method works, update the game and check firewall permissions on the host and joining computer.
Facepunch identifies firewall blocking as one possible reason a player cannot connect. Allow Garry’s Mod and Steam through the operating system’s firewall, then restart the game before testing the invitation again. If the host changes maps or restarts the session, send a new invite because the old join target may no longer be active.
How do I join a public Garry’s Mod server?
The built-in server browser is the normal route for public multiplayer. It lets you filter by gamemode and inspect a server’s current state before connecting.
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- Choose a gamemode, then select a server from the results.
- Compare the displayed ping, current player count, map, and server ranking.
- Click Join Server.
- Allow Garry’s Mod to download any files the server makes available to clients.
The browser includes Internet, Local Network, History, Favorites, and Legacy Browser views. Internet is for servers on the wider web; Local Network is useful when another machine is hosting on the same LAN; History and Favorites help you return to servers you have already found. Legacy Browser is particularly useful when the simplified list produces no usable results.
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Read the server name, map, gamemode, and player count before joining. A high-ranked server is not necessarily the best fit for your group: rules, required addons, voice-chat expectations, and external game dependencies vary. Let the initial file download finish instead of cancelling it midway, or the client may reconnect without the map or scripts it needs.
Why might a public server ask for another Source game?
Some servers and gamemodes depend on assets from other Source titles. Steam warns that a multiplayer server may require ownership of games such as Counter-Strike: Source or Team Fortress 2. The requirement comes from the individual server or gamemode, not from every Garry’s Mod session. If a server reports missing textures or asks for another game, check its description and connection message before assuming Garry’s Mod is defective.
How do I host a dedicated Garry’s Mod server?
A dedicated server is a separate server process rather than a game session hosted inside the normal client. It is the appropriate route for a persistent community, independent administration, scheduled events, or a setup that should remain available without relying on the in-game host menu. It is also substantially more technical than peer-to-peer play: you must install server files, maintain startup settings, manage updates, and keep Workshop content synchronized.
Install the server with SteamCMD
- Install SteamCMD on the machine that will run the server.
- Use SteamCMD to download the Garry’s Mod dedicated-server application, app ID
4020. - Install and configure the server files, then prepare a startup script for the
srcdsserver process. - Obtain a Steam Game Server Login Token. Facepunch’s documented setup treats this token as mandatory.
Launch with the important settings
The startup command needs a map and gamemode and can set the player limit and Steam account token. A typical parameter pattern is:
srcds +maxplayers 16 +gamemode sandbox +map gm_construct +sv_setsteamaccount YOUR_LOGIN_TOKENThe exact executable path, quoting, and operating-system syntax depend on where SteamCMD installed the files. The significant settings documented by Facepunch are +maxplayers, +gamemode, +map, and +sv_setsteamaccount. Replace the example map, gamemode, player limit, and token with the values for your server. Keep the token private and place it only in the server’s startup configuration.
Distribute Workshop addons
Dedicated servers can load a Steam Workshop collection at startup with:
+host_workshop_collection WORKSHOPIDThe collection must be public or unlisted so the server process can access it. Configure maps and gamemodes for client download as well; otherwise a joining player may lack the files needed to load the current map or mode. Keep the collection, map, and gamemode in sync with the server configuration to avoid addon mismatches. When changing a collection, restart the server and allow clients to complete the new downloads before testing a full group connection.
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| Method | Best for | Configuration | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peer-to-peer from Start New Game | A few Steam friends who want to begin quickly | Choose a map, set a player limit, enable Peer-To-Peer, and invite through Steam | Depends on the host’s connection and firewall; the host controls the session |
| Peer-to-peer, Friends Only | A private friends session | Enable Peer-To-Peer: Friends Only in addition to Peer-To-Peer | Only Steam friends can be admitted |
| Public server browser | Finding established communities or playing with strangers | Find Multiplayer Game, select a gamemode, inspect the list, and join | Server rules, addons, and outside-game requirements vary by server |
| LAN server | Players on the same local network | Use the Local Network view or the host’s LAN availability | Only machines on the local network can discover it |
| Dedicated server | Persistent, administered, or larger sessions | SteamCMD app 4020, srcds startup parameters, a login token, and addon configuration | Requires server administration and ongoing maintenance |
The table’s practical dividing line is administration. Peer-to-peer is a session you launch when people are ready to play. A public server requires you to evaluate someone else’s rules and content. A dedicated server gives you control over configuration and persistence but adds installation, login-token, update, firewall, and Workshop responsibilities.
What PC and account requirements should I check?
Steam lists broadband internet as a network requirement for Garry’s Mod on Windows. Its current minimum Windows specifications are:
- Operating system: Windows 10
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: 1 GB dedicated video memory
- Storage: 10 GB available space
Those are the store’s minimum requirements, not a guarantee of a particular framerate or of smooth performance on a heavily modified server. Large maps, complex contraptions, high player counts, and Workshop addons can impose additional load. Leave extra storage headroom for downloaded server content, since a busy multiplayer setup can require more than the base installation.
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Every participant needs Garry’s Mod through Steam. A server may also require ownership of another Source game for its assets, as described above. Check the server’s rules or connection message rather than assuming that owning Garry’s Mod alone satisfies every gamemode. A headset is optional: Steam does not list one as a requirement, although voice coordination can be useful in co-op.
Why can’t my friend join my Garry’s Mod game?
Work through the checks in this order. It separates a bad invite from a server-browser problem, a firewall block, a version mismatch, or missing content.
1. Confirm the session and versions
- Verify the host started the session with Peer-To-Peer enabled.
- Restart Steam and Garry’s Mod on both computers.
- Install any pending Garry’s Mod update on the host and the joining player.
- If connecting to a dedicated server, ensure the server itself is updated. Valve’s 2016 update notes that servers must be updated before players can join.
Do this before changing addons or router settings. A client and server on different builds can fail even when the invitation and network path are correct.
2. Check firewall permissions
Facepunch lists firewall software blocking the game as a possible connection cause. Temporarily review the operating system firewall rules and permit Steam and Garry’s Mod on the network profile you are using. Security software can also block the server process even when Steam itself is allowed. After changing a rule, restart the game and test one connection rather than inviting the whole group at once.
3. Repair a blank server browser
If Find Multiplayer Game shows no usable results, Facepunch’s support instructions recommend:
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- Select Legacy Browser.
- Untick Simplified List if it is selected.
- Restore the default filters.
- Open the Internet tab and press Refresh All.
Check the Local Network, History, and Favorites tabs separately. A blank Internet list does not prove that a LAN host or a previously saved server is unavailable.
4. Test a direct connection
Open the developer console with the tilde key or F10, then enter:
connect <ip>Facepunch gives connect 127.0.0.1:27015 as an example. Replace the address with the server’s actual IP and port. A direct test helps distinguish a browser-filter problem from a server that is unreachable. If the direct command fails, verify the address and that the server process is still running before changing browser filters again.
5. Interpret “connection failed after four retries”
Facepunch lists a nonexistent server and firewall software blocking the game among the possible causes. Recheck the address, confirm that the server is still running, and repeat the firewall and update checks before changing other settings.
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6. Resolve addon and map mismatches
Make sure the host or dedicated server is offering the same Workshop collection, map, and gamemode that the client is being asked to load. On a dedicated server, verify that Workshop collection access and client-download settings are configured correctly. If one player lacks a required file, everyone may need to leave, update the content, and reconnect. Removing a newly added addon temporarily can identify whether it is the source of the failure.
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How do maps, gamemodes, and addons affect multiplayer?
Garry’s Mod does not impose one universal multiplayer ruleset. A sandbox map, a role-play server, and a competitive gamemode can have different controls, required files, player limits, and server-side scripts.
- Map: Determines the physical environment and may be required by the server before a client can connect.
- Gamemode: Supplies the rules and often additional files or dependencies.
- Workshop collection: Bundles models, maps, scripts, and other content for a server’s players.
- Client downloads: Must be enabled and correctly configured when a server expects players to obtain missing content.
Steam’s store page currently describes the Workshop as containing over 300,000 models, maps, and contraptions. That is an undated current store claim, not a historical player or content-growth statistic, so the number may change. The practical lesson is to treat every server’s collection as part of its software configuration: players need compatible versions, and a large collection can make the first connection take longer.
Which way should you choose?
For a first session with a few friends, choose peer-to-peer and Friends Only. It avoids dedicated-server administration and normally avoids port forwarding. Choose the public browser when you want to discover established servers, but read each server’s rules and dependency notices. Choose a dedicated server only when persistence, independent administration, or a larger organized group justifies SteamCMD, login-token, firewall, and Workshop work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Garry’s Mod support cross-platform multiplayer?
Steam lists Cross-Platform Multiplayer as a feature. The store listing does not define every supported platform combination, so compatibility can depend on the platform, server, and installed content.
Is there a fixed maximum number of players in Garry’s Mod?
The documented setup exposes a configurable +maxplayers value, and the in-game host menu lets you set a player limit. The documented specifications do not establish one universal maximum for every map, gamemode, or server.
Do I need a gaming headset to play multiplayer?
No headset is listed as a Garry’s Mod requirement. Voice coordination is optional; the documented requirements are the Steam account, the game, a supported Windows setup, and broadband internet for online play.
Can a LAN game be found if the internet server list is empty?
Yes, LAN is a separate browser category. In Find Multiplayer Game, use the Local Network view for servers hosted on the same network rather than relying on the Internet tab.
Can I host for friends without port forwarding?
Usually. Valve’s July 2016 peer-to-peer update says a server started with Start New Game can use Steam P2P, so friends normally do not need manual port forwarding. Firewall rules, strict NAT, or restricted networks can still block a connection.
Why is my friend downloading files when joining?
The server may be providing Workshop addons, a custom map, or gamemode files for client download. Let the download finish, and make sure the server’s collection is public or unlisted and its client-download settings are configured correctly.
Is a Steam Game Server Login Token required for a dedicated server?
Facepunch’s documented dedicated-server setup treats +sv_setsteamaccount with a Steam Game Server Login Token as mandatory. This requirement applies to the dedicated-server route, not to a normal peer-to-peer session from the game menu.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Garry’s Mod is multiplayer. Start with Start New Game, enable Peer-To-Peer and, for a private group, Peer-To-Peer: Friends Only. Use Find Multiplayer Game for public or LAN servers, and reserve a SteamCMD/srcds dedicated server for persistent communities that can handle the additional administration.
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