A standard Project Zomboid dedicated server uses two UDP ports: 16261 and 16262. UDP 16261 is the game and Steam-query port; UDP 16262 is the direct client-connection port. If you changed either value in the server configuration, forward the changed values instead of the defaults. Remote players normally need both ports reachable on the router and the host firewall.
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Project Zomboid’s default ports at a glance
The port numbers below are the normal defaults for a dedicated server. They are not permanent assignments: the running server’s generated .ini file and startup output are authoritative.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →| Port | Protocol | Default role | What to configure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16261 | UDP | Game port and Steam-query port | Forward the configured value from the router to the computer running the server; allow inbound UDP on the host. |
| 16262 | UDP | Direct client-connection port | Forward the configured value to the server host and allow inbound UDP; this path is preferred for direct traffic. |
These are UDP services. Creating only TCP rules does not open the game server, and opening unrelated ports does not substitute for the two configured UDP values. If the server is behind more than one router, each layer must pass the traffic toward the machine that actually runs the server.
What each port does during a connection
UDP 16261: discovery and Steam queries
The game port, UDP 16261 by default, handles Steam queries. It is the endpoint used to obtain server information and support the server’s listing and query behavior. A query rule pointing at the wrong machine can make a server appear unavailable even when the dedicated process is running.
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UDP 16262: the direct path
The additional port, UDP 16262 by default, handles the direct connection between a player and the server. This route is preferred because it avoids relying on the fallback path through Steam. It must reach the same host and private address as the server process.
Why a closed direct port matters
Clients try a direct connection first. When that attempt fails, they try connecting through Steam. The fallback can let a player join, but it is not equivalent to a healthy direct route. The official warning is: “WARNING: SERVER HAS PORT %1 CLOSED. PERFORMANCE MAY BE SEVERELY AFFECTED”. Treat that message as a connectivity problem to fix, not as an indication that the server is using a different port.
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How to forward both ports for a self-hosted server
Router interfaces use different wording, but the sequence is consistent. Do the configuration while the server is stopped or before testing, so you know which settings are active.
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- Find the active values. Open the server’s generated
.inifile or inspect its startup output. Record the game port and the additional/direct port. If they show 16261 and 16262, use those defaults; if they differ, use the displayed values everywhere. - Give the host a stable private address. Create a DHCP reservation in the router, or configure an equivalent static address on the server machine. A forwarding rule tied to a changing address will eventually point at the wrong device.
- Create the game-port rule. In the router’s Port Forwarding, NAT, or Virtual Server screen, add an inbound rule for the configured game port, select UDP, and set the destination to the server host’s private address.
- Create the direct-port rule. Add a second inbound rule for the configured additional port, again selecting UDP and the same destination host. Do not merge protocols or point this rule at another computer.
- Allow the ports in the host firewall. Add inbound UDP allowances for both configured values in the operating system firewall or security appliance running on the server host. A router rule cannot override a host firewall that drops the packet.
- Start the dedicated server and verify listening ports. Check the server output or operating-system network view to confirm that the process is listening on the values you forwarded. If the process selected different ports, revise the router and firewall rules to match.
- Test from outside the local network. Have a player join using a different internet connection, such as a mobile hotspot. Testing from inside the same LAN can be affected by the router’s hairpin-NAT behavior and does not prove that an internet player can reach the server.
- Read the client warning if direct access fails. A closed-port warning identifies the direct path as the first place to investigate. Recheck the destination address, UDP protocol, host firewall, and whether another router is between the public address and the server.
Use the running configuration, not a generic port list
Project Zomboid allows the port values to be changed in the server options. Administrators sometimes change them to avoid a collision with another service, to fit a hosting panel, or to organize several servers on one network. There is no benefit to forwarding 16261 and 16262 if the process is listening on different values.
When a port has been changed, update every place that stores the old number:
- the router’s UDP forwarding rules;
- the host operating system’s inbound firewall rules;
- container or virtual-machine port mappings;
- rules in a separate perimeter firewall or gateway;
- managed-hosting control-panel allocations; and
- saved server entries on players’ clients.
After editing the options, restart the dedicated server if the build requires a restart to bind the new sockets. Confirm the values again in the fresh startup output rather than assuming the edit was loaded.
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UPnP: convenient, but still verify it
Recent Project Zomboid guidance and patch notes describe updated UPnP behavior for the two-port arrangement. With UPnP enabled and functioning on the router, the server may create forwarding rules automatically. Automatic mapping is not proof that the rules are correct, however.
Open the router’s UPnP or active-port-mapping page and check that both UDP values map to the correct private address. Confirm the server’s listening values at the same time. Disable or remove stale mappings that point to an old host, and avoid running competing manual and automatic rules that target different machines. If the router does not support reliable UPnP, configure explicit forwarding instead.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The server is visible, but joining fails
- Compare the configured values in the server
.inifile with the router rules; a changed value is the most common mismatch. - Check that both rules use UDP, not TCP or “TCP/UDP” when the router handles those as separate entries.
- Verify that the forwarding destination is the current private address of the server host.
- Allow the same UDP values through the host firewall and any second firewall between the internet and the host.
- Retest from a genuinely external network to rule out local NAT loopback limitations.
The client reports that the server port is closed
Prioritize UDP 16262, or its configured replacement, because it is the direct client-connection port. Check that the dedicated process is running and bound to that value, then trace the packet path from the public router to the host firewall. If direct access remains blocked, Steam fallback may still be attempted, but the warning indicates that performance can be severely affected.
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Players can join through Steam but direct connections are unreliable
This pattern usually means the Steam-query path is reachable while the direct path is not. Recreate the forwarding rule for the additional port, verify the host firewall entry, and remove duplicate UPnP mappings. If the server is in a container, make sure its UDP mapping exposes the direct port to the host rather than only to the container network.
Nothing works after changing ports
- Stop and restart the server so the new options are actually loaded.
- Read the new startup output and write down the exact game and additional values.
- Replace old router, firewall, container, and hosting-panel entries with those values.
- Ask players to edit or recreate saved server entries that still contain the former port information.
- Run an external join test after each change, changing one layer at a time so the successful fix is identifiable.
A second server is running on the same network
Each publicly reachable service needs its own externally forwarded port combination. Assign the second instance different configured UDP values, then map each public value to the correct internal host and port. Never send both servers’ traffic to one destination address or reuse a public port without a deliberate proxy or hosting arrangement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Self-hosting versus managed hosting for port access
The port numbers are the same conceptually, but the administrator’s responsibilities differ. Use the following comparison when deciding where to run a server.
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| Consideration | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
Control of .ini and firewall settings |
Full control over the files, operating-system firewall, router, and security policy. | Depends on the host’s panel and support policy; some settings may be exposed while lower-level firewall access is restricted. |
| Ability to forward UDP ports | You must configure the internet router, and possibly additional NAT layers. | The provider normally supplies a public allocation or performs the network mapping; confirm that both UDP paths are included. |
| Setup effort | More initial work: stable addressing, forwarding, firewall allowances, and testing. | Usually less network setup, but you still need to select the correct server options and verify the assigned ports. |
| Direct-connection reliability | Depends on your ISP, router, NAT design, firewall, and correct rules. | Depends on the provider’s network and whether its allocation supports the direct UDP port. |
| Ongoing maintenance | You maintain updates, backups, firewall changes, hardware, and troubleshooting. | The provider handles infrastructure maintenance, while you remain responsible for game configuration, access control, and checking that updates did not change active values. |
Before choosing a managed service, ask specifically whether it exposes both the game/query UDP port and the direct UDP port, whether custom port values are allowed, and how the public address and port are presented to players. A service that exposes only a query endpoint cannot provide the normal direct-connection path.
A practical verification checklist
- Record the active game and additional UDP values from the server’s own configuration.
- Confirm the dedicated process is listening on those values.
- Reserve the host’s private IP address.
- Forward both UDP ports to that address.
- Allow both ports through the host and perimeter firewalls.
- Inspect UPnP mappings if automatic forwarding is enabled.
- Test a join from outside the LAN.
- Resolve any direct-port warning before relying on Steam fallback.
- Update saved client entries and every network mapping after a port change.
Frequently overlooked details
Do I need both ports?
For the normal dedicated-server arrangement, yes. UDP 16261 supports game and Steam queries, while UDP 16262 provides the preferred direct connection. Forward both configured values unless your server build or hosting environment explicitly documents a different arrangement.
Can I open only 16261?
Opening only the game/query port leaves the direct path unavailable. A client may attempt Steam fallback, but the server can display a closed-direct-port warning and performance may be severely affected.
Are these ports fixed forever?
No. They are defaults. The values selected by the running server take precedence, and every router, firewall, container mapping, and saved client entry must agree with them.
Does a successful Steam join prove the setup is correct?
No. It proves that a fallback route may be working, not that the preferred direct UDP port is reachable. Verify the direct port independently and address any warning before declaring the network configuration healthy.
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