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Subnautica’s dedicated-style multiplayer settings belong to Nitrox, the multiplayer modification, not to vanilla Subnautica. In NitroxLauncher, start the server and configure the game mode, server password, admin password, save/world, and network information. For remote players, the critical network requirement is UDP port 11000, plus firewall permissions for both the game and server executables.
Godlike.Host offers hosted Subnautica (Nitrox) servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
This guide explains what every setting controls, how to host safely, which options depend on a hosting wrapper, and how to diagnose connection failures without changing random values.
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What “Subnautica server” means
Vanilla Subnautica does not provide the dedicated-server settings surface commonly described in hosting guides. Those instructions generally refer to Nitrox and its NitroxServer-Subnautica process. Nitrox adds multiplayer networking and a launcher-based server workflow around Subnautica.
The host runs the Nitrox server, while each player launches the matching Nitrox client and connects to the host’s address. The server owns the shared world state, authentication passwords, administrative permissions, and networking endpoint. A setting changed on the host therefore affects everyone who joins that world.
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Use the same Nitrox release and a supported Subnautica installation on every computer. Nitrox 1.8.1.0 release notes state that Epic Games, Steam, and Microsoft Store players can use the mod with the latest Subnautica version, and that IPv6 connectivity was added. The project is still changing, so a setting or compatibility result from one release should not be assumed to apply to another.
Settings at a glance
| Setting | What it controls | Where you normally change it | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Mode | The world’s rule set and available gameplay behavior. | Nitrox server window; newer releases also support persistent game-mode controls and a chat command. | Behavior and command availability can vary by Nitrox version. |
| Server Password | Whether a player is allowed to join. | Server window or the active hosting configuration. | It is the join password, not an administrator credential. |
| Admin Password | Authentication for administrative actions. | Server window or hosting configuration. | Keep it separate from the player password and share it only with trusted administrators. |
| Port | The UDP endpoint used for Nitrox connections. | Router, firewall, VPN, or hosting panel; the documented Nitrox port is 11000. | Every player must reach the host at the address and port actually exposed by the network. |
| IP address | The address players enter to reach the server. | Use the local or externally reachable address shown by the launcher/server window. | A LAN address works only inside the same network; internet players need a reachable public or VPN address. |
| Save/world | Which persistent world the server loads. | Launcher management or a host’s configuration file. | Exact file keys are version- and wrapper-specific. |
| Autosave | How often the world is saved, or whether automatic saving is disabled. | Some hosting wrappers expose these controls. | They are not universal Nitrox defaults; verify the installed build or panel documentation. |
| Player permissions | Which players may use administrative capabilities. | Permission settings in Nitrox or a hosting wrapper. | Do not assume an admin password alone grants every permission in every release. |
| Backups | Whether an earlier world copy can be restored. | Nitrox launcher management in releases that support world-backup restoration. | Create a backup before upgrades or configuration experiments. |
Requirements before you host
- A Subnautica installation supported by the Nitrox release you intend to use.
- The same Nitrox launcher/server version on the host and every client.
- Administrator rights when installing or launching the server, so Windows can create firewall rules and access the required files.
- A stable local network for LAN play, or a router/VPN/managed-hosting path for internet play.
- A private server password and a separate, strong admin password.
Do not troubleshoot networking until version compatibility is confirmed. A client that cannot load the same Nitrox protocol or Subnautica build may fail before port forwarding becomes relevant.
Start a Nitrox server from the launcher
- Install the same Nitrox release on the host and on each player’s computer. Close Subnautica before changing or repairing the installation.
- Run
NitroxLauncheras administrator. - Select Server in the launcher, then choose Start Server.
- When the server window opens, record the displayed Game Mode, Server Password, Admin Password, and local or externally reachable IP information. Set private values before inviting anyone.
- Choose the intended save or world when the launcher or server configuration offers that option. If you are starting a new world, use a distinct name so it cannot be confused with an existing save.
- Allow the server to finish starting, then test from the host or another computer on the same LAN before asking an internet player to connect.
- Leave the server process running while players are connected. Stop it cleanly before editing files, changing the selected world, or applying an update.
The launcher’s displayed address is more useful than guessing. A private address such as a 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x address is normally for LAN players; a remote friend needs the public address supplied by the router or the address of the VPN network.
Game Mode, passwords, and administration
Game Mode
Game Mode selects the world’s rule set. Treat it as a world-level choice rather than a cosmetic label: changing it can alter how the shared session behaves for everyone. Nitrox release notes document persistence for game mode, so newer builds can retain the selected mode instead of reverting after a restart. The same notes mention a chat command for changing game mode while playing. Because command names and permissions are release-dependent, use the in-game help for the exact syntax in your installed version and test on a backup world first.
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Server Password
The server password is the gate for ordinary joins. Send it through a private channel, not a public post or a screenshot that includes your IP address. If the password has been shared beyond the intended group, stop the server, replace it, and give the new value only to current players.
Admin Password and permissions
The admin password is for administrative authentication; it is not a second way to join a password-protected server. Hosting configurations can also expose player-permission controls, allowing an owner to decide which accounts may perform administrative actions. Use the smallest practical administrator group and do not reuse the admin password for other services.
Gameplay administration
Nitrox 1.8.0.0 added a keep-inventory setting and command, persistent game-mode handling, and a way to toggle knife player-versus-player behavior by setting or command. These features are tied to that release line and later changes; if the option is missing, confirm the server and clients are actually running a version that includes it.
Networking: UDP 11000, addresses, and firewalls
“Nitrox uses port
11000 UDP.”
That is the documented Nitrox endpoint. Port forwarding alone does not make a server reachable: the server must be listening, the router must forward the traffic to the correct computer, and the operating-system firewall must permit the executables.
LAN play
For players on the same home network, give them the host’s LAN address shown by Nitrox or by the operating system. Test with the host’s private address first. If LAN players cannot connect, check Windows Firewall and confirm that the server process is still running before changing router settings.
Internet play with port forwarding
- Give the hosting computer a stable LAN address, preferably through a DHCP reservation in the router.
- Create a port-forwarding rule for UDP 11000 from the router to that computer’s LAN address. Use the same internal and external port unless your hosting panel explicitly documents a different mapping.
- Permit both
Subnautica.exeandNitroxServer-Subnautica.exethrough the host firewall. If Windows asks separately for private and public networks, select only the profiles you actually use. - Start the Nitrox server and have a friend outside your home network test the connection using the public address shown or identified by the host’s network setup.
- If the router has multiple internet connections, carrier-grade NAT, or a second router, determine which device owns the public address. Forwarding on the wrong router will not work.
Do not open random TCP ports because a generic game-server guide lists them. The Nitrox documentation specifically identifies UDP 11000; add other rules only when the installed release or hosting service explicitly requires them.
VPN play
A VPN tunnel can avoid direct router forwarding when every player joins the same virtual network. In that arrangement, players connect to the host’s VPN address, while the VPN software and local firewall still need to pass UDP 11000. A VPN is not a substitute for matching versions or a running server.
IPv6
Nitrox 1.8.1.0 added IPv6 connectivity. Use the address family displayed by the launcher and supported by every participant’s network. If one player has only IPv4 access, retain a reachable IPv4 path rather than assuming an IPv6 address will work for everyone.
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Save files, server.cfg, and hosting panels
Manual-hosting examples describe a save name or world selection and a server.cfg file for custom settings. The exact keys are not a universal Nitrox contract: they can change with the Nitrox build or with the wrapper used by a hosting panel. Copy the existing file before editing it, stop the server, change one value at a time, and start the server again to check the log.
Some panels expose startup variables for the same values. Those variables may override server.cfg, making a correct file appear to have no effect. When a setting keeps reverting, inspect the panel’s startup command and environment variables before editing the file again. The panel’s save path may also differ from the path used by a local launcher, so verify which world the running process actually loaded.
Autosave interval and autosave-disable switches appear in some hosting examples. Treat them as deployment-wrapper options, not guaranteed Nitrox defaults. Disabling autosave increases the amount of progress that can be lost after a crash; if you change the interval, test a controlled restart and verify that the expected world is restored.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Launcher management, backups, and multiple servers
Nitrox 1.8.0.0 added launcher management for multiple servers, customizable settings, and restoration of world backups. This is useful when one computer hosts separate groups or test worlds: give each server a clear name, keep its configuration and save location distinct, and confirm which instance is running before inviting players.
Before upgrading Nitrox, changing game mode, or editing a configuration file, make a dated copy of the world. A backup is valuable only if it can be identified and restored, so record the associated Nitrox version and world name. After restoring, start the server privately and check the inventory, bases, and player locations before reopening it to the group.
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| Release information | What it means for a host |
|---|---|
| Nitrox 1.8.0.0 | Launcher management for multiple servers, customizable settings, world-backup restoration, persistent game mode, keep-inventory controls, and knife-PvP setting/command support were added. |
| Nitrox 1.8.1.0 | Release notes state support for the latest Subnautica version across Epic Games, Steam, and Microsoft Store players, plus IPv6 connectivity. |
| Any later or different build | Check that build’s release notes. Nitrox remains under active development, so labels, commands, compatibility, and known limitations can change. |
Every troubleshooting session should begin by writing down the exact Subnautica edition, Nitrox version, launcher version, and server version. A mismatch can look like a password, save, or synchronization problem even when the network is configured correctly.
Troubleshooting in the order most likely to work
- Confirm versions. Ensure the host and every player use a supported Subnautica/Nitrox combination. Update or roll back the outlier so all participants match.
- Confirm the process. Check that
NitroxServer-Subnautica.exeis running and that the server window has finished starting. A launcher window alone is not proof that the listening server is ready. - Check the endpoint. Verify that the player is entering the current LAN, public, or VPN address shown by the host. Do not use a private LAN address from an outside network.
- Check UDP 11000. Confirm the router forwards UDP 11000 to the current LAN address of the host. A DHCP change can silently send the rule to the wrong computer.
- Check both firewall exceptions. Add or repair rules for
Subnautica.exeandNitroxServer-Subnautica.exe. After changing rules, restart the server and test again. - Re-enter the server password. Password failures are easy to mistake for network failures. Copy the current value exactly and ask the host to rotate it if it may have been exposed.
- Inspect a hosting panel. If a panel launches the server, compare its startup variables with
server.cfg. The panel may override the file or point to a different save. - Test from a second network. A successful connection from the host’s own computer or the same LAN does not prove internet reachability. Use a friend on another network or a properly configured VPN peer.
- Read the release notes. Nitrox documents known limitations and ongoing fixes. If the versions, process, address, port, firewall, and password are correct, the issue may be a release-specific synchronization or compatibility problem rather than a local setting.
Security and maintenance checklist
- Use a different value for the server password and admin password.
- Share the admin credential only with people who need administrative access.
- Keep the host’s LAN address stable so port forwarding does not break after a reboot.
- Expose only UDP 11000 for Nitrox unless your installed build explicitly documents another requirement.
- Back up worlds before upgrades, mode changes, or manual configuration edits.
- Stop the server before changing
server.cfgor replacing save files. - Record the Nitrox and Subnautica versions alongside each backup.
- Review the launcher’s displayed IP and the router’s public address whenever the internet connection changes.
When managed hosting is worth considering
Running the server yourself gives direct control over passwords, files, backups, firewall rules, and upgrades, but you must maintain the machine and network. A managed Nitrox server can move port forwarding, uptime, and panel configuration to the provider. Before choosing one, check that it supports the Nitrox release your group uses, exposes world backups, documents how startup variables override configuration files, and allows you to retrieve your saves. Regardless of where the process runs, players still need compatible clients and the correct server password.
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