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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe Forest normally supports up to eight players in a hosted co-op session. To run a larger group, use The Forest Dedicated Server and set serverPlayers in its configuration or pass -serverplayers <maxPlayers> at launch. Community mods advertise higher counts, but they are not covered by the official server guide and may require version-matched software for everyone.
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Player limits by multiplayer method
The number you can reach depends on how the session is hosted. The ordinary in-game host lobby has the practical eight-player ceiling. The official dedicated-server documentation exposes a setting for changing that value, while community modifications advertise still higher counts.
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| Method | Documented or advertised count | Who controls the limit | Reliability and compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal hosted co-op | Up to 8 players | The game’s standard lobby behavior | Official, simplest setup; no documented lobby setting for a higher cap |
| The Forest Dedicated Server | 8 by default; changeable with the server setting | Server administrator through serverPlayers or -serverplayers |
Uses the official dedicated-server configuration, but values above eight are compatibility-sensitive |
| MultiplayerUnlimiter mod | Advertises up to 20 others instead of 8 | The modded host/server configuration | Community-maintained; listing shows version 0.1.1 and 15.6K downloads at a 2026 crawl |
| MP Cap Remover mod | The Forest Wiki describes host games with up to 32 players | The modded host setup | Community modification; support depends on the game version and the complete mod stack |
“Eight” is the documented default for a dedicated server and the practical limit for normal co-op. The dedicated-server guide does not promise a universal maximum for arbitrary values, so a number that can be entered is not automatically a number that will be stable for every group.
Why a regular host lobby stops at eight
A standard co-op game is created from the normal multiplayer flow, with one player acting as the host. The official dedicated-server guide documents the eight-player default and a server-side setting, but it does not document a corresponding option in the ordinary lobby. That is why changing a lobby preference or inviting more people is not a supported way to turn a normal session into a 12- or 16-player game.
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If your group has eight or fewer participants and does not need a persistent world, the regular lobby avoids server installation, router configuration and mod compatibility questions. Once the group is larger, the supported path is a dedicated server rather than a hidden lobby switch.
How to raise the limit with The Forest Dedicated Server
The following procedure uses the setting documented by the Steam Community dedicated-server guide. Make the change on the machine that will run the server, not on each player’s game installation.
1. Install the dedicated-server tool
- Open Steam and go to Library.
- Use the library filter or list that exposes Tools, then find The Forest Dedicated Server.
- Install it on the computer that will remain available when other players connect. SteamCMD is an alternative installation route if you administer the server from the command line.
A dedicated server is separate from simply hosting a session from the game client. Decide which machine will run it before you configure ports or save data; otherwise you may forward traffic to the wrong computer.
2. Launch it once to create the configuration file
Start the dedicated server one time and allow it to initialize. The guide places the generated file at:
C:UsersUSERAppDataLocalLowSKSTheForestDedicatedServerdsServer.cfg
Replace USER with the Windows account that runs the server. If the file is not present, close the server cleanly, confirm that the dedicated-server tool was launched rather than the ordinary game, and start it again so the first-run files can be created.
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3. Set serverPlayers in Server.cfg
Open Server.cfg in a plain-text editor and locate the line:
serverPlayers 8
Change the number to the size you want to test, for example:
serverPlayers 12
Keep the configuration key as serverPlayers. Do not treat the example value as a guaranteed capacity: the guide establishes eight as the default, not a universal upper bound for every larger value.
Save the file before starting the server again. Keeping a backup copy of the original file makes it easy to return to the documented default if a larger setting causes connection or stability problems.
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The same guide documents this command-line parameter:
-serverplayers <maxPlayers>
For a 12-player test, the parameter becomes:
-serverplayers 12
Add it to the dedicated-server launch shortcut or startup command used by the server machine. The guide explicitly states that command-line parameters overwrite matching entries in the configuration file. Therefore, if Server.cfg says serverPlayers 12 but the startup command contains -serverplayers 8, the launch parameter wins and the server will use eight.
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This precedence rule is the first thing to check when an edited file appears to have no effect. Use one deliberate source of truth while testing: either remove the conflicting launch argument or set both values to the same number.
5. Forward the required network ports
The dedicated-server guide documents forwarding these ports through the router and firewall:
| Port | Protocol requirement | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 8766 | TCP and UDP | Forward to the computer running the dedicated server and allow it through the host firewall |
| 27015 | TCP and UDP | Forward to the same server machine and allow it through the host firewall |
| 27016 | TCP and UDP | Forward to the same server machine and allow it through the host firewall |
Use the server computer’s current local-network address in the router rule. If that address changes, the forwarding rule can point at the wrong device even though the server software is configured correctly. Apply the router change, then check the operating-system firewall as well; forwarding on the router alone does not guarantee that the host computer will accept the traffic.
6. Restart and join the dedicated server
- Stop the running dedicated-server process after saving the configuration or changing the launch command.
- Start it again so the new player value is loaded.
- Have players join through the dedicated-server entry rather than attempting to expand an existing ordinary lobby.
- Test with the intended group size before advertising the server to a larger community.
A restart is required after configuration changes. If you edit Server.cfg while the process is already running, the current process will not necessarily reread the file.
How high should you set the value?
Start with the smallest increase that solves your group’s problem. Moving from eight to a modestly larger number makes it easier to identify whether a connection issue is caused by the player count, a port rule, a conflicting launch argument or another configuration mistake. The official guide gives no guaranteed upper limit, so treat every value above eight as a compatibility test rather than a promise.
- Use eight when reliability matters more than capacity or when you want the documented default.
- Try a slightly higher value when you control the server and can restart it if the group encounters problems.
- Reduce the value if players cannot join consistently, the server becomes unstable or the host machine and network cannot keep up with the larger session.
A larger roster also increases the administrative load. More players mean more simultaneous connections, more voice and chat coordination, greater demand on the host’s hardware and upload connection, and a greater chance that one participant’s problem affects the session. These are operational constraints rather than a documented numerical limit, so plan for them before selecting an ambitious value.
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Dedicated-server administration for a large group
Password and access control
Use a password and share it only with the people who should enter the world. A private server makes it easier to control the number of active players and to diagnose problems because you know which clients are connecting. It also avoids having to moderate unknown players while you are still testing a higher cap.
Save slot and persistence
A dedicated server is useful when the world needs to remain available independently of one player’s game session. Choose the intended save slot deliberately and document it for the people who administer the machine. Keep backups before experimenting with a new player count so a failed configuration change does not become a save-management problem.
Restart planning
Configuration edits, updates and recovery from a failed test all require a controlled restart. Tell players when the server will be unavailable, and keep the launch command and Server.cfg together in the server administrator’s notes. That avoids a situation where one administrator edits the file while another starts the server with an older command-line value.
Using mods to exceed the official configuration
Mods are a separate route from the dedicated-server setting. They can change the multiplayer cap in ways the official guide does not document, but they also introduce another compatibility layer. Before installing one, check its stated game-version support, installation directions and whether every participant must use the same mod or supporting libraries.
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MultiplayerUnlimiter
The Thunderstore listing for MultiplayerUnlimiter says it can configure the maximum allowed players and advertises “up to 20 others (instead of just 8).” The listing shows version 0.1.1 and 15.6K downloads at a 2026 crawl. “Up to 20 others” is the mod’s advertised claim, not a guarantee from The Forest’s official dedicated-server documentation.
Because mod listings can change, record the version you install and confirm that the game build, loader and other multiplayer mods are compatible. If only some players load the required components, the group may not be able to join the same session or may see behavior different from the listing’s advertised count.
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MP Cap Remover
The Forest Wiki’s mod list describes MP Cap Remover as enabling host games with up to 32 players. That is a community description of the mod’s capability, not an official server limit. Treat 32 as an advertised ceiling for that modification, not as evidence that an unmodded host or dedicated server supports 32 participants.
Mod installation checklist
- Confirm the mod’s current version and supported game version before installing.
- Follow the mod author’s installation instructions rather than copying files from an unrelated mod guide.
- Check whether the host alone needs the mod or whether every participant must use the same mod stack.
- Test a small private session first and keep an unmodded fallback configuration.
- Remove or disable the mod when troubleshooting an official dedicated-server setup so the two causes are not mixed together.
Official dedicated server or mod: which route fits?
| Decision factor | Dedicated-server setting | Community cap mod |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Install The Forest Dedicated Server, edit its configuration or launch command, configure the documented ports and restart | Install the mod and any required loader or companion components according to its listing |
| Player count | Eight by default; administrator chooses a test value with serverPlayers or -serverplayers |
Depends on the mod’s advertised capability, such as up to 20 others or up to 32 players |
| Reliability | Uses the official dedicated-server configuration; values above eight still need practical testing | Depends on community maintenance, game-version compatibility and the participants’ mod installations |
| Administration | Server owner controls password, ports, save slot, launch command and restart schedule | Those server controls may still apply, but the mod adds another component to maintain |
| Best fit | A persistent private world where the administrator wants the least deviation from documented server behavior | A group willing to accept extra compatibility work in exchange for a higher advertised cap |
Troubleshooting a higher player limit
The server still accepts only eight
- Open
Server.cfgand verify that the key is spelledserverPlayersand that its number is the intended value. - Inspect the startup shortcut or command for
-serverplayers. A command-line value overrides the file, even when the file is correct. - Stop and restart the dedicated-server process after every change.
- Confirm that players are joining the dedicated-server entry, not an older eight-player lobby.
Players cannot see or join the server
- Confirm that ports 8766, 27015 and 27016 are forwarded for both TCP and UDP, as documented by the guide.
- Check the host computer’s firewall rules in addition to the router.
- Verify that the forwarding rules point to the computer actually running The Forest Dedicated Server.
- Restart the server after correcting the network settings, then have players try the dedicated-server entry again.
A modded session fails while the unmodded server works
Disable the mod and test the official dedicated-server configuration at the same player count. If the unmodded test succeeds, compare the mod version, game version and required components on every participant’s machine. A mod that advertises a larger cap does not establish that mixed or outdated installations will connect successfully.
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Lower the configured value and test again. If the smaller session is reliable, increase in smaller steps rather than jumping directly to the highest advertised number. Keep the server private while testing, and preserve the working configuration so you can restore it after an unsuccessful experiment.
Self-hosting versus paid dedicated hosting
Self-hosting gives you direct control over the installation, configuration file, ports, save slot and restart schedule, but the server computer and its internet connection must remain available. You are also responsible for firewall and router configuration and for diagnosing failures.
Paid dedicated hosting can remove some of the hardware and availability work, but the relevant questions are provider-specific: current slot limits, whether The Forest Dedicated Server is supported, how the host exposes serverPlayers or launch arguments, what port access is included, and how saves and restarts are handled. Verify those details for the current plan before paying; a generic game-server package is not automatically compatible with this title or with a player count above eight.
Quick Recap
Practical checklist before inviting more than eight people
- Choose a dedicated server or a specific community mod; do not expect the ordinary lobby to grow by invitation alone.
- For the official route, install The Forest Dedicated Server from Steam’s Tools library or use SteamCMD.
- Launch once and locate
Server.cfgatC:UsersUSERAppDataLocalLowSKSTheForestDedicatedServerdsServer.cfg. - Set
serverPlayersor add-serverplayers <maxPlayers>, remembering that the command line overrides the file. - Forward TCP and UDP for ports 8766, 27015 and 27016, and allow them through the host firewall.
- Restart the server and test with a private group.
- If you use a mod, verify versions and the required mod stack for every participant.
- Keep a known-good configuration and reduce the count if the larger session is unreliable.
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