The address you enter depends on where the Terraria server is running. On the same computer, use localhost. On the same home network, use the host computer’s private IPv4 address. A friend connecting over the internet needs the host’s public IP, plus the server port (7777 by default). If the host used Steam Host & Play, do not enter an IP at all: join through Multiplayer > Join via Steam.
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This guide explains how to identify the right connection method, find each type of address, configure an internet-facing server, join by IP, and diagnose the failures that commonly stop friends from connecting.
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Choose the connection method first
Ask the host which type of session is running. Terraria has two practical connection families, and the correct address depends on that choice.
| Session type | What the host does | What the joining player does | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Host & Play | Starts Terraria at Multiplayer > Host & Play and selects a world. | Opens Multiplayer > Join via Steam and chooses the host or invitation. | Steam friends; no manually entered IP. |
| Dedicated server on the host’s computer | Runs the Terraria server program and leaves it running. | Uses Multiplayer > Join via IP. | Same computer, home LAN, or internet, depending on network configuration. |
| Rented or public server | The operator supplies an address and port and may impose account, password, character, mod, or other rules. | Uses Multiplayer > Join via IP with the supplied details. | Internet, subject to the operator’s availability and policies. |
The official Steam multiplayer guide documents the Host & Play and Join via Steam flow. For a direct connection, Terraria’s multiplayer menu takes you to character selection and then asks for a server address and port.
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Which address should you enter?
Server on your own computer: localhost
If the server process is running on the same computer as Terraria, enter localhost. This routes the connection back to that computer and avoids having to identify its network address. The dedicated-server documentation describes this as the same-PC route.
Another computer on the same home network: private IPv4
For a server running on another computer connected to the same router, enter that computer’s private IPv4 address. It usually looks like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16.x.x through 172.31.x.x. Every device receives its own router-assigned address, and a dynamic address can change after a reboot or lease renewal.
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Friend connecting from outside your home: public IP
An internet player needs the host network’s public or external IP. The router must then forward the Terraria server port to the hosting computer, and the host computer’s firewall must permit the connection. The address and port are entered together in Terraria’s direct-join screen.
Rented or public server
Use exactly the address and port supplied by the operator. Do not substitute your home IP or assume the default port; public servers can use a different port and can require registration, a password, a particular character, or approved mods.
Read the address and port as one connection detail
An IP address identifies the machine or network endpoint; the port identifies the Terraria service listening there. Both values must match. For example, a remote friend might receive a public address and port from the host, while a player on the same Wi-Fi receives a private IPv4 and the same server port. Changing only the address or only the port can make a valid server appear unreachable.
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Terraria’s documented default is port 7777, but the number is not universal. A dedicated server, rented host, or public community can be configured differently. Ask the operator for the complete pair rather than guessing. If the operator changes the listening port, every player must replace the old value in the Join via IP screen.
Keep the scopes separate when communicating details: label a value as “same-PC,” “LAN,” or “internet.” This prevents a friend from trying a private address from outside the home, or a local player from testing the public address when the server is intended only for the LAN.
Find the host computer’s private IP
Use these operating-system methods while sitting at the computer that runs the dedicated server. Record the IPv4 value for the active network adapter, not a virtual adapter or an IPv6 value.
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Windows
- Press
Windows+R, typecmd, and press Enter. - Run
ipconfig. - Under the connected Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter, find IPv4 Address. Give that value to players on the same LAN.
If the listed address changes later, update any router forwarding rule that points to the old value. Reserving the computer’s address in the router’s DHCP settings can prevent that particular change.
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- Open System Settings > Network.
- Select the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
- Open its details and find the IPv4 address. That is the value a player on the same home network should enter.
Linux
- Open a terminal.
- Run
ip addr. - Find the
inetaddress on the active interface, excluding the loopback address127.0.0.1.
The command output can contain several interfaces. Use the address on the interface that actually connects to the same router as the joining device.
Find the public IP for an internet friend
The public address belongs to the home internet connection, not specifically to the Terraria process. The host can read it from the router’s Internet, WAN, or status page. Router labels differ, so look for a field described as WAN IP, Internet IP, or External IP.
Send the public address privately to the friend who needs it. Pair it with the port selected by the server operator. If the ISP or router changes the public address, the old value will stop working; the host must provide the new one.
What the host should confirm before sharing details
Before troubleshooting a friend’s client, the host should make a short worksheet containing the session type, world status, current private IPv4, public IP if needed, configured port, and game/server release. This avoids repeatedly testing an old address or port. The host should also note whether the server is a Steam Host & Play session or a dedicated process, because those use different joining menus.
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For a LAN session, verify that both computers are connected to the same home router and that the address came from the active adapter. For an internet session, verify the forwarding destination after recording the current private IPv4. If the router assigns a new value later, the forwarding rule can silently point at the wrong computer even though the server itself still starts normally.
When a public or rented server is involved, copy the operator’s instructions exactly. Keep any password, registration step, required character, approved mod list, or conduct rule with the address and port. A correct network endpoint does not override a server-side access requirement.
Join a server by IP
Use this procedure for a dedicated server or a direct connection supplied by a server operator.
- Confirm whether the session is on your computer, on the same LAN, over the internet, or on a public server.
- From Terraria’s main menu, open Multiplayer > Join via IP.
- Select the character you want to use.
- Enter
localhostfor a server on your own computer; enter the host’s private IPv4 for a LAN server; or enter the host’s public IP for an internet server. For a rented server, use the operator’s address. - Enter the port given by the host. Terraria’s documented default server port is 7777; use another value when the host configured one.
- Submit the connection and wait while Terraria contacts the server.
The host must leave the server process running while you connect. A direct IP entry cannot create a server that is not currently listening.
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Use Steam Host & Play without an IP
Steam Host & Play is the simplest option for a small session when the host is happy to keep the game open.
- The host opens Multiplayer > Host & Play.
- The host selects a world and starts the session.
- Each friend opens Multiplayer > Join via Steam and selects the host, or accepts the Steam invitation.
This route avoids manual IP entry and router port forwarding. Both players must be signed into Steam, and the host’s world must still be running. Host & Play ends when the host leaves the session, so it is not a persistent server.
Make a dedicated server reachable from the internet
Internet joining requires three pieces to agree: the server must be running, the router must pass the selected port to the right computer, and the computer’s firewall must allow it. The official Terraria server setup guide covers the general setup.
Host-side checklist
- Start the dedicated server and load the intended world.
- Note the hosting computer’s current private IPv4 address.
- In the router, create a port-forwarding rule for the Terraria server port, directed to that private IPv4 address.
- Allow the Terraria server application or its listening port through the host computer’s firewall.
- Give the remote player the current public IP and the exact server port.
Forwarding to the wrong private address is a common failure after a router restart or address change. Reserve the host computer’s LAN address in the router when possible, then point the forwarding rule at that reserved value.
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Keep the server available
A dedicated server can remain online independently of a player’s game client, provided the computer and server process stay running. That makes it suitable for a group that plays at different times. By contrast, Steam Host & Play is tied to the host’s active session.
Self-hosting versus renting
Running the dedicated server on your own computer gives you direct control over the world, port, player limit, access settings, and update timing. It also makes you responsible for keeping the computer and server process online, maintaining the firewall and router rule, and correcting address changes. This is practical when someone in the group can administer the network and the machine can remain available.
A rented Terraria server shifts much of that administration to an operator and can be a better fit for an always-on shared world. It introduces a recurring hosting cost and an operator’s policies. Before choosing a provider, verify current Terraria version support, supported regions, pricing, stated uptime, player capacity, and the provider’s terms. Confirm that the service supports the game release and connection mode your group intends to use; a low price does not solve a version mismatch or an unavailable region.
In either model, players still need the operator’s exact address and port. Renting does not mean using the default 7777 automatically, and self-hosting does not require a public server if everyone is on the same LAN.
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Port
The documented default Terraria server port is 7777 (Official Terraria Wiki, accessed 2026). A host can configure a different port. Every joining player must enter that exact configured value; an otherwise correct IP with the wrong port still fails.
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Player capacity
The dedicated-server documentation lists a default maximum of 16 players. Server configuration can change that limit, and a host may impose a lower practical limit through its own setup.
Release compatibility
PC, dedicated-server, and mobile IP-and-port connections are described as working when all participants use the same release version. The official cross-platform announcement also describes console support as a staged rollout, so console compatibility depends on the current platform build and connection mode. The announcement archive lists Terraria 1.4.5 for release on January 27, 2026; subsequent hotfixes or platform rollout changes can affect whether two builds connect. Check that the game clients and dedicated server report compatible versions before changing network settings.
DR Studios summarizes the direct method this way: “If you know the IP address and port number of your host, you can type it into any client to connect to their session.” The statement appears in the Terraria Steam announcement section on Phase One cross-platform play.
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| Priority | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest setup for Steam friends | Steam Host & Play | No IP work, but the host must remain in the session. |
| Players in the same house | Dedicated server with the host’s private IPv4 | Requires running the server, but no internet forwarding is needed. |
| Friends outside the home | Dedicated server with public IP and router forwarding | More setup and firewall maintenance; the public address can change. |
| Always-on shared world | Dedicated server on a continuously running computer or a rented server | Requires administration and attention to version, access, and server rules. |
| Operator-managed community server | Public or rented server details supplied by its operator | You must follow that server’s password, registration, character, mod, and conduct requirements. |
Troubleshoot by the symptom
The host can join, but a remote friend cannot
- Confirm that the friend is using the current public IP, not the host’s private IPv4.
- Check that the router forwards the selected Terraria port to the host computer’s current private address.
- Verify the host firewall allows the server.
- Confirm the dedicated server is still running and listening.
- Make sure the friend entered the same port configured by the host.
It works on the same Wi-Fi but not from outside the home
The LAN address proves only that local routing works. An outside player needs the public IP, and the router must forward the server port inward to the host computer. Recheck both the forwarding destination and the firewall rule.
It stopped working after a router restart
The host’s private IPv4 may have changed. Find the current value again, update the forwarding destination, and reserve the address in the router to reduce future changes.
A Steam friend cannot see the session
- Confirm the host selected Host & Play, not a local single-player world.
- Make sure both players are signed into Steam.
- Verify that the host world is still running; leaving the host session ends Host & Play.
- If discovery remains unavailable, use the dedicated-server Join via IP route with the appropriate address.
The connection fails across platforms
Check the platform pair, connection mode, and exact game/server release. PC, dedicated server, and mobile IP-and-port play requires matching releases according to the official announcement; console support is being rolled out in stages and may not cover every combination.
A public server rejects the connection after the IP is correct
Read the operator’s instructions. The server may require a registered name, password, specific character, approved mod list, or another rule before it accepts a player. These requirements are independent of whether the address and port are correct. The dedicated-server documentation describes the server-side model and configuration options.
Quick checklist before you ask for help
- Identify the session type: Steam Host & Play, LAN, internet, or public server.
- Use
localhostonly when the server is on your own computer. - Use the host’s private IPv4 only when both devices are on the same home network.
- Use the public IP for an internet friend, with router forwarding to the host computer.
- Enter the configured port; 7777 is the documented default.
- Confirm the server is running and the firewall permits it.
- Check that every player and the server use compatible releases.
- For a public server, follow its registration, password, character, mod, and rule requirements.
For a short Steam session, Host & Play is usually the least work. For direct connections, the reliable sequence is address scope first, then the exact port, followed by server, router, firewall, and version checks. Once those match, Multiplayer > Join via IP is the Terraria path for connecting to the running server.
Frequently Asked Questions
What IP do I use for Terraria on the same computer?
Enter localhost when the dedicated server is running on the computer where Terraria is open.
What IP should a friend on my Wi-Fi use?
Give the friend the hosting computer’s private IPv4 address from the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, along with the configured port.
What IP should an internet friend use?
Use the host network’s current public or external IP. The router must forward the Terraria port to the host computer, and the firewall must allow it.
What is Terraria’s default server port?
The documented default is 7777. If the host or operator selected another port, every player must enter that exact number.
Can I join a Terraria world without entering an IP?
Yes. For Steam Host & Play, open Multiplayer > Join via Steam. The host must have started Host & Play and remain in the session.
Why does my LAN address work at home but not for my friend?
A private IPv4 is routable inside the home network only. An outside friend needs the public IP, router port forwarding, and a permitted firewall connection.
Why did the server stop working after restarting the router?
The router may have assigned the host computer a different private IPv4. Update the forwarding rule and reserve the host address in the router when possible.
How many players can a Terraria server support?
The dedicated-server documentation lists a default maximum of 16 players, although server configuration can change that limit.
Do Terraria players need the same version?
PC, dedicated-server, and mobile IP-and-port play is described as requiring matching releases. Console support depends on the current platform rollout and build.
Why does a public server reject me even though the IP is correct?
The operator may require registration, a password, a particular character, approved mods, or other server-specific rules. Follow the operator’s instructions.
The Bottom Line
Use localhost for a server on your own computer, the host’s private IPv4 for a LAN connection, and the public IP plus the configured port for an internet friend. Port 7777 is the documented default, but the host’s actual setting always wins. Steam Host & Play uses Join via Steam instead of an IP and ends when the host leaves.
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