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If a Don’t Starve Together dedicated server stays on Launching Server or reports “There was some sort of trouble starting the server. Please try again,” start with server_log.txt, then check firewall/antivirus access for the dedicated-server executable. Next test the Master shard before Caves and run once with mods disabled. These are community-reported remedies rather than an official Klei fix, so keep a backup of the cluster before changing files.
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What the symptom usually means
The launcher has not completed the dedicated server’s startup sequence. The failure can be local (a blocked executable, damaged game files or a mod error), shard-related (Caves starting before Master), or configuration-related (for example, the two shards do not share the same cluster key). A server can also start locally but remain absent from the public browser when its firewall or network configuration prevents discovery.
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Klei has documentation explaining where dedicated-server logs are stored, but no official Klei fix for this exact “stuck on launching server” symptom was identified. The procedures below come from user reports in community forums and Steam discussions; their success is not guaranteed and some reports conflict.
Do this first: a safe 10-minute triage
- Stop the server and make a copy of the entire cluster folder. Keep the backup outside the folder you will edit. Removing mods or index files can affect a world, and one community report specifically warned that structures and items could disappear after mods were removed.
- Open the end of the log. Read
server_log.txtin both theMasterandCavessubfolders of the relevantCluster_#folder. A rapidly growing log can indicate an error loop, so the last entries are usually more useful than the beginning. - Allow the server through security software. Add the dedicated-server executable to antivirus and local-firewall exceptions, then check the router if players connect from outside your network.
- Try Master without Caves. If Master starts but Caves hangs, start the Overworld/Master shard first and only then start Caves.
- Test with no mods. Disable or temporarily remove mods only after backing up the cluster. If the server launches, restore mods one at a time to identify the offender.
Change one thing at a time and record the result. That prevents a successful fix from being hidden by several simultaneous changes.
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1. Read the server log before deleting anything
Find the correct Cluster folder
On Windows, a community guide places the files under:
DocumentsKleiDoNotStarveTogetherCluster_#Masterserver_log.txt
DocumentsKleiDoNotStarveTogetherCluster_#Cavesserver_log.txt# is the save-slot number, not a literal character. If you use a different launch location, follow the cluster path supplied to the server with its -cluster launch option. Klei’s support information describes the log location in relation to that option.
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Open the log in a text editor, jump to the bottom and look for the first repeated error, a mod name, a permission or socket message, or a line showing that one shard never reached its ready state. Compare the timestamps in Master and Caves: if Master finishes initialization and Caves repeatedly restarts, troubleshoot Caves and its mods first.
Do not upload a log containing account tokens or other private information without reviewing it. If you need help from the community, include the relevant ending section and state whether the server was started with mods, whether Master starts, and whether clients are on the same network.
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2. Allow the dedicated server through firewall and antivirus
Among community reports, allowing the server through security software is the most frequently suggested fix. The executable commonly named in those reports is:
dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer.exeWindows checks
- Close the dedicated server.
- Open Windows Security and review both Firewall & network protection and Virus & threat protection.
- Permit the dedicated-server executable on the network profiles you actually use. If your security suite has its own firewall, add the same exception there; a Windows rule alone may not be enough.
- Start the server again and watch the log while it is launching.
For a private LAN test, temporarily disabling a security product can help confirm that it is the cause, but re-enable it immediately and create a narrow executable or application rule instead of leaving protection off.
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When the server starts but is not listed
A closed firewall is also a reported reason that a server does not appear in the in-game browser even though its process is running. Treat “not listed” as a network-access problem, not proof that the world failed to load. Check the local firewall first, then the router and the port settings described below.
3. Start the shards in the right order
A multi-shard world normally has a Master (the Overworld) shard and, when enabled, a Caves shard. One community thread associated a Caves hang with Caves being started before Master.
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Recommended sequence
- Stop both shard processes.
- Launch the Master shard and wait until its log shows that initialization has completed or it is accepting connections.
- Launch Caves only after Master is ready.
- If Caves still hangs, stop Caves and test Master by itself. This separates a world-wide problem from a Caves-specific one.
If Master and Caves cannot connect, inspect the cluster configuration rather than repeatedly restarting them. Both shards must use the same cluster folder and the same shared cluster_key in the [SHARD] section. A mismatch prevents the shards from joining the same world.
Check the cluster files
The cluster folder contains files such as cluster.ini and, when used, worldgenoverride.lua. Compare the Master and Caves launch settings and confirm that they point to the intended Cluster_#. Do not overwrite a working configuration with a random sample file; preserve your backup and change only the value you can identify as wrong.
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Outdated, corrupt and incompatible mods are repeatedly mentioned in community troubleshooting. A mod can fail during world loading and leave the launcher appearing to be stuck rather than displaying a clear error.
Safe mod test
- Stop the server and copy the complete cluster folder.
- Disable all subscribed or enabled mods for that cluster. Keep the backup because removing a mod can remove or alter mod-provided items and structures; a community report specifically mentioned a storeroom being lost.
- Launch Master, then Caves, with no mods.
- If the world starts, restore mods one at a time, restarting between additions. The first mod that reproduces the hang is the leading suspect.
- Check whether that mod is compatible with the current game version and whether it is required on both shards. Update or replace it only after confirming that the unmodded backup remains intact.
If the server still hangs with every mod disabled, do not keep deleting world data. Move to the log, firewall, file-verification and shard-order checks instead.
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5. Verify Steam files and handle cached indexes carefully
Verify the dedicated-server installation
Steam’s Verify integrity of game files action was reported to resolve some launch failures. In Steam, open the dedicated-server tool’s properties, choose Installed Files, and run Verify integrity of game files. Allow Steam to finish, then retry the same Master-before-Caves sequence.
Index files are not a guaranteed fix
Names reported for removable cached indexes include boot_modindex, modindex and shardindex in the cluster’s Master/save area. Back up the cluster first, stop every shard, and remove only the specific cache files you have identified. One reporter deleted those files without solving the problem, so treat this as a later diagnostic step rather than a primary remedy. Never delete the entire cluster folder unless you intend to discard that world.
6. Restart Windows and try an elevated launch
A full computer restart resolved a recurring failure for one user. Restarting clears a locked process and releases ports that a previous, crashed shard may still hold.
- Close Steam and every Don’t Starve Together dedicated-server process.
- Restart Windows.
- Open Steam again and launch the dedicated-server tool.
- If permissions appear in the log, try running the server launcher as administrator for a single test. Use the least privilege that works afterward; administrator mode should not be a permanent substitute for a correct folder or firewall permission.
7. Check ports without trusting conflicting lists
Port advice for Don’t Starve Together dedicated servers differs by guide and by game version. The available reports do not establish one authoritative list:
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| Reported guidance | Ports mentioned | How to treat it |
|---|---|---|
| Older guide written for versions before Caves | UDP 10999 | Historical; may not match a current installation. |
| Current hosting guide | UDP 10999–11000 | Community guidance; verify before applying. |
| 2026 guide | UDP 10999 and 27018 | Unverified and inconsistent with the other reports. |
Do not open every port listed above automatically. Confirm the required ports against Klei’s current documentation or the readme shipped with Steam’s dedicated-server tool, then create narrowly scoped UDP rules on the computer and router. If players are on the same home network, first test locally; a local success followed by an Internet failure points to router forwarding or an external firewall rather than the world files.
8. Use the result to choose the next branch
| What you observe | Most useful next step |
|---|---|
| Master and Caves both stop before initialization | Read both log endings, allow the executable through security software, then verify Steam files. |
| Master starts; Caves hangs | Start Master first, check the shared cluster_key, and test Caves with mods disabled. |
| Unmodded world starts; modded world hangs | Restore mods individually and remove or update the one that reproduces the failure. |
| Server runs but is absent from the browser | Check firewall rules, router forwarding and the verified port requirements. |
| Deleting index files changes nothing | Restore from the backup if necessary and return to the logs, security rules, shard order and mods. |
9. When to ask the community for help
If the server still will not launch after the controlled tests, post the ending of server_log.txt from both shards on the Klei forums. Include the operating system, whether you are using the Steam dedicated-server tool, the cluster number, whether Master starts alone, the enabled-mod list, and the exact error text. The string “Dedicated server failed to start: There was some sort of trouble starting the server. Please try again.” is not enough by itself to identify the cause; the surrounding log lines are what distinguish a blocked executable, a mod error, a shard connection failure or damaged files.
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