You can run an SCP: Secret Laboratory dedicated server without paying for server software or a hosting subscription. Install the free dedicated-server tool through Steam or SteamCMD (app ID 996560) on a supported Windows or Linux computer, then configure networking so players can reach it. The money you save on rental is replaced by your own hardware, electricity, internet service, maintenance, updates and moderation work.
Prefer not to run the server on your own PC? Godlike.Host offers hosted SCP: Secret Laboratory servers with free DDoS protection and up to three free backups a day.
What “free SCP: Secret Laboratory server” really means
The server program itself costs nothing. Northwood distributes a dedicated-server build that you can install through Steam’s Tools library or through SteamCMD. SteamCMD also accepts an anonymous login for this app, so you do not need to buy another copy of the game merely to download the server software.
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Free does not mean that a public server has no operating cost. The computer must remain powered while people are playing, your connection must accept incoming traffic, and someone must handle configuration, updates, backups, player reports and moderation. If your existing desktop, spare laptop or virtual machine already meets the requirements, self-hosting can avoid a recurring rental bill. If you need to buy hardware or pay for a virtual server, those costs still apply.
The official baseline is for a full 25-player vanilla server. It is a starting requirement, not a promise that every machine will deliver identical performance at the limit. Plugins, operating-system overhead, simultaneous applications and the quality of the host’s network can all change the practical result.
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Requirements before you install
Server hardware
| Resource | Official baseline | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 3 GB RAM | A full 25-player vanilla dedicated server, according to the current SCP: Secret Laboratory Tech Support Public Wiki guide. |
| Processor | 2 CPU cores | The same full 25-player vanilla baseline. |
| Storage | 4 GB free space | Dedicated-server files and their working data; leave additional room for logs, updates and backups. |
Those figures describe the server process, not the entire computer. Windows or Linux, background services, monitoring tools and other applications also need memory and storage. A machine that technically has 3 GB available may become unstable if the operating system is using most of it. Keep the server directory on a drive with free space for temporary files and future updates rather than filling the disk to the stated minimum.
Supported operating systems
- Windows 10 or Windows 11, version 21H1 or newer.
- Windows Server 2022 or newer.
- Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, x64.
The current requirements list is version-sensitive. Check it again when you install, especially if you are using an older Linux distribution or a newly released Windows version. The Linux instructions also discuss a supported x64 Debian environment, SteamCMD, the required runtime libraries and a process manager such as tmux.
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Players joining the server still need the SCP: Secret Laboratory game client. Steam’s current requirements page lists 4 GB RAM and 8 GB storage for the client. Those numbers should not be confused with the 3 GB RAM and 4 GB storage baseline for the dedicated server.
Accounts and access
- Administrator access to the computer, so you can install SteamCMD or the Steam tool and permit the server through the firewall.
- Access to your router, or cooperation from whoever manages it, if the server will be reachable from the internet.
- A reliable way to edit the server’s configuration and keep its files backed up.
- A player contact method and owner email if you intend to operate a public community server under Northwood’s guidelines.
Choose where to run the server
Self-hosting on a computer you already own
This is the route that can genuinely cost zero in new software or rental fees. A spare desktop, home server or suitable laptop can run the dedicated server while you play from another machine. The trade-offs are your electricity bill, residential upload capacity, router configuration, noise, heat and the fact that the server disappears whenever the host computer or home connection is offline.
Do not use a computer that routinely sleeps, reboots for unattended updates or runs out of disk space. Set a sensible power plan, keep the machine ventilated and schedule maintenance for times when nobody is playing. If the host is also your everyday computer, close high-load applications before inviting a full server.
Managed virtual or game-server hosting
A managed virtual machine or game-server provider can supply an always-on system and may simplify firewall, restart and backup tasks. It is not automatically free. You must verify the provider’s current price, resource limits, traffic policy, location and terms yourself; there is no dependable promise of a permanently free hosted SCP: Secret Laboratory instance. A “free trial” can expire, require payment details or have limits that make a public server impractical.
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For a small group, start with the computer you already have. Consider paid hosting only when your home connection, uptime needs or administration workload justifies the recurring cost.
Install on Windows
Option 1: install the Steam Dedicated Server tool
- Open Steam and enable the Tools view in your library. If Tools is hidden, use Steam’s library filters to display software rather than only games.
- Find Secret Laboratory Dedicated Server and install it to a drive with more free space than the 4 GB baseline.
- Open the installed server directory and identify the server launch executable supplied with that build. Keep the directory path simple and record it for later firewall and backup work.
- Start the server once. The first launch presents LocalAdmin questions. Answer them and let the program create its configuration files before changing settings.
The exact first-run prompts can change with a server build. Read each question rather than accepting values blindly, because the answers establish administrative access and basic server identity.
Option 2: install with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is useful when you want a repeatable install, a machine without the regular Steam client, or a scriptable update process.
- Download and extract SteamCMD from Valve’s official distribution for your Windows system.
- Run SteamCMD and select an install directory with the
force_install_dircommand, pointing it at the folder where you want the dedicated server. - Log in anonymously:
login anonymous- Install or update the SCP: Secret Laboratory server with validation:
app_update 996560 validate- Wait for SteamCMD to report completion, then exit it and launch the server from the installation directory.
- Complete the LocalAdmin first-run questions and confirm that the expected configuration and log files appear.
Run app_update 996560 validate again when you intentionally update or repair the installation. Do not overwrite the whole configuration directory without a backup; doing so can remove your server identity and administrative settings.
Complete the first Windows configuration
Set identity and player-facing information
Use the configuration files or the prompts created on first launch to set a clear server name, a player limit that your hardware can handle, rules and contact information. Make the name descriptive enough that friends can distinguish it from other servers. Keep the player limit within the capacity you can actually moderate; the 25-player figure is the official full-server baseline, not an obligation to fill every slot.
Enable remote administration carefully
Remote administration is convenient when the server runs without a monitor, but it expands the consequences of a leaked password or exposed management interface. Use a unique, long credential, restrict administrative access to the addresses or network paths you genuinely need, and never paste credentials into a public chat or a configuration screenshot.
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Allow the process through Windows Firewall
- Start the server once so Windows can identify its executable and so you know which ports the configuration uses.
- Open Windows Security and go to Firewall & network protection, then Advanced settings.
- Create inbound rules for the server’s configured gameplay and administration ports, using the protocol and port values shown by the current server guide or your configuration.
- Apply the rules only to the network profiles you need. A private home network may be appropriate for a closed group; exposing a public profile unnecessarily increases risk.
- After every port change, remove or edit obsolete rules so an old service is not left reachable.
Do not guess a port from an old tutorial. The important requirement is that the server configuration, Windows Firewall and router forwarding all use the same current values.
Install on Linux
Use a supported 64-bit distribution
The current official support list includes Ubuntu 22.04 or newer x64 and describes a supported Debian environment. Start with a clean, updated installation and a non-root account for routine server operation. Keep root or sudo access for package installation and system-level firewall changes only.
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- Update the distribution’s package indexes and install SteamCMD using the method documented for your exact Ubuntu or Debian release.
- Install every runtime library listed in the current SCP: Secret Laboratory Linux guide. Package names can change between distributions, so copy the names from that guide rather than from an outdated forum post.
- Create a dedicated user and an installation directory owned by that user.
- Use SteamCMD to select the directory, log in anonymously and run
app_update 996560 validate.
Keep the process running with tmux or an equivalent manager
A terminal session ending should not stop a server that you intend to leave online. Launch it inside tmux or another process manager described by the official Linux instructions. Detach from the session after confirming startup, and reattach when you need to read logs or answer a LocalAdmin prompt. For a more permanent service, use a system service only after you understand its restart and shutdown behavior; an automatic restart loop can hide a bad configuration.
Apply Linux firewall rules
Permit the same server ports and protocols that you configure in the game server, then test from outside the host. Keep the operating system, SteamCMD files and runtime libraries updated. Back up configuration and administrative files before an update so you can restore them if a build changes a setting.
Make the server reachable from the internet
Give the host a predictable local address
Your router forwards traffic to a local device address. If that address changes after a reboot, forwarding can point at the wrong computer. Reserve the host’s address in the router’s DHCP settings, or assign a carefully managed static address that fits your home network. Record the address and the server’s configured ports.
Forward only the configured server ports
- Open the router’s administration page and locate its port-forwarding or virtual-server section.
- Create a rule that sends each required SCP: Secret Laboratory port to the host’s local address.
- Match the protocol and port values shown in the current server configuration and guide. Do not forward an entire range “just in case.”
- Save the rule, restart the server if necessary, and confirm that the computer’s firewall permits the same traffic.
Test from a different internet connection, such as a friend’s home network or a mobile connection. Testing from the same LAN can succeed even when an outside player is blocked, because some routers do not support loopback access.
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When forwarding does not work
- Server works locally but not externally: recheck the host address, router rule, operating-system firewall and the configured port values as one chain.
- The router has no usable public address: some internet services place customers behind carrier-grade NAT or block inbound connections. In that case, router changes alone cannot make a home server publicly reachable; ask your provider about a public address or use a host that accepts inbound traffic.
- Players see a timeout after an update: confirm that the server is listening on the expected values and that a new firewall prompt was not denied.
- Only one friend cannot connect: have that player check their own firewall, network restrictions and the address they are using before changing your server.
Use LabAPI for server-side extensions
LabAPI is bundled with dedicated-server builds and provides Northwood’s official server-side plugin framework. That means you do not need to purchase a separate plugin platform to begin experimenting with supported extensions.
Install only plugins that match your server build and keep a copy of the unmodified configuration. Add one extension at a time, restart, and read the log for errors before adding another. A plugin can consume additional memory, alter gameplay or fail after an update even when the vanilla server still works. For a troubleshooting baseline, remove or disable extensions and verify that a clean vanilla launch is stable before reporting a networking or performance problem.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Meet the obligations for a public community server
A server shared privately with a few friends has a different administrative burden from a publicly available community server. Northwood’s hosting guidelines dated June 27, 2025 describe requirements for public operation, including server rules, a way for players to contact the operator and a valid owner email. Recheck the current wording before advertising your server, because policy details can change.
Publish rules players can find
Write rules that cover conduct, cheating, harassment, voice and text chat, staff authority, punishments and appeals. Put the same rules in the server information that players see and in a place your moderators can update. Avoid promising enforcement that your team cannot provide.
Provide a real contact route
Use an address or form that someone actually monitors. Explain what information a report should include, how urgent incidents are handled and who can appeal a ban. Keep the owner email current even if day-to-day moderation is delegated.
Moderate consistently
Assign clear roles, log significant actions and require staff to follow the published rules. A free server can still become expensive in time if one administrator must handle every dispute alone. Schedule coverage for the hours you advertise, and close or restrict the server when nobody can supervise it.
Security and maintenance checklist
- Use a separate operating-system account for the server where practical.
- Keep Windows or Linux, SteamCMD and the dedicated-server build updated.
- Back up configuration, LocalAdmin and moderation data before updates or plugin changes.
- Use unique credentials for LocalAdmin, remote administration, the operating system and the router.
- Expose only the gameplay and management ports you need; remove abandoned forwarding rules.
- Review logs after restarts, failed logins, crashes and unexpected player activity.
- Set a maintenance window and tell players when updates may interrupt play.
- Monitor free disk space so logs and updates cannot fill the drive.
- Test a restore of your backup instead of assuming that a copied folder is usable.
Troubleshoot common startup problems
The executable closes immediately
Launch it from a terminal or command prompt so the error remains visible. Check that the operating system is supported, all Linux runtime libraries are installed, the installation passed app_update 996560 validate, and the account has permission to read and write the server directory. Temporarily remove newly added plugins and restore the last known-good configuration.
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Stop the process cleanly, verify that the server account owns the configuration directory, and edit the file generated by the current build rather than an old copy. Do not run routine launches as a different administrator account that writes settings somewhere else.
Players are kicked or the server is unstable
Lower the player limit while you diagnose the problem, compare a vanilla launch with a plugin-enabled launch, and inspect logs for repeated errors. Check available memory and disk space on the host. The official 3 GB RAM baseline assumes a vanilla server; additional software can require more headroom.
You lost LocalAdmin access
Stop the server, make a backup of its configuration, and follow the current official recovery instructions for the build you installed. Avoid deleting files at random: that can destroy server identity, rules and moderation data. After recovery, change the credentials and review who has access to the host.
How much does a free server actually cost?
| Cost or task | Self-hosted server | Managed host |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated-server software | Free through Steam or SteamCMD. | Usually included in the service, subject to the provider’s terms. |
| Computer or virtual machine | Your existing hardware, or a purchase if you do not have a suitable machine. | A recurring rental charge may apply; current prices vary and are not established here. |
| Electricity and cooling | Paid by the owner of the physical host. | Included in the provider’s infrastructure charge. |
| Network setup | You handle router forwarding, firewall rules and connection limits. | The provider may handle edge networking, but you still configure the server. |
| Updates and backups | Your responsibility. | Some plans offer tools or automation; verify what is actually included. |
| Moderation and support | Your responsibility either way. | A host cannot replace your game moderators or community rules. |
The honest zero-dollar path is therefore an existing, always-on computer plus an internet connection that accepts inbound traffic. If either is missing, the server is still free software, but operating it may not be free.
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- Choose a supported Windows or Linux machine and confirm at least 3 GB RAM, two CPU cores and 4 GB storage are available for the server.
- Install the Dedicated Server tool through Steam, or use SteamCMD with anonymous login and app ID
996560. - Launch once, complete LocalAdmin setup and set a recognizable name, rules, contact details and conservative player limit.
- Test locally, then align the host firewall and router forwarding with the configured ports.
- Invite one or two friends from outside your home network and watch logs and resource use.
- Only after the vanilla server is stable, add LabAPI extensions one at a time.
- Document credentials, backups, update steps and who can moderate before opening more broadly.
When a free self-hosted server is the right choice
Self-hosting is a good fit when you already have a supported computer, can leave it online, understand basic router and firewall settings, and are comfortable being responsible for maintenance. It is less suitable when the host must be available around the clock, your internet service blocks inbound connections, nobody can moderate, or you need guaranteed uptime for a large community. In those cases, compare managed options using verified current terms rather than assuming that an advertised free tier will remain available.
Quick Recap
Final checklist before sharing the address
- The server launches cleanly after a reboot.
- LocalAdmin and remote-administration credentials are unique and stored securely.
- The configured player limit matches what the machine can sustain.
- Windows or Linux firewall rules and router forwarding point to the correct host and ports.
- An external player has connected successfully.
- Rules, contact information and owner email are ready for a public launch.
- Backups exist and you know how to restore them.
- Someone is available to moderate when the server is open.
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