To join a 7 Days to Die server, launch the game, select Join a Game, wait for the Server Browser to load, choose a compatible server, and select Connect. If the server is private or does not appear in the browser, use Connect to IP with the host address and port. Your game version, Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) setting, platform permissions, and— for crossplay—server configuration must match.
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Choose the right way to connect
The connection method depends on how the world is hosted and what information the administrator has given you.
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| Method | What you need | Best for | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Server Browser | Server name or filters such as region, player state, password status | Public servers | The list may take 30–60 seconds to populate. |
| Connect to IP | Host name or IP address and port; 26900 is the default game port in the 2026 joining reference | Private servers and servers whose browser listing is unreliable | The administrator must provide the correct address and port. |
| Steam Join Game | A Steam friend who is already playing and a server that permits Steam joins | PC players joining a friend’s session | The option is available only when the host and server settings allow it. |
| Steam Game Servers | An IP:port entry saved in Steam’s server tool | Returning to a known server | This is a PC/Steam workflow, not a console connection method. |
Before you try to join
Confirm the game version
The client and server must run compatible versions. The official Help Center, updated October 1, 2026, warns that any version mismatch can cause connection problems. Install pending game updates, then ask the administrator which branch or build the server uses. If the server remains on a different branch, switch your game to that branch rather than repeatedly retrying the connection.
Check EAC and crossplay requirements
For an ordinary join, the client’s EAC setting must agree with the server’s setting. Crossplay requires EAC to be enabled; console clients cannot connect to a crossplay server with EAC disabled. A server administrator may also enforce other security or access settings.
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Know whether the world is hosted or dedicated
A hosted world runs only while its host is playing. If the host quits, the world is no longer available to join. A dedicated server is intended to remain online independently, which is the appropriate arrangement when players need a persistent world or a cross-platform session that should continue after one person leaves.
Get the administrator’s connection details
For a private server, obtain the exact server name, host name or public IP, port, password, platform policy, required game branch, and any mod or custom-world files. Do not assume that 26900 is correct for every installation: it is the default game port cited by the 2026 joining guide, while an administrator may configure another port or use a different network topology.
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Join through the Server Browser
- Launch the game. From the main menu, select Join a Game.
- Wait for the list. The Server Browser can take approximately 30–60 seconds to populate. Starting a search before the list has loaded can make it appear that no servers exist.
- Search or filter. Search by the server name, or use the available filters for region, player state, and password status. Start with broad settings; restrictive combinations can hide a server that is otherwise online.
- Select the server. Review its displayed region, player activity, access indication, and any information supplied by the administrator.
- Choose Connect. If prompted for a password, enter the password exactly as provided, including capitalization if the server uses it.
- Allow the join to finish. Keep the game open while authentication and world data are retrieved. A timeout or server-information error usually indicates an address, port, firewall, startup, or compatibility issue rather than a bad in-game search.
Connect directly with an address and port
Use this route when the administrator has supplied a private address, when the server is not listed, or when you want to avoid browser filters.
- Open Join a Game from the main menu.
- Select Connect to IP.
- Enter the server’s host name or IP address.
- Enter the port. The joining reference identifies 26900 as the default game port; use the administrator’s value when it differs.
- Select the connect button and provide the password if requested.
Ask the administrator to confirm whether the supplied address is reachable from outside their network. A local address may work for someone in the same home network but not for an internet player. If the server has just started, wait until startup is complete before trying again.
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Join a friend’s PC session through Steam
Use the Friends list
On PC, open Steam’s Friends list, right-click a friend who is already playing, and select Join Game. This works only when the server permits Steam joins and the host’s session is available. If the menu item is missing or the join is refused, use the server browser or request the direct address instead.
Save the server in Steam
Steam’s View → Game Servers tool can save an IP:port entry. Add the address and port supplied by the administrator, then use the saved entry when you return. This does not bypass game-version, EAC, password, firewall, or server-availability requirements; it simply saves the endpoint for easier access.
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Joining from PlayStation or Xbox through crossplay
Crossplay is not enabled merely because players use different platforms. The dedicated server must meet the console-compatibility settings documented by the official Help Center. That article was updated April 21, 2026 and specifies the following values:
| Setting | Required value or range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
ServerMaxPlayerCount |
Maximum 8 | Documented limit for console-compatible dedicated servers. |
ServerAllowCrossplay |
True |
Enables cross-platform compatibility. |
EACEnabled |
True |
Required for console clients to connect to crossplay servers. |
IgnoreEOSSanctions |
False |
Required value in the Help Center’s console-compatibility configuration. |
XPMultiplier |
25–300 | Must stay within the documented crossplay range. |
DayNightLength |
At least 10 | Values below the documented minimum are outside the supported range. |
BloodMoonEnemyCount |
4–64 | Must remain within the documented range. |
BlockDamagePlayer |
25–300 | Must remain within the documented range. |
BlockDamageAI |
At least 25 | Values below 25 are outside the documented range. |
BlockDamageAIBM |
At least 25 | Values below 25 are outside the documented range. |
LootAbundance |
No more than 200 | Values above 200 are outside the documented range. |
LootRespawnDays |
At least 5 | Values below 5 are outside the documented range. |
These are server-side requirements. A console player cannot repair an incompatible server by changing a local setting. Ask the administrator to verify the values in serverconfig.xml, confirm that the server is running the required branch, and provide the correct server name or address.
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- Marvelous Durability: Internet cable wrapped with quality cotton braided cord, which makes the LAN cable stronger and more durable. The test proves that this internet cable can be bent at least 10000 times without broken, very suitable for long-term use
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Ports for a documented hosted setup
The hosting reference describes forwarding 26900 UDP/TCP and 26901–26903 UDP for its documented crossplay setup. Treat those as reference values, not a universal prescription: the administrator must confirm the ports actually configured on the server and network.
Mods and custom worlds
Crossplay console clients generally require the documented vanilla, EAC-compatible configuration. A PC server using mods or a custom world may require every joining PC player to install the exact matching files, while console players may be unable to join at all. Ask for the precise mod list, version, installation location, and world requirements before attempting to connect.
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A server that appears in the browser is not automatically the best fit. Check these points before committing to a world:
- Connection method: browser listing, direct IP, or Steam join.
- Platform mix: PC-only or crossplay, and whether the server meets console requirements.
- Version and EAC: the exact game branch and whether EAC is required.
- Player cap and activity: the advertised maximum and whether the current population suits you.
- Region and ping: a nearby region generally gives a better starting point for latency.
- Rules: PvE or PvP, griefing policy, resets, raids, and other administrator rules.
- Access policy: public, password-protected, whitelist, or friend-only.
- Mods and worlds: required downloads, custom maps, and crossplay restrictions.
- Uptime: whether it is a host-run world that disappears when the host leaves or a dedicated server intended to stay online.
- Administration: active administrators, a published community information channel, and a clear process for reporting problems.
Troubleshooting connection problems
| Symptom | Likely causes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No server appears | Filters are too restrictive, the list has not finished loading, the server is offline, or you are searching the wrong tab. | Wait 30–60 seconds, clear unnecessary filters, search by the exact name, and try the peer-to-peer tab. For a friend session, search by SteamID when that option is available. |
| Version mismatch | Your client and the server use different versions or branches. | Install the pending update or switch to the server’s branch. Confirm the exact version with the administrator before retrying. |
| EAC authentication failed | Client and server EAC settings disagree, or the PC installation is damaged. | Match the EAC setting required by the server. On PC, verify the game files or reinstall EAC, then restart the game. |
| Could not retrieve server information | The server is still starting, the address or port is wrong, or a firewall blocks the connection. | Confirm that the server is online, verify the port, allow the game through the firewall, wait for startup to finish, and try again. |
| Timeouts or severe lag | Distance, unstable Wi-Fi, overloaded networking equipment, or a VPN path. | Choose a nearby region, test the connection, restart networking equipment, temporarily disable the VPN, and use wired Ethernet where possible. |
| Mods or custom world will not load | Required files are missing or versions do not match; console compatibility may prohibit the setup. | Install the exact files and versions supplied by the administrator. If you are on console, confirm that the world uses the documented vanilla/EAC-compatible crossplay configuration. |
Use a systematic retry order
- Close and relaunch the game so updates and EAC initialization complete.
- Check the server’s current status, version, password, and port with its administrator.
- Retry with broad browser filters or use Connect to IP.
- Confirm that your firewall permits the game and that your network is not routing through a problematic VPN.
- On PC, verify files and repair or reinstall EAC if authentication still fails.
- If the issue affects only one server while other servers work, report the exact error and time to that server’s administrator; the fault may be server-side.
What to ask the server administrator
When a join fails, a precise question is more useful than repeatedly clicking Connect. Ask for:
- the exact game version or branch;
- the server’s public name, host or IP, and port;
- whether a password, whitelist, or Steam-join permission is required;
- whether EAC must be enabled;
- whether crossplay is enabled and which platforms are supported;
- the player cap and expected uptime;
- required mods, custom-world files, or a clean vanilla installation;
- any firewall, VPN, or region restrictions;
- the server’s current startup status if it has just restarted.
With those details, choose the browser, direct-IP, or Steam method that matches the server, then keep your client version, EAC state, and required files aligned with it.
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