To join a friend’s game, launch Sons of the Forest through Steam and accept the host’s Steam invitation, or use the game’s Multiplayer → Join screen. To join a dedicated server, set Source to Dedicated, search its server name, select it, and click Join. Enter the password if one is required. A running dedicated server can take up to two minutes to appear in the browser.
Sons of the Forest supports online co-op through Steam. The Steam store describes the game as “Survive alone, or with friends,” and the joining process depends on whether your friend is hosting a normal co-op world or you are connecting to a separate dedicated-server process.
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A friend-hosted world exists only while the host’s session is running. A dedicated server has its own process and can remain available when the owner is not actively playing. Selecting the right path—and the right server-browser source—is the key to connecting without wasting time on the wrong menu.
Choose the right way to connect
| Session type | How you find it | What must be true | Persistence and control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friend-hosted co-op | Accept the host’s Steam invite or select the session in Multiplayer → Join | The host must be in the lobby or running the world; both players must be signed in to Steam | The world is available while the host is running it; the host controls the session |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Multiplayer → Join, with Source: Dedicated | The server process must be running and reachable through its configured network ports | Can remain available independently of a normal co-op session; you control the configuration |
| Managed dedicated hosting | The provider’s server appears in the same dedicated-server browser after it is started | The service must be online, named clearly, and configured with the correct password and ports | Usually reduces machine and maintenance work; pricing and program terms vary |
If you are simply joining a friend tonight, use the friend-hosted steps. Use the dedicated-server procedure only when the owner has given you a server name and, if applicable, a password. Do not look for a dedicated server in the friend-invite list or expect a friend’s temporary lobby to remain online after that player quits.
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Check your client before joining
- Install Sons of the Forest through Steam and sign in to the Steam account that owns the game.
- Use a stable internet connection for an online session. A dedicated server can be visible yet still fail to connect if the owner’s network blocks gameplay traffic.
- The official Steam listing gives minimum client requirements of 12 GB of RAM and 20 GB of available storage. Those figures are for the game client, not a guarantee of the resources needed by a dedicated server.
- Update or restart Steam if the game will not open an invitation. Menu wording can change slightly after game updates, but the multiplayer host-and-join flow remains the relevant route.
Join a friend’s hosted co-op game
Before either player starts
- Both players should launch the game through Steam and confirm they are signed in and online.
- Add each other as Steam friends before attempting the invitation. If you are not friends, the host may be unable to send or deliver the expected invite.
- Decide who will host. That player’s session controls when the world is available and whether another player can join.
- Have the host load the world before sending the invitation. Inviting while the game is still starting can produce a lobby that is not ready to accept a connection.
Step-by-step invitation method
- The host starts Sons of the Forest from Steam.
- From the game’s multiplayer area, the host chooses the option to host a multiplayer game.
- The host starts a new world or loads an existing world and waits until the lobby or world is active.
- The host sends a Steam invitation to the other player.
- The joining player accepts the invitation. Steam should open the game and connect to the host’s session.
Join from the in-game list instead
If the host’s session is visible, the joining player can open the game’s Multiplayer menu, choose Join, and select the friend’s session. This is useful when the Steam pop-up was dismissed or did not open the game. Confirm that the listed session belongs to the correct friend before selecting it, especially when several people in your Steam list are playing.
If the friend’s session is missing
- Confirm that the host is still in the lobby or has the world running. A closed lobby cannot accept a new player.
- Verify that both Steam accounts are online and that the players are actually friends on Steam.
- Have both players exit and restart Steam, then restart the game.
- Send a new invitation after the host has loaded the world rather than while the game is still starting.
- Use the in-game Join list after restarting instead of relying on an old invitation notification.
These are practical recovery steps rather than fixed menu requirements, so exact wording may differ after an update. If the host closes the world, you cannot keep joining that same friend-hosted session until it is started again.
Join a dedicated server
A dedicated server is found through the game’s server browser, not through a friend’s normal co-op invitation. Ask the server owner for the exact ServerName, whether the server is public or password-protected, and confirmation that it is currently running.
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- Make sure the server owner has started the dedicated-server process.
- Launch Sons of the Forest and open Multiplayer.
- Choose Join.
- Locate the Source selector. Use its arrows until Dedicated is selected.
- Search for the server’s name. Use the spelling supplied by the owner; a different name, space, or punctuation mark can make the result difficult to find.
- Select the matching server and click Join.
- Enter the server password when prompted, preserving capitalization and punctuation.
Host Havoc’s 2026 joining instructions allow up to two minutes for a running server to appear in the list. If it is not visible immediately, leave the browser open briefly, wait the full interval, and repeat the search with Dedicated still selected. A server that has just started may need time to register its query information with Steam.
Direct Connect and password-protected servers
A Steam Community hosting guide documents joining from the in-game Play Online server browser and using a Direct Connect button for password-protected servers. Treat those labels as update-sensitive. If your build does not show Direct Connect, use the dedicated-server browser and the owner’s published name and password. Do not guess an address or port that the owner has not supplied.
What the server owner must provide
Joining is much easier when the owner supplies four pieces of information:
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- Server name: the exact value shown as
ServerName. - Server type: confirm that this is a dedicated server rather than a friend-hosted world.
- Password: the current password, including capitalization and punctuation.
- Status: confirmation that the process is running and has had time to register in the browser.
The dedicated-server configuration supports passwords of up to 40 characters. A rejected password normally means that the owner changed it, supplied an older value, or that a character was mistyped. Ask for the current value privately rather than posting it in a public chat or support forum.
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The wrong source filter is selected
The most common browser mistake is leaving Source on a different category. A dedicated server will not necessarily appear while the browser is set to a friend-hosted or another source. Return to Multiplayer → Join and explicitly set Source to Dedicated before searching.
The server has not registered yet
A running server can take up to two minutes to appear. Ask the owner to confirm that the process is running, wait the full interval, and search again using the exact server name. Restarting the client repeatedly before that interval has passed does not make the server register faster.
The name does not match
Server names are used for discovery. Check spelling, spaces, capitalization, and punctuation with the owner. If the owner recently edited ServerName, the browser may show the new value rather than an older bookmark or message. Search a shorter distinctive portion if the browser supports partial matching, then verify the result with the owner.
The server is LAN-only
A configuration with LanOnly enabled is intended for local-network play. Players outside that network generally cannot reach it through the public server browser. The owner must verify that the setting is appropriate for everyone who needs to connect; changing it may require restarting the server.
The server is running but blocked by networking
Self-hosted internet servers may need Windows Firewall rules and router port forwarding. The configuration guide identifies GamePort, QueryPort, and BlobSyncPort. The query port is used by Steam to list the server; the game port carries gameplay traffic. If the owner has changed any values from the example configuration, firewall and router rules must use the changed values too. A visible listing with a failed connection often points to gameplay traffic being blocked even though the query port is reachable.
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Ports and dedicated-server settings
The Steam Community configuration guide’s example uses the following values:
| Setting | Example value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
GamePort |
8766 | Carries gameplay traffic |
QueryPort |
27016 | Used by Steam to list the server in the browser |
BlobSyncPort |
9700 | Configured server communication port |
ServerName |
Owner-defined | Controls the name players search for |
MaxPlayers |
1–8 accepted values | Sets the configured player limit |
Password |
Owner-defined, up to 40 characters | Restricts access when set |
LanOnly |
Owner-defined | Limits the server to local-network use when enabled |
These are example configuration values, not a promise that every server uses the same ports. When troubleshooting, ask the owner which values are active and ensure that the corresponding firewall and router rules match. Do not change a port on only one side: the server configuration, Windows Firewall rule, router forwarding rule, and any provider panel must agree.
If you are setting up the dedicated server yourself
Software and installation outline
The community configuration guide documents installing the dedicated-server files with SteamCMD using app ID 2465200, then creating a dedicatedserver.cfg file. After installation, the owner sets the server name, player limit, password, LAN setting, and port values in that configuration.
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- Prepare a supported 64-bit Windows machine and install SteamCMD.
- Use SteamCMD with app ID
2465200to obtain the dedicated-server files. - Create the
dedicatedserver.cfgfile in the location expected by the current server build. - Set a recognizable
ServerName, choose aMaxPlayersvalue from 1 through 8, and add a password if the server should be private. - Record the active
GamePort,QueryPort, andBlobSyncPortvalues. - Allow the configured ports through Windows Firewall and forward the required ports on the router when players will connect over the internet.
- Start the server process, wait for it to register, and test discovery from a separate client using Source: Dedicated.
The hosting guide identifies Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 or newer, 64-bit support, and a quad-core processor as baseline platform requirements. Its page contains conflicting or updated memory wording, so use the requirements shipped with the current server build rather than relying on an older figure. Leave capacity for Windows and any other services running on the machine.
Client requirements are separate
The official Steam listing gives the game’s minimum client requirements as 12 GB of RAM and 20 GB of available storage. Those figures describe the player’s game installation, not a guarantee for every dedicated-server workload. A server owner should check the current server build’s own requirements and leave capacity for the operating system, backups, logs, and other services.
Self-hosting versus a managed server
| Decision factor | Friend-hosted session | Self-hosted dedicated server | Managed dedicated server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available when the original host is offline | No; the host must run the session | Yes, while the server machine and process are running | Generally intended for continuous availability while the service is active |
| Setup effort | Lowest: launch, host, invite | Highest: SteamCMD, configuration, firewall, and router work | Lower machine-management burden, but provider setup still matters |
| Control | Host controls the active world | Owner controls name, password, ports, LAN mode, and player limit | Control depends on the provider’s panel and plan |
| Discoverability | Steam invitation or join list | Dedicated source and correctly registered query port | Dedicated source after the service is started and registered |
| Recurring cost | Not stated | Uses your own machine and network; exact operating cost is not stated | Pricing and program terms vary and must be checked with the provider |
For occasional sessions with the same group, friend hosting avoids server administration. For a world that should remain available independently of one player, a dedicated server is the appropriate model. Managed hosting can reduce hardware, firewall, and router work, but its price, limits, backup policy, restart behavior, and support terms must be checked with the provider. If you prefer managed Sons of the Forest hosting, Godlike.Host offers game-server plans. Its Sons of the Forest plans list 4, 12 and 20 slots; the server’s MaxPlayers setting allows 1 to 8 players (Steam Community server guide, 11 Oct 2026). No single hardware product is required for joining; self-hosting equipment depends on the machine and network you already have.
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A complete troubleshooting checklist
- Confirm the session type. Use a Steam invitation for a friend-hosted world; use the dedicated browser for a dedicated server.
- Check Steam status. Both players should be signed in, online, and friends when using the invitation workflow.
- Verify the menu path. Open Multiplayer → Join and select Dedicated under Source for a dedicated server.
- Confirm the process is running. Ask the owner to verify that the server did not stop or crash during startup.
- Wait two minutes. A running server may need that long to appear in the list.
- Search the exact name. Check the owner’s current
ServerName, including spaces and punctuation. - Recheck the password. Request the current value from the owner and enter it exactly; configured passwords can be up to 40 characters.
- Check LAN mode. A server set to
LanOnlyis not suitable for players connecting from outside the local network. - Check firewall and router rules. The owner should allow and forward the configured ports, including the query port needed for browser listing.
- Compare changed ports. If the owner edited a default, update every matching firewall, router, and provider setting.
- Restart after configuration changes. If the owner changes the name, ports, password, or LAN setting, restart the server and search again.
When to contact official support
If the game client meets the published minimum of 12 GB RAM and 20 GB available storage, Steam and the server owner’s settings have been checked, and the connection still fails, contact Endnight Games at [email protected]. Include the exact symptom, whether you were joining a friend-hosted or dedicated session, the selected source, and any error text. Do not send a server password in a public support post.
Key points to remember
- Friend-hosted co-op is joined through the host’s Steam invitation or the in-game Join flow.
- Dedicated servers require Multiplayer → Join → Source: Dedicated.
- A running dedicated server may take up to two minutes to appear.
- The server name and password come from the owner; the configured password can be up to 40 characters.
- Self-hosting may require SteamCMD, a
dedicatedserver.cfgfile, firewall rules, and router port forwarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join my friend’s Sons of the Forest game?
Launch the game through Steam, make sure you are Steam friends and both online, then accept the host’s Steam invitation. You can also open Multiplayer → Join and select the friend’s visible session.
Where is the dedicated-server browser?
From the main menu, open Multiplayer, choose Join, and change Source to Dedicated. Search the exact server name, select it, and click Join.
Why can’t I see a dedicated server?
Confirm the process is running, select Dedicated as the source, check the spelling of ServerName, and wait up to two minutes for registration. The owner should also verify the query port, firewall, router forwarding, and LanOnly setting.
How long does a server take to appear?
A running dedicated server can take up to two minutes to appear in the browser. Search again after that interval with the correct source selected.
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What should I do if the password is rejected?
Ask the owner for the current password and enter every character exactly, including capitalization and punctuation. Dedicated-server passwords can be up to 40 characters, and an owner may have changed the value.
Can I join a server set to LAN-only?
Only players on the same local network should expect a LanOnly server to work. For internet players, the owner must disable LAN-only mode and configure the required firewall and router rules.
What ports does a self-hosted server use?
The example configuration lists GamePort 8766, QueryPort 27016, and BlobSyncPort 9700. These are examples; use the owner’s active values in the server configuration, firewall, and router.
How many players can a dedicated server support?
The documented configuration accepts MaxPlayers values from 1 through 8. The owner chooses the limit in dedicatedserver.cfg.
Do I need a dedicated server to play with friends?
No. For occasional sessions, a friend can host a normal co-op world and invite you through Steam. A dedicated server is useful when the world should remain available while the original host is offline.
What are the minimum PC requirements for joining?
The official Steam listing specifies at least 12 GB of RAM and 20 GB of available storage for the client. Dedicated-server requirements are separate and should be checked against the current server build.
The Bottom Line
Use a Steam invitation or Multiplayer → Join for a friend-hosted world. For a dedicated server, select Source: Dedicated, search the exact server name, wait up to two minutes if necessary, and enter the owner’s current password. If it remains missing, check the source filter, process status, LAN mode, ports, firewall, and router forwarding.
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