There are two ways to restrict a Killing Floor 2 session to your group: use the game’s Private Password/Friends Only lobby setting, or run a dedicated server with a nonempty GamePassword. The lobby method is quickest; a dedicated server gives you control over the server name, configuration, uptime and network access.
Choose the right kind of private game
“Private server” can mean two different things in Killing Floor 2. A private matchmaking session is a passworded takeover session created through the normal game interface. You do not operate the underlying server process, and setup ends when the match does.
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A dedicated private server is a server process that you install and run yourself. Its configuration includes a player password, a visible name and other server settings. It can remain available for your group, but you are responsible for updates, uptime, firewall rules and router configuration.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Consideration | In-game private match | Dedicated private server |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Invite friends, choose Private Password/Friends Only, set a password and select Find Game | Install the server, edit its configuration and launch the server process |
| Control | Match settings supplied by matchmaking | Server name, short name, password, maps and other server configuration |
| Maintenance | Minimal; repeat the lobby setup for another session | Updates, process uptime, firewall and router administration |
| Privacy model | Passworded session on an available dedicated server | Password-protected server that you operate |
Option 1: create a private match from the game
For a small group that wants to play immediately, the in-game route avoids server installation and port forwarding.
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Set up the private lobby
- Open the normal matchmaking flow in Killing Floor 2.
- Invite the friends who should be in the session.
- Change the lobby permission from Public to Private Password/Friends Only.
- When prompted, enter a password. Use a value that is not shared publicly or reused elsewhere.
- Select Find Game to start server-takeover matchmaking with the private setting.
The password is the admission control for the match. Give it only to the people you want to join. Friends still need to be invited through the supported lobby and must enter the password when the game requests it.
What this method does—and does not do
This creates a private, passworded match; it does not give you ownership of a continuously running server. Matchmaking supplies the dedicated server, while your lobby determines who may enter. If you need a persistent server with a recognizable browser entry and settings you control, use the dedicated-server method below.
Option 2: run a password-protected dedicated server
A dedicated server is the better fit when the same group wants a repeatable server identity or when you want to control server configuration directly. Keep the server installation separate from the game client installation where practical, and follow the dedicated-server setup method for your operating system. The documented Windows workflow uses SteamCMD to obtain the server files.
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Install the server files
- Prepare a machine that can remain online while friends play. It may be a separate computer or the host’s gaming PC, but the process must have enough resources and a stable network connection for the intended session.
- Install the dedicated-server files using the documented server setup procedure. Do not assume that the client installation alone is a complete dedicated-server installation.
- Keep track of the server directory; you will edit its configuration and launch the server from that installation.
The exact installation commands and file locations vary with the setup method and operating system. Use the server’s current documented installation instructions rather than copying a command intended for a different release.
Set the player password
Open the server configuration and locate the GamePassword= setting. Replace the empty value with a private passphrase:
GamePassword=use-a-unique-passphraseA nonempty GamePassword is the core privacy control: connecting players must supply it. Avoid a password based on your server name, Steam or Epic display name, or a phrase already used for another account.
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Make the server identifiable
Set a recognizable ServerName and ShortName. Friends can then distinguish your entry from similarly configured servers in the browser. Keep the name descriptive without putting the password or other private information in it.
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A typical configuration section has the following shape:
ServerName=Friends Night KF2
ShortName=Friends-KF2
GamePassword=use-a-unique-passphraseThe exact surrounding configuration and capitalization should follow the file supplied with your server version. Edit the existing keys instead of creating multiple copies of the same setting.
Launch and share the connection details
- Start the dedicated server with the map and server options you want to use.
- Wait until the process has completed startup and is visible in the server browser.
- Tell friends the exact
ServerNameorShortNameto search for and give them the password through a private channel. - Have each player find the server in the browser and enter the password when prompted.
Do not post the password in a public chat, stream overlay or open forum. If the password leaks, change GamePassword, restart the server and distribute the replacement only to the intended group.
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Firewall and router access
Players on the same local network may be able to reach a server without internet port forwarding. Players connecting from outside your network generally require the host firewall and router to permit the server’s traffic. The cited dedicated-server guide lists these ports:
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| Port | Protocol | Role described by the guide |
|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Main game server |
| 20560 | UDP | Dedicated-server traffic |
| 27015 | UDP | Server/query traffic |
| 8080 | TCP | WebAdmin |
Do not automatically expose every listed port. The required rules depend on your server configuration, host firewall, router and whether you intend to use WebAdmin. The game ports must be allowed for the connections your players actually use; WebAdmin is an administration interface and should not be exposed to the public internet unless you have a specific need and have secured it.
Basic network checklist
- Allow the required UDP game ports in the operating-system firewall.
- Create matching router port-forwarding rules to the computer’s local IP address when outside players cannot connect directly.
- Reserve or otherwise stabilize that local IP so the forwarding rule does not point to a different device later.
- Restart or reload the server after changing its configuration or network rules.
- Test from a different network, such as a friend’s connection or a mobile hotspot, rather than testing only from the host’s LAN.
Some routers do not support reliable “hairpin” connections from the local network to the router’s public address. A failed test from inside the same home network therefore does not by itself prove that outside players cannot connect.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Steam and Epic cross-play
Killing Floor 2 added Epic Online Services support, cross-play and cross-friend invites for unmodded ranked servers. In that supported context, Steam and Epic players can be invited to the same private session. The documented announcement does not establish identical behavior for every modded server or every later game mode.
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- Confirm that the server or match is an unmodded ranked configuration covered by the cross-play support.
- Use the game’s supported cross-friend invite flow rather than relying only on a manually copied server entry.
- Check that both players are running compatible, current game versions.
- If the session uses mods or a mode outside the documented ranked-server context, treat cross-platform joining as unsupported until verified for that configuration.
Troubleshooting private connections
The server appears, but the password is rejected
- Check for leading or trailing spaces in
GamePassword. - Confirm that the server was restarted after the configuration change.
- Have the player type the password manually; copied text can include an extra space or a changed character.
- Verify that the player is joining the intended server name, not another entry with a similar name.
The server is not visible in the browser
- Confirm that the dedicated-server process is still running and completed startup.
- Check the host firewall and the UDP rules required by the server.
- Check router forwarding and make sure it targets the server computer’s current local IP.
- Use the configured
ServerNameorShortNameto narrow the browser search. - Test from outside the host network; local-only testing can be misleading when a router lacks hairpin support.
Friends time out while connecting from another network
Verify the external network path first: the host firewall must allow the game traffic, and the router must forward the required ports to the correct machine. If WebAdmin is not needed, do not use its port as a substitute for the game-server rules. Corporate, campus and carrier-grade NAT networks can also prevent inbound connections; in that case, move the server to a network that permits inbound forwarding or use the in-game private-match route.
Cross-platform friends cannot join
Recheck whether the server is unmodded and ranked, which is the context explicitly covered by the cross-play announcement. If it is modded or uses another mode, the password may be correct while the platform combination remains unsupported.
Security and upkeep
- Use a unique password for each private server and change it whenever an unintended player receives it.
- Share the password privately and avoid placing it in server names, screenshots or public voice-chat recordings.
- Keep the dedicated-server files updated using the supported installation and update process.
- Limit administrative interfaces such as WebAdmin to the networks and users that need them.
- Record the server’s local IP, configured ports and password owner so another trusted person can restart it if the host disconnects.
For an occasional friends-only match, the lobby setting has the lowest operational cost. For a recurring group server, a dedicated installation is worthwhile when you are prepared to maintain the process and network access. In either case, the privacy boundary is enforced by the password and by sharing it only with the intended players.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a Killing Floor 2 game friends-only without running a dedicated server?
Yes. Invite the group in the normal matchmaking flow, choose Private Password/Friends Only, set a password and select Find Game. This creates a passworded takeover session rather than a server process that you operate.
What setting protects a self-hosted Killing Floor 2 server?
Set a nonempty GamePassword in the dedicated-server configuration, restart the server, and give the password only to the intended players.
Do I need every listed port for a private server?
No. The documented guide lists 7777/UDP, 20560/UDP, 27015/UDP and 8080/TCP, but the rules you need depend on your configuration and whether WebAdmin is used. Configure only the access your server requires.
Can Steam and Epic players join the same private server?
Cross-play and cross-friend invites are documented for unmodded ranked servers. Modded servers and other modes may not have the same supported behavior.
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