You can play 7 Days to Die with friends in three ways: host a world from the game client, run the free dedicated-server application on your own computer, or rent managed hosting. Client hosting is quickest but the world exists only while the host is playing. A dedicated server keeps the world available when its owner is offline and gives you control over settings, saves and mods. Managed hosting removes most network and maintenance work in exchange for a recurring fee.
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For a private group that plays at agreed times, start with client hosting. Choose a self-hosted dedicated server when friends need an always-available world. Choose managed hosting when persistence matters but nobody wants to administer SteamCMD, port forwarding, firewalls, updates and backups.
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Choose the hosting method that fits your group
The important distinction is whether the game world runs inside a player’s game session or as a separate server process. That decision determines availability, setup effort and who is responsible when something goes wrong.
| Option | When the world is available | Setup effort | Control | Cost and responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game-client hosting | Only while the host is in the world | Lowest; create or continue a game and invite friends | Basic world and visibility settings; limited server administration | No separate server fee. The host owns the save and must keep the game running. |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Whenever the server process and computer are running | Moderate to high; install the separate server app, edit configuration, forward ports and maintain it | Highest control over world generation, player slots, passwords, saves, updates and mods | No rental charge, but you provide the hardware, bandwidth, backups, firewall and troubleshooting. |
| Managed hosting | According to the provider’s uptime and your chosen schedule | Lowest administration after purchase; a web panel handles much of the deployment | Panel-dependent settings, branches, mods and console access | Recurring charge. The provider handles much of the infrastructure, while you still manage the game configuration and player access. |
For a small vanilla group, the client is usually the sensible first test. If the host’s schedule becomes a limitation, move the same style of world to a dedicated server. Keep a copy of the save before changing hosting methods.
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Requirements to check before you host
Match the game build and anti-cheat state
Every participant must use the same game version. A player on a different Steam branch can receive a version-mismatch error even when the server is configured correctly. Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) must also be enabled or disabled consistently between the server and clients. Decide on the supported branch before inviting the group, and update everyone together.
Plan the host computer
Steam’s current Windows listing names 8 GB of RAM as the minimum, 12 GB as recommended, a 2.8 GHz quad-core processor as the minimum CPU, and 15 GB of storage. Those figures describe the game listing, not a guarantee for every world size or mod pack. A dedicated server running at the same time as the game client needs more memory: Steam warns that running both on one computer doubles the RAM requirement. Leave additional headroom for larger groups, generated worlds and overhaul mods.
| Resource | Named figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 8 GB minimum; 12 GB recommended | Current Steam Windows listing. Hosting and playing on one PC can require roughly twice the game-only memory. |
| CPU | 2.8 GHz quad-core minimum | Current Steam Windows listing. Fast single-core performance is useful for a busy simulation. |
| Storage | 15 GB | Current Steam Windows listing. Reserve more space for saves, logs, backups and mods. |
Use an SSD for the game and world files when possible. Stable upload capacity matters more than a high download number for a home server. A wired Ethernet connection is generally more reliable than Wi-Fi; a Cat6 cable is an optional way to connect the host computer to the router.
Decide who owns the save
With client hosting, the host’s local save is the authoritative copy. Agree on one owner, make regular backups and avoid changing the host without first copying the save. A dedicated server instead writes to the configured save location, so access to that machine or its backups determines whether the world can be restored.
Option 1: host a private game from the client
This is the fastest route for occasional sessions and small groups. It does not require a separate server download or router configuration when the platform’s normal friend joining works.
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- Start 7 Days to Die and choose New Game to create a world or Continue Game to open an existing save.
- Set Server Visibility to Friends Only for a private group. Choose Public only if you want the world listed for other players. Use a password when the group should be invitation-only.
- Confirm that everyone is on the same game version, Steam branch and EAC state.
- Enter the world and keep the game running. The computer hosting the session is also running the simulation.
- Invite friends through the in-game Join a Game flow or Steam’s Join Game command. Friends can use the server browser while it is visible.
The trade-off is immediate: when the host exits, the session ends and friends cannot continue building or progressing. This model is ideal when everyone plays together and one person is reliably present. It is a poor fit for a world that should continue while the owner is asleep, away or offline.
Option 2: run your own dedicated server
A dedicated server is a separate process rather than a world embedded in a player’s client. The current setup guide identifies Steam app 294420, 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server, as a separate free download from the main game, which uses app 251570. You can install it with SteamCMD on Windows or Linux.
Install the server application
- Install SteamCMD on the Windows or Linux machine that will stay available as the server.
- Use SteamCMD to install or update app
294420. Keep the server files in a dedicated directory rather than mixing them with the ordinary game installation. - Locate the shipped
serverconfig.xmlfile. - Copy it to a separate name such as
myserver.xml, and edit the copy. Keeping your settings in a separate file prevents an update from overwriting your changes.
The exact SteamCMD path and service method depend on your operating system. The essential requirement is that the server process starts with your custom configuration file and that the account running it can read and write the installation and save directories.
Set the essential configuration values
| Setting | Purpose | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
ServerName |
Name shown in the server browser | Use a distinctive group name that friends can search for. |
ServerPassword |
Password protecting the server | Set one for a private world and share it only with the group. |
ServerMaxPlayerCount |
Number of player slots | Set it to the size of the group. Cross-platform settings require 8. |
ServerPort |
Main game connection port | The default is 26900. |
GameWorld |
World selection | Choose the handcrafted Navezgane world or a random-generation option. |
WorldGenSeed |
Seed used for generated terrain | Record the seed so the world can be recreated if necessary. |
SaveGameFolder |
Location of world saves | Use a path included in your backup plan and with enough free space. |
Change one setting at a time and keep a dated copy of the configuration. A typo can stop startup or create a world that is different from the one your group expects. If you are moving an existing client save, stop both games first and preserve the original before attempting an import.
Start and test locally
- Launch the dedicated server with
myserver.xmlas its configuration. - Wait for startup to finish before trying to connect. The process should show that the world has loaded and is listening on the configured port.
- From a game client on the same network, search for
ServerNameor connect to the server’s local address. Test the password and enter the world. - Stop the process cleanly after testing, then confirm that the save directory contains the expected world files.
Testing locally separates game configuration problems from Internet routing problems. Do not begin by changing several firewall and port settings at once; first prove that the server itself can load and accept a local connection.
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Configure the router and firewall
Friends outside your home network normally need the router to forward the server’s listening port to the computer running the dedicated process. The operating-system firewall must also allow the server executable or its listening ports. Give the server machine a stable local address so a DHCP change does not send forwarding to the wrong computer.
| Port | Protocol or role | Use |
|---|---|---|
26900 |
TCP and UDP | Main game port listed by the joining guidance. |
26902 |
Steam query port | Used for Steam server queries and favorites. |
| Adjacent discovery ports | Depends on the current server configuration | Some discovery functions use additional neighboring ports. Confirm the current configuration before publishing exact firewall rules. |
- Assign the server computer a reserved local IP address in the router, or configure an equivalent static address.
- Create a port-forwarding rule for the configured game port, normally
26900, to that local address using both TCP and UDP. - Forward the query port, normally
26902, if you want Steam server queries and favorites to work. - Allow the dedicated-server executable through the operating-system firewall on the relevant private and public network profiles.
- Start the server and test from a connection outside your home network, such as a friend’s connection. Testing from inside the same LAN can give a false impression because some routers do not support NAT loopback.
Do not expose administration interfaces unnecessarily. Use a strong server password, keep the operating system and server files updated, and remove forwarding rules if you stop hosting.
Option 3: use managed hosting
Managed hosting is a practical middle ground: the provider supplies an always-on machine and a control panel, while you choose the game settings. Panels commonly offer one-click installation, web consoles, scheduled updates and backups, and selectable release branches.
Read the current plan details before paying. Regions, prices, player limits, storage, backup retention, mod support and crossplay availability change over time. Confirm that the plan supports the branch and player count you need, that you can download your own save backups, and that you can stop or change the service without losing the world. Managed hosting reduces port-forwarding and hardware work; it does not remove the need to protect passwords, test updates and maintain a compatible client version.
How friends join your server
Server browser
- Open Join a Game.
- Wait for the list to populate and search for the exact
ServerName. - Select the server and connect.
- Enter the password when prompted.
Browser listings can take time after startup. A missing listing does not necessarily mean the process failed; verify that the server is fully started and that its query port and firewall access are correct.
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Direct IP connection
- Choose Connect to IP from the multiplayer menu.
- Enter the host’s public IP address or DNS name and the game port, normally
26900. - Submit the connection and enter the server password.
Give friends the public address, not the server computer’s private address such as a router-assigned 192.168.x.x address. A dynamic public address can change; if you use a DNS name, update it whenever the address changes.
Steam friend joining
While the host is playing and Steam joins are allowed, open the Steam overlay or Steam client, right-click the friend and choose Join Game. This is convenient for a client-hosted session and can work for a dedicated server that is visible to Steam, but it depends on the server not being full and the relevant visibility settings being enabled.
Steam Game Servers favorites
- In Steam, open View and then Game Servers.
- Choose Favorites and select Add Server.
- Enter the server IP address and query port, normally
26902. - Save it, refresh the list and connect when the server responds.
Crossplay between PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
Cross-platform play is available when a dedicated server is configured for it. The documented support settings are specific and should be entered exactly:
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|---|---|
ServerMaxPlayerCount |
8 |
ServerAllowCrossplay |
True |
EACEnabled |
True |
IgnoreEOSSanctions |
False |
The supported combination described by the joining guidance is PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S connecting to the same correctly configured dedicated server. The eight-player value is part of that cited cross-platform setup, not a promise that every server mode or future build has the same limit.
Start with an unmodified, vanilla server. Client-file mods or mismatched versions can prevent console players from joining, and consoles cannot use arbitrary PC-side files. Once every platform can connect and play, add only modifications known to be compatible with all participating clients and the server build.
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Troubleshoot the common connection failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Server is absent from the browser | Still starting, wrong query port, firewall block or incomplete forwarding | Confirm the process is running, wait for world initialization, verify ServerPort and query settings, and allow the executable through the firewall. |
| Direct IP connection times out | Incorrect public address, port forwarding or carrier-grade NAT | Use the current public address, forward 26900 TCP/UDP to the correct local machine, and test from outside the host’s network. |
| “Version Mismatch” | Server and client use different builds or Steam branches | Update or select the same branch on every machine, then restart the server and clients. |
| “EAC Authentication Failed” | EAC settings differ or local files are damaged | Make the EAC setting match, then verify the game files and reconnect. |
| Friends can join but the world resets or disappears | Wrong save path, an overwritten configuration or an unclean shutdown | Check SaveGameFolder, preserve the custom XML, stop the server cleanly and restore the latest known-good backup. |
| Console player cannot join a PC group | Crossplay values, version or mods are incompatible | Use the four documented crossplay settings, set the slot cap to 8, remove client-file mods and test a vanilla world. |
Operate a dedicated world safely
Back up before updates and experiments
Back up both the world save and your custom configuration. Keep at least one copy away from the server computer. Create an additional backup before changing the game branch, installing an overhaul, migrating hardware or editing world-generation settings. Test that a backup can actually be restored rather than assuming that a copied folder is usable.
Schedule restarts and updates
Tell players when the server will restart. Apply updates during an agreed window, check that the server and clients remain on the same branch, and avoid updating in the middle of an active session. If an update causes connection failures, return all clients to the supported branch before changing other settings.
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Use a non-obvious password, share it privately and change it when a member leaves. Keep the player-slot limit close to the group’s actual size. Review logs and remove old forwarding rules or unused services from the server machine.
Handle mods deliberately
Mods can change memory use, loading time and compatibility. Add one change at a time, record its version and keep a clean vanilla backup. For crossplay, assume that a PC-only client modification can block console players until compatibility is confirmed.
Which setup should you choose?
Two to four friends who meet at the same time
Use client hosting with Friends Only visibility and a password. It avoids server administration and costs nothing beyond the game and your existing computer. Accept that nobody can play in the world after the host leaves.
A group that plays on different schedules
Use a dedicated server on a computer with enough memory, an SSD and a stable wired connection, or select managed hosting if you do not want to maintain networking. Make backups part of the routine from the first day.
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PC and console players together
Use a dedicated server, begin with a vanilla configuration, apply the documented crossplay settings and cap the server at eight players. Have every participant update to the supported build before troubleshooting ports or passwords.
Players who want extensive configuration
Self-hosting provides the most direct access to the XML configuration, save location, logs and restart policy. Managed panels can still expose many settings, but their branch, mod and backup controls vary by provider and should be verified before purchase.
Quick Recap
Final pre-invite checklist
- Choose client, dedicated or managed hosting based on whether the world must remain available when the owner is offline.
- Confirm the same game version, Steam branch and EAC state for every player.
- For a dedicated server, install Steam app
294420, copyserverconfig.xmlto a custom file and set the name, password, slots, world, seed, save path and port. - Forward the configured game port, normally
26900TCP/UDP, and the Steam query port26902when required. - Allow the server executable through the operating-system firewall and test from outside the local network.
- For crossplay, set the documented values, use an eight-player cap and test without client-file mods.
- Back up the save and configuration before updates, migrations or major mod changes.
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