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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteYes—Hytale is multiplayer. You can open a singleplayer world to friends with the in-game Online Play option and a private share code, or run a dedicated server for a persistent world that stays available when the owner is offline. A dedicated server also gives you more control over performance, permissions, mods and configuration.
Prefer not to run the server on your own PC? Godlike.Host offers hosted Hytale servers with free DDoS protection and up to three free backups a day.
For a small group, opening your existing world is free and usually takes a few minutes. Renting managed hosting is simpler for an always-online community, while self-hosting provides the most control at the cost of Java, authentication, firewall and router administration.
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What multiplayer options does Hytale have?
Hytale supports two practical multiplayer models:
- Friend hosting from a singleplayer world: the owner loads a world, enables Online Play and shares a connection code. The world is available while that host is playing.
- Dedicated server: a separate process runs the world continuously. Friends can connect even when the world owner is not in the game, and the administrator can tune networking, view distance, permissions and content.
When a friend-hosted world is opened, Hytale attempts a direct connection first and uses a relay when a direct route is not possible. Adding one another as Hytale friends allows the game to use all available connection methods. Share codes include connection information, so send them only to people you trust.
No authoritative source currently establishes a universal player-cap number. Group size depends on the server’s hardware, view distance, entities, mods and network conditions rather than on a published figure.
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How to play Hytale with friends without a dedicated server
This is the quickest choice for a few friends who do not need the world to run continuously.
- Load the world you want to host in singleplayer.
- Press Esc and select Online Play.
- Enable Allow Other Players to Join.
- Optionally set a password. You can choose whether the password is included in the share code; leaving it out means you give the password to friends separately.
- Click Save. Hytale generates a share code.
- Copy the code and send it privately to the people who should join.
The host must keep the world session running for friends to use it. Closing the game, leaving the world or losing the host’s connection makes that session unavailable. This approach does not require router port forwarding in the normal case because Hytale negotiates a direct route or relay.
How friends join with a Hytale share code
- Open Hytale and go to Servers.
- Choose Join via Code.
- Paste the host’s share code.
- Enter the password if the host configured one separately.
- Connect and wait for the world to load.
Only send a code through a private channel. Anyone who obtains it may receive the connection details needed to attempt a join. If you suspect that a code has been exposed, disable Online Play, save the world settings again and issue a new code before inviting people back.
When do you need a dedicated Hytale server?
You do not need one merely to play a short session with friends. A dedicated server becomes worthwhile when one or more of these conditions apply:
- The world should remain online while the owner is offline.
- More than a few people need a stable, shared world.
- You want scheduled restarts, permissions, backups or configuration that should not depend on a player’s desktop.
- You are running mods or large content packs and need predictable resources.
- You want to avoid exposing your home network to inbound connections.
A dedicated process can run on a rented host, a home computer, a spare machine or a cloud virtual machine. The choice changes who handles hardware, updates, networking and security.
Friend hosting, managed hosting or self-hosting?
| Option | Setup effort | Online when owner is offline? | Network reliability | Control and mods | Ongoing cost | Who maintains it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open a singleplayer world | Lowest: enable Online Play and share a code | No; the host must keep the world session running | Usually automatic direct or relay routing; affected by restrictive networks | World-level settings; least administrative control | Free | The host’s device, connection and game session |
| Managed dedicated hosting | Low; providers commonly offer one-click installation and updates | Yes, subject to the provider’s service availability | Provider supplies networking and data-center connectivity | Dedicated-server settings and supported mods; verify each plan | Paid recurring service; current prices vary by provider, region and resources | The provider handles hardware, networking and maintenance; you manage the game |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Highest: install Java 25, server files, authentication, firewall and port forwarding | Yes, while your machine and connection remain online | Depends on your ISP, router, firewall and upload capacity | Maximum control over files, settings and administration | Existing hardware and electricity, or your own cloud bill | You handle hardware, security, backups, updates and troubleshooting |
How to rent a managed Hytale server
Managed hosting is the least technical way to keep a world online. Hytale’s Launch Verified provider list includes Nitrado, Apex Hosting, GPORTAL, Shockbyte and Dathost. Availability, locations, memory allocations, pricing and included features change, so check the current plan before purchasing.
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- Choose a provider location close to most players. Shorter network paths generally reduce latency.
- Select enough memory for the expected view distance, loaded area, entities, mods and content packs. A plan that only meets the bare server minimum may struggle with a busy world.
- Use the provider’s Hytale installation or one-click deployment if offered.
- Set the server name, access controls, view distance and any required mod or content files in the provider panel.
- Start the server and copy the address and port shown by the panel.
- Join from Hytale using the provider’s connection details, then test with every major player network before inviting a larger group.
Managed hosting shifts responsibility for the physical machine, data-center network, maintenance and usually 24/7 availability to the provider. It does not remove the need to manage passwords, permissions, backups, moderation or the legality of any monetization.
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How to self-host a Hytale dedicated server
Check the machine requirements
The official server manual specifies at least 4 GB of memory and Java 25. Both x64 and arm64 systems are supported. Four gigabytes is a starting requirement, not a performance guarantee: additional players, entities, high view distance, mods and large content packs can require more RAM and CPU.
Use a machine that can remain powered on and connected. A desktop that sleeps, a laptop that changes networks or a home connection with a changing address can make the server appear unreliable even when the Hytale process itself is healthy.
Install Java and obtain the server files
- Install a Java 25 runtime appropriate for your operating system and CPU architecture.
- Obtain the Hytale Server folder and Assets.zip, or use the official Downloader CLI/bootstrap flow.
- Keep the server files in a dedicated directory with write access for the account that will run the process.
- Allow the Java runtime through the operating system firewall when prompted, limiting the rule to the needed network profiles.
Launch the server
From the directory containing the server files, the manual’s example command is:
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Authenticate the server
At the server console, run:
/auth login deviceFollow the device-login instructions shown by the server. Hytale’s authentication documentation describes game sessions lasting one hour, with automatic refresh five minutes before expiry. Provider automation can use a 30-day OAuth refresh-token time-to-live; treat that token as a secret and do not place it in public scripts, screenshots or chat.
Open the correct network port
Hytale uses QUIC over UDP. Forward UDP 5520 on the router to the server machine’s local address, or forward the custom UDP port if you changed it. TCP forwarding is not required for Hytale’s game traffic.
- Give the server computer a stable local address through a DHCP reservation or a static address.
- Create an inbound firewall rule for the chosen UDP port.
- Forward that UDP port from the router to the server’s local address.
- Share the public address and port with players, keeping administrative credentials private.
- Test from a network outside your home Wi-Fi, such as a mobile connection, before declaring the server reachable.
Opening a port exposes a service to the internet. Keep the operating system, Java runtime and Hytale server updated, use strong administrator credentials, and close unused rules.
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Performance planning for a Hytale server
CPU, RAM and loaded area
Player and entity counts primarily increase CPU work. The amount of world loaded and the configured view distance primarily increase RAM use. Hytale’s hardware guidance notes that doubling view distance quadruples the amount of world loaded and simulated, making view distance one of the strongest performance controls.
The server manual recommends limiting maximum view distance to 12 chunks, or 384 blocks, for a practical balance of performance and gameplay. Lowering it can reduce memory and simulation pressure; raising it can multiply the loaded area quickly and should be tested against actual CPU and RAM usage.
Bandwidth
Hytale Team guidance from 2025 lists 2 Mbit/s minimum and 4 Mbit/s recommended at a 192-block view distance. These figures are guidance, not a promise for every player count or content setup. Mods, high view distance and large content packs can increase traffic, and upload speed matters most for a home-hosted server.
Why multiplayer may use less local resources
When you join a remote server, the server performs the authoritative world simulation, so your computer may use less CPU and RAM than it would while hosting the same world locally. Your client still renders the visible scene, and demanding graphics settings remain a separate consideration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting friend-hosted worlds
The join code does not connect
Try the join before changing router settings. Open Hytale’s in-game network report and check the result on both sides. Common causes include firewall rules, double NAT, carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), symmetric NAT and blocked school, work or public networks.
- Confirm the host has Online Play enabled and the world is still open.
- Have both players add each other as Hytale friends so every available connection method can be attempted.
- Temporarily test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot, to identify a blocked network.
- Check that security software is not blocking Hytale or its Java networking components.
- If the host cannot accept an outside connection, swap hosts. The other player’s network may support a direct route.
Double NAT occurs when two routers perform address translation; CGNAT occurs when the ISP places multiple customers behind shared translation. In either case, normal inbound forwarding may not work. Symmetric NAT can also prevent peers from establishing the route that a less restrictive NAT would permit.
Use a private-overlay fallback
If home-router routing remains impossible, Tailscale is documented as a free personal-use fallback that creates a private connection between participating devices. Install it on the host and invited players, place them in the same private network, then use the host’s private overlay address. This does not bypass a powered-off host: the world process still has to be running.
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The world is slow or disconnects
- Watch CPU and RAM while players explore and generate new areas.
- Reduce maximum view distance, especially if it is above 12 chunks.
- Check whether a mod or content pack causes a sharp increase in entities, loaded area or memory use.
- Compare performance with fewer players to separate server load from an individual player’s connection.
- On a home server, measure upload saturation and avoid running large uploads or downloads at the same time.
Troubleshooting a dedicated server
Players cannot see the server
Verify that the Hytale process is running, listening on the expected port and bound to the intended interface. Confirm that the operating-system firewall allows UDP, not only TCP, and that the router forwards the same UDP port to the correct local address. A changed DHCP address can silently invalidate an otherwise correct forwarding rule.
Authentication expires
Check the console for the device-login state and refresh messages. Sessions are documented as one hour with an automatic refresh five minutes before expiry. If a provider uses OAuth automation, protect the refresh token and account for its documented 30-day lifetime.
Updates break a previously working setup
Keep a copy of the server configuration and world backups before updating. Confirm that Java remains version 25, update the server files and assets together, then start the server in a test window before inviting players. For modded worlds, verify that every mod and content pack supports the new server version.
Administration, access and backups
Decide who can join before publishing the address. Use passwords or allowlists where available, give administrative commands only to trusted operators, and maintain a separate backup location. A backup that remains on the same disk as the live world does not protect against disk failure, theft or ransomware.
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Can a Hytale server be monetized?
Hytale’s EULA says server listing is discretionary. If you charge players, the server operator is the merchant of record. You must clearly disclose prices, renewal terms, limitations and regional restrictions and comply with applicable consumer-protection, advertising, tax, payment and minors-protection rules.
A monetized server must avoid misleading practices, prohibited paid random-item schemes and NFT or speculative-token systems. A payment provider or hosting company does not transfer those obligations away from the operator.
Which hosting method should you choose?
Choose friend hosting when
- You are playing with a small, trusted group.
- The host will normally be online during sessions.
- You want zero hosting cost and no router administration.
- You do not need persistent uptime or advanced server management.
Choose managed hosting when
- The world must be available around the clock.
- The owner may be offline or away for long periods.
- You prefer a provider to handle hardware, networking, maintenance and common updates.
- You are willing to pay a recurring fee for convenience and data-center connectivity.
Choose self-hosting when
- You need maximum control over files, configuration and mods.
- You can administer Java 25, authentication, firewalls, routers, backups and updates.
- You have a reliable always-on machine and sufficient upload capacity.
- You accept responsibility for security, uptime and recovery.
In short, Hytale is multiplayer immediately through Online Play and a share code. A dedicated server is an upgrade for persistence, larger communities and administrative control—not a prerequisite for playing with friends.
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