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Yes. Unturned supports online multiplayer and co-op, as well as LAN co-op. On Steam, you can invite friends from a multiplayer server, share a 17-digit Server Code, or let them join through the Steam Friends List. Xbox and PlayStation 4 players use the platform’s server list or browser. A normal single-player session is not the join target: to play together, you must start or connect to a multiplayer server.
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What multiplayer options does Unturned support?
Steam’s Unturned listing identifies both Online Co-op and LAN Co-op. Official Unturned announcements also document direct friend invitations and Server Codes. That gives you several ways to play with friends, from a quick private session to a server that remains available between play sessions.
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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driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- Steam online co-op: start or enter a multiplayer server, invite Steam friends, or send them the server’s code.
- LAN co-op: run a server on the same local network. LAN servers do not appear in the public internet list, but friends can still join with an invitation or Server Code.
- Persistent internet hosting: run a dedicated server and configure Fake IP or port forwarding. A Game Server Login Token (GSLT) is needed for the server to appear in the internet list and can keep its Server Code linked between restarts.
- Xbox and PlayStation 4: locate the host’s server in the console server list or browser. 505 Games’ guidance covers joining by server name and, on Xbox, joining from the friends list.
The documented material does not establish cross-platform joining between Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation. Treat each platform’s instructions as platform-specific unless the game or platform documentation explicitly says otherwise.
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For a one-off session, the simplest route is to create a multiplayer server from the game and use the built-in invitation or Server Code. You do not need to configure port forwarding merely for a friend to join through a code.
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Host a multiplayer session
- Launch Unturned on Steam.
- Start or enter a multiplayer server. Do not use an ordinary single-player session as the join target; the documented invitation and code workflows apply to multiplayer servers.
- Open the pause menu or the server-information screen.
- Choose Invite Friends if that option is available, or copy the server’s Server Code.
An invitation is convenient when everyone is already connected on Steam. A code is useful when you want to send the connection details in a chat message or when the server is on a LAN.
Invite a Steam friend directly
Select Invite Friends and choose the people you want to play with. Your friends accept the Steam invitation and follow it into the server. The official Steam announcement also states that any server with a Server Code, including a LAN server, can be joined through the Steam Friends List.
Send a Server Code instead
Copy the code shown by the server and send it to your friend. A Server Code is a randomly generated 17-digit numeric code. The joining player enters it through Connect Directly. This method avoids asking the joining player to configure port forwarding.
How the friend joins
- Open Unturned on Steam.
- Use the Steam Friends List invitation, or open the game’s Connect Directly menu.
- If using the code, enter all 17 digits exactly as provided by the host.
- Connect to the server and wait for the world to load.
If the host restarts the server, ask for a fresh code unless a Game Server Login Token is assigned. Without a GSLT, the code normally changes after a restart.
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How to join an Unturned Server Code
The Server Code is designed to identify a multiplayer server without requiring the joining friend to know an address or set up router rules. The official documentation describes it as a 17-digit number that friends can enter in Connect Directly.
- Ask the host to display the server information and copy the current Server Code.
- Open Unturned’s server connection interface and select Connect Directly.
- Paste or type the 17-digit number.
- Submit the connection and select the matching server if the game presents a result.
Codes are session-sensitive unless the host uses a GSLT. A code that worked yesterday may no longer work after the host restarts the server. The host should provide the newly generated code rather than reusing an old message.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A code does not turn a single-player world into a joinable server. The host must have started a multiplayer server, and that server must still be running when the friend attempts to connect.
How to play privately with friends
“Private” can mean two different things: a temporary session that friends join directly, or a persistent server that is available from the internet. Both require a multiplayer server, but the setup and maintenance are different.
Temporary private session
Use the Steam multiplayer flow, keep the session’s invitation or code within your group, and have friends join through the Friends List or Connect Directly. This is the lowest-effort option when you only need the server during the current play session.
The cited official material does not specify a separate password procedure or a player-limit setting for this workflow. Use the server’s own privacy and configuration controls where available, and do not assume that a single-player save is automatically private multiplayer.
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Private LAN server
A LAN server is intended for players on the same local network. It is not visible in Unturned’s public internet server list. That does not make it unjoinable: the official Steam announcement says LAN servers with a Server Code can be joined through the Steam Friends List, and the host can also send the code for Connect Directly.
Because LAN servers are not listed publicly, friends should not waste time searching the internet list for the host’s name. Use an invitation or the current code instead.
Private internet server
For friends outside your local network, the host must make the server reachable from the internet. The official server guidance identifies two networking approaches: Fake IP or port forwarding. A Server Code simplifies the friend’s side of the connection, but it does not remove the host’s requirement to run a reachable multiplayer server.
If you want the server to appear in the public server list, assign a Game Server Login Token. The token is also the documented way to keep the Server Code linked between sessions instead of receiving a new code after each restart.
Persistent hosting with the official dedicated-server tool
A dedicated server is the appropriate choice when friends should be able to return to the same world without relying on a game client to host each session. The official Unturned Dedicated Server tool is installed and updated through SteamCMD.
What you need to plan
- Server software: install and update the official dedicated-server tool through SteamCMD.
- Network reachability: configure Fake IP or port forwarding for an internet server.
- Listing and code persistence: use a Game Server Login Token if you want the server listed publicly and the Server Code linked between restarts.
- Administration: keep the server process, configuration, and updates maintained. The official material does not state a specific hardware requirement or operating-system specification, so those details should be checked against the current dedicated-server documentation for your environment.
Dedicated-server workflow
- Install SteamCMD on the machine that will run the server.
- Use SteamCMD to install the official Unturned Dedicated Server tool and apply updates.
- Configure the server as a multiplayer server and choose whether it should be LAN-only or reachable over the internet.
- For internet access, select the documented Fake IP approach or configure port forwarding on the host network.
- Create or assign a Game Server Login Token if the server needs to appear in the internet list or retain its Server Code between restarts.
- Start the server and distribute its name, invitation, or current Server Code to your friends.
- After updates or restarts, verify that the server is running and that the code or listing still matches what you sent.
The token and network settings solve different problems. Port forwarding or Fake IP makes the server reachable; the GSLT controls listing and stable code behavior. Adding a token does not replace the need for a reachable server configuration.
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Which Unturned multiplayer method should you use?
| Method | Setup effort | Visibility | After a restart | Networking | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam multiplayer session with invitation | Low | Direct invite or Friends List | Start a new session; code behavior depends on whether a GSLT is assigned | No port forwarding for the friend joining by invitation | Quick co-op with a small group |
| Steam Server Code | Low | Private connection by code; LAN servers are not in the internet list | Code normally changes unless a GSLT is assigned | Friend enters the code through Connect Directly | Sharing a session without relying on a public listing |
| LAN server | Low to moderate | Local network only; not visible in the internet list | Provide the new code after a restart unless a GSLT is assigned | Same-network hosting; invite or code can still be used | Friends in one home or venue network |
| Dedicated internet server | Moderate to high | Can be listed with a GSLT, or shared privately | Designed for a persistent server; GSLT can keep the code linked | Fake IP or port forwarding required | Regular groups that want an always-available world |
| Xbox server browser | Low for the joining player | Console server list or friends list | Search the current server when it is online | Uses the console’s documented server-joining flow | Joining a friend’s Xbox server |
| PlayStation 4 server browser | Low for the joining player | Console server browser | Search the current server when it is online | Uses the console’s documented browser flow | Joining a friend’s PS4 server |
Exact mod, configuration, capacity, and hardware behavior is not stated in the cited official material. Those details can vary by server setup and should not be inferred from the connection method alone.
How to join a friend on Xbox
505 Games advises Xbox players to search for the friend’s server name in the server list. Use the same server location as the host—for example, Frankfurt—or join directly from the friends list when that option is available.
- Ask the host for the exact server name and location.
- Open Unturned’s Xbox server list.
- Search for the server name.
- Choose the matching location, such as Frankfurt, if the list offers multiple results.
- If searching does not find it, try joining directly from the Xbox friends list.
The Xbox instructions are separate from Steam’s Server Code workflow. Do not assume that a Steam invitation or Connect Directly code is the way to join from Xbox.
How to join a friend on PlayStation 4
On PlayStation 4, open the Unturned server browser and find the friend’s server name. The console guidance does not describe entering Steam Server Codes, so use the browser and the server name supplied by the host.
- Get the exact server name from the host.
- Open the PlayStation 4 server browser.
- Search or scroll to the matching server.
- Select it to connect while the host’s server is online.
Troubleshooting failed joins
The friend cannot find the server
- Confirm that the host started a multiplayer server rather than a normal single-player session.
- For a LAN server, stop searching the public internet list; use a Steam invitation or Server Code.
- On Xbox, verify the exact server name and location, then try the friends-list join option.
- On PlayStation 4, search the server browser using the exact name.
The Server Code is rejected
- Ask the host to copy the current 17-digit code again. A single missing or extra digit prevents a match.
- Check whether the server restarted. Without a GSLT, the code normally changes after a restart.
- Make sure the host’s multiplayer server is still running before selecting Connect Directly.
The internet server is unreachable
- Verify that the host configured either Fake IP or port forwarding, as required for a persistent internet server.
- Remember that a GSLT helps with internet-list visibility and code persistence; it is not a substitute for network reachability.
- If the server should be listed publicly, confirm that a valid GSLT is assigned and that the dedicated server is running.
The invitation works for one friend but not another
Have the affected player leave and re-open the invitation or enter the current code through Connect Directly. Then verify that both players are using the same platform workflow. The supplied official guidance distinguishes Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation joining methods and does not establish cross-platform support.
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A practical decision checklist
- Choose a Steam invitation when you want the fewest steps for a temporary session.
- Choose a Server Code when you want to send a numeric join method, including for a LAN server.
- Choose LAN hosting when everyone is on the same local network and public listing is unnecessary.
- Choose a dedicated server when the world should remain available independently of a player’s game client.
- Add a GSLT when internet-list visibility or a code that remains linked after restarts matters.
- On consoles, follow the platform’s server list or browser rather than Steam’s code workflow.
In every case, start with a multiplayer server. That is the key distinction between a world your friends can join and a normal single-player session.
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