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If your Space Engineers dedicated server is running but missing from the Servers tab, first select the browser icon that matches the server’s configured NetworkType: choose the Steam icon for a Steam server or the EOS icon for an EOS server. Then check Join Game > LAN, History, and Favorites. A Direct Connect attempt using the public IP address and port shown for the LAN entry quickly tells you whether you have a listing problem or a real connectivity problem.
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What the missing server usually means
A dedicated instance can be started correctly and still be absent from the public browser. The browser is not a universal list: it applies network-type, visibility, group, region and other filters. A server that appears in LAN but not in Servers is usually reachable but being filtered. A server that appears nowhere may be stopped, blocked by a firewall or router, bound to the wrong interface, or configured with a port that is not reachable from outside.
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Use this order so you do not spend time changing router settings when the client is simply looking at the wrong network. Keep one known-good test world, disable unnecessary variables temporarily, and change one setting at a time.
Run the quickest diagnosis first
- Open the correct browser. In the game, go to Join Game > Servers. Try the Steam icon and the EOS icon separately. The selected icon must match the server’s
NetworkType. - Check alternate lists. Look under Join Game > LAN, History and Favorites. Clear search text, region filters and any “friends” or group-only filters while testing.
- Try Direct Connect. In the LAN list, hover over the server to read its public IP address and port. Have a second player enter those values through Direct Connect.
- Interpret the result. If Direct Connect works but the Servers list is empty, concentrate on the icon, privacy and group settings. If Direct Connect fails, continue with ports, firewall, interface and configuration checks.
This split prevents a common mistake: treating a discovery problem as proof that the server process is offline.
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1. Confirm that the dedicated instance really started
On the server computer, launch SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe. Choose Local/Console, enter a server name and world name, configure the instance, and select Save & start. A service instance requires administrator rights according to Keen Software House’s setup guidance.
Signs that startup completed
- The dedicated-server console remains open instead of closing immediately.
- The selected world loads without a configuration error.
- The server name and world are saved in the Dedicated Server Manager.
- The machine is listening on the configured port rather than only running the launcher.
If the process exits, start it again as administrator and check the console output before changing client settings. A crashed or never-started instance cannot appear in any list.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2. Make the server discoverable while testing
Public versus private
A private server is intentionally omitted from the public Servers list. For troubleshooting, set the server to public, save the configuration and restart it if the manager requests a restart. Restore private access after discovery and Direct Connect have been proven.
Steam-group restrictions
A Steam-group restriction can limit visibility to members of that group. If a player outside the group is testing, the server may appear to be missing even though the listing is functioning. Remove the restriction for the test or use a test account that belongs to the permitted group.
Check the client filters
Disable filters that can hide an otherwise valid entry: search terms, region or ping limits, password-only views and any “friends” or group-only options. Reapply them after the server is visible.
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3. Match Steam and EOS correctly
The client’s browser icon must match the server’s configured network mode. Keen’s support guidance is explicit: an EOS server requires the EOS icon, while a Steam server requires the Steam icon. Selecting the other network produces an empty-looking list even when the dedicated process is healthy.
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Read the configured mode
Open the dedicated-server configuration file at AppDataRoamingSpaceEngineersDedicatedSpaceEngineersDedicated.cfg. In Steam mode, the relevant entry is typically:
<NetworkType>Steam</NetworkType>Use the same value shown by the manager when deciding which icon to select. Do not enable both network modes for a single test; conflicting values make it difficult to know which service is advertising the server.
Try a different network interface
A computer with Ethernet, Wi-Fi, virtual adapters or a VPN can advertise the wrong address. In Dedicated Server Manager, select another available network interface, save, restart the instance and test again. Prefer the adapter that carries the server’s real LAN and internet traffic. Disconnect unused VPN adapters during this check.
4. Forward the correct UDP port and allow it through the firewall
Space Engineers uses UDP for communication. Keen’s documentation identifies UDP 27016 as the default listen port. If you selected a custom port, use that value instead; forwarding 27016 will not help an instance listening elsewhere.
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Router forwarding
- Give the server computer a stable LAN address, preferably with a DHCP reservation on the router.
- Create an inbound port-forwarding rule for UDP, not just TCP.
- Set the external and internal port to the server’s configured listen port (27016 by default).
- Point the rule at the server computer’s LAN address.
- Save the router rule and restart the dedicated instance if required.
Host firewall
Allow inbound UDP traffic on the same port in Windows Defender Firewall or the security product installed on the server. A router rule alone is insufficient: the packet can reach the computer and still be discarded locally. During a controlled test, Keen recommends temporarily disabling firewall, antivirus and VPN variables to isolate interference. Re-enable protection immediately after the test and create a narrow allow rule instead of leaving security disabled.
Double NAT and changing public addresses
If the router is behind another router, modem gateway or carrier-grade NAT, the first forwarding rule may not be enough. Forward the port through each device you control, or place the downstream router in bridge mode where appropriate. If your public address changes, use the current address shown in the LAN hover information when testing; do not assume an old address is still valid.
5. Verify every relevant configuration value
Open AppDataRoamingSpaceEngineersDedicatedSpaceEngineersDedicated.cfg and compare the file with the settings in Dedicated Server Manager. For a standard Steam configuration, Keen’s guidance calls out these values:
| Setting | Expected default or example | What to check |
|---|---|---|
ServerPort |
27016 |
Must match the UDP port forwarded on the router and allowed in the firewall. |
SteamPort |
8766 |
Use the configured value; do not assume it stayed at the default after customization. |
NetworkType |
Steam for the example |
Must match the client icon. Use EOS consistently when the server is configured for EOS. |
Check for duplicate or contradictory entries, accidental whitespace or a second configuration file being used by another service instance. Stop the server before editing, save a backup of the file, then start it and verify that the manager retains the values. Only one network mode should be enabled for a clean test.
6. Use Direct Connect to separate listing from reachability
Direct Connect is the most useful branch in this troubleshooting process. From Join Game > LAN, hover over the server entry to obtain the public IP address and port, then give those values to the remote player. Have that player open Direct Connect and enter the address exactly as displayed.
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If Direct Connect succeeds
The server is reachable. The remaining problem is discovery: select the matching Steam or EOS icon, make the server public, remove a Steam-group restriction, clear browser filters and check that players are not looking at a stale History or Favorites entry.
If Direct Connect fails from outside your network
Recheck the port number, UDP protocol, forwarding target and host firewall. Confirm that the server’s LAN address has not changed. Then investigate double NAT, carrier-grade NAT, a VPN binding the wrong interface or an incorrect public address.
If only players on the same network can connect
That pattern usually indicates an edge-router or ISP path problem rather than a game-list problem. Verify that the forwarding rule points to the correct internal machine and that the public address is genuinely reachable from the internet. Ask a player on a different network to test; two devices on the same LAN can produce misleading results because some routers do not support NAT loopback.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. Remove mods and custom launch options for one clean test
Keen recommends starting once without mods and without custom launch options on either the server or client. This is not a permanent recommendation; it is a controlled way to remove variables that can destabilize connection or initialization.
- Stop the dedicated instance and record the current mod list and launch arguments.
- Create or select an unmodified test world.
- Remove custom launch options on the server and client.
- Disconnect VPNs and temporarily isolate antivirus and firewall software as described above.
- Start the server, select the matching network icon and test LAN, Servers and Direct Connect.
- Add mods, launch options and security exceptions back one at a time, testing after each change.
If the clean instance appears and connects, the last reintroduced variable is the likely cause. Do not infer that a particular mod is defective until it has been tested alone with the same world and network settings.
8. Same-machine hosting and running without Steam logged in
The Dedicated Server Manager executable can be run as administrator from the DedicatedServer64 folder without starting the Steam client. This is useful for a headless or service-style Windows host. The game client still needs to use the network type configured by the server.
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Common symptoms and the right fix
| Symptom | Most likely area | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Server is running, but Servers is empty | Wrong Steam/EOS icon, private setting or browser filter | Match the icon to NetworkType, make the server public and clear filters. |
| Server appears in LAN but not to internet players | UDP forwarding, firewall, wrong LAN target or double NAT | Use the LAN hover IP and port for Direct Connect, then verify router and host rules. |
| Direct Connect works, listing does not | Discovery configuration | Check privacy, group restrictions, network mode and client filters. |
| No player can connect, including LAN users | Server startup, wrong interface or local firewall | Confirm Save & start completed, select the active interface and test with a clean instance. |
| It worked until the router rebooted | Changed LAN address or public address | Restore the DHCP reservation and update the address used for testing. |
| Only one player cannot see it | That client’s icon, filters, VPN or firewall | Replicate the test on another client and reset the affected client’s filters and network path. |
Self-hosting or managed hosting?
Self-hosting gives you direct control over worlds, mods, configuration files, update timing and backups. It also makes you responsible for Windows maintenance, UDP forwarding, firewall rules, public-address changes, uptime and recovery when the host reboots. A managed game host normally handles the machine, network exposure and routine availability, but you trade away some low-level control and must check its mod, backup, region and update policies.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted Windows server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Control and mod flexibility | Full access to configuration, worlds, launch options and files. | Depends on the provider’s panel and supported mod workflow. |
| UDP forwarding and firewall | You configure and maintain both router and host rules. | Usually handled by the provider, subject to its network design. |
| Backups and updates | You schedule backups, test restores and choose update timing. | May be automated, but retention and restore options vary. |
| Latency and location | Determined by your uplink and physical location. | Choose among available regions; verify player distance and network quality. |
| Cost | Uses existing hardware and internet capacity, with your electricity and maintenance costs. | Recurring fee; current pricing depends on plan, region and capacity. |
| Support | You troubleshoot the operating system, router and game. | Provider support can handle infrastructure, while game-specific issues may remain yours. |
Choose self-hosting when you need unrestricted file access and are comfortable with NAT and Windows administration. Choose managed hosting when inbound networking, uptime or maintenance is the part you cannot reliably operate.
A repeatable clean-test checklist
- Dedicated Server Manager was run with the required administrator rights.
- The instance completed Save & start and remains running.
- The server is public and not limited to an unintended Steam group.
- The client selected Steam or EOS to match
NetworkType. ServerPortmatches the forwarded and firewall-allowed UDP port.SteamPortand the network interface match the active configuration.- Router forwarding targets the current LAN address of the server.
- LAN, History and Favorites were checked with filters cleared.
- Direct Connect was tested with the current public IP and port.
- The no-mod, no-custom-launch-option test was completed with VPN and security variables isolated.
Once the clean test succeeds, restore your normal privacy, mods, launch options and security settings individually. That preserves the evidence needed to identify the setting that caused the original disappearance.
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