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This guide explains what each setting controls, how to expose the server safely, which options depend on a hosting wrapper, and how to diagnose connection failures in the right order.
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What “Subnautica server settings” means
When players ask about Subnautica server settings, they are usually talking about Nitrox rather than an official vanilla Subnautica dedicated server. Nitrox supplies multiplayer hosting through the NitroxLauncher and the NitroxServer-Subnautica executable. Vanilla Subnautica does not present the same dedicated-server settings surface.
The exact controls can vary with the Nitrox release and with the way the server is deployed. A launcher started on a personal computer exposes a different workflow from a third-party hosting panel that writes a server.cfg file. Treat settings shown by the installed build as authoritative for that build, especially when a panel adds its own startup variables.
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Settings at a glance
| Setting | What it controls | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Game Mode | The rule set used by the shared world. | Recent Nitrox releases persist the selected mode and support changing it through chat administration. |
| Server Password | Who may join the server. | Give it only to the intended players; change it if it has spread beyond that group. |
| Admin Password | Administrative access and permission management. | Keep it separate from the player password and protect it like an account credential. |
| Port | The network endpoint used by remote clients. | Nitrox’s documented endpoint is UDP port 11000. |
| Save or world name | Which persistent world the server opens. | Exact field names depend on the launcher, release, or hosting wrapper. |
| Autosave controls | How frequently a deployment saves, or whether automatic saving is disabled. | These are documented by some hosting wrappers and are not universal Nitrox defaults. |
| Player permissions | Which players can use administrative functions. | Permission fields and command syntax can differ by build or wrapper. |
Version and platform requirements
Match the server, launcher, and every client before changing individual options. Nitrox 1.8.1.0 states that players using Epic Games, Steam, and Microsoft Store editions can use the mod with the latest Subnautica version, and that IPv6 connectivity was added. The release record also notes that Nitrox remains under active development, so compatibility and settings can change between releases.
- Install the same Nitrox release on the host and on every joining computer.
- Use a Subnautica version supported by that Nitrox release; “latest” support is tied to the release statement, not a permanent guarantee.
- When a problem begins after an update, check the current Nitrox release notes before assuming a local setting is wrong.
- Keep a copy of the world before changing versions or restoring configuration files.
Start a Nitrox server from the launcher
The launcher workflow is the clearest way to see the settings supported by your installation.
- Start
NitroxLauncherwith administrator privileges on the host computer. - Select Server in the launcher.
- Choose Start Server.
- In the server window, review the displayed Game Mode, Server Password, Admin Password, and the local or externally reachable IP information.
- Set or confirm the world/save selection offered by that build, then leave the server process running while players connect.
- Give friends the address they can actually reach: a LAN address for the same network, or the host’s reachable external address when connecting over the internet.
Running the launcher as administrator helps avoid permission failures when Nitrox needs to start its server process or access protected files. It does not automatically configure your router or firewall; those remain separate network tasks.
Game Mode and gameplay administration
Choosing a game mode
Game Mode selects the world’s rule set. Set it before inviting players so everyone enters the same intended experience. Nitrox release notes document persistence for game mode, meaning the selection can remain associated with the world instead of reverting at every launch.
Newer releases also document a chat command for changing the mode during administration. Because command names and syntax are version-sensitive, use the command help or documentation shipped with the exact Nitrox build rather than copying a command from an unrelated release.
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Keep-inventory behavior
Nitrox 1.8.0.0 added a keep-inventory setting and command. If enabled, a player’s carried items can be retained through the relevant death or respawn behavior. Confirm the setting in the launcher or server configuration exposed by your version, and tell players when it is active because it materially changes the risk model of exploration.
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Server and admin passwords
Server Password
The server password is the gate for ordinary joins. Use a unique phrase that is not reused for email, game accounts, or router administration. Send it through a private channel, and replace it if it is posted in a public chat or shared with people who should no longer have access.
Admin Password
The admin password is for management rather than routine joining. Store it separately from the player password, avoid displaying it in screenshots or panel logs, and provide it only to people who need to change gameplay or permissions.
Permissions
Hosting examples expose player-permission controls in addition to the administrator credential. A password alone should not be treated as a complete permission design: review which accounts can issue commands, change modes, or alter world behavior. The names and format of permission entries are deployment-specific, so verify them against the installed build or hosting panel.
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Port, IP address, and firewall settings
The documented Nitrox port
Nitrox’s official website states: “Nitrox uses port 11000 UDP.” That is a UDP endpoint, not a TCP-only rule. A router rule that forwards only TCP will not provide the required reachability.
Router forwarding
For a self-hosted internet server, create a router port-forwarding rule for UDP 11000 to the host computer’s local IP address. Reserve that local address in the router when possible so the rule does not point to a different device after a DHCP change. The exact menu labels differ by router, but the required values are the protocol, external port, internal port, and destination LAN address.
VPN-based access
A virtual-network approach such as Hamachi can avoid exposing a home router port. Every participant must join the same virtual network, and the host must provide the virtual-network address that Nitrox displays or that the launcher identifies as reachable. VPN routing can add its own firewall and adapter problems, so do not mix a VPN address with a normal LAN address when testing.
Windows firewall allowances
The official setup guidance calls for firewall exceptions for both Subnautica.exe and NitroxServer-Subnautica.exe. Allow the required network profile used by your group, then restart the server process after changing the rule. A router forward cannot compensate for a local firewall block.
Worlds, saves, autosaves, and backups
Save and world selection
Hosting examples include a save name or world selection and a server.cfg file for custom settings. Do not assume that a key copied from one panel applies to every Nitrox release. Confirm the spelling, location, and precedence rules in the configuration supplied by your host or wrapper before editing it.
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Autosave options
Some deployment wrappers expose an autosave interval and an option to disable autosaving. These controls should be presented as wrapper features, not universal Nitrox defaults. If you change an interval, test that the world is actually writing saves and decide how much progress your group can tolerate losing after a crash.
Launcher backups
Nitrox 1.8.0.0 added world-backup restoration from the launcher. Use that facility before experimenting with a new release, changing a major gameplay rule, or repairing a damaged world. A backup is useful only if it is stored separately from the live save and has a clear date or version label.
Managing more than one server
Nitrox 1.8.0.0 added launcher management for multiple servers and customizable settings. This is useful when you maintain separate worlds for different groups or testing. Give each instance an unambiguous name, keep its world and settings distinct, and confirm which instance is running before handing out an address or password. Multiple instances also require careful port planning; do not assign the same endpoint to two simultaneously running servers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Hosting panels and server.cfg precedence
A managed panel may generate startup variables and write a server.cfg file. Panel variables can override values in the file, so editing the file alone may appear to have no effect. When a setting refuses to change:
- Stop the server cleanly.
- Record the value shown in the panel’s startup or environment-variable section.
- Inspect the generated
server.cfgfor the corresponding entry. - Change the value in the layer that has precedence, then restart.
- Verify the effective value in the server console or launcher rather than trusting the saved file.
Because wrappers add their own keys, labels, and autosave behavior, documentation for a panel should not be treated as a universal Nitrox reference.
Troubleshoot connection failures in this order
1. Check version compatibility
Confirm that the host and clients use a supported Subnautica/Nitrox combination. If one player updated through a different store or installed a different Nitrox build, align versions before changing network settings.
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2. Confirm that the server is running
Make sure the Nitrox server process remains open after launch and that the intended world loaded. A closed or crashed process cannot accept a connection, regardless of router configuration.
3. Verify network reachability
Check the documented UDP endpoint, the router’s destination LAN address, and whether the group is using a LAN address, external address, or VPN address consistently. Test from outside the host’s network when diagnosing internet access; a local test may succeed even when the router forward is wrong.
4. Recheck firewall rules
Review exceptions for both executable files named in the setup guidance. Temporarily identifying a firewall block can be useful for diagnosis, but restore a least-privilege rule afterward rather than leaving the firewall broadly disabled.
5. Validate the address and password
Have the joining player re-enter the host address shown by the server and the current server password. A stale external address, an old password, or a copied space can look like a networking failure.
6. Inspect panel overrides
If the server uses a hosting panel, compare its startup variables with server.cfg. The panel may regenerate the file or override it at every start.
7. Review current release notes
Nitrox documents ongoing fixes and known limitations. If the failure began after an update or affects only one platform, consult the release record before deleting saves or rebuilding the entire server.
Operational checklist for a reliable server
- Keep host, launcher, server, and clients on compatible versions.
- Use a unique player password and a separate administrator password.
- Grant administrative permissions only to trusted players.
- Reserve the host’s LAN address so forwarding remains correct.
- Allow both required executables through the local firewall.
- Back up worlds before upgrades and configuration changes.
- Document whether players should use a LAN, external, or VPN address.
- Record which settings are controlled by a panel rather than by
server.cfg. - Recheck the current Nitrox release notes when behavior changes unexpectedly.
What to choose: launcher, self-hosting, VPN, or managed hosting?
| Approach | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Launcher on a personal computer | Small groups that want visible settings and direct control. | The host must remain available, maintain updates, configure the firewall, and handle backups. |
| Router port forwarding | Internet play without a virtual-network client. | Requires correct UDP forwarding, firewall rules, and careful exposure of the home network. |
| VPN network | Groups that prefer not to forward a router port. | Every player needs the VPN client and the correct virtual address; adapter and firewall conflicts are possible. |
| Managed Nitrox hosting | Groups that want persistent uptime and a provider-managed network layer. | Panel-specific variables, file precedence, backups, and version support still need verification. |
Whichever approach you use, the authoritative checks are the same: compatible versions, a running server, a reachable UDP endpoint, executable firewall allowances, a correct address, and the current password.
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