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Terraria Server Setup: Config File, Ports and World Settings

A practical Terraria dedicated-server guide covering serverconfig.txt syntax, launch commands, world files, autocreate settings, difficulty and seeds, port forwarding, UPnP, multiple instances, and connection troubleshooting.
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Run a dedicated Terraria server with a text configuration file and the platform’s server executable. The basic command is TerrariaServer.exe -config <serverconfigfile> on Windows or ./TerrariaServer -config <serverconfigfile> on Linux and macOS. In that file, use key=value lines to select an existing .wld world or generate one, set the listening port (7777 is the documented example), define player and security options, and then allow that port through the host firewall. Internet players on a home network normally also need a router port-forwarding rule.

This guide shows how to create the configuration, load or generate worlds, expose the server safely, run multiple isolated instances, and diagnose the failures that most often prevent a connection.

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What you need before starting

A Terraria dedicated server is a separate server process rather than the normal game client hosting a local session. Prepare these items before writing the configuration:

  • The Terraria server executable for your operating system. Windows uses TerrariaServer.exe; Linux and macOS use the platform executable named TerrariaServer.
  • A text editor that saves plain text. The configuration format is one key=value pair per line.
  • A world file ending in .wld, or a plan for automatic world creation.
  • A port number that is free on the host computer. The server reference uses 7777 as the standard example.
  • Permission to create a firewall rule and, for most home Internet connections, to change the router’s port-forwarding settings.

The server can read a configuration file stored outside the executable’s directory when you provide its path in the launch command. Keeping configuration and world data in an intentional location makes backups and upgrades easier.

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Choose a deployment approach

Decide how the world will be supplied and how clients will reach the process before editing options. These are the main choices:

Decision Option 1 Option 2 What changes
World source Load an existing .wld file Generate a world at startup Existing worlds use world=; generation uses autocreate, seed, and worldname.
Router configuration Manual forwarding UPnP request Manual forwarding is explicit; upnp=1 asks a compatible router to create the mapping automatically.
Server count One instance Several instances Each instance needs its own config file, world file, and port.
Network location Home network behind NAT Non-NAT or hosted network Home NAT generally needs router forwarding; non-NAT setups usually only need host-firewall access.

For a first deployment, load a known-good world, use port 7777, and configure forwarding manually. Once that works, add automatic generation or UPnP if those features fit your network.

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Create the server configuration file

Create a file such as serverconfig.txt in plain text. Lines beginning with # are comments and are ignored, so you can document why a setting exists without affecting startup. Keys and values are separated by a single equals sign; do not use JSON, commas, or section headers.

Minimal configuration for an existing world

# World and network
world=/path/to/Worlds/MyWorld.wld
port=7777

# Access and presentation
maxplayers=8
password=change-this
motd=Welcome
secure=1

Replace the world path with the complete path to your own .wld file. On Windows, use the path format accepted by the server executable; on Unix-like systems, use the absolute path beginning with /. Keep the password private and change the example value before allowing outside players.

Useful additional keys

The server reference also documents options for the world directory, bans, router discovery, language, process priority, and Journey Mode permissions. Add only the settings you intend to manage:

Key Purpose Important handling
worldpath Sets the directory used for world files. Use it when worlds should live in a central data directory rather than beside the executable.
banlist Chooses the ban-list file. Keep the file with the matching server instance so bans are not accidentally shared.
upnp Requests automatic router port mapping. upnp=1 only helps when the router supports and permits UPnP.
language Selects the server language. Use a value supported by the installed server version.
priority Sets process priority. Change it only when you understand the operating system’s priority behavior.
Journey permission settings Controls permissions relevant to Journey Mode. Define these deliberately if the selected world is a Journey world.

Unknown or misspelled keys will not configure the behavior you intended. When a setting matters, verify the spelling against the server reference and check the startup output for errors.

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Launch the server with the config file

The official setup procedure is to find the Terraria installation folder and pass the configuration path to the server executable. The file does not have to be in that folder.

  1. Open a terminal or command prompt.
  2. Change to the directory containing the server executable, or provide its full path.
  3. Run the command for your platform:
TerrariaServer.exe -config <serverconfigfile>
./TerrariaServer -config <serverconfigfile>

Substitute the real path for <serverconfigfile>. If the path contains spaces, quote it according to your shell’s rules. Keep the terminal open while the server runs so you can see startup messages and the interactive server console.

Command-line overrides

Startup parameters can supply or override values from the text file. The documented parameters include:

  • -config to select the configuration file.
  • -port and -ip for network binding.
  • -world, -autocreate, -worldname, and -seed for world selection or generation.
  • -banlist and -secure for access controls.
  • -noupnp to disable UPnP behavior.
  • Steam and lobby options when using those server features.

Use one source of truth where possible. If an operational script supplies -port or -world, record that fact beside the config file; otherwise an administrator may edit the file and see no change because the command line takes precedence.

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Load an existing world or create a new one

Loading a prepared .wld file

Set world= to the full path of the world file. The server will open that world instead of creating another one. If you use worldpath=, make sure the path and filename together still resolve to the intended file. Back up the world before a version upgrade or major administrative change.

worldpath=/srv/terraria/worlds
world=/srv/terraria/worlds/Community.wld

A missing file is not the same as an empty world. Check spelling, capitalization on case-sensitive systems, file permissions, and the account that launches the server before changing generation settings.

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Automatic world creation

When no world exists at the selected path, use autocreate to generate one. The documented values are:

autocreate value World size Typical use
1 Small Quick testing or a small group.
2 Medium A general-purpose shared world.
3 Large A longer-running world with more space.

Pair the size with a name and seed so the result is reproducible:

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worldpath=/srv/terraria/worlds
autocreate=2
worldname=WeekendWorld
seed=forest-moon-2026
difficulty=expert

The seed is a string, not necessarily a number. Save the chosen seed, generated filename, size, and difficulty in your deployment notes. If you need to rebuild the server, those records let another administrator request the same intended generation inputs.

Set world difficulty

The documented difficulty values are normal, expert, master, and journey. Difficulty is a world-generation or world-selection decision, not a cosmetic server label. If you point world= at an existing world, use that world’s established mode rather than assuming a new difficulty value will convert it.

Set player capacity, message, and access controls

maxplayers limits simultaneous players. The server reference states that the default maximum is 16; before version 1.4.0.1 it was 8. Set an explicit value when the limit matters so an upgrade does not silently change your expectation.

maxplayers=16
password=use-a-long-private-password
motd=Read the rules before building
secure=1
  • Password: A password prevents casual access but can be shared. Distribute it through a private channel and change it when someone should lose access.
  • MOTD: Use motd for rules, scheduled maintenance information, or a short welcome message.
  • Secure mode: Keep secure=1 when you want the server’s documented secure behavior enabled.
  • Ban list: Set banlist to a deliberate file path and protect that file from accidental deletion.

Do not publish the config file if it contains a password or private filesystem paths. Store backups with appropriate permissions and remove secrets from screenshots or support posts.

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Choose a port and make it reachable

Set the server’s listening port with port=7777, or choose another unused port when 7777 conflicts with a different service. Every place that handles the connection must agree: the server setting, the operating-system firewall rule, and (for a home NAT connection) the router rule.

Allow the host firewall

Create an inbound rule for the selected port on the computer running the server. Use the same transport type documented for your Terraria setup; the reference’s manual-forwarding guidance specifies TCP. If the firewall prompts when the executable starts, allow the intended private or public network scope rather than blindly enabling every network.

Forward the port through a home router

For Internet players connecting to a host behind NAT, create a router rule that forwards the external port to the host computer’s internal IP address and the same internal port. The server guide says friends need the host’s external IP and that forwarding must be configured before that connection works. Reserve the host’s internal address in the router or assign it consistently; otherwise a DHCP change can send the rule to the wrong computer.

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Players on the same local network can normally use the host’s local address and do not test the public forwarding path. Test from outside the home network, such as a cellular connection, when you need to verify Internet reachability.

Use UPnP only when appropriate

Set upnp=1 to ask the router to create the mapping automatically. This is convenient but not universal: routers may disable UPnP, require an administrator setting, or refuse requests. If automatic mapping fails, turn it off with -noupnp and create a manual forwarding rule instead. A non-NAT network usually does not need router forwarding, although its host firewall can still block the port.

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Run more than one Terraria server on one computer

Each running instance must be isolated. The official setup guidance requires different configuration files, different worlds, and different port numbers when you run multiple servers on one computer.

Instance Config file World Port
Build server build-server.txt Build.wld 7777
Event server event-server.txt Event.wld 7778

Give every additional port its own firewall allowance and router rule if that instance must be reachable from the Internet. Keep each ban list and world directory distinct when the communities or administrators differ. Launch each process with its matching config:

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TerrariaServer.exe -config build-server.txt
TerrariaServer.exe -config event-server.txt

Do not point two processes at the same world file. Even if both processes start, concurrent writes can corrupt the world or produce unpredictable player state.

Troubleshoot startup and connection failures

The process exits or ignores the configuration

  • Confirm that the command names the correct executable for the operating system.
  • Check that -config is followed by the actual file path, not a placeholder.
  • Open the file as plain text and check every key for spelling, equals signs, and accidental rich-text formatting.
  • Look for a command-line override that replaces world, port, or another value.
  • Verify that the account running the process can read the config and world directories.

The server says the world is missing

Inspect the complete world= path, including the .wld extension. On case-sensitive systems, capitalization must match. If the intention is to create a world, remove the stale path reference or correct it and set autocreate=1, 2, or 3, plus worldname, seed, and difficulty.

Local players connect but Internet players cannot

  1. Confirm the server is listening on the configured port and that the host firewall allows it.
  2. Check the router’s forwarding destination against the host’s current internal IP address.
  3. Verify that the external port matches the server port, unless you intentionally mapped a different external port.
  4. Test using the host’s external IP from a network outside the home LAN.
  5. If UPnP was used, inspect the router’s active mappings; if none exists, switch to a manual rule.

A successful local test proves that the process and world are running, but it does not prove that NAT or the public firewall path is configured.

Players reach the server but are rejected

Check the password, maxplayers limit, secure setting, and ban list. Make sure players are using the correct port for the intended instance when multiple servers share the host.

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Operational checklist

Use this checklist whenever you create or move a server:

  • Record the executable version and the location of the config file.
  • Choose either an existing .wld file or documented generation inputs.
  • Set a unique port and confirm it is not used by another service.
  • Set maxplayers, password, motd, and secure deliberately.
  • Back up the world, config, ban list, seed, world name, size, and difficulty.
  • Allow the port through the host firewall.
  • For a home NAT connection, forward the port to the host’s stable internal address, or verify that UPnP created the mapping.
  • Test locally, then test from outside the local network.
  • When running another instance, give it a separate config, world, ban list, and port.

Example complete configurations

Existing community world

# Existing world deployment
world=/srv/terraria/worlds/Community.wld
worldpath=/srv/terraria/worlds
port=7777
maxplayers=16
password=replace-with-private-value
motd=Community server - read the rules
secure=1
banlist=/srv/terraria/config/community-banlist.txt
upnp=0

This example deliberately uses an existing world and disables automatic router mapping so the administrator can manage forwarding explicitly.

Reproducible test world

# Automatically generated test deployment
worldpath=/srv/terraria/test-worlds
autocreate=1
worldname=QA-World
seed=forest-moon-2026
difficulty=normal
port=7780
maxplayers=4
motd=Temporary test server
secure=1
upnp=1

Keep the seed and generation settings with the deployment record. If the router does not support or permit UPnP, replace it with a manual rule or disable the request with -noupnp.

When each setup method is the right choice

  • Existing-world loading: Choose it when progress, builds, and player inventories must be preserved. It gives you a known file to back up and move.
  • Automatic creation: Choose it for a fresh server, testing, or scripted deployments. Record size, seed, name, and difficulty so the intended world can be reproduced.
  • Manual forwarding: Choose it when you need predictable router behavior, auditability, or a router without reliable UPnP.
  • UPnP: Choose it only on a trusted network where automatic mappings are acceptable and the router is known to support them.
  • Separate instances: Choose them for independent communities, events, or test environments; isolate all files and ports to prevent accidental cross-use.

Once the server starts with the intended world and the selected port is reachable from the right network, the remaining administration is ordinary file backup, access-control, and process management. The configuration file is the durable record of those choices, so keep it beside your deployment notes and update both together.

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