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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallA V Rising server missing from the browser is not necessarily offline. Stunlock Studios says the server list can fail to load every private server, so a working server may be absent from search. The fastest fallback is Direct Connect; for a reliable public listing, verify the server’s active configuration, both listing flags, UDP ports, firewall rules and router forwarding.
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Work through the checks below in order. They separate a discovery problem from a server that cannot be reached, then identify the exact settings file and network ports your installation is using.
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What a missing server-list entry actually means
The browser is a discovery system, not a definitive health check. Stunlock notes that the list fetches thousands of servers at once and can fail to load every private server matching a search. Your process may be running and reachable even when no row appears.
Discovery and reachability are different tests
- Browser discovery: whether the server registers with the selected listing services and is returned by the client’s search.
- Reachability: whether a player can establish a connection to the configured game port through the host firewall and router.
- Direct Connect: a connection attempt that bypasses the browser’s incomplete or delayed results.
If Direct Connect succeeds while the browser is empty, concentrate on listing flags, query-port forwarding, search filters and propagation time. If Direct Connect also fails, investigate the process, the loaded settings file, the game port, the firewall and the router.
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Do not change several variables at once. Record the current port numbers and settings, make one controlled change, restart the server, and test again. That approach shows whether the failure is registration, network reachability or invalid configuration rather than making the original cause harder to identify.
1. Confirm that the dedicated server is running correctly
Use the supported server branch
Stunlock’s current PC dedicated-server instructions apply to the 1.1.x server branch. The dedicated server is downloaded free from Steam’s Tools section. If your client and server are on incompatible versions, fix that mismatch before troubleshooting listing behavior.
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Launch the executable from its installation directory
Start the server executable from the directory where the dedicated server is installed. Launching from another working directory can make relative paths and settings difficult to verify, especially when more than one copy of the server exists on the machine.
If you have previously installed, copied or updated the server, check which executable your shortcut or scheduled task actually starts. A healthy-looking settings edit has no effect when a different installation is running. Stop duplicate instances before testing so that only the intended process owns the configured ports.
Copy the example batch file before editing it
The installation includes an example batch file. Copy or rename that file and edit the copy rather than changing the supplied example in place. Updates can overwrite the supplied file, while a separate launch file preserves your settings and makes it clear which command is actually being used.
Check the process before checking the browser
Start the server and watch for a normal startup rather than immediately judging it by the server list. A newly launched server can take a few minutes to appear, according to Stunlock’s hosting guidance. Keep the process running during that interval.
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Write down the server’s custom name, public address and configured ports before asking a friend to test. This prevents confusing your server with another entry and gives you a repeatable Direct Connect test.
2. Find the settings files the server is really loading
V Rising uses two principal JSON files. Editing the wrong copy is a common reason that a setting appears correct in a text editor but has no effect in game.
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Know what each file controls
ServerHostSettings.jsoncontains hosting and listing options, including the listing flags and network ports.ServerGameSettings.jsoncontains gameplay options.
Default and local-override locations
The installed defaults are in VRisingServer_Data/StreamingAssets/Settings/. Local overrides normally live in %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalLowStunlock StudiosVRisingServerSettings.
If your launch command includes -persistentDataPath, the server reads its settings from that chosen path’s Settings subfolder instead of the usual local location. Inspect the batch file or shortcut that starts the server and follow the path supplied to that option. Make changes only in the copy that the running command loads.
Prevent accidental edits to inactive files
- Stop the dedicated-server process.
- Open the launch batch file you actually use.
- Look for
-persistentDataPathand record the path, if present. - Open that path’s
Settingsdirectory; otherwise use the normal local-override directory. - Edit
ServerHostSettings.jsonfor listing and ports, orServerGameSettings.jsonfor gameplay. - Save the file, then restart the server and test again.
Keep a backup of both JSON files before editing. A backup lets you return to the last known-good state instead of trying to reconstruct a working configuration from memory. It is especially useful when an update replaces the example file or when you are comparing a local override with the installed template.
3. Verify listing flags and the two UDP ports
Enable both listing services
In the active ServerHostSettings.json, set ListOnEOS to true to register on EOS and ListOnSteam to true to register on Steam. The client looks for servers on EOS by default, so leaving ListOnEOS disabled can prevent a server from appearing in the normal search even if Steam registration is enabled.
Use valid JSON syntax: the keys must be inside the host-settings object, Boolean values must be lowercase true or false, and commas must separate neighboring properties. Do not add comments to the JSON file.
Understand the port roles
| Setting | What it carries | What must use the same value |
|---|---|---|
Port |
UDP game traffic and player connections | The host firewall rule, router forwarding rule and any Direct Connect address |
QueryPort |
UDP traffic used by Steam server-list features | The host firewall rule and router forwarding rule when public listing is required |
Do not substitute familiar port numbers or assume that a default value is active. Read the actual Port and QueryPort values in the loaded file and use those exact values in every network rule.
Keep the two roles separate when diagnosing the problem. A player connection uses the game Port; the query path is what allows Steam-oriented server-list features to find the host. Opening only the game port can therefore permit a direct connection without making the server reliably discoverable.
Restart after changing host settings
Host settings are read when the server starts. Stop the process cleanly, save the JSON, then launch the server again. Testing the browser while the old process is still running can make a correct edit look ineffective.
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4. Open the firewall and router paths
Allow the server through the host firewall
Create or verify inbound rules for the dedicated-server process and for both configured UDP ports. Stunlock’s guidance is explicit: to appear in the server list, both the specified query port and game port must be open in the firewall and forwarded on the router. Use the values from your own ServerHostSettings.json, not values copied from another installation.
Check both the application rule and the port rule if your firewall separates them. A rule for the executable on the wrong network profile, or a rule that allows TCP while the V Rising documentation calls for UDP, will not provide the required path. After saving a rule, make sure it targets the current server computer and remains enabled after a reboot.
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- Give the server computer a stable LAN address, or reserve its address in the router’s DHCP settings.
- Create a port-forwarding rule for the configured
Port. - Create a second port-forwarding rule for the configured
QueryPort. - Set the protocol to UDP, as specified in the V Rising server documentation.
- Target the server computer’s LAN address, not another PC, console or the router itself.
- Save the rules and restart the server if your router requires it.
For a server that only needs direct game connections, Stunlock says opening and forwarding the game port can be enough. Public browser listing additionally requires the query port path. That distinction explains why a friend may connect by address while the server remains absent from the browser.
Check the network boundary you actually control
The forwarding rule must exist on the router that owns the public connection. If the server is behind another router, mesh gateway or provider-managed gateway, the outer device also needs the appropriate rule. A correct rule on the wrong network device has no effect.
When asking a friend to test, use the hosting dashboard’s public address, not the server’s private LAN address. The Direct Connect format is IP:Port, and the port must be the configured game Port. Keep your internal address and public address clearly labeled so a local test does not give a false impression that outside players can reach the server.
5. Search for the server correctly and allow propagation time
Use the complete server-list view
In the V Rising client, open Online Play, choose Find Servers in the bottom-right corner, then select Display all Servers & Settings. This exposes the broad search controls instead of relying on a narrow default view.
Search for the custom name
Give the server a custom name in the host settings and search for that exact name. A distinctive name is easier to identify than a default entry and helps confirm that the client is seeing the intended server rather than another installation.
Wait before concluding that listing failed
Stunlock says a recently launched server can take a few minutes to appear. Leave the process running, refresh the broad server view after that interval and check that filters are not excluding private or nonmatching entries. There is no authoritative fixed propagation time, so treat “a few minutes” as practical guidance rather than a guarantee.
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6. Connect directly when the browser is incomplete
Direct Connect is the official fallback when the list has not loaded a private server. It does not require the browser to display the entry first.
- Open Online Play.
- Select Find Servers in the bottom-right corner.
- Choose Display all Servers & Settings.
- Select Direct Connect.
- Enter the hosting dashboard’s address in the form
IP:Port, using the server’s configured gamePort. - Attempt the connection while the dedicated-server process is running.
A successful Direct Connect proves that the server can be reached even if discovery is delayed or incomplete. It does not prove that the query port is forwarded or that both listing flags are enabled; those remain necessary for dependable browser visibility.
If Direct Connect fails, return to the game-port path rather than repeatedly refreshing the browser. Confirm the process, active settings directory, firewall rule, router target and UDP protocol in that order. Once a direct connection works, revisit the query port and listing flags to solve discovery separately.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. Repair “Unknown Status” and missing local saves
Recognize the corruption symptom
If the server appears with Unknown Status, or local saves and settings disappear after manual editing, Stunlock says ServerHostSettings.JSON and/or ServerGameSettings.JSON have most likely become corrupt. Manual edits are the common cause identified in its connection-troubleshooting guidance.
Restore valid JSON first
- Stop the server.
- Make a backup copy of the current settings files so you can preserve any recoverable values.
- Restore a valid copy of
ServerHostSettings.JSONandServerGameSettings.JSONfrom the installation’s settings template or from a known-good backup. - Start the server and check whether the status returns to normal.
- Reapply one setting at a time, restarting and testing after each change.
Do not paste a partial fragment into the middle of the file or add trailing comments. One missing comma, quote or brace can invalidate the whole document and produce symptoms that look like a networking problem.
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If a different person’s server shows Unknown Status, the likely explanation is that the owner is not currently hosting it. Contact the owner or try again while the server is confirmed online before assuming your client files are damaged.
Use the symptom to choose the next test
| What you observe | Most likely area | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| The server is absent from the browser, but Direct Connect works | Server-list discovery, listing flags, query-port forwarding or delayed results | Enable both listing flags, forward QueryPort over UDP, use “Display all Servers & Settings” and wait a few minutes. |
| The server is absent and Direct Connect fails | Process, active settings path, game port, firewall or router | Confirm the executable is running, verify the loaded file, then open and forward the configured game Port over UDP. |
| Your own server shows “Unknown Status” | Malformed host or game JSON | Restore valid ServerHostSettings.JSON and ServerGameSettings.JSON, then reapply edits one at a time. |
| Someone else’s server shows “Unknown Status” | The owner is probably not hosting at that moment | Ask the owner to start the server and retry. |
| The server name cannot be found after restarting | Search scope, wrong settings copy or a delayed listing update | Use the custom name in the full server view, verify the launch path and allow a few minutes for registration. |
Self-hosting or managed hosting: which problem are you solving?
Self-hosting
Running the dedicated server on your own PC gives you direct control over the executable, JSON files, firewall and router. It also means you are responsible for keeping the process online, forwarding both ports, maintaining a stable LAN address and recovering from invalid configuration files.
Managed V Rising server hosting
A managed host can remove much of the local router and firewall work and usually provides a dashboard for the server address and configuration. Stunlock specifically names PocketHost as a managed rental option. It does not eliminate listing requirements: the host still needs the correct ListOnEOS, ListOnSteam, Port and QueryPort values, and the service must be running before players can connect. Use the provider’s current documentation for its dashboard path and network policy.
Choose managed hosting for convenience, not as a substitute for diagnosis. If the dashboard shows the server running but the browser is empty, verify its listing toggles and displayed ports, then use Direct Connect with the dashboard address. If neither direct connection nor listing works, contact the host with the exact server name, ports and time of the test.
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- The dedicated server is from the 1.1.x branch supported by the current PC instructions.
- The executable is launched from its installation directory.
- You copied the example batch file before editing it.
- You identified the settings directory actually loaded by the launch command, including any
-persistentDataPathoverride. ListOnEOSandListOnSteamare both set totruein the activeServerHostSettings.json.- The firewall allows the configured game and query UDP ports.
- The router forwards both configured UDP ports to the server computer’s LAN address when public listing is required.
- You restarted the process after changing host settings.
- You searched through Online Play → Find Servers → Display all Servers & Settings using the custom server name.
- You allowed a few minutes for a new listing to appear.
- You tested Direct Connect with the hosting address and configured game port.
- If the status is “Unknown Status,” you restored valid JSON before making further edits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my V Rising server missing even though it is running?
The server browser can fail to load every private server. Confirm that the process is running, wait a few minutes after launch, search through Display all Servers & Settings, and try Direct Connect with the public IP and configured game Port.
Do I need to forward both V Rising ports?
For public browser listing, yes: open and forward the configured UDP Port and QueryPort, and allow them through the host firewall. Stunlock says forwarding only the game Port can be enough for direct game connections, but the query path is needed for dependable listing.
Which V Rising settings file controls server visibility?
Use the active ServerHostSettings.json. It contains ListOnEOS, ListOnSteam, Port and QueryPort. Check the launch command for -persistentDataPath because that option changes which Settings folder is loaded.
Can friends connect if the server is not in the browser?
Yes. Direct Connect bypasses browser discovery. In Online Play, open Find Servers, choose Display all Servers & Settings, select Direct Connect, and enter the hosting address as IP:Port using the game Port.
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What does Unknown Status mean on my own server?
Stunlock attributes this symptom most often to corrupt ServerHostSettings.JSON or ServerGameSettings.JSON after manual edits. Restore valid files from a template or backup, restart, and reapply changes one at a time.
Is self-hosting or managed hosting better for this problem?
Self-hosting gives control but requires you to manage the executable, JSON files, firewall and router. Managed V Rising server hosting, such as the PocketHost option named by Stunlock, can handle much of the network work while still requiring correct listing settings and a running service.
The Bottom Line
A missing V Rising browser entry does not prove the server is down. First test Direct Connect, then verify the active host-settings file, enable both listing flags, open and forward the configured UDP game and query ports, and give a newly launched server a few minutes to register. Repair the JSON files if the client reports “Unknown Status.”
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