Harsh Doorstop Server Not Showing in the List or Kicking Players
Harsh Doorstop server missing from Multiplayer or kicking joiners? Check the query port, the build after a patch, mod mismatches and startup errors.
Updated Oct 7, 2026 · 5 min read
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If your Operation: Harsh Doorstop server is running but missing from the Multiplayer list, check that the query port is open, that the server is on the same build as players after an update, and that the server actually finished starting. If it is listed but kicks people on join, it is almost always a Workshop mod mismatch: a player is missing an item, or has a newer version than the server. Here is how to tell which and fix it.
First: did the server finish starting?
A server that crashed during startup cannot be listed, and the process may still look alive. Watch the console or log until the start finishes. On a server with RCON enabled, a line containing LogRCON: RCON server listening on appears near the end of startup, which is a good marker that it got through loading.
If it never gets there, the last lines before it stops tell you why. The usual suspects:
- A mod that does not load with the current game version. Remove the newest mod folder from
HarshDoorstop/Modsand try again. - A boot map from a mod that is not installed, or misspelled on the launch line.
- On Linux, missing Steam libraries (
steamclient.so), which SteamCMD normally provides.
Fix 1: Open the query port
OHD uses two ports for players: the game port and the query port (set with -QueryPort). Steam's server list asks the query port about your server. If it is blocked, the server can run perfectly and still never appear.
- Forward both ports as UDP to the server, and allow them in the firewall.
- On a VPS, open them in the provider's firewall too.
- Running two servers on one machine? Each needs its own game and query ports.
Our port forwarding guide covers routers, including carrier grade NAT, where forwarding cannot work.
Fix 2: Update the server after a game patch
Players get updates from Steam right away. A server still on the old build stops matching. Depending on the change, it drops out of their list or refuses the join.
- Self hosted: run
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 950900 validate +quitagainst the server folder, then restart. - Hosted with auto update: restart. The update runs at start.
The first start after an update takes longer while files are checked. Give the browser a minute or two to refresh after the server is up.
Fix 3: Search the list properly
On the player side:
- Search for part of the exact server name from
-SteamServerName. - Clear filters that hide full, empty or password protected servers, or servers with mods.
- Refresh the list. It does not update live.
A distinctive name helps. Generic names get lost among other community servers.
Fix 4: Players kicked on join (mod mismatch)
This is the most common OHD complaint once a server is listed. The server does not send mods to players. Every player needs the same Workshop items, at the same version, as the folders in HarshDoorstop/Mods.
What goes wrong:
| What happened | Result | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Player missing one mod | Kicked, or missing content | Subscribe to the full collection, restart the game |
| Mod author updated, server has the old copy | Kicked or errors after the update | Re-download the mod and replace the server folder |
| Server has a mod nobody was told about | Everyone kicked | Add it to the collection or remove it from the server |
| Player subscribed but did not restart | Mod not loaded yet | Fully restart the game |
The fix that prevents most of this: keep a public Workshop collection that matches the server exactly, and post it everywhere your players look. Our guide to adding Workshop mods to a Harsh Doorstop server covers the folder layout and updates.
Fix 5: Can join, but lag or rubber banding
Not a listing issue, but it often gets reported as "the server is broken". Heavy mod packs and big maps with many vehicles use a lot of memory on an Unreal Engine server. If the server is close to its memory limit, players see rubber banding and long loads. Check memory in your panel or with top, and trim the mod list or move to a bigger plan. Our server lag guide has a fuller checklist.
Quick diagnosis
| Symptom | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Not listed, console stopped early | Startup error, often a mod |
| Not listed, console looks fine | Query port blocked |
| Vanished on patch day | Server on the old build |
| Listed, everyone kicked | Server mod not in players' subscriptions |
| Listed, one player kicked | That player's mods are missing or out of date |
On a GamezServers server
On an Operation: Harsh Doorstop server from GamezServers, the game and query ports are assigned and open, so fix 1 is done. Auto update is on by default, so after a patch you just restart from the panel. The live console shows the startup and mod loading as it happens, and the file manager gives you HarshDoorstop/Mods to remove a broken mod in seconds. Take a one click backup before changing the mod list so you can roll back. Setting up for the first time? See how to host an Operation: Harsh Doorstop server.
FAQ
Why is my Harsh Doorstop server not in the server list?
Usually the query port is blocked, the server is on an old build after a patch, or it failed during startup. Check the console first.
How long does a new server take to appear?
Usually a minute or two after it finishes starting. The first start after an update takes longer.
Why do players get kicked when joining my modded server?
They are missing one of the server's Workshop mods, or have a newer version than the server. Share a collection that matches the server exactly.
Do I need to restart after a game update?
Yes. The server only updates when it restarts, if auto update is on, or when you run SteamCMD yourself.
Skip the setup. Your own Operation: Harsh Doorstop server.
Then $14.99/mo. Just trying it? $3.75 for 3 days
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