How to Host an SCP Secret Laboratory Server (2026)

To host an SCP: Secret Laboratory server, install the free dedicated server (SteamCMD app 996560), start it with LocalAdmin 7777, and edit config_gameplay.txt in SCP Secret Laboratory/config/7777/. Open UDP 7777. Admin ranks go in config_remoteadmin.txt. To appear in the public list, fill in contact_email and serverinfo_pastebin_id, run !verify, and email Northwood's Safety and Compliance team.

What do you need to host an SCP:SL server?

SCP: Secret Laboratory is free to play, and so is the dedicated server. It runs on Windows or Linux, and its needs grow with player count and plugins:

Northwood's verified list also expects servers that stay online and can handle every connected player, so a home PC that sleeps at night is a poor fit for a public server.

How do I install the SCP:SL dedicated server?

1. Install SteamCMD and download the server anonymously:

login anonymous
force_install_dir C:\scpsl
app_update 996560 validate
quit

2. Start the server through LocalAdmin, the wrapper that ships with it, giving the port:

LocalAdmin.exe 7777

On Linux the command is ./LocalAdmin 7777.

3. The first run asks a few setup questions in the console (where to keep configs, accepting the EULA). Answer them and let the server start once so it writes its default config files.
4. Stop it with exit before editing configs.

Run the same app_update 996560 after each game update. Players on a newer build cannot join an older server.

Where are the SCP:SL config files?

Configs are stored per port, in a folder named after the port the server runs on:

If you run a second server on port 7778, it gets its own 7778 folder. Edit the file in the folder that matches the port, not a copy elsewhere. Always stop the server first, since it can rewrite the file on shutdown.

What should I change in config_gameplay.txt?

The file is plain key: value lines. The ones to set on day one:

server_name: <color=#00FFFF>Night Shift</color> | Friendly Staff | Events Fridays
player_list_title: Night Shift
max_players: 25
friendly_fire: false
contact_email: you@example.com
serverinfo_pastebin_id: AbCdEf12

Restart after saving.

How do I make myself admin?

Admin ranks live in config_remoteadmin.txt. Add your SteamID64 with @steam to the members list and give it a rank that exists in the file, such as owner:

Members:
 - 76561198000000000@steam: owner
 - 76561198000000001@steam: moderator

Restart, join, and press M to open the Remote Admin panel. From there your staff can kick, ban, change roles and run events mid round. The permissions section of the same file decides what each rank can do, so give moderators less than owners.

How do I get my server on the public server list?

New servers do not show in the in game list until Northwood verifies them. Until then, players join with Direct Connect and your IP and port. The steps from Northwood's verification guide:

1. Fill in server_name, serverinfo_pastebin_id, contact_email and max_players (under 60) in config_gameplay.txt. Restart.
2. Make sure players outside your network can actually connect. The most common reason for denial is that the verifier could not join.
3. Optionally run the automatic check in the server console: !verify static if your IP never changes, or !verify dynamic if it does.
4. Email safety.compliance@scpslgame.com from your contact_email address with your public IPv4 address, whether it is static or dynamic, and the server port.
5. Expect a reply in 3 to 7 business days.
6. Once approved, a link appears in the server console asking you to sign the Community Server Guidelines agreement. Sign it to finish.

If the link never appears, restart LocalAdmin and then the machine, and open a ticket on the SCP:SL Discord if it still does not show. Verified servers have to follow Northwood's rules, so read them before you apply.

How do I add plugins with LabAPI or EXILED?

Plugins run only on the server. Players join with the normal game and never install anything.

For LabAPI, a global folder next to the port folder loads a plugin on every server. Drop the plugin .dll in the right folder, add any dependencies it lists, and restart. Each plugin writes its own config the first time it loads.

Plugins have to match the game version. Big SCP:SL updates often break them until their authors catch up, so back up before updating and wait for your framework and plugins to update before you restart onto a new version. The EXILED project posts its releases on GitHub.

What ports does an SCP:SL server use?

One: UDP 7777, or whichever port you pass to LocalAdmin. Forward it to the server machine and allow it through the firewall. A second server on the same machine needs its own port, such as 7778. See our port forwarding guide for router steps.

FAQ

Do players need to buy SCP: Secret Laboratory to join?

No. It is free to play on Steam, so anyone in your group can join without paying.

How many players can an SCP:SL server hold?

The default max_players is 20. You can raise it, but verified servers should stay under 60, and every extra player adds RAM and CPU load.

Why is my server not in the server list?

It has not been verified yet. Follow the verification steps, and have players use Direct Connect with your IP and port in the meantime.

Do players need to install plugins?

No. LabAPI and EXILED plugins run only on the server.

What happens to plugins when the game updates?

Large updates often break them until they are updated. Take a backup first and roll back if your plugins are not ready.

The easy option: host it with us

An SCP:SL community needs a server that stays online and reachable, which is hard on a home connection. Our SCP: Secret Laboratory hosting starts at 9.99 USD a month for 4 GB, with 6 GB and 8 GB plans for plugin heavy event servers. You can switch the server type to EXILED in the panel, choose a beta branch when Northwood opens one, and edit configs in the file manager or over SFTP. Backups are taken before game updates, new customers get 50% off the first month, and your staff can split the bill.