How to Host an Unturned Server (2026 Guide)

To host an Unturned server, install the Unturned Dedicated Server (U3DS, SteamCMD app 1110390), start it with ServerHelper +InternetServer/MyServer, then edit Servers/MyServer/Server/Commands.dat for the name, map, password and player cap. Open UDP ports 27015 and 27016 (or use Fake IP), and add a Game Server Login Token made for app 304930 so the server shows on the Internet list. Plugins run on Rocket (LDM) or OpenMod.

What do you need to host an Unturned server?

Unturned is free on Steam and so is its server, which makes it one of the cheapest games to run for a group. You need:

• A Windows or Linux machine that can stay on. A vanilla map with a few friends is happy with 4 GB of RAM, a big Workshop map with plugins wants 6 to 8 GB.
• SteamCMD, or the Unturned Dedicated Server tool from your Steam Library (it sits under Tools).
• Either a router you can port forward, or Fake IP (covered below).
• A Steam account to create a Game Server Login Token, if you want the server on the public list.

The developer, Smartly Dressed Games, keeps the server hosting docs up to date, and they are worth a skim for anything this guide does not cover.

How do I install the Unturned dedicated server?

1. Install SteamCMD, then download the server:

steamcmd +force_install_dir ./U3DS +login anonymous +app_update 1110390 validate +quit

2. Create a start script in the U3DS folder. The part after the + decides the server type and its ID (the folder name your files live in):

REM Windows: start.bat
start "" "%~dp0ServerHelper.bat" +InternetServer/MyServer

# Linux
./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer

3. Run it once and stop it. U3DS creates Servers/MyServer/ with all the config files inside.

Use +LanServer/MyServer instead if you only want friends to join through the Steam friends list or a Server Code. Internet servers are the ones that show up in the server browser.

What goes in Commands.dat?

Commands.dat holds the basic settings, one command per line. It lives at Servers/MyServer/Server/Commands.dat. A good starting file for a friends server:

Name My Unturned Server
Map PEI
Port 27015
Password changeme
MaxPlayers 12
Perspective Both
PvE
Owner 76561198000000000
Welcome Welcome to the server!
GSLT YOURTOKENHERE

Difficulty and the deeper gameplay rules (loot, zombies, item decay, structure damage) live in Config.txt in the same server folder. Since version 3.25.8.0 that file is commented line by line, so you can read what each setting does as you edit. Servers made before that version had a Config.json, which converts on startup.

What ports does an Unturned server use?

Every Unturned server uses two consecutive UDP ports: the first for server list queries and the second for game traffic.

Running a second server? Move it up by two, to 27017 and 27018. Forward both ports to the machine running the server. If you have never done it, our port forwarding guide walks through it.

Can I skip port forwarding with Fake IP?

Yes. Set Use_FakeIP to true in your server configuration and run CopyFakeIP in the console after startup to get the address. Fake IP routes players through Steam Datagram Relay, so your real IP is never shown. The catch is that the address and port change on every restart, and it does not work with Steam's Favorites and History lists. It is fine for a quick session, less fine for a community that bookmarks your server.

How do I get a GSLT for Unturned?

Internet servers need a Game Server Login Token to appear on the Internet list. Make one at Steam's game server account management page, enter app ID 304930 (Unturned itself, not the server tool), and paste it after GSLT in Commands.dat, or into Login_Token in the Browser section of the server configuration. Each token is for one server, and the account that owns it must meet Steam's usual rules (a game purchased on the account, no limits or bans).

How do I add Workshop maps and mods?

Workshop content goes in WorkshopDownloadConfig.json in the server folder, listed by Workshop file ID:

{
  "File_IDs": [
    1234567890,
    2345678901
  ]
}

Restart, and the server downloads each item. Players get the same files when they join, so nobody has to subscribe by hand. For a Workshop map, set the Map line in Commands.dat to the map's exact name once it has downloaded. If the server falls back to a default map, the name does not match.

How do I install Rocket or OpenMod plugins?

Unturned has two plugin frameworks, and you pick one per server.

Rocket (LDM). Legally Distinct Missile is the maintained fork of RocketMod, and it ships with the server files. Copy the whole Extras/Rocket.Unturned folder into Modules/, start the server once, and a Rocket folder appears inside Servers/MyServer/. Drop plugin .dll files into Rocket/Plugins and restart. Permissions live in Rocket/Permissions.config.xml. Type Modules in the console to confirm Rocket loaded.

OpenMod. A newer framework with NuGet based packages. Install the OpenMod.Unturned module into Modules/, then add plugins from the console with openmod install <package>. OpenMod can also load many Rocket plugins through its compatibility layer.

Most kit, shop, economy and admin plugins people ask for are Rocket plugins, so Rocket is the easier start for a friends or small community server. Our Unturned server commands guide covers the console and admin commands you will use once players are on.

How many players can an Unturned server hold?

MaxPlayers goes up to 200, but RAM and CPU decide what feels smooth. As a rough guide:

Big maps and long running worlds full of player bases cost more than raw player count.

The easy option: host it with GamezServers

If you would rather not keep a PC on or deal with tokens and ports, our Unturned server hosting does the setup for you. We create the Steam server token, so the server lists from the first start, and Rocket is already set up for plugins. Commands.dat, WorkshopDownloadConfig.json and the Rocket folder are all in the file manager, with full SFTP access.

New customers get 50% off the first month on monthly plans, every plan has DDoS protection, and a group can split the bill so each person pays their own share. You can change plans any time.

FAQ

Is the Unturned dedicated server free?

Yes. The Unturned Dedicated Server is free through SteamCMD (app 1110390) or the Tools section of your Steam Library, just like the game.

Why does my Unturned server not show on the Internet list?

It is usually a missing or invalid GSLT, or the two UDP ports are not forwarded. Check the token was made for app 304930 and that both the query port and game port are open.

How do I make myself admin on my Unturned server?

Add Owner followed by your SteamID64 to Commands.dat and restart. You can also run Admin with a player's name from the server console.

How do I change the map on an Unturned server?

Set the Map line in Commands.dat to the map's exact name and restart. Workshop maps must be listed in WorkshopDownloadConfig.json first.

Can I run an Unturned server without port forwarding?

Yes, with Fake IP, which uses Steam's relay network. The address changes on every restart, so it suits casual sessions more than permanent communities.