How to Play Rust with Friends: Teams, Servers and Settings

To play Rust with friends, everyone joins the same server and forms a team: one player opens their inventory and clicks Create Team, then invites the others by looking at them and holding the use key. Rust has no co-op or host mode, so you either join an official or community server together or run your own, where you control team size (relationshipmanager.maxteamsize, default 8), PvE and who can join.

Can you play Rust with friends without a server?

No. Every Rust world runs on the RustDedicated server program, even a world with two players. There is no "host game" button and no listen server. Your options are:

Most groups start on public servers, then move to their own once they want a wipe on their schedule, a quiet PvE world or no cheaters.

How do I join the same Rust server as my friends?

The easiest way is to agree on a server, then:

1. Open Play Game from the main menu.
2. Pick the Official, Community or Modded tab and search the server name.
3. Click Join. Add it to Favorites so everyone finds it again next session.

Steam friends who are already in game also show in the Friends tab of the server browser. If the server is not in the list yet, connect by address instead: press F1, type the command and press Enter.

client.connect 203.0.113.10:28015

How do I make a team in Rust?

Teams share a map with each other's positions, team chat and a team member list, and teammates are not shown as hostile.

1. Spawn on the server with your friends.
2. Open your inventory (Tab) and click Create Team in the bottom left.
3. Walk up to a friend, look at them and hold the use key (E by default), then choose Invite to Team.
4. Your friend opens their inventory and accepts the invite.

The team leader can invite and kick members and pass leadership from the same panel. Tool cupboard access and code locks are separate: authorize each teammate on the cupboard and share door codes, or one offline teammate can lock everyone else out of the base.

What is the team size limit in Rust?

The default is 8 players per team, set by relationshipmanager.maxteamsize. Servers change it to fit their style, which is what server names like "solo/duo" or "max 3" mean:

relationshipmanager.maxteamsize 4

Set it to the largest group you want and put it in server.cfg so it survives restarts. A lower number does not stop players from cooperating outside a team, so community servers usually back up team limits with written rules.

Should my group play on an official server?

Official servers are run by Facepunch and play exactly as the developers intend: standard rates, PvP everywhere and a map that wipes on the monthly force wipe (the first Thursday of the month). They are great if your group wants the real Rust experience and can handle being raided offline. They are a rough place for new players, and you cannot change a single rule.

Community and modded servers fill the gaps. Look at the server name and tags for team limits, wipe days and rates. A "2x" modded server with a 3 player cap is far friendlier for a casual group than a full official server.

How do I set up a private Rust server for friends?

Your own server gives you full control. Facepunch's server guide lists 12 GB of free RAM and 15 GB of disk as the baseline, and the setup steps are in how to make a Rust server.

These settings matter most for a friends server. Put them in server/<identity>/cfg/server.cfg:

server.hostname "Our Group Server"
server.maxplayers 10
relationshipmanager.maxteamsize 10
server.pve false
decay.scale 0.5

A small map matters more than people expect. An empty 4500 map with five players feels dead. Our guide to changing the Rust map size and seed covers the trade offs, and Rust server.cfg settings explained lists the rest.

Can I password protect a Rust server?

No. Rust has no join password. The usual ways to keep a server private:

• A whitelist plugin. Install Oxide or Carbon and a whitelist plugin, then grant your friends the permission it uses. Anyone else is refused at connect.
• Do not advertise it. Leave out tags and a description, and share the address only in your group's chat. The server still appears in the Community list, so this alone is not private.
• Ban anyone who wanders in with banid <SteamID64>.

Running plugins moves the server to the Modded tab, which is fine for a private group. See how to install Rust plugins with Oxide or Carbon.

How do I make myself admin on my Rust server?

In the server console, run ownerid with your SteamID64, then save:

ownerid 76561198000000000
server.writecfg

Reconnect and you have admin. Use moderatorid for friends who should help without full control. More in how to make yourself admin on a Rust server.

Running a Rust server for your group with us

Rust needs a server for any multiplayer at all, and a home PC with 12 GB to spare that stays on all wipe is a big ask. Our Rust server hosting starts at 19.99 USD a month for 8 GB, which suits a small map with friends, and you pick Vanilla, Oxide or Carbon. Map size, seed and player count are panel settings, the console runs ownerid for you, and Rust updates itself on every restart for force wipe day. Friends can split the bill from a link, new customers get 50% off the first month on monthly plans, and there is no contract.

FAQ

Can you play Rust co-op offline with friends?

No. Rust has no offline co-op or host mode. Every multiplayer game runs on a dedicated server, which can be a public one or your own.

What is the max team size in Rust?

8 by default. Server owners change it with relationshipmanager.maxteamsize, so check the server's name or rules.

How do I invite a friend to my team in Rust?

Create a team from your inventory, then look at your friend, hold the use key and choose Invite to Team. They accept from their inventory.

Can I make a private Rust server for just my friends?

Yes, on your own server. Rust has no password, so use a whitelist plugin with Oxide or Carbon and share the address only with your group.

How many players does a Rust server for friends need?

Set server.maxplayers to your group plus a few spare. An 8 GB server on a small map handles a friend group easily.