No Love Lost Server Not Showing in Server List or Can't Join

A No Love Lost server that does not show in the session list almost always has a query port problem: the query port (27015 UDP by default) is not forwarded, is the same as the game port, or is blocked by a firewall. If the server shows but friends cannot join, the server is usually on an older build than their game after a patch, so update it and restart. Work through the checks below in order. Each one takes a minute, and together they cover nearly every case.

How the session list finds your server

No Love Lost's dedicated server uses two ports:

The session list asks the query port for your server's name and status. If that question never arrives, the list never shows your server, even while the game port works fine. That is why "not in the list" and "can't join" are usually separate problems with separate fixes.

Check 1: The server is actually running

It sounds obvious, but the server runs silently in the background unless you start it with -log. Without that option there is no window, so a crashed server looks the same as a running one.

1. Add -log to the launch options.
2. Start the server again.
3. Watch the console window for errors and for the server finishing its startup.

Remember that closing the -log window shuts the server down.

Check 2: Both ports are set and different

Ratloop's setup guide lists -port and -queryport as mandatory, and the two must be different numbers:

NoLoveLostServer.exe -port=7777 -queryport=27015 -servername="Crew Night" -log

If you left -queryport out, or set it to the same value as -port, the session list cannot query the server. Fix the start line and restart.

Check 3: The ports are forwarded correctly

On a home connection, forward:

• Game port (7777): TCP and UDP.
• Query port (27015): UDP.

Forward them to the local IP of the PC running the server, and make sure that IP does not change (set a DHCP reservation on the router). Allow NoLoveLostServer.exe through Windows Firewall on public and private networks. Our port forwarding guide covers the router side.

Two traps catch people here:

• Forwarding only TCP. The query port is UDP. A TCP only rule does nothing for it.
• Carrier grade NAT. If your router's WAN address does not match your public IP, your provider shares one address between customers and port forwarding cannot work. See hosting without port forwarding.

Check 4: You are searching for the right name

The name in the list is whatever you passed in -servername. Typos, extra spaces and quotes that did not close all end up in the shown name. Copy the exact spelling from your start line, or from the panel if you host with us, and search for it.

Give your server a name nobody else would use. The list is short, but a unique name makes it obvious which entry is yours.

Check 5: Server and game are on the same build

When No Love Lost patches, players' clients update through Steam, but a dedicated server does not update itself unless something tells it to. Players on the new build then cannot join the old server, or they do not see it at all.

• Steam client install: let Steam update the No Love Lost Dedicated Server tool, then restart it.
• SteamCMD install: run app_update 2833050 and restart.
• Hosted server with auto update: just restart. The update runs on start.

Updates have been rare since 2024, which makes this easy to forget when one does arrive.

Check 6: Password problems

If you started the server with -serverpassword="...", players need that exact password. Quotes in the launch options are part of the syntax, not the password. If friends keep failing, remove the option, restart, and test without a password to rule it out.

Check 7: Test from outside your network

Joining from the same PC or the same home network proves the server runs, not that the internet can reach it. Ask a friend on another connection, or use your phone's hotspot on a laptop, to test. If it works locally but not from outside, the problem is the router or firewall, not the game.

Quick reference

The no port forwarding route

A No Love Lost server from GamezServers runs with its game and query ports already set and reachable, so checks 2, 3 and 7 do not apply. You set the server name in the panel, Auto Update installs the newest build every time it starts, and the live console shows what the server is doing. Our panel has no password option for this game, so the server is open to anyone who finds it by name. If you have not set one up yet, our No Love Lost hosting guide covers both routes.

FAQ

Why is my No Love Lost server not in the server list?

The session list cannot reach the query port. Make sure -queryport is set, differs from -port, and is forwarded as UDP.

What ports do I need to open for No Love Lost?

The game port (7777 by default) on TCP and UDP, and the query port (27015 by default) on UDP.

My friends can see the server but can't join. Why?

Usually the server is on an older build than their game, or the game port is not forwarded. Update the server and check the forward.

Can I play on my own dedicated server from the same PC?

Yes. The server runs in anonymous mode, so the same Steam account can launch the game and join it.

Does the No Love Lost server update itself?

Not on its own. Update it through Steam or SteamCMD after each patch, or use a host with auto update on restart.