WreckfestWreckfest Server Not Showing in Server Browser (Fixes)
Wreckfest server missing from the browser or drivers cannot join? Fix the query port, version mismatch, lan=0, filters, passwords and mod kicks.
Updated Oct 7, 2026 · 4 min read
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A Wreckfest dedicated server that does not appear in the in game browser usually has its query port (UDP 27016 by default) or Steam port (UDP 27015) blocked, is on an older build than the players after a game update, has lan=1 set, or is hidden by the browser's filters. If drivers can see it but get kicked or cannot join, the cause is usually the game port (UDP 33540), a password mismatch, or Workshop mods they do not have. Check the console first to make sure the server actually finished starting.
Step 0: Did it start properly
Look at the server console or server.log. A healthy server reports connecting to Steam. If it stops before that:
- The config file name passed with
-s server_config=does not exist. - A broken line in
server_config.cfg, often in the event loop, stopped it reading the file. - The install is incomplete after an interrupted update. Run SteamCMD with
validate:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\WreckfestServer +login anonymous +app_update 361580 validate +quit
Cause 1: Ports not reachable
Wreckfest uses three UDP ports:
| Key | Default | Role | If blocked |
|---|---|---|---|
steam_port |
27015 |
Steam communication | Server cannot register properly |
query_port |
27016 |
Browser queries | Server missing from the list |
game_port |
33540 |
Race traffic | Visible but join fails |
Forward all three as UDP and allow Wreckfest_x64.exe through the firewall. If you run two servers on one machine, every port must be unique per server. Two servers sharing 27016 is a classic way to make one of them vanish. Behind CGNAT, forwarding does not work at all; see hosting without port forwarding.
Cause 2: Version mismatch after an update
When Bugbear patches Wreckfest, players update through Steam straight away. A server you installed with SteamCMD stays on the old build until you update it, and the browser hides or rejects mismatched servers. Run the SteamCMD command above, restart, and the server reappears for updated players.
Also check that nobody is on a beta branch the server is not running. In Steam: right click Wreckfest, Properties, Betas.
Cause 3: lan is set to 1
lan=0
lan=1 makes it a LAN only server that internet players never see. Copying a config from a LAN party is the usual way this creeps in.
Cause 4: Browser filters
The Wreckfest server browser filters can hide your server without you noticing:
- Clear every filter and search by your exact
server_name. - Show password protected and empty servers.
- Widen the ping filter if the server is in another region.
- Check you are browsing the right list. Modded servers can show differently from vanilla ones.
If the server appears once the filters are cleared, there is nothing wrong with it.
Cause 5: Drivers see it but cannot get in
| What happens | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Join hangs then times out | Game port 33540 blocked |
Forward UDP 33540 |
| Asked for a password and rejected | Wrong password | Check password in the config; max 31 characters |
| Kicked for missing content | Driver lacks the server's mods | Subscribe to the same Workshop mods |
| Server full with few people | Bots fill the slots | Lower bots, they count toward 24 |
| Kicked by the owner | Someone else got owner rights | Set owner_disabled=1, add your own admin ID |
The mods kick catches many groups out. The mods setting lists the mod folders the server loads, and every driver must have the same Workshop items. Post the list in your group chat before race night.
Cause 6: The server shows the wrong name
If you find your server but with an old name or settings, it loaded a different config file. Check the -s server_config= value on the launch line matches the file you edited, and that you did not edit initial_server_config.cfg by mistake. Remember lines starting with # are ignored. The Wreckfest config guide shows the full file.
One player cannot join
If everyone can join except one driver, the problem is on their PC: verify game files in Steam, restart Steam, turn off a VPN, and check their firewall or antivirus. Very high ping can also cause timeouts. Our guide to choosing a server location for low ping explains why distance matters for racing.
A server that stays in the list
A GamezServers Wreckfest server has its own address with all three ports already open, and Auto Update brings the server to the latest build on every start, so after a patch a restart from the panel is all it takes. Server Name and Password are panel fields, the live console shows the server connecting to Steam, and server_config.cfg is a click away in the file manager for checking lan, bots and mods.
FAQ
Why is my Wreckfest server not showing in the browser?
Usually the query port (UDP 27016) is closed or the server is on an older build than the players. Open the ports and update the server.
What ports does a Wreckfest server need?
UDP 27015 (Steam), 27016 (query) and 33540 (game) by default.
Why do players get kicked for missing content?
The server loads Workshop mods they do not have. They must subscribe to the same mods.
Why did my Wreckfest server disappear after an update?
Players updated and the server did not. Update it with SteamCMD and restart.
Skip the setup. Your own Wreckfest server.
Then $4.99/mo. Just trying it? $1.25 for 3 days
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