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For a default dedicated server, forward 26900/TCP, 26900/UDP, 26901/UDP, and 26902/UDP from your router to the server computer. The Fun Pimps’ support FAQ also lists 26903/UDP as currently unused but cautions that omitting it can prevent players from joining, so include it when following that more complete table. Allow the same traffic through the computer’s firewall.
The server’s default ServerPort is 26900. If you change it, move the associated ports by the same offset. Ports 8080/TCP and 8081/TCP are optional administration interfaces, not ordinary player ports, and should remain closed unless you deliberately enable and secure them.
Default 7 Days to Die ports and what each one does
The port number alone is not enough: a forwarding rule also specifies a transport protocol. The default game setup uses both TCP and UDP on the base port, plus adjacent UDP ports.
| Port | Protocol | Function | Player access? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26900 | TCP | Game-details query port in The Fun Pimps’ support FAQ | Required |
| 26900 | UDP | Master-server communication | Required |
| 26901 | UDP | Steam communication | Required |
| 26902 | UDP | LiteNetLib networking | Required |
| 26903 | UDP | Listed as currently unused; the FAQ warns that not forwarding it may block joining | Recommended when following the complete FAQ table |
| 8080 | TCP | Web dashboard | Optional administration |
| 8081 | TCP | Telnet/control interface | Optional administration |
The support FAQ identifies 26900/TCP as the details-query port and 26900–26902/UDP as the master-server, Steam-communication and LiteNetLib ports. The dedicated-server documentation presents the same base arrangement. Because the 26903 entry is described differently across current tables, treat it as a compatibility precaution rather than a game service you can assume is always active.
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What must be in place before forwarding
A dedicated server that is actually listening
Port forwarding only sends packets to a computer. Start the dedicated server and confirm its configuration uses the port set you intend to publish. A rule for 26900 cannot make a server configured for another base port reachable.
A stable private IPv4 address
Routers forward to a private LAN address such as 192.168.1.50 or 10.0.0.25. If that address changes after a reboot or DHCP lease renewal, the rule can silently point at another device. Create a DHCP reservation in the router for the server computer’s network adapter, or configure an equivalent static address that matches the router’s subnet. Record the address before creating rules.
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An inbound path from the internet
Your router must have a public IPv4 address, or an upstream device must forward traffic to it. Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), apartment-managed networks and some cellular connections do not provide a usable inbound IPv4 path. In those cases, local rules can be correct and the server can still be unreachable from outside; a managed host, VPS or suitable tunnel is the practical alternative.
How to forward the default ports on a home router
Router labels differ, but the fields are usually under Port Forwarding, NAT, Virtual Server or Inbound Rules. Use the router’s LAN address for the destination, not the public address shown to friends.
- Find the server’s private address. On the server, inspect the active Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter and note its IPv4 address. Reserve that address in the router’s DHCP section so it remains assigned to the same machine.
- Check
ServerPort. Open the dedicated-server configuration file and read the configured base value. If it is 26900, use the default table in this article. If it differs, calculate the shifted set before entering rules. - Create the TCP rule for the base port. Set protocol to TCP, external (public) port to the base port, internal port to the same value, and destination to the reserved server address.
- Create UDP rules for the base and adjacent ports. Add separate UDP entries for the base port and each adjacent UDP port listed for your version. A router that accepts a range can use one contiguous range, but separate rules make protocol and auditing clearer.
- Add the 26903/UDP rule when appropriate. The Fun Pimps FAQ calls this port currently unused yet warns that its omission may block joining. Include it if you want to follow the FAQ’s more complete forwarding set.
- Save and apply. Some routers activate rules immediately; others require an apply action or restart. Wait for the router to finish applying configuration before testing.
- Permit the same traffic on the server. Router forwarding and the host firewall are separate controls. Create inbound firewall allowances for the TCP and UDP entries you chose; otherwise packets can reach the LAN and still be discarded by the operating system.
- Test from outside your LAN. Have a friend connect while the server is running, or use a device on a different internet connection. Testing from the same Wi-Fi can produce a false failure when the router lacks NAT loopback support.
Allowing the ports through the host firewall
Windows
In Windows Security, open Firewall & network protection, choose Advanced settings, then Inbound Rules and New Rule. Select Port, choose TCP, enter the base port, and allow the connection on the profiles that match your network. Repeat the wizard for UDP and for each required UDP port. Restrict the rule to the server executable or the private network profile when your operating policy permits; do not disable the firewall globally as a shortcut.
Linux
If the host uses UFW, allow the same protocol/port combinations, for example:
sudo ufw allow 26900/tcp
sudo ufw allow 26900/udp
sudo ufw allow 26901/udp
sudo ufw allow 26902/udp
sudo ufw allow 26903/udpOnly add the final line when you are using the more complete table. On systems managed by firewalld, nftables or another policy engine, create equivalent inbound rules in that system and verify that a higher-priority deny rule is not overriding them.
Changing ServerPort without breaking connectivity
Treat ServerPort as the base of a port set, not as an isolated number. When the base moves, move the related UDP ports by the same offset. For example, changing the base from 26900 to 26920 produces 26920/TCP and 26920/UDP, with the following UDP ports at 26921 and 26922. If you also follow the FAQ’s additional 26903/UDP entry, its corresponding shifted value is 26923/UDP.
Update all three layers together: the server configuration, router forwarding rules and host-firewall rules. Tell players the new connection port if your server listing or direct-connect instructions expose it. A common failure is changing only the configuration file while leaving the router forwarding the old base, which sends traffic to a port where nothing is listening.
Port tables can change between game versions or documentation revisions. Before deploying a non-default base, check the current dedicated-server documentation for the release you run, especially whether the additional 26903-equivalent UDP port is included.
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Administration ports: 8080 and 8081
The cited port tables associate 8080/TCP with the web dashboard and 8081/TCP with telnet or control. Neither is needed for ordinary players to join. Leave both unforwarded unless the corresponding service is enabled and you have a specific administrative need.
If you do expose an administration interface, reduce its exposure: limit source addresses where the router supports it, use strong unique credentials, keep the server software updated, and prefer access over a private VPN or management network. Forwarding an administration port to the public internet increases the attack surface of the entire server machine and, in a home setup, potentially the rest of the LAN.
Why friends still cannot join after forwarding
The server works on the same LAN but not from the internet
This points to an inbound-path problem rather than the game installation. Confirm that the router’s WAN address is genuinely public and that there is no second modem/router performing NAT upstream. If the WAN address is private or falls within a CGNAT range, your ISP or building network may be preventing unsolicited inbound connections. Request a public address if available, or move the server to a managed host, VPS or compatible tunnel.
The rule points to the wrong computer
Compare the router’s destination address with the server’s current private IPv4 address. DHCP changes are common after replacing a network adapter or rebooting a router. A reservation prevents the rule from drifting to another device.
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Read ServerPort in the active configuration, then recalculate the adjacent UDP values. Recreate router and firewall entries from that base. Players using a saved old endpoint will also need the new port.
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TCP was forwarded but UDP was omitted
The game uses both protocols. A TCP-only rule does not replace the UDP rules, and forwarding a UDP range without the base TCP entry is also incomplete. Compare every protocol in your router and firewall with the table above.
The host firewall is still denying traffic
Temporarily disabling security controls is a poor diagnostic and leaves the machine exposed. Instead, inspect the active firewall profile and inbound-rule logs, confirm that the rules apply to the network interface in use, and allow only the configured game ports.
You tested from inside the same network
Many routers do not support hairpin or NAT-loopback connections. Ask someone on another connection to test, or use a phone hotspot. A local test can fail even while external players can connect, and the reverse can occur if the router has unusual loopback behavior.
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The server is not listening
Start the dedicated server before testing and check its console or service status for configuration errors. A correctly forwarded port produces no result when the application has stopped, bound to another interface or failed to load its configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Port forwarding is most useful when you want direct control and already have a reliable public connection. Managed hosting removes the home-router dependency but introduces a recurring service relationship. The available documentation supports the following practical distinctions, not a ranking of particular providers:
| Consideration | Home or self-hosted server | Managed host or VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound connectivity | Requires a public inbound path and correctly configured NAT | Provider supplies reachable networking; no home-router forwarding required |
| Configuration and mods | Maximum control over files, settings and modifications | Control depends on the plan, image and provider policies |
| Administration | You maintain the operating system, firewall, updates and restarts | Provider may offer a control panel and service tooling, but you still manage game settings |
| Uptime and restarts | Depends on your power, internet and restart procedures | May include infrastructure monitoring or restart options; verify what is actually included |
| Cost | No hosting fee, but uses your hardware, electricity and connection | Recurring charge; current prices vary and are not established here |
| Backups | You are responsible for world and configuration backups | Backup schedules and restore guarantees vary; confirm them before relying on the service |
| Network exposure | Forwarded services share your home internet edge | Game traffic is separated from your household router, subject to the provider’s security controls |
Choose managed hosting when your ISP blocks inbound traffic, your connection is unstable, or you do not want to maintain a publicly reachable home computer. Choose self-hosting when configuration control matters and you can maintain the network and machine securely.
Pre-launch verification
- The server is running the intended game version and reads the expected configuration file.
ServerPortis recorded, and every related router and firewall rule is based on it.- The destination computer has a reserved private IPv4 address.
- The base TCP and UDP entries, adjacent UDP entries, and—when following the complete FAQ table—the additional UDP entry are present.
- Administration ports remain closed unless their services are enabled, secured and required.
- An external player has tested a connection while the server is online.
- World files and configuration are backed up before changing ports, mods or operating-system rules.
When those checks pass, a default 7 Days to Die dedicated server has the complete network path it needs: the router delivers the selected ports to a stable LAN address, and the host firewall permits the same traffic to the running server.
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