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If 7 Days to Die remains on “Server still initializing,” start with the least invasive checks: make sure the server and every player use the same game version and matching mods or world files, disable any VPN, then test the local network. After that, check Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), antivirus and firewall rules, clean the client with the Native Launcher, and only then change dedicated-server port forwarding. The correct fix depends on whether you are joining a friend locally, using crossplay, or connecting to a self-hosted server.
What “Server still initializing” usually means
The message indicates that the client has not completed the connection and world-loading sequence. It is not proof that the host must simply wait longer: a version mismatch, incompatible content, blocked EAC traffic, unstable Wi-Fi, damaged local settings, or an unreachable dedicated-server port can all stop the same stage. There is no universal waiting time or single fix published by the game’s support material, so troubleshoot the connection path in order.
Use the scope of the failure to choose your first branch:
- One client cannot join, but others can: concentrate on that player’s version, mods, EAC, antivirus, firewall and local files.
- Nobody can join a host: inspect the host’s version, world or mod files, router forwarding and host firewall.
- PC players connect but a crossplay player cannot: verify that EAC is enabled on the server and that all players have compatible content.
- Players on the same home network fail: test the router and local firewall before changing Internet port forwarding.
1. Match versions, mods and world files
Version and content mismatches are the fastest causes to eliminate. The server and every client should be running the same game version. A client on a different build can remain in initialization even when the server appears online.
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Check the game build
- Close the game on every computer.
- In the platform launcher, install any pending game update on both the host and clients.
- Restart the launcher after updating, then start the game again so the displayed build is refreshed.
- Have the host and each player compare the version shown by their installations. Do not assume that an automatic update completed on every machine.
If the server is administered separately from the game client, update the dedicated-server installation to the same build before testing another connection.
Make content identical
Required mods, optional client mods and custom-world files must match the server’s content. Remove a mod that only one player has, or install the exact server-required version on every client. A custom world also needs to be present and identical where the server expects a local copy. Test a vanilla world with no mods if you need to determine whether content is the cause; do not overwrite a working save while testing.
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Crossplay requirements
For crossplay, EAC must be enabled on the server. A server that runs without EAC may still be usable for play modes that do not require it, but a crossplay connection can fail when the server’s EAC state does not meet the platform’s requirement. Confirm the server setting before troubleshooting individual clients.
2. Remove connection-path variables
Before changing files or router settings, make the network path as simple and stable as possible. The official Basic Network Troubleshooting guidance says a wired connection is typically more stable than wireless.
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Run this local-network checklist
- Disable a VPN on the host and joining player temporarily. A VPN can change the route or address used for discovery and connection.
- If possible, connect the host and test client to the router with Ethernet. A Cat6 Ethernet cable is suitable for this diagnostic; the objective is to remove Wi-Fi instability, not to increase game speed.
- Restart the router. Wait until its normal Internet and local-network indicators return before launching the game.
- Close downloads, streaming applications and other programs that may consume bandwidth or create firewall prompts.
- Restart the computer running the game or server.
- Install current Windows, game-platform, game and network-driver updates.
After each change, make one fresh connection attempt. Repeatedly launching the same failed session without restarting the client can preserve a stale discovery or authentication state.
3. Check EAC, antivirus and firewall interference
Easy Anti-Cheat is a separate service in the connection path. Servers that enable it can reject or disconnect a client when EAC, antivirus, a firewall or the network path interferes. EAC is not required for every server, so first determine whether the server actually enables it.
Allow the game through security software
- Add the game client executables to the firewall’s allowed-app list on the joining computer.
- On a self-hosted machine, allow the dedicated-server executable through the host firewall for the network profiles used by the server.
- Exclude the game client from antivirus active and passive scans while testing. Security products can quarantine or delay files that the game or EAC needs.
- Do not leave broad exclusions in place indefinitely without reviewing the risk. Once the cause is identified, replace a whole-drive exclusion with a narrower game-folder or executable rule where your security product permits.
If EAC reports an error, repair or reinstall the EAC component using the platform’s installed-game tools, then reboot and test again. If there is no EAC message, still check whether the firewall or antivirus silently blocked the process.
Update network drivers
Outdated network drivers can cause packet loss or failed handshakes that look like a server problem. Install the current driver supplied for the computer’s Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter, restart Windows, and repeat the test. If a wired test works while wireless does not, keep the wired result as evidence that the original path, rather than the save, was the problem.
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4. Clean a client with corrupted launch state
When other players can join and your version and content match, clean the affected client before touching the server save. The 7D2D Native Launcher provides a Clean tool intended for this type of client recovery.
- Exit the game and platform launcher.
- Open the 7D2D Native Launcher and run its Clean function.
- Remove third-party mods, then launch a vanilla connection attempt.
- If antivirus is active, exclude the game folder and the
%appdata%7DaysToDiesave folder from active and passive scanning while testing. - Start the game and try the server again.
The support guidance also recommends deleting the 7 Days to Die settings file in AppData if launch problems continue. Delete the settings file only; do not remove other files or saves as part of this step. The game will recreate settings on the next launch, so you may need to reapply graphics, input or other preferences.
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5. Verify dedicated-server forwarding
If you are self-hosting, the router must forward the server’s required ports to the computer running the server, and that computer’s firewall must allow the same traffic. Forward to the server machine’s current local IP address; a changed DHCP address can silently invalidate an otherwise correct rule.
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| Purpose | Port | Protocol | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game details (BasePort) | 26900 | TCP | Listed by The Fun Pimps’ FAQ for game details. |
| Master-server interface (BasePort) | 26900 | UDP | Used for server discovery. |
| Steam communication | 26901 | UDP | Forward when using the Steam networking path. |
| LiteNetLib networking | 26902 | UDP | Used by the LiteNetLib path. |
| Additional joining port | 26903 | UDP | Currently unused in the FAQ, but may be necessary for joining. |
| Web dashboard (optional) | 8080 | TCP | Forward only if you have enabled the dashboard. |
| Telnet (optional) | 8081 | TCP | Forward only if you have enabled Telnet administration. |
The common dedicated-server range is therefore TCP 26900 and UDP 26900–26903, subject to your configuration. The optional dashboard and Telnet ports are not required for ordinary gameplay.
Apply forwarding safely
- Give the server computer a reserved or static local IP in the router.
- Create router rules that send the required TCP and UDP ports to that address. Keep protocol selections separate where the router requires separate entries.
- Allow the same ports in the server computer’s firewall.
- Restart the dedicated server after saving the router rules.
- Test from a different network, such as a mobile connection. A connection from inside the same LAN can succeed through local routing even when outside forwarding is broken.
Do not expose optional administration ports unless you need them, and protect any enabled administration service according to its documentation. If the server’s configured BasePort differs from 26900, use the configured value and its corresponding range rather than blindly forwarding the defaults.
6. Use server discovery deliberately
If the server does not appear in the normal list, discovery failure does not necessarily mean the world is offline. With a VPN disabled and the host running, try the peer-to-peer tab in server search. Where available, search by the host’s SteamID. These tests bypass some list and address assumptions and help distinguish discovery trouble from a failed game handshake.
When inviting a friend, have the host remain in the world while the client searches. If a direct invitation or peer-to-peer result works but the public list does not, keep investigating discovery and forwarding rather than deleting saves.
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7. Match symptoms to the next action
| Symptom | Most useful next check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Only one player is stuck initializing | Compare that client’s version, mods, EAC state and antivirus rules; run the Native Launcher Clean tool. | The server is reachable for other players, so a client-side mismatch or block is more likely. |
| Everyone is stuck after a server update | Compare the server build with every client and verify custom-world files. | A shared content mismatch affects all joining players. |
| Crossplay fails while PC-only play works | Enable EAC on the server and check EAC-related firewall or antivirus interference. | Crossplay requires the server’s EAC state to be correct. |
| LAN play fails on Wi-Fi but works over Ethernet | Keep the wired path or troubleshoot wireless drivers, signal and router stability. | The official guidance identifies wired networking as typically more stable. |
| Local players connect but remote friends cannot | Check the server’s local IP reservation, router forwarding, host firewall and external-network test. | That pattern points to the Internet-facing path rather than the save itself. |
8. Escalate with useful evidence
If the ordered checks do not resolve the problem, contact official support with information that lets them reproduce the connection path. Retain:
- Game version on the server and every client.
- Whether the server is dedicated, peer-to-peer, local or externally hosted.
- Crossplay and EAC state.
- Installed mods and custom-world details.
- Router forwarding rules and the server computer’s local address (omit public credentials).
- Relevant client and server logs, including the time of a failed attempt.
- Firewall or antivirus events that coincide with the failure.
State which step changed the symptom, such as “Ethernet works but Wi-Fi does not” or “vanilla content joins but the modded world does not.” That is more actionable than reporting only that the server is still initializing.
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- Update the server and clients in a controlled order, then verify the displayed versions before inviting players.
- Keep a documented list of required mods and world files.
- Reserve the server machine’s local IP so forwarding rules do not follow the wrong device.
- Record which firewall and antivirus rules are required, and review broad exclusions after troubleshooting.
- Keep a recent backup of worlds before cleaning files or changing server configuration.
- When a connection breaks, test a vanilla client and a wired path before making destructive changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I wait before assuming initialization is stuck?
There is no universal wait time published in the cited support guidance. If the message persists, use the version, content, network and security checks rather than relying on a longer wait.
Do I need to forward every listed port for a dedicated server?
Forward the ports required by your configured networking path. The FAQ lists TCP 26900 and UDP 26900–26903, with UDP 26903 currently unused but potentially necessary for joining; dashboard 8080/TCP and Telnet 8081/TCP are optional.
Will deleting the settings file delete my world?
The support step is to delete the 7 Days to Die settings file in AppData without removing other files. Back up important worlds first and do not delete the save folder as part of this cleanup.
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