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An Arma 3 dedicated server that is missing from the browser, returns Session Lost, or kicks players with BattlEye: client not responding usually has one of six causes: no reachable public IPv4 address, blocked ports, a startup or server.cfg error, delayed Steam listing, mismatched mods or signatures, or a client-side BattlEye problem. Work through the checks in that order. Do not begin by reinstalling the game or adding random port ranges.
The fastest test is Direct Connect to the server’s public IP on port 2302. If that succeeds while the server is absent from the browser, networking is working and you should investigate listing delays, filters, or query-port settings. If Direct Connect fails, stay with reachability, firewall, startup, and configuration checks.
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Use the symptom to choose your first check
Different symptoms point to different layers of the server. This table gives you a starting branch before you change settings.
| What you see | Most useful first check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Server is absent from both LAN and Internet lists | Confirm a real public IPv4 address, port forwarding, and firewall rules | A server behind IPv6-only access, DS-Lite, carrier-grade NAT, or blocked ports cannot be reached normally from the Internet. |
| Server starts but never appears in the browser | Use Direct Connect to public-IP:2302, then wait one or two minutes after a restart |
The Steam master-server listing is not real time. A successful Direct Connect separates a listing problem from a network failure. |
| Session Lost during connection | Compare every server and client mod version and signature | The low.ms troubleshooting guide attributes many Session Lost failures to mod-version or signature mismatches. |
| BattlEye: client not responding | Inspect the connecting player’s BattlEye installation, firewall, and client process | The same guide says most of these kicks are client-side rather than evidence that the dedicated server is broken. |
| Players connect, then suffer severe desync | Check server CPU load and simplify the mod set or mission | The guide identifies CPU saturation and mission complexity as common causes, rather than assuming bandwidth is the limit. |
| Server launches without a playable mission | Check mission selection and, if appropriate, test the autoinit startup parameter |
A Steam discussion reports that autoinit helped one setup that did not load a mission; treat this as a diagnostic, not a universal fix. |
1. Confirm that the server can be reached from the Internet
Verify a public IPv4 address
The Bohemia Interactive community wiki’s dedicated-server guidance says an Internet server needs a real public IPv4 address. IPv6-only connectivity and DS-Lite tunnels are not supported by that guidance. Many residential connections use carrier-grade NAT, so the IPv4 address shown by a router may not actually be assigned to the router. In that case, forwarding a port on the router will not make the server reachable.
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- Record the IPv4 address shown on the server’s router or gateway.
- Compare it with the public IPv4 address reported by an independent “what is my IP” service. If the two addresses differ, ask the ISP whether the connection uses carrier-grade NAT or DS-Lite.
- Request a public IPv4 address or move the server to a network that provides one. Do not assume an IPv6 port forward is an equivalent replacement.
This requirement is attributed to the current Bohemia Interactive wiki, but the available summary does not establish a game-version change for 2026. Treat the wiki’s current wording as the governing reference for your installed server build.
Test basic reachability
The same wiki notes that the host should answer ICMP echo (a normal ping) and that the required TCP and UDP ports must be open. A failed ping can also be caused by a router or firewall configured to ignore ICMP, so it is a warning rather than conclusive proof.
- From a different network, ping the public IPv4 address.
- Check the router’s Internet/WAN address, not the server’s private address such as
192.168.x.xor10.x.x.x. - Test while the Arma 3 server process is running; a powered-off or sleeping host gives the same result as a blocked one.
2. Forward the game ports and open the host firewall
Use the server’s private address as the forwarding destination
Create a stable DHCP reservation for the server, then forward the Arma 3 game port from the router to that private address. Direct Connect testing in the troubleshooting guidance uses port 2302. The forwarding rule must preserve the protocol required by the server; do not create a TCP-only rule when the server is expecting UDP traffic.
Windows Firewall (or another host firewall) must also permit the dedicated-server executable and its listening ports. A router rule alone does not override a local firewall. Check both inbound rules and any security suite that may silently block the process after an executable update.
Do not copy a listen-server port recipe blindly
A 2021 Steam thread suggested forwarding UDP ports 2302 through 2306 and enabling UPnP. That discussion concerned listen servers, not a general dedicated-server rule, and the exact thread details were not verified. It is therefore not a reason to forward that entire range on every installation. Start with the port used by your dedicated server and the automatically assigned query ports described below, then expand only when your actual configuration requires it.
Check Windows discovery and UPnP services when relevant
The Bohemia Interactive wiki specifically notes Windows Network Discovery, UPnP Device Host, and SSDP Discovery services as needed in the networking setup it describes. On the server, open Services, locate those entries, and make sure they are not disabled. Enabling a service does not replace a missing public IPv4 address or a router that refuses inbound traffic; it only removes one local discovery failure.
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3. Fix Steam query-port and startup-order problems
Remove stale manual query-port lines
According to the low.ms dedicated-server guide, Arma 3 automatically assigns steamPort and steamQueryPort as the game port plus one and plus two. With a game port of 2302, that means 2303 and 2304. The guide recommends removing old, manually entered steamPort and steamQueryPort lines from server.cfg; incorrect manual values can cause more trouble than leaving them unset.
After removing those lines, restart the server and allow the router and firewall rules to cover the automatically selected ports. Do not mix values from an old hosting tutorial with a new installation without checking which game port the server actually uses.
Start the dedicated server before the Steam client
The Bohemia Interactive wiki notes that the dedicated server should be started before the Steam client. Starting Steam first can create Steam-port conflicts that prevent clients from connecting. A clean sequence is:
- Close the Steam client on the server machine.
- Start the dedicated-server executable and wait until its console or log shows that initialization has completed.
- Only then start Steam, if the installation requires the client.
- Test from a remote machine rather than from the server’s own LAN address.
Validate server.cfg syntax
The low.ms guide describes the configuration parser as strict: one malformed line can stop startup or leave the server in a partially working state. If the server closes immediately, never reaches its ready state, or behaves differently after a small edit, restore the last known-good configuration and reapply changes one at a time.
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- Remove duplicate or obsolete port declarations.
- Keep a backup before each edit so you can revert without guessing which change broke startup.
- Read the first error in the server log, not only the final shutdown message; later errors may be consequences.
4. Distinguish a browser-listing failure from a connection failure
Use Direct Connect as the dividing test
In the Arma 3 multiplayer browser, choose Direct Connect and enter the server’s public IP address with port 2302. Perform this from a player on another network, such as a phone hotspot, because a router may not support hairpin NAT for connections made from inside the same LAN.
- Direct Connect works: the server is reachable. Wait one or two minutes after a restart for Steam’s master server to refresh, clear restrictive browser filters, and recheck query-port settings.
- Direct Connect fails: continue with public IPv4, forwarding, firewall, startup order, configuration, and mod/signature checks. The missing browser entry is not the root cause.
Allow for listing delay
The low.ms guide says a restarted server may take a minute or two to appear through Steam’s master server. Repeatedly restarting during that interval can make diagnosis harder because each restart starts the waiting period again. Leave the server running, record the exact restart time, and test Direct Connect before changing another setting.
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5. Align mods and signature files exactly
Match versions, not just mod names
The low.ms troubleshooting material attributes many Session Lost errors to mod-version mismatches or failed signature checks. Every connecting client and the server should use the same mod version and corresponding signature files. A client that has the right mod name but a newer, older, or locally altered build can still fail validation.
- Export the server’s active mod list and version information.
- Compare it with each player’s active list; remove unused client-only entries while testing.
- Update or roll back until the server and client copies are identical.
- Restart the server after replacing a mod, then reconnect with a clean client launch.
Do not disable signature enforcement as a first response. That may hide the mismatch and changes the server’s security posture without proving that the installation is correct.
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Read the log for the first mod or signature error
Open the dedicated-server log immediately after a failed connection. Look for the named mod, a missing key, a rejected signature, or a version discrepancy. Fix the earliest specific error, restart, and test again. A generic Session Lost message is an outcome, not a diagnosis.
Rebuild a damaged Workshop installation cautiously
One Steam Workshop discussion reports that reinstalling the server and subscribing to the required mods through the browser’s Workshop interface repaired a broken setup. That is a single user report, not a verified general procedure, and reinstalling can erase configuration or saved data. Before attempting it, copy server.cfg, mission files, profiles, logs, and any custom keys. Prefer removing and reacquiring only the suspect mod first; use a full reinstall only when the files or installation itself are demonstrably corrupted.
6. Handle a server that starts without a mission
Confirm mission selection before adding parameters
A server can be reachable yet offer no playable session if its mission selection is empty or invalid. Check the mission configuration and confirm that the selected map and mission exist in the installed content. Read the startup log for a “mission not found” or equivalent load failure.
Test autoinit as a diagnostic
A Steam discussion user reported that adding the autoinit startup parameter helped when no mission loaded. Because this is anecdotal, treat it as a controlled test: add only that parameter, restart, and see whether a mission appears. If it changes nothing, remove it and return to mission and content validation rather than accumulating launch options.
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7. Resolve BattlEye kicks without blaming the server first
Interpret “client not responding” correctly
The low.ms guide says most BattlEye: client not responding kicks are client-side. Start with the affected player’s machine:
- Close duplicate Arma 3 or BattlEye processes and launch the game again.
- Check that the local firewall or security software allows Arma 3 and BattlEye network traffic.
- Repair or update the BattlEye component through the game’s installation tools, then restart Windows.
- Test a second player. If only one person is kicked while others remain connected, prioritize that player’s client and network.
If every player is removed at the same point, compare the server log and BattlEye log with the mission or mod change that preceded the problem. A universal failure is less consistent with an isolated client fault, but the available guidance does not identify one single server-side cause.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Treat desync as a performance problem before a bandwidth problem
Watch CPU load while the problem is occurring
The low.ms guide says most desync problems are CPU-bound rather than bandwidth-bound. Monitor the dedicated-server process while players report delays, rubber-banding, or a frozen simulation. A CPU core pinned at or near full utilization is a stronger lead than a generic Internet speed test.
Reduce simulation complexity methodically
- Record the mission, player count, active mods, and server CPU load.
- Test the same server with a simpler mission or fewer mods.
- If the desync disappears, reintroduce content in small groups to find the expensive mission feature or mod.
- Keep the working combination documented rather than changing several mission and network settings at once.
This approach does not prove that bandwidth is never involved; it follows the available troubleshooting guidance that CPU pressure and mission complexity are common first suspects.
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- Write down the public IPv4 address, private server address, game port, active mods, and the exact error message.
- Confirm the ISP provides a real public IPv4 address; rule out IPv6-only access and DS-Lite.
- Give the server a stable private address and forward the required game port to it.
- Allow the dedicated-server executable and its ports through the host firewall.
- Check ICMP reachability from outside the LAN and verify that the server is running during the test.
- Ensure Network Discovery, UPnP Device Host, and SSDP Discovery are not disabled on Windows when your setup depends on them.
- Remove manually specified
steamPortandsteamQueryPortlines so the server can use game-port-plus-one and plus-two. - Validate
server.cfgpunctuation and restore a known-good backup if startup fails. - Close Steam, start the dedicated server first, wait for initialization, and then start Steam if needed.
- Read the first startup, mod, mission, and signature errors in the logs.
- Compare server and client mod versions and signatures exactly.
- Use Direct Connect to
public-IP:2302from another network. - If Direct Connect works, wait one or two minutes for browser listing and review filters; if it fails, stay on network and configuration checks.
- For BattlEye kicks, troubleshoot the affected client before changing server settings.
- For desync, measure CPU load and test a simpler mission or smaller mod set.
10. Common mistakes that prolong the outage
Forwarding ports on the wrong device
In a double-router or mesh setup, forwarding on the inner router while the ISP gateway still performs NAT leaves the server unreachable. The public address must lead through every NAT layer to the machine running Arma 3, or the upstream device must be placed in bridge mode according to your network design.
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Testing only from inside the LAN
A local connection can succeed through LAN discovery while outside players are blocked. Always repeat the decisive test from a different network and use the public address, not the private one.
Changing several variables at once
Replacing mods, editing ports, changing firewall rules, and adding launch parameters in one restart destroys the evidence needed to identify the cause. Keep a short change log and make one controlled change per test.
Assuming the browser is authoritative
The browser can be stale for a minute or two after a restart. Direct Connect is the more useful first discriminator while the listing catches up.
What is established, and what is only a community report?
The public-IPv4, ICMP, Windows-service, startup-order, and query-port points come from the Bohemia Interactive community wiki or the low.ms dedicated-server guide. The exact confidence of those claims varies because the available source material is summary text rather than a full version-specific manual. The Workshop reinstall remedy and the autoinit suggestion come from individual Steam discussions, so they should be tested only after backups and basic configuration checks. The 2021 UDP 2302–2306 forwarding suggestion applies to a listen-server discussion and is not a blanket dedicated-server requirement.
No verified 2026-specific Arma 3 dedicated-server networking change is established here. If a future game or Steam update changes default ports, listing behavior, or BattlEye requirements, confirm the current Bohemia Interactive documentation for that build before treating older forum advice as universal.
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