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The reliable 2026 method is to run the official dedicated-server application, install it with SteamCMD, launch it once so it creates its files and runs its network self-test, edit the generated dedicatedserver.cfg JSON, open UDP ports 8766, 27016, and 9700, then test from outside your home network before inviting anyone.
You can host on a computer your group controls or rent a managed game-server instance. Self-hosting costs no separate server subscription but leaves you responsible for the machine, updates, firewall, router forwarding, and backups. Managed hosting reduces infrastructure work, but its region, latency, price, controls, backup policy, and cancellation terms must be checked with each provider.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat you are setting up
A dedicated server keeps the world running independently of a player’s game client. Players connect to the server rather than relying on one person to remain in a normal peer-hosted session. The setup below follows the current Steam Community Dedicated Server Configuration Guide, posted June 23, 2023 and updated January 15, 2025. It does not use the older Server.cfg instructions found in some earlier posts; the active file is dedicatedserver.cfg, and it uses JSON syntax.
The documented workflow is Windows-oriented because it uses steamcmd.exe and StartSOTFDedicated.bat. The guide does not publish current minimum CPU, memory, or disk specifications, so do not treat hardware numbers from old community posts as official requirements. Use a machine with enough capacity for the operating system, the server, the save data, and routine backups, and monitor it after your group begins playing.
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Choose self-hosting or managed hosting first
| Decision area | Self-hosted machine | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | You install SteamCMD or the Steam Tools version, create the server files, edit JSON, and configure the operating-system firewall. | The provider supplies a server environment and usually exposes installation and settings through its panel. |
| Network responsibility | You must control the host firewall, home-router forwarding, and any upstream firewall. | The provider normally controls the external network and offers its own firewall or panel controls; confirm which ports and settings are exposed. |
| Updates | You stop the server and run the SteamCMD update process yourself. | The provider may offer update controls, but the timing and rollback process are provider-specific. |
| Backups | You decide where save and configuration backups go and test recovery yourself. | Ask how often backups run, how long they are retained, where they are stored, and whether you can download them. |
| Cost and performance | No separate hosting bill, but the host consumes electricity and your connection’s upload capacity. | Recurring price, location, player capacity, cancellation rules, and latency vary by provider and must be verified before purchase. |
Self-hosting is sensible when one player can leave the machine and router available, has administrative access, and is comfortable troubleshooting network rules. Managed hosting is more convenient when nobody wants a home machine running continuously or the group cannot configure inbound traffic. A hosting company’s marketing page is not evidence of a particular region, price, service level, or current Sons of the Forest support; confirm those details directly before ordering.
Prepare the host before installing
- Use a computer that can remain online whenever the group expects to play.
- Sign in with an account that can install software, create firewall rules, and edit the server directory.
- Reserve a stable local address for the host if your router supports DHCP reservations. This prevents port-forwarding rules from pointing at a different computer after a reboot.
- Know whether your internet service places you behind carrier-grade NAT. If it does, ordinary inbound forwarding may not work; ask the provider for a public address or use managed hosting.
- Decide the server name, player limit, password, save slot, and whether the server should be internet-accessible or LAN-only before editing the file.
- Plan a backup destination that is separate from the live server directory. A second drive or another machine protects against a failed system disk.
The official instructions do not establish a minimum bandwidth, processor, memory, or storage figure. Treat capacity as an operational question: watch CPU, memory, disk space, and network behavior while several players are connected, and leave room for save backups and future updates.
How do I install the dedicated server?
Install with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is the documented command-line route. Download and extract SteamCMD using Valve’s normal distribution method, open a Command Prompt in the directory containing steamcmd.exe, and run:
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "c:/sons-dedicated/" +login anonymous +app_update 2465200 validate +quit
The app ID is 2465200. +force_install_dir chooses the destination, +login anonymous uses the server’s anonymous installation access, and +app_update 2465200 validate installs or updates the files and checks them. Change the destination only if you also change every later path reference to match it. Keep the command’s quotation marks around a path containing spaces.
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When SteamCMD finishes, inspect the output for an error rather than assuming that the window closing means success. If the directory is empty or the update reports a failure, correct the path or permissions and run the same command again. Do not start configuration work until the server executable and launch files are present.
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The Steam Community guide also documents installing the dedicated-server application from the Steam client’s Tools section. This avoids typing the SteamCMD command, but it does not change the later launch, JSON, firewall, or testing steps. Record the installation directory shown by Steam so you can find the generated files.
Start it once and let the server create its files
- Open the installation directory.
- Run
StartSOTFDedicated.bat. If you installed through Steam, you can use the Steam launcher entry described by the guide instead. - Leave the console open long enough for initialization to finish. The first startup can generate a default configuration and an owner file.
- Read the console and logs for the startup self-test. The server checks configuration and network accessibility; when the test fails, it reports the reason in the console or logs.
- Stop the process cleanly after the first initialization, then make a backup copy of the newly created configuration and ownership files before editing.
Do not repeatedly edit a file that has not yet been generated. The first launch establishes the current directory layout and gives you a concrete configuration file to modify. If the batch file flashes closed, launch it from an already-open Command Prompt so the error remains visible, then inspect the logs.
Where do I find and edit the configuration files?
Open the server’s configurations folder and locate dedicatedserver.cfg. The current file is JSON, not an old key-value .cfg format. Preserve double quotes around string values, commas between properties, and the opening and closing braces. A missing comma, an extra comma, or an unquoted string can make the server reject the file during its self-test.
Make a dated backup before every substantial change. Edit with a text editor that does not silently convert quotation marks into typographic “smart quotes.” After saving, reopen the file or validate its JSON syntax before starting the server.
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| Setting | What to decide | Documented detail |
|---|---|---|
IpAddress |
The address the server should bind to. Leave the generated value unless you have a specific multi-interface requirement. | Included in the default document; the guide does not prescribe a universal replacement value. |
GamePort |
The UDP port used for game traffic. | Default external setup uses UDP 8766. |
QueryPort |
The UDP port used for server queries. | Default external setup uses UDP 27016. |
BlobSyncPort |
The UDP port used for blob synchronization. | Default external setup uses UDP 9700. |
ServerName |
The name players will recognize in the server listing or connection workflow. | Included in the default document. |
MaxPlayers |
Set the intended group size. | Accepts 1 through 8; the documented default is 8. |
Password |
Add a private-entry password and share it only with the group. | Included in the default document. |
LanOnly |
Choose whether connections are restricted to the local network. | Included in the default document; internet access also requires matching network rules. |
SaveSlot |
Select the world slot the server should load or create. | Included in the default document. |
SaveMode |
Choose whether the selected slot continues or is recreated. | Continue loads an existing world or creates it when the slot is empty. new creates a new game and overwrites that slot’s prior game at restart while it remains selected. |
GameMode |
Use the mode supported by the generated file and your group’s plan. | Included in the default document; retain the file’s valid value unless you intentionally change it. |
Set the save behavior before the first real session
For an ongoing cooperative world, use "SaveMode": "Continue" in the generated JSON and verify the intended SaveSlot. Continue loads an existing save when one exists and creates the selected slot when it is empty.
Use the documented new mode only when you deliberately want a fresh game. Leaving new selected can overwrite the slot’s previous game when the server restarts. Check the slot and mode together before launching after an edit; a correct port configuration cannot recover a world that was intentionally replaced.
Choose players, password, and ownership
Set MaxPlayers to a number from 1 through 8. The guide shows 8 as the default, but a smaller value can match a private group. Set a password for private entry and distribute it through a trusted channel. The first launch can create an owner file; keep that file with the server configuration and restrict write access to the people who administer the world.
How do I make the server available to the internet?
Open the three documented UDP ports
For the default internet-accessible configuration, allow these inbound UDP ports:
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| Port | Configuration field | Action |
|---|---|---|
8766/UDP |
GamePort |
Allow it through the host operating-system firewall and the router or hosting firewall. |
27016/UDP |
QueryPort |
Allow it through the same firewall layers and forward it to the host when self-hosting at home. |
9700/UDP |
BlobSyncPort |
Allow and forward it in the same way. |
These are defaults, not magic constants. If you change a port in dedicatedserver.cfg, change the corresponding operating-system firewall rule, router forwarding rule, and hosting-panel rule to the same number and protocol. Opening only the game port is incomplete; the query and blob-sync ports are part of the documented external setup.
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Configure the Windows firewall
- Open the operating system’s advanced firewall management screen.
- Create inbound rules for UDP 8766, 27016, and 9700, or create an application rule that demonstrably permits the dedicated-server process on those ports.
- Apply the rule to the network profiles used by the host, following your organization’s security policy.
- Keep unrelated inbound ports closed. Do not disable the firewall globally as a shortcut.
Firewall labels differ by Windows release, so verify the rule’s protocol is UDP and its local ports are exactly the values in the active JSON file. If the server is installed on a managed host, use that provider’s firewall controls instead of assuming the operating-system rule is sufficient.
Forward ports on a home router
- Give the server computer a stable local address, preferably with a DHCP reservation.
- In the router’s port-forwarding page, create three UDP entries for 8766, 27016, and 9700, each targeting that local address.
- Save the router configuration and confirm that another device has not claimed the same address.
- Check whether the router has a second firewall, guest-network isolation, or double-NAT arrangement that could block inbound traffic.
Port forwarding exposes a service to the public internet. Use a strong private password, keep the server files updated, and limit administrative access to trusted operators. If your internet service uses carrier-grade NAT, the router rule may never receive a public connection; managed hosting or a provider-supplied public address may be necessary.
Test before inviting the group
Test from outside the host’s local network. A player on the same home Wi-Fi can appear to connect through local routing even when public access is broken. Ask someone on another connection to test, or temporarily use a trusted mobile hotspot for the client device.
- Start the server and wait for initialization and the self-test result.
- Confirm that the console or logs show no configuration or network error.
- From the external network, try the game’s normal server-discovery or connection flow using the server name, address, and password.
- Verify that the player can join, move around, and return after a short disconnect.
- Stop and restart the server once, then confirm that
SaveModeandSaveSlotload the intended world rather than creating a replacement.
If the external test fails, do not send invitations yet. Compare the active JSON ports with all three firewall layers, confirm that the router forwards to the current local address, and read the self-test message for the specific failure reason.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failures and precise fixes
The server will not start after editing
- Restore the last known-good backup of
dedicatedserver.cfg. - Check JSON syntax: balanced braces, double-quoted strings, commas between properties, and no trailing comma before the closing brace.
- Confirm that numeric values such as ports and
MaxPlayersare numbers, not misspelled text. - Start again and use the console or logs to identify the rejected property.
Players on the internet cannot see or join it
- Confirm that
LanOnlyis not enabled for an internet session. - Verify UDP 8766, 27016, and 9700 in the JSON, host firewall, router forwarding, and any upstream firewall.
- Check that forwarding targets the host’s current local address.
- Test from a genuinely external network and check for carrier-grade NAT or double NAT.
- Read the startup self-test output; it is designed to report the reason for an accessibility failure.
The server starts but loads the wrong world
- Stop the server before changing save settings.
- Check
SaveSlotand setSaveModetoContinuefor an existing or continuing world. - Do not leave
newselected unless overwriting that slot at restart is intentional. - Restore the correct save backup if the wrong slot was selected and the prior world is no longer present.
The group exceeds the expected player count
Check MaxPlayers. The documented range is 1–8; values outside that range are not a supported way to increase capacity.
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- Stop the running server before updating its files.
- Run the same command again with the correct installation path and app ID
2465200. - Retain
+app_update 2465200 validateso SteamCMD verifies the installation. - After the update, review the generated configuration and start the server once before players reconnect.
Operate the server safely after launch
Use a repeatable update routine
- Tell players when the server will be offline.
- Stop the dedicated-server process cleanly.
- Copy the configuration, owner file, and current save data to a dated backup location.
- Run the SteamCMD install/update command with app ID
2465200and validation. - Review
dedicatedserver.cfgfor unintended changes, especially ports, save slot, and save mode. - Start the server and wait for the self-test before announcing that it is available.
Keep at least one backup that is not on the live server disk. Periodically test restoring a copy to a separate location so you know the backup is usable. A backup plan that has never been restored is only an assumption.
Separate administration from play
Give the owner file and server directory write access only to the people who maintain the world. Share the player password separately, and change it if it becomes public. Avoid running unrelated software on the dedicated machine, and apply operating-system security updates during a planned maintenance window.
Record the configuration
Keep a short change log containing the server name, selected save slot, intended player limit, active ports, router target address, and the date of the last backup. This turns a future troubleshooting session into a comparison against known-good values instead of guesswork.
A practical self-hosting checklist
- Decide whether the group can maintain a machine and router continuously.
- Install app ID
2465200with SteamCMD or through Steam’s Tools section. - Run
StartSOTFDedicated.batonce and wait for file generation and the self-test. - Back up the generated configuration and owner files.
- Edit
dedicatedserver.cfgas valid JSON. - Set
ServerName,MaxPlayersfrom 1–8, password, LAN setting, save slot, and save mode. - For a continuing world, use
SaveModeContinue; verify thatnewis not left selected accidentally. - Match UDP 8766, 27016, and 9700 across the JSON, operating-system firewall, router, and any hosting firewall.
- Test from outside the local network.
- Back up before updates and verify the self-test after every restart.
When managed hosting is the better fit
Choose managed hosting when the group needs an always-on location but nobody can leave a home computer running, configure inbound routing, or handle updates and recovery. Before paying, obtain current answers to these questions:
- Is Sons of the Forest supported by the exact server software version you need?
- Which geographic regions are available, and where will the instance actually run?
- What player limit, CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth allocation are included?
- Can you edit
dedicatedserver.cfg, change all three UDP ports, and access the owner file? - Does the provider expose firewall controls for UDP 8766, 27016, and 9700?
- Are backups automatic, how many versions are retained, and can you download and restore them?
- How are updates scheduled, and can you roll back after a bad update?
- What are the recurring price, renewal terms, cancellation process, refund rules, and data-deletion policy?
- Can you export the save and move it to another host if the service closes or becomes unsuitable?
Provider answers can change, so treat them as purchase-time facts rather than permanent characteristics of managed hosting. The same save-mode warning still applies: confirm the slot and ensure the service does not launch with new when you intend to continue a world.
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Final launch sequence
Install app 2465200, launch it once, edit the generated JSON, configure all three UDP ports, and read the startup self-test. Only after an external player can connect and a restart loads the intended save should you distribute the address and password. That sequence prevents the two most damaging mistakes: inviting players before internet access works and accidentally replacing a continuing world with a new slot.
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