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Prefer not to run the server on your own PC? Godlike.Host offers hosted Terraria servers with free DDoS protection and up to three free backups a day.
SteamCMD downloads the server files; TerrariaServer then hosts the world. Install SteamCMD, download the Terraria server package into a dedicated directory, create a configuration file, start the executable with that file, and allow the configured port through your firewall. The documented default is port 7777 and the default maximum is 16 players, but every client must use your changed port if you select another one.
What you are installing
A Terraria server has two separate parts. SteamCMD is Valve’s command-line downloader and updater. It does not run the game world. The downloaded TerrariaServer.exe (Windows) or TerrariaServer (Linux and macOS) process loads a world, listens for player connections, and provides the server console.
Steam Support states that all Steam game servers now use SteamCMD to download and update dedicated-server files. The Terraria server executable can run without the graphical Terraria client, so a spare Windows, Linux, or macOS computer can host it. For Internet play, that computer must remain powered on and reachable, and the host’s firewall and, usually, the router must permit the listening port.
Before you begin
- A 64-bit Windows, Linux, or macOS host with enough disk space for SteamCMD, the server files, worlds, and backups.
- Permission to install software and create firewall rules on that host.
- A stable directory that will not be moved after you create world and configuration paths. Examples below use
C:TerrariaServeron Windows and~/terraria-serveron Linux or macOS. - The current Terraria entry in Valve’s SteamCMD supported-games documentation. App IDs and package layouts can change, so verify the ID or dedicated-server tool shown there immediately before downloading.
- For Internet hosting, access to the router’s port-forwarding page or to your cloud provider’s network firewall.
SteamCMD can install anonymously when the game-server package permits it. Do not put a normal Steam account password in a script unless the package documentation explicitly requires authenticated access.
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Install SteamCMD
Windows
- Download SteamCMD from Valve’s SteamCMD documentation and extract it to a permanent folder such as
C:steamcmd. Avoid placing it in a temporary Downloads folder. - Open Command Prompt and change to that directory:
cd /d C:steamcmd - Run
steamcmd.exeonce so it can update itself. Close it withquitafter the update completes.
Linux
- Install the SteamCMD package using your distribution’s supported package method, or download the Linux SteamCMD archive from Valve’s documentation.
- Create a directory for the server and ensure the account that will run it owns that directory:
mkdir -p ~/terraria-server - Confirm that the SteamCMD launcher is callable as
steamcmdor./steamcmd.sh. The exact package name and 32-bit compatibility requirements vary by distribution.
macOS
- Download the macOS-compatible SteamCMD distribution described in Valve’s documentation and place it in a permanent directory.
- Create the server directory, for example:
mkdir -p ~/terraria-server - Run SteamCMD from Terminal. macOS security prompts may require you to approve the downloaded executable before the first run.
Choose the correct Terraria package and install it
Do not blindly copy an old command that contains an app ID. Open Valve’s current supported-games list, find the Terraria server entry, and note whether it identifies the Terraria application itself or a separate official dedicated-server tool. Use the identifier displayed there. This check matters because SteamCMD availability and packaging can change.
In the commands below, <APP_ID> means the identifier currently listed by Valve for the Terraria server package. Replace it with that value; do not include the angle brackets.
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cd /d C:steamcmd
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:TerrariaServer +login anonymous +app_update <APP_ID> validate +quitforce_install_dir keeps the files in the directory you selected. app_update downloads the package, and validate checks the downloaded files. If SteamCMD reports that the app is unavailable, stop and re-check Valve’s supported-games entry rather than trying random IDs.
Linux or macOS command
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/terraria-server +login anonymous +app_update <APP_ID> validate +quitIf your installation exposes the launcher as steamcmd, use that command name instead of ./steamcmd.sh. On completion, list the install directory and confirm that it contains the Terraria server executable and supporting files.
Verify the executable
- Windows: look for
TerrariaServer.exe. - Linux and macOS: look for
TerrariaServer. If necessary, make it executable withchmod +x TerrariaServer. - Keep SteamCMD’s directory separate from the Terraria server directory. This makes updates, backups, and permission troubleshooting easier.
Create a repeatable server configuration
A configuration file prevents you from re-entering the same choices at every start and is essential for scheduled restarts or a service manager. Create serverconfig.txt in the server directory with one setting per line. A practical baseline is:
world=/home/your-user/terraria-server/worlds/main.wld
worldpath=/home/your-user/terraria-server/worlds
port=7777
password=replace-with-a-strong-password
motd=Welcome to the server
maxplayers=16
secure=1
noupnp=1On Windows, use Windows paths, for example:
world=C:TerrariaServerworldsmain.wld
worldpath=C:TerrariaServerworlds
port=7777
password=replace-with-a-strong-password
motd=Welcome to the server
maxplayers=16
secure=1
noupnp=1The official Terraria documentation identifies these options:
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| Setting or switch | Purpose | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
world= |
Loads a specific world file. | The file must exist at the path you provide, unless you create a world during startup. |
worldpath= |
Sets the directory used for world files. | Use a directory that the server account can read and write. |
port= or -port |
Chooses the listening port. | The documented default is 7777. Every client must enter a different port when you change it. |
password=, -pass, or -password |
Requires a password to join. | Use a strong, unique value and share it privately. |
motd= or -motd |
Displays a message of the day. | Keep it short enough to read in the join screen. |
maxplayers=, -players, or -maxplayers |
Sets the player limit. | The Official Terraria Wiki lists 16 as the default maximum; hardware and bandwidth can require a lower limit. |
secure=1 or -secure |
Enables additional cheat protection. | Use the documented setting supported by your server build. |
noupnp=1 or -noupnp |
Disables automatic UPnP port mapping. | This is useful when you want to control router exposure manually. |
Do not put comments on the same line as a value until you have confirmed that your server build accepts them. A typo in a path can cause the server to create or search for a different world instead of loading the one you intended.
Create or locate a world
Use an existing world
Copy the .wld file into the directory named by worldpath, then set world= to its full path. The default save locations documented for the desktop platforms are:
- Windows: the user’s Terraria
Worldsdirectory. - Linux:
~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds. - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Terraria/Worlds.
Verify the actual path on the host before migrating a world. A world copied from another platform should be backed up first, and the server account must have write permission if players are expected to build and save.
Create a new world automatically
If no world exists, start the server without a valid world= file and use its startup menu, or use the documented creation switches. The syntax is:
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Start the server with the configuration file
Windows
cd /d C:TerrariaServer
TerrariaServer.exe -config serverconfig.txtKeep the console window open. The startup log should show the selected world and port and then indicate that the server is listening. Type the server’s documented console command to save or stop it rather than closing the window abruptly.
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cd ~/terraria-server
./TerrariaServer -config serverconfig.txtFor a remote Linux host, use a terminal multiplexer or service manager so the process survives your SSH session. Test the command interactively first; automate it only after the world path, port, and permissions are correct.
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Every configuration-file value can be replaced or supplemented by documented switches. Examples include:
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Open the port safely
Host operating-system firewall
Allow the same port selected in port=. The documentation calls for TCP and UDP 7777 (or your replacement port) when hosting through a cloud provider; allowing both protocols on the host avoids protocol-specific connection failures.
On Windows, create an inbound rule in Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security for the chosen TCP and UDP port, restricted to the Terraria server executable where practical. On a Linux system using UFW, the equivalent pattern is:
sudo ufw allow 7777/tcp
sudo ufw allow 7777/udp
sudo ufw statusUse your distribution’s firewall tool if it is not UFW. Opening a port globally is broader than necessary; limit the source addresses to your friends’ network ranges when your situation allows it.
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Home router port forwarding
- Give the server host a stable private address, preferably with a DHCP reservation.
- Create a port-forwarding rule for the configured port and protocol to that private address. The external and internal ports are normally both 7777 unless you have a reason to translate them.
- Leave UPnP disabled if you created a manual rule and set
noupnp=1. - Find the public IP address from the router or your Internet provider. Do not publish it together with your password.
Some Internet connections use carrier-grade NAT and cannot accept inbound forwards. In that case, a VPN overlay, a relay, or managed hosting may be required; changing Terraria settings cannot bypass provider-level NAT.
Cloud hosting
In addition to the operating-system firewall, add inbound TCP and UDP rules for the configured port in the cloud provider’s security group or network firewall. A server that listens locally but remains blocked by the provider will appear offline to every outside client.
Join the server from Terraria
- Start the server and wait until it reports that it is listening.
- In Terraria, open Multiplayer and choose Join via IP.
- Enter the host’s private IP address when joining from the same network, or its public IP address when joining over the Internet.
- Enter the configured port. Use 7777 only when the server is actually using the default; the Official Terraria Wiki notes that clients must use the changed port when one is selected.
- Enter the server password if one is configured.
Test locally first. A successful local connection proves that the world and executable work; it does not prove that router forwarding or cloud firewall rules are correct.
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- Tell players to leave and stop the server cleanly.
- Back up the entire worlds directory and
serverconfig.txtto storage outside the installation directory. - Run the same SteamCMD command with
app_update <APP_ID> validate. SteamCMD will download changed server files. - Review the update output for errors, then start
TerrariaServerwith the existing configuration. - Test a connection before inviting players back. Keep the backup until the new build has run reliably.
Never treat SteamCMD validation as a world backup. Validation repairs downloaded program files; it does not provide a separate copy of your saved worlds.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Run multiple Terraria servers
Each simultaneous instance needs its own world, configuration file, and listening port. For example, the first instance might use worlds/main.wld, serverconfig-main.txt, and port 7777; a second needs a different world file, a different config, and a different port such as 7778. Open every additional port in the host firewall, router, and cloud firewall, and give players the matching port for each instance.
Do not point two running processes at the same world. Separate directories also make it easier to apply different launch options, backups, and update schedules.
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Troubleshoot the common failures
SteamCMD says the app is unavailable
Recheck Valve’s current supported-games documentation and confirm that you selected the Terraria server package rather than a client-only listing. App IDs and packaging can change. Remove an incorrect cached command from scripts and rerun SteamCMD with the identifier currently documented.
The executable is missing
Check that force_install_dir pointed to the directory you are inspecting and that SteamCMD completed app_update without an error. On Linux or macOS, confirm executable permissions with ls -l and apply chmod +x TerrariaServer if required.
The server creates a new world instead of loading yours
Check spelling, capitalization, and the full path in world=. Confirm that the file exists inside the directory named by worldpath and that the account running the server can read it. Relative paths can resolve differently when a service starts from another working directory, so use an absolute path for a permanent installation.
Players on the same network can join, but Internet players cannot
Verify the host firewall first, then the router’s forwarding rule, then the public IP address. Confirm that the router forwards the exact configured port and that the Internet connection is not behind carrier-grade NAT. Cloud hosts require a provider firewall rule in addition to the operating-system rule.
Players receive a timeout after you changed the port
Check all three layers: the Terraria configuration, the host firewall, and the router or provider firewall. Every client must enter the new port; leaving the client on 7777 will fail when the server listens elsewhere.
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The server stops when you close SSH or a terminal
Run it inside a persistent terminal multiplexer or configure a service manager after confirming the interactive command works. Ensure the service’s working directory and user permissions match the paths in serverconfig.txt.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Running SteamCMD yourself gives you operating-system access, direct control over backups and configuration, and freedom to choose the host hardware. You are also responsible for uptime, updates, firewall rules, router forwarding, security, and troubleshooting. Managed Terraria server hosting can be useful when you cannot leave a computer online or cannot configure inbound networking, but evaluate the service on the following points before paying:
| Decision point | Self-hosted server | Managed service |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Uses your existing computer and Internet connection; electricity and bandwidth still have a cost. | Provider pricing varies; no universal price can be stated. |
| Uptime | Depends on your power, hardware, operating system, and connection. | Depends on the provider’s infrastructure and service-level terms. |
| Port forwarding | You configure the host firewall and usually the home router. | The provider normally supplies a reachable endpoint, subject to its network policy. |
| Operating-system access | Full access to files, processes, and automation. | Access ranges from a control panel to full virtual-machine access. |
| Backups | You choose the schedule, destination, and retention. | Check whether backups are automatic, downloadable, and restorable. |
| Mods and custom files | You control the installation, subject to Terraria compatibility. | Confirm mod support and file-upload limits before subscribing. |
| Player capacity | Set maxplayers, then verify that CPU, memory, and bandwidth can sustain it. |
Capacity depends on the plan and its resource limits. |
| Geographic latency | Players connect to your home or chosen cloud region. | Choose a provider region close to most players. |
For a small group with an always-on machine, the SteamCMD workflow is usually the most flexible. For a group that needs hands-off uptime or lacks router access, managed hosting removes much of the network administration but does not remove the need to understand worlds, passwords, ports, and backups.
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