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If Space Engineers shows “server not responding,” “Unable to join online server,” or says the host denied access because of a version mismatch, start with version alignment. The dedicated server and every player’s game must run the exact same build. In Steam, set the dedicated server and each client’s Betas selection to None, update them, and then verify that the server’s mods match the clients’ mod list.
If the versions match, troubleshoot connectivity in this order: forward UDP port 27016 to the server computer, allow that port through the computer’s firewall, determine whether the failure affects LAN, Direct Connect, or internet players, and only then test less common causes such as MTU settings, network-optimizer software, corrupted caches, same-PC hosting, and large mod payloads.
What “server not responding” usually means
The message is a connection failure, not a diagnosis. Space Engineers can list a server while rejecting the join, time out after connecting, or show a server to people on the same network but not to friends on the internet. Each symptom points to a different layer:
- Version or content negotiation: the server and client are on different game builds or have incompatible mods.
- Reachability: the server is listening, but a router or firewall is dropping the connection.
- Transport conditions: packet size, background network software, or a local conflict prevents the session from completing.
- Server workload: a large mod or plugin payload causes clients to time out before they finish joining.
Test one change at a time. After each change, have one player try the same join method again and record whether the result changed. This prevents a later fix from hiding the original cause.
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Fix version mismatch first
Keen Software House support repeatedly identifies exact version matching as a leading cause, including cases where no mods were changed. Steam may update a player’s client while a dedicated server remains on an older build. A reported denial message can show both values, such as “Your version: 1204015; Server version: 1204017.” The side with the lower number must be updated.
Current game build numbers and beta-branch names change, so use the numbers displayed by Steam rather than relying on an old guide. The support guidance is described in the Keen version-mismatch thread and a separate Keen “server not responding” thread.
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Align the dedicated server
- Close the dedicated server so it is not running while files or branch settings change.
- Open Steam and find the Space Engineers Dedicated Server tool in your Library.
- Open its Properties, then the Betas tab.
- Set the branch selector to None unless the clients are deliberately using the same special branch.
- Return to the Updates tab and let Steam finish downloading. Wait for the download to reach 100 percent before starting the server.
Align every player’s game
- Each player opens Space Engineers in Steam and selects Properties.
- On Betas, select None to use the normal public build.
- On Updates, allow Steam to complete the update, then restart Steam if it continues showing an old build.
- Start the game only after the update completes. Ask all players to perform the same check; one outdated client can still be denied.
Check mods after the build matches
Version equality does not guarantee a join. Compare the server’s enabled mod list with the list shown for the world. Remove a mod that is missing, disabled, or on a different revision, then restart the server. Test with a new world containing no mods if you need to distinguish a mod problem from a network problem.
If Steam reports that the dedicated server is current but the numbers still differ, one player reported success after stopping the server, uninstalling the dedicated-server files, and reinstalling them. That is a low-confidence, higher-disruption remedy: back up worlds and configuration first, and use it only after the ordinary branch and update checks fail.
On an official public server, the host may be at fault. Check whether other players report the same outage before changing your own installation.
Separate a LAN problem from an internet problem
Try the least complicated path first. From the server computer, join through the game’s LAN listing or Direct Connect option. Then test from another computer on the same home network. Finally, test from a friend on a different internet connection.
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| Result | Most likely scope | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| The server does not work for the host computer | Local server process, files, version, or same-PC conflict | Confirm the server is running, match builds, and test from another machine |
| It works on LAN but friends cannot join | Router forwarding, public address, or host firewall | Forward UDP 27016 and allow it in the operating-system firewall |
| Direct Connect works but the browser listing does not | Discovery or listing path | Use Direct Connect for testing; then check the configured port and discovery settings |
| No one can join, including LAN players | Server process, version, mods, or local firewall | Read the server log, verify the branch, and test a clean world |
A LAN success does not prove that the server is reachable from the internet. LAN traffic can stay inside the router and never exercise port forwarding.
Open and forward the server port
The default listening port cited for a Space Engineers dedicated server is UDP 27016. The port can be changed in the server configuration tool, so use the actual value configured on your server. Every server instance on one computer needs its own unique port.
Forward UDP on the router
- Give the server computer a stable address on the home network. A DHCP reservation in the router is preferable; a static address configured on the computer also works if it is outside the router’s DHCP pool.
- Open the router’s administration page and find Port Forwarding, NAT, or Virtual Server.
- Create an entry for the server’s internal address, protocol UDP, and the configured port (27016 by default) for both the external and internal port fields.
- Save the rule and reboot the router only if its interface requires it. Confirm that the server computer still has the same internal address.
A server that is visible on LAN but unreachable by friends is commonly a forwarding problem. If the forwarding target changes address, the rule silently points at the wrong computer.
Allow the port in Windows Firewall
Open an elevated Command Prompt on the server computer and run the following rule for the default port:
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Do not assume TCP is required
Keen’s guidance reported in the available support material specifies UDP. Community posts disagree about whether TCP is also needed, and one guide mentions UDP 27015 for discovery without a verified official requirement. Start with the documented default UDP 27016. Add another rule only when a current Keen configuration page or a controlled test shows that your setup needs it; opening extra ports broadens exposure without proving a fix.
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Check the server process and configuration
Before changing network settings, make sure the dedicated server is actually running the intended world and listening on the intended port. Stop it cleanly, reopen the configuration tool, and verify the server name, world, port, and enabled mods. If you run multiple instances, confirm that no two are assigned the same port.
For support, Keen asks for the server configuration file SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg, located in the AppDataSpaceEngineersDedicated folder, plus a description of recent changes and whether you can join over LAN or Direct Connect. Keep a copy of the file before editing it so you can restore the previous settings.
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Less common network causes
Router MTU
One forum report traced the failure to a router MTU of 1400 when connecting through an ISP gateway; changing it to 1500 reportedly restored joins. This is a single anecdote, not a game-wide requirement. Test MTU only after version, port forwarding, and firewall checks pass.
- Record the existing MTU and router configuration so you can revert.
- Change the router or relevant WAN interface to the value recommended by your ISP; if you test 1500, confirm that the connection type supports it.
- Retest the same remote player. Do not change several network values together.
The report is documented in a Tom’s Hardware forum thread; treat it as a troubleshooting lead rather than a universal setting.
Network optimizers and overlays
A player reported ASUS ROG GameFirst blocking multiplayer connections. Other traffic-shaping, “gaming booster,” VPN, overlay, and endpoint-security tools can behave similarly. Temporarily exit one such program, restart the game, and test. Re-enable it if it is not involved. Do not leave security software disabled permanently; create a narrow allow rule instead when the responsible program is identified. The report appears in a Steam troubleshooting discussion.
Repair damaged files and caches safely
Corrupted downloads or cached data can make a client fail before a normal join completes. Start with the least destructive repair.
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Validate the game files
- In Steam, right-click Space Engineers and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files and wait for Steam to finish.
- Restart Steam and test again.
Repeat the validation for the dedicated-server tool if Steam exposes it separately. Validation may redownload changed files but should not remove your worlds.
Clear shader and temporary content only with backups
Community reports describe clearing ShaderCache folders under AppData and deleting the game’s TempContent folder. One report also removed most of AppDataRoamingSpaceEngineers while preserving Blueprints, Saves, and Screenshots. These are low-confidence community remedies, and deleting the wrong folder can remove local data.
- Exit the game and dedicated server.
- Copy your Saves, Blueprints, Screenshots, and server configuration to a separate location.
- Delete only the named cache or temporary folders, not your backups.
- Start the game and let it recreate the caches, then test the connection.
The community procedure is described in this Steam discussion. If validation and cache cleanup do not help, reinstalling the affected component is more disruptive but can remove a damaged installation.
Test same-PC hosting separately
A forum reply reports problems when the dedicated server and the game run on the same computer. This is not established as a general game limitation, but it is easy to test:
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- Ask another computer on the LAN to join.
- If the other computer succeeds, the local host-and-client combination is implicated.
- Run the dedicated server on a separate machine, or have the owner play from another computer, and retest.
Keep the server on the original machine if the separate-machine test makes no difference. The report is in this Steam discussion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reduce large mod and plugin payloads
Mods can cause a timeout even when the game versions and port are correct. A Torch server administrator reported that disabling Essentials’ planet-data preload reduced data sent to clients from about 26 MB to under 1 MB and stopped timeouts for that server’s users. The figure is a forum report, not a controlled benchmark, and the year was not stated.
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Isolate a heavy mod
- Back up the world and server configuration.
- Duplicate the world or create a temporary test world.
- Disable nonessential plugins and mods, especially those that preload planetary or world data.
- Restart the server and test with one remote player.
- Re-enable items one at a time until the timeout returns.
This approach identifies the payload without permanently removing a mod from the production world. The report is in a Steam Workshop discussion.
A practical troubleshooting sequence
Use this order when you need the shortest path to a reliable diagnosis:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Capture the exact error: note whether it says version mismatch, server not responding, or unable to join online server. Record any two version numbers shown.
- Align branches: set the dedicated server and all clients to Betas: None, update, and restart Steam.
- Match content: compare mods and test a clean world if necessary.
- Test locally: join from the host, then from another computer on the LAN.
- Verify the port: confirm the configured port, forward UDP 27016 by default, and allow it through the OS firewall.
- Test remotely: use Direct Connect from a different internet connection rather than relying only on the server browser.
- Remove variables: temporarily stop network optimizers, overlays, VPNs, and similar software one at a time.
- Repair files: validate Steam files, then consider backed-up cache cleanup.
- Test hosting location: move the dedicated server to a separate computer if the game and server share one PC.
- Reduce payload: disable heavy plugin or planet-data preloads and reintroduce them individually.
When to contact Keen support
Contact support after you can describe the boundary of the failure: for example, “the owner can join over LAN, but two remote players time out,” or “all clients show the same build, yet the server rejects every join.” Include:
SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfgfromAppDataSpaceEngineersDedicated;- the server and client version numbers shown by Steam or the error message;
- the server’s mod and plugin list;
- recent changes to mods, settings, router, firewall, operating system, or hardware;
- whether the owner can join locally, whether another LAN computer can join, and whether Direct Connect works from the internet;
- the exact date and time of a failed attempt and any relevant server-log error.
Do not post passwords, public IP credentials, or private access tokens with the configuration. Keen’s request for the configuration file and connection details is outlined in its support thread.
What the available evidence does—and does not—establish
The strongest recurring guidance is exact version matching, followed by opening the configured UDP port on both the router and the server computer. MTU changes, background software, cache deletion, same-PC hosting, and mod-data reduction are plausible but supported only by individual community reports. No published benchmark establishes a universal MTU value, a required TCP port, or a current beta-branch name. Treat those items as controlled experiments, not guaranteed fixes.
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