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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted Vintage Story servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
If your Vintage Story server is missing from the public server list, check reachability before changing the client. For version 1.20 and later, the default port is 42420 on both TCP and UDP. The server must advertise itself, the current server executable must be allowed through the host firewall, and your internet connection must accept unsolicited inbound traffic rather than sit behind carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT).
Use a direct connection to your public IP as the fastest dividing test. If direct IP access works, routing is complete and the remaining problem is registration or advertising. If it fails, work through forwarding, firewall, CGNAT, and build-matching checks in that order.
What has to be true for a server to appear
The public browser is not a directory of every process running on a computer. A dedicated server has to contact the master server and then remain reachable when players try to connect. Four independent conditions determine the result:
- A listening service: the dedicated server is running and bound to the intended network interface.
- Reachable transport: port 42420 is forwarded from the router to the server computer for TCP and UDP on version 1.20 and newer.
- Host permission: the operating-system firewall allows the current server executable and the two protocols.
- Advertising and a routable address:
AdvertiseServeris enabled and the internet connection has a public address that can receive inbound traffic.
A failure in any one of these areas can produce the same symptom: the server is absent from the list or players receive a timeout. Treat the browser as the final symptom, not as proof that the browser itself is broken.
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Confirm the port and server version
Use the default port first
The official Vintage Story dedicated-server guide identifies 42420 as the default port. Use that value unless you deliberately changed the server’s listening port. Every place that handles the connection must agree: the server setting, router rule, firewall rule, and the port entered for a direct connection.
For version 1.20 onward, forwarding only TCP is the most common setup error reported by community and hosting guides. Create a UDP rule as well; a router entry that says “TCP only” is incomplete for these releases.
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The client and dedicated server must run the same build. A client on 1.20.4 and a server on 1.20.5, for example, can fail to connect even when networking is correct. Update the game and the dedicated-server package together, then restart the server after the update. Do not use a successful local connection as proof that a build mismatch is harmless: local testing can stop at a different stage than a remote handshake.
Enable public advertising in serverconfig.json
Open serverconfig.json in the server’s data directory while the server is stopped. Confirm that the advertising option is enabled:
{
"AdvertiseServer": true
}Keep the JSON syntax valid: use a colon between the property and value, do not add a trailing comma to the final property, and preserve the capitalization shown by the server’s generated configuration. Save the file, start the server, and watch the startup log for registration activity.
If AdvertiseServer is false, the instance can still accept players who know its address, but it will not intentionally publish itself in the public browser. Advertising also cannot compensate for a closed port; the master server must be able to reach the advertised endpoint before a listing is useful.
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UPnP and the bind address
Some setup guides recommend disabling automatic UPnP and creating an explicit forwarding rule instead. If you follow that approach, set Upnp to false and leave Ip as null unless you have a specific, fixed interface address that the server must bind to. These settings are troubleshooting guidance rather than universal requirements: a deliberately configured multi-interface host may need a particular bind address, while an ordinary home server usually works with the default null value.
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After any configuration edit, restart the dedicated server. A running process normally keeps the values it read at startup, so changing the file without restarting can make a correct edit appear ineffective.
Forward 42420 on the home router
Port forwarding sends traffic arriving at your public address to the computer running Vintage Story. Router interfaces differ, but the workflow is consistent.
- Give the server computer a stable LAN address. Create a DHCP reservation in the router for that computer, or configure a static address outside the router’s changing pool. A rule aimed at an address that later changes will silently point to the wrong device.
- Open the router’s port-forwarding page. It may be labelled Port Forwarding, NAT, Virtual Server, or Applications and Gaming.
- Create a rule for the server’s LAN address. Set both the external and internal port to
42420, unless you intentionally use a different external port and understand that players must then enter it. - Select both protocols. If the router offers a combined TCP/UDP choice, use it. If it requires separate entries, create one TCP rule and one UDP rule.
- Enable and save the rules. Some routers require an additional Apply, Commit, or reboot action before the change is active.
- Check for a second router. A modem-router plus a separate Wi-Fi router creates double NAT. Forward the port through both devices, put the downstream router in the upstream device’s DMZ only if you understand the security implications, or place the network in bridge mode.
| Rule | External port | Internal port | Protocol | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage Story 1 | 42420 | 42420 | TCP | Server computer’s reserved LAN IP |
| Vintage Story 2 | 42420 | 42420 | UDP | Server computer’s reserved LAN IP |
Do not test the public address from inside the same network and assume the result is authoritative. Many routers lack NAT loopback, so an internal request to your own public address fails even though an internet player can connect. Test from a different network, such as a phone using cellular data, or ask a remote player to try.
Allow the current executable through the host firewall
Windows
Windows can block the process even when the router rules are perfect. Open Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Advanced settings, then inspect Inbound Rules. Create or edit an allow rule for the dedicated-server executable, with TCP and UDP enabled for the profiles you actually use.
A forum troubleshooting report describes a particularly easy-to-miss cause: the server application had been renamed, so the old allow rule pointed at a file that no longer matched. If you renamed or replaced the executable, remove the stale rule and add the current file again. The entry may be shown as “Vintage Story Standalone Server”; verify that its program path is the executable you launch now, not an earlier copy.
When Windows displays a network-access prompt on first launch, allow the appropriate private or public profile deliberately. If the prompt was dismissed, create the rule manually and restart the server. Temporarily disabling the firewall is a poor diagnostic because it changes more than the single rule you need and can hide a path-specific mistake.
Linux with firewalld
On a firewalld-based distribution, open both protocols permanently, then reload the policy:
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sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-port=42420/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-port=42420/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --reloadConfirm that the commands report success and that the server is attached to the zone you edited. If the network interface is assigned to another zone, add the rules there instead of assuming public is active.
Linux with ufw
For ufw, add matching rules and check their status:
sudo ufw allow 42420/tcp
sudo ufw allow 42420/udp
sudo ufw status verboseThe firewall must allow the interface on which the server listens. A rule on the wrong interface or a higher-level cloud firewall can still block traffic, so inspect both the operating-system policy and any firewall supplied by your hosting or virtualization layer.
Rule out CGNAT before changing settings again
Carrier-grade NAT gives several customers private addresses behind one public IPv4 address. In that arrangement, your router can show a perfectly configured forwarding rule, yet unsolicited traffic stops at the provider’s NAT gateway and never reaches your home.
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Compare the IPv4 address shown as the router’s WAN or internet address with the public address reported by an external “what is my IP” service. If they differ, or the router shows a shared/private address instead of the public one, ask the ISP whether CGNAT is enabled. The router’s administration page may also identify a double-NAT or upstream gateway.
CGNAT is not repaired by adding more local rules. Practical alternatives are:
- Request a real public IPv4 address from the ISP, if the service offers one.
- Use a VPN or tunnel designed to accept player connections and relay them to the server.
- Move the dedicated server to a hosting provider or another network that supplies an inbound-reachable address.
Choose an option based on who controls the network. A home forward is simplest when you own the router and have a public address; a tunnel avoids router changes but adds a relay dependency; hosted infrastructure avoids residential NAT but introduces a separate machine and administration cost.
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Use direct IP connection as the decisive test
From a client outside the server’s LAN, choose the game’s direct-connect option and enter the public IP followed by :42420 when the client asks for an address and port. Use the actual external port if you intentionally mapped a different one.
- Direct connection succeeds, browser listing fails: routing, forwarding, and the host firewall are functioning. Concentrate on
AdvertiseServer, the server’s registration log, and whether the listing is filtered by version or game state. - Direct connection times out: check the destination LAN IP, both protocol rules, the Windows or Linux firewall, double NAT, and CGNAT.
- Direct connection reaches the server but is rejected: compare client and server builds and read the server log for authentication or compatibility errors.
Do not use a port-check website that tests only TCP to validate a 1.20+ setup. A TCP-only result says nothing about the required UDP rule. A remote game client or a test from an external network is more representative of the real path.
Interpret “could not register” and “port not opened” messages
A startup message such as “Could not register to master server, port not opened” means the master server could not reach the advertised endpoint at that moment. It does not identify which layer failed. Work from the outside inward:
- Verify the public IP and external port you intend to advertise.
- Verify the router sends 42420 to the current LAN address, for both TCP and UDP.
- Verify the host firewall allows the current executable, not an old renamed file.
- Verify the server is listening on the expected interface and has been restarted after configuration changes.
- Check whether the ISP uses CGNAT or whether a second router sits upstream.
A forum case reported both protocol rules as open while the master server still marked the port closed; the eventual explanation was the application rule in the firewall. That is why a router screenshot alone is not proof of reachability.
Choose the right fix for your network
| Situation | Best first choice | What it requires | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| You control one home router and have a public IP | Explicit port forwarding | Stable LAN address, TCP and UDP rules, host-firewall allow rule | Must maintain the home network and keep the address current |
| You have CGNAT or cannot edit the router | VPN or tunnel | A relay service that accepts inbound players and a client on the server host | Traffic depends on the relay and may add latency |
| You do not want to expose a home machine | Hosted dedicated server | A separate server account and matching Vintage Story build | Requires ongoing hosting administration and payment |
| Direct IP works but list entry is absent | Fix advertising and registration | AdvertiseServer: true, valid config, successful master-server registration |
Does not fix a closed network path |
The table separates two problems that are often mixed together. Reachability is a network and firewall question; visibility is a registration and advertising question. Test reachability first so that you do not spend an hour editing advertising settings while the ISP is blocking inbound traffic.
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The server is visible only on the local network
Local visibility proves that the process is running, not that the internet can reach it. Confirm the reserved LAN address, recreate both forwarding entries, and test from cellular data. Then inspect the host firewall and CGNAT status.
The server appears briefly and disappears
Watch the dedicated-server log while the listing changes. An intermittent WAN address, a router rule aimed at a changing DHCP address, or a process that stops listening can interrupt registration. Reserve the LAN address, restart the server, and recheck the registration message after the network is stable.
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A stale listing can remain visible while the endpoint is unreachable. Perform a fresh direct-IP test from outside the LAN. If the endpoint answers, compare the joining client’s build with the server’s build; a 1.20.4/1.20.5 mismatch is enough to reject a connection after discovery.
The log says the port is closed after an executable update
Inspect the firewall rule’s program path. Replacing or renaming the standalone server can invalidate a rule tied to the previous filename. Add the current “Vintage Story Standalone Server” executable, permit both protocols, restart the process, and retry registration.
UPnP opened an unexpected rule
Remove conflicting automatic mappings and use one explicit 42420 TCP rule plus one UDP rule. Set Upnp to false if you are following the explicit-forwarding approach. Multiple devices attempting to claim the same port can make the destination unpredictable.
A clean verification sequence
Use this order after every change so that one test has one purpose:
- Stop the server and back up
serverconfig.json. - Confirm the client and dedicated server report the same build.
- Set
AdvertiseServerto true; leaveIpnull unless a deliberate bind address is required. - Reserve the server computer’s LAN address.
- Forward 42420 to that address for TCP and UDP.
- Allow the current executable through Windows Firewall, firewalld, or ufw.
- Restart the router if its interface requires it, then start the dedicated server.
- Read the log for registration or “port not opened” messages.
- Test
public-ip:42420from a different network. - Only after direct access works, troubleshoot why the public browser does not show the entry.
Keep a note of the external port, destination LAN address, executable path, and build numbers. Those four values make it much easier to spot a changed DHCP lease, an outdated firewall rule, or an accidental client update.
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The official Vintage Story Wiki is the strongest reference for the default port and dedicated-server basics. Vintage Story forum reports add practical examples, including firewall rules that stopped matching after an executable rename. Community hosting guides consistently emphasize UDP forwarding for version 1.20 and later and checking CGNAT, but their panel labels can differ from a self-hosted home router. No published statistic establishes how often server-browser failures occur, so treat frequency claims online as anecdotal rather than measured.
Port numbers, executable names, configuration keys, and version behavior can change in later releases. If a future Vintage Story release changes its networking requirements, use that release’s server documentation while preserving the diagnostic sequence: verify the listener, transport, firewall, public address, build match, and advertisement separately.
Bottom line
For a current Vintage Story server, start with 42420 on TCP and UDP, then verify the firewall rule belongs to the executable you actually launch. Keep AdvertiseServer enabled, test a direct public-IP connection from outside your LAN, and check for CGNAT before making additional router changes. A successful direct connection means the network path is solved; an unsuccessful one points to forwarding, firewall, NAT, or build compatibility rather than the server browser itself.
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