Hytale server not connecting or not showing up? How to fix it
Fix a Hytale server that times out, rejects you with a protocol or version mismatch, says it needs authentication, or can't be found. Match versions, finish Hytale Link, use the full address and port, open UDP 5520 when self-hosting, then check password, whitelist, and mods.
Most Hytale connection failures come down to four things: the game and server are on different versions, the server isn't authenticated, the address is missing its port, or UDP traffic is blocked. Find your symptom below, then fix it and retry with one player before inviting everyone.
Find your symptom
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol or version mismatch | Game and server are on different versions or patchlines | Match the version |
Console shows No server tokens configured | Server isn't authenticated | Complete Hytale Link |
| Connection times out | Wrong or missing port, server still loading, or UDP blocked | Check the address, then UDP access |
| Password or whitelist rejection | Wrong password, or the account isn't approved | Check access |
| Stopped working after a mod change or update | A mod doesn't support the current build | Check mods |
| Server isn't in the server list | No Server Discovery listing, or the listing went offline | Not showing up |
| Only fails when hosting at home | Firewall, router, or NAT | Hosting at home |
1. Match the game version
Your game and the server must run the exact same protocol version. If they don't match, the server rejects the connection.
Update the Hytale client first. On berrybyte, stop the server, open
Settings → Game Settings, turn on Auto Update, and check that
Patchline matches your players (release for the normal game). Start the
server and wait for the download and world loading to finish before you join.
Players on pre-release can't join a release server, and the other way
around. See update your server for the
full process.
Chapter 1 releases on October 12, 2026. Once players update their game, they can't join a server still on the old version, so update the server too. Back up first, because existing worlds upgrade the first time the new version loads them. See how to prepare for Chapter 1.
2. Complete Hytale Link
If Console prints No server tokens configured, the server is running but
players can't join yet. It has to be authenticated first.
Press Authenticate in the dashboard, approve the current device code, and
wait for Authentication successful. If the code expires or the alert comes
back after a restart, follow authentication.
3. Use the full address and port
Copy Server address from Overview, including the port after the colon. In Hytale, open Servers → Direct Connect and paste it into Connection Address.
Keep the port even if you connect with a domain name. Hytale doesn't support SRV records yet, so DNS can't fill in the port for you.
Join via Code is for friend-hosted worlds. Dedicated servers use Direct Connect, and they don't need a public Discovery listing to accept joins.
4. Check UDP access
Hytale uses QUIC over UDP, not TCP. On berrybyte, the port is allocated for you, so there's nothing to forward. Use the port shown in Overview.
On a self-hosted server, the UDP port must be allowed through the firewall and forwarded on the router. See hosting at home below.
5. Check password and whitelist
The owner should stop the server and read Password in the root
config.json through Files, then send the exact string privately. See
settings.
If a whitelist is on, check that the joining account is approved. Fix the account or password rather than turning access controls off.
6. Check mods and the startup log
A matching game build doesn't make every mod compatible. Look in Console for the first mod error and compare that mod's supported build. See the mod guide.
Still blocked? Open a support ticket with the server linked, the error text, the patchline, and the latest startup log.
Not showing up in the server list?
A dedicated server only appears in the in-game server list if you set up a Server Discovery listing and link it. Without one, players join by address with Direct Connect, which works fine for private groups.
If you do have a listing, it disappears when the server stops sending heartbeats for more than two minutes. Check the listing status in your Hytale account and the Console output from the link command.
Hosting at home?
A server on your own PC has a few extra places where connections break. Check these in order:
- Use UDP, not TCP. Hytale only uses QUIC over UDP. A TCP-only rule or forward does nothing.
- Check the bind address. The server listens on
0.0.0.0:5520by default, meaning every network interface on port 5520. If you changed--bind, use that port everywhere below. Binding to127.0.0.1only accepts connections from the same machine. - Allow the port in the firewall. For example,
sudo ufw allow 5520/udpon Linux with ufw. The port forwarding guide has the Windows and iptables commands. - Forward UDP 5520 on your router to the server's local IP address. TCP forwarding isn't required.
- Share your public IP and port. Friends enter it in Direct Connect. Test with someone outside your home network, since a test from inside it doesn't prove the forward works.
- Check for symmetric NAT. Hypixel notes that symmetric NAT can cause connection issues even with a correct forward, and suggests a VPS or dedicated server instead.
The full walkthrough, including router steps and carrier-grade NAT, is in how to port forward a Hytale server.
If your network won't cooperate, a hosted server skips all of this. The address and port come ready to share.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Why can't my friends join my Hytale server?
It's usually a version mismatch, a server that hasn't finished Hytale Link, a wrong address or missing port, or a password or whitelist blocking them. Have one friend paste the full host and port into Servers → Direct Connect, then work through those checks in order.
Why does Hytale reject my connection with a protocol or version mismatch?
Hytale clients and servers must run the exact same protocol version, and the server rejects connections that don't match. Update the game and the server on the same patchline, release or pre-release, then try again.
Does a Hytale server need TCP or UDP?
UDP. Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP, on port 5520 by default. Allow and forward the UDP port. TCP forwarding isn't required and won't let players connect on its own.
Why can't friends join my home-hosted Hytale server?
Check that the server's firewall allows inbound UDP on its port and that your router forwards that UDP port to the server's local IP address. Friends need your public IP plus the port. Symmetric NAT can still block connections, and Hypixel suggests a VPS or dedicated server in that case.
Why isn't my Hytale server showing up in the server list?
Dedicated servers only appear in Server Discovery if you create a listing and link it, and a listing disappears when the server stops sending heartbeats for more than two minutes. Friends don't need a listing. They can join any running, authenticated server with Direct Connect.
Where do I change a Hytale join password?
Stop the server, edit Password in the root config.json through Files, save, and start it again. The join password isn't a separate Game Settings option.