Sons of the Forest: Can't connect to server — every fix
Fix a Sons of the Forest dedicated-server connection in the right order. Match the game version, wait for the island to load, use Multiplayer → Direct Connect, open the game query and blob ports, then share or clear the password.
If Sons of the Forest cannot connect, work through these checks in order. Do not delete the island save first. After a patch, the usual cause is a client that updated before the dedicated server.
Stop as soon as one fix works. If you are helping somebody else, test with one player before asking the whole group to retry.
1. Match the client and server versions
The client and dedicated server must run the same build.
Update the player's game
Close Sons of the Forest, let Steam finish the update, and relaunch it. Stay off a beta branch the server is not on.
Update the dedicated server
Stop the server. On berrybyte, Auto Update pulls the current dedicated build on the next start. Restart once after the patch is live.
Compare versions in the log
The version printed at startup must match the player's main menu.
If you do not want to run SteamCMD after every hotfix, rent a Sons of the Forest server that handles updates.
2. Wait until the island is ready
The dedicated process can show as running while it is still loading the save. Joins during that window fail.
Confirm Overview shows running
On berrybyte the process must be running, not still installing.
Read Console
Wait until the log finishes loading the save. A first boot after an update can take several minutes.
Retry one client
Test with one player. The dedicated cap is 8, but you only need one successful join to prove the path.
3. Use Multiplayer → Direct Connect
The browser is optional. The reliable test is Direct Connect.
Copy Server address
On berrybyte, copy Server address from Overview.
Paste it on the Join screen
Launch Sons of the Forest, open Multiplayer → Join → Direct Connect, and paste the address.
Do not use a The Forest address
The Forest is a different game. That IP will not reach this process.
4. Open the three dedicated ports
dedicatedserver.cfg defines GamePort, QueryPort, and
BlobSyncPort. The documented defaults are 8766, 27016,
and 9700. A hosted allocation can differ.
Use the ports the server bound
On berrybyte, Overview is the game address. The other two ports are opened for you. On a self-hosted box, read the cfg and forward all three.
Forward UDP and the matching query (self-host)
If Direct Connect times out while Console looks healthy, one of those three ports is closed.
berrybyte opens the allocated set for you. Self-hosters who are fighting NAT can rent a Sons of the Forest server that already has those ports reachable.
5. Share or clear the password
The Password field in dedicatedserver.cfg makes the server
private. A wrong password looks like a failed join.
Read the configured password
On berrybyte, open Settings → Game Settings.
Send the exact string, or clear it
Check capitalisation and characters that chat apps rewrite. Clear it for a public test, then restart.
6. Confirm the save slot actually loaded
The dedicated server loads the slot named in
dedicatedserver.cfg. A missing or half-copied save is not
joinable.
Read which save the log opened
If you uploaded an island, the configured slot must match the folder you copied.
Do not mix a client-hosted save format blindly
Upload the dedicated save directory, then restart and watch Console before inviting the group.
If none of the six fixes worked
Confirm Console finished loading the save. Then check the leftover causes:
- The 8-player dedicated cap is full.
- Check steamstat.us if the browser is empty for every server.
- Check berrybytestatus.com.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I connect to a Sons of the Forest server?
Match the game version first. After a patch the Steam client updates before the dedicated server. If the versions match, wait until the island has loaded, join from Multiplayer → Direct Connect with the Overview address, forward the three dedicated ports, and share or clear the password.
How do I join a Sons of the Forest dedicated server?
Launch the game, open Multiplayer, choose Join, then Direct Connect. Paste the host:port from Overview. Searching the browser is optional and can lag behind a fresh start.
What ports does a Sons of the Forest dedicated server use?
Three ports in dedicatedserver.cfg. The documented defaults are GamePort 8766, QueryPort 27016, and BlobSyncPort 9700. berrybyte allocates and opens the set the process actually bound.
Why is my Sons of the Forest server missing from the browser?
New dedicated servers can take several minutes to list. Join with Direct Connect instead. A passworded server may also hide from casual browser searches.
Is this the same as The Forest?
No. Sons of the Forest is a different dedicated binary and a different save. A The Forest address will not reach a Sons of the Forest process.