How to Make an Unturned Server: The Ultimate Setup Guide

The Unturned game features a multiplayer mode where you can play with others. One way to take advantage of this feature is by learning how to make an Unturned server for you, your friends, and other players. The process varies slightly across different operating systems.

Unturned has had over 100 updates since its release in 2014. The zombie survival game now allows players to customize the action with mods for extra content, features, and gameplay mechanics. The best way to do that is by setting up your server.

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What to Check and Prepare

Your internet connection is one of the primary checks before connecting other players to your Unturned server. The connection should be fast and stable to prevent glitches during gameplay.

Our recommendation for the least broadband connection upload speed should be 5 Mbps. Higher speeds will be better. Get a better internet service if necessary.

Besides the internet connection, your PC or Mac should be up to date. Check for updates and install them to ensure you have the latest drivers on board.

Maintaining an updated device does not only apply to system applications. It also applies to the Unturned server and the mods you add for better gameplay and engagement.

Unturned Server Requirements

Before learning how to make your own Unturned Server, we recommend checking your system specifications. This step will ensure you have a compatible device to host the server. With that said, here are the primary Unturned server requirements:

Setup Specifications

While Windows, Linux, and macOS require the SteamCMD installation, they have different approaches before getting to that stage. Follow the steps below to learn how to set up Unturned server for different operating systems.

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How to Set Up an Unturned Server on Windows

For this operating system, we will assume you already have Steam on your PC. If not, you should download and install it from the official Steam website. Once installed, set up an account (if you have none) and log in with your credentials.

Setting up the Unturned server on Windows requires SteamCMD. With that said, here are the steps for the setup:

1. Download and install SteamCMD
2. Extract the installation package and keep the folder in a prominent location for quick access. You can use steamcmd for the file name.
3. Open the installation package and run steamcmd.exe
4. Allow admin permissions for the installation.

Once that is complete, proceed to download the Unturned server files

1. Log into your Steam account
2. Use the following command-line entry to set the path to a folder called “Unturned.” (force_install_dir .\unturned\)
3. Run “app_update 1110390” to generate the game files
4. Use “Quit” to close SteamCMD after downloading the files.
5. Update the script by creating a new file called “updateUuturned.bat
6. Right-click the bat file and open it with a text editor (Notepad++)
7. Add the following text to the editor: “steamcmd +login <username> <password> +force_install_dir .\unturned\ +app_update 1110390 +quit”
8. Save and close the file.

Now, to the final stage of how to make an Unturned server:

1. Navigate to the game directory (Unturned) inside the SteamCMD folder.
2. Create a shortcut to the unturned.exe file. You can rename it Unturned_Server for easy access.
3. Open the shortcut properties and edit the target field with this text “-nographics -batchmode +secureserver\Server”
4. Save the changes and run the shortcut file.
5. Use “shutdown” to close the server

How to Set Up an Unturned Server on Linux

You’ll need a few prerequisites before installing SteamCMD. These include Screen and lib32gcc1 for smooth operation on Linux.

“Screen” allows you to start a SteamCMD session, detach from it, and reattach subsequently. It comes in handy when managing game servers without having to keep them open.

Lib32gcc1 provides crucial 32-bit libraries to run on a 64-bit Linux system. It is necessary because SteamCMD is a 32-bit application.

With that done, follow the steps below on how to make Unturned server for friends on Linux:

1. Follow Valve’s official documentation to install SteamCMD on Linux.
2. Make an anonymous login to Steam and download the server.
3. Close Steam.
4. The server files should be saved in “…/SteamCMD/steamapps/common/U3DS” after installation.

Once that is done, you have the flexibility to pick an internet or LAN server. Continue with the steps below to set up the Unturned server:

1. Run “./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer” for the internet server or “+LanServer” for the LAN server.
2. Use “shutdown” to close the server once it loads to 100%
3. Once complete, a “MyServer” directory will be created in the “U3DS/Servers” folder.

How to Set Up an Unturned Server on macOS

The first step to setting up an Unturned server on macOS is to install Homebrew. This tool allows you to manage software packages, from installation to updates. It contains the install commands, which you’ll need to install SteamCMD.

With that in mind, here’s how to install Homebrew:

1. Install command-line tools for Xcode. Do that by typing “Terminal” on the “launchpad icon, or find it in the Applications/Utilities folder.
2. Run the following command in the terminal (# /bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)”
3. Enter your administrator password and click ‘Return.”
4. Click “Return” to install Homebrew. You should see a success message at the end.
5. Move the directory where Homebrew keeps its executables to the front of the PATH environment variable.
6. Apply the changes and verify the Homebrew installation.

Once complete, use the Homebrew install command to install Steam. Use the command “brew install –cask steam.”

Now, here’s how to make an Unturned server on macOS:

1. Open Steam and click “Unturned” in your library.
2. Open the properties and click “Local Files.”
3. Click “Browse local file.”
4. Right-click on Unturned in the Finder window
5. Click “Show package contents.”
6. Click “Contents” and select macOS
7. Open “Terminal” and drag the executable Unturned file to the window
8. Tab the space bar and add “-nographics -batchmode +secureserver/…” The program will be called Unturned.app
9. Press “enter” on your keyboard to execute the command.

Choosing an Unturned Server Hosting

Here’s how these options stack against each other to help you decide how to host Unturned server for other players:

Dedicated Server Hosting

In this setup, an entire physical server is allocated to a single user. An example would be when you use your PC or Mac as a server.

Dedicated server hosting offers a few advantages. These include complete control over the operating system, software configuration, and hardware. For instance, you can run your Unturned server with 32GB of RAM.

Managed VPS Hosting

This setup moves the server management tasks to a Managed VPS hosting service. That includes server setup, maintenance, updates, security, and technical support.

Unmanaged VPS Hosting

You can pick this option to maintain the server management tasks. The VPS hosting service will provide the server, but everything, from setup to security, is up to you.

This option is more affordable than the managed type. However, it requires technical expertise, just like when running dedicated server hosting.

Choosing the Right Game Server Hosting

Consider the following when choosing game server hosting:

• The level of control and customization you want
• Your technical expertise in managing servers
• How much you want to spend

With that in mind, the table below compares the three approaches mentioned in the previous section:

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Configuring Your Server

This process gives you more customizations over your server. For example, you can add the maximum number of players you want, set a name for your server, and add a password.

The way to make the above configurations (and many more) is through the commands.dat file in the server folder. This tool contains several commands, like bind, name, map, decay, mode, port, timeout, etc.

Having learned how to make an Unturned server, do the following to configure it:

1. Locate the newly created Unturned server folder. You should find this under “Servers.”
2. Open the server folder and click “server.”
3. Right-click commands.dat and select “Edit with Notepad++.” The regular Notepad application will also work.
4. Type the commands on each line. For example, “Name ServerXYZ.”
5. Save and restart.

The commands.dat tool is case-sensitive. For example, you must maintain all caps when adding the PEI map.

Installing SteamCMD

Here’s how to install SteamCMD on your device before making an Unturned server:

For Windows:

1. Download the SteamCMD installation file from the official developer website.
2. Create a SteamCMD folder, preferably..\SteamCMD.
3. Extract the zip files to the folder
4. Run the steamCMD.exe file to install it.

For Linux:

1. Create a user account to run Steam by typing “sudo useradd -m steam,” “sudo passwd steam.”
2. Install “lib32gcc-s1”
3. Create and switch to a new directory for SteamCMD
4. Download and extract SteamCMD for Linux.

For macOS:

1. Create a SteamCMD directory on the Terminal app
2. Download and extract SteamCMD for macOS

The table below shows some basic commands to navigate and use SteamCMD

Setup Commands

The table below contains commands to start and update the server, with a few commands for server maintenance:

Connecting

A simple Google search for your IP should reveal your address if you are hosting the Unturned server. Those using a VPS hosting service can log into the hosting control panel and check the server overview for the IP address.

Once you’ve obtained the IP address, follow the steps below to connect to the Unturned server:

1. Open the Unturned game on your system.
2. Proceed to the “Connect Menu” and click “Play” on the main menu.
3. Click “Connect.”
4. Enter the server details, including the IP address and port number. The default port number should be 27015.
5. Click “Connect.”

You may experience a few issues when connecting to the server. Here are our recommendations on how to troubleshoot them:

• Timeouts: Check your internet connection and ensure it is stable and fast. Restart the router or modem, if needed.
• Firewall or antivirus interference: Add Unturned and SteamCMD as exceptions to your firewall or antivirus software.

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How to Make a Modded Unturned Server

Learning how to make an Unturned server is the first step to making the game more exciting. You can go beyond the regular gameplay through mods. Fortunately, the Steam Workshop has several mods you can install on your Unturned server.

Downloading and Installing Mods

While downloading mods, you must note their ID numbers to complete the installation.

Here’s how to download and install mods:

1. Open the Steam Workshop and subscribe to the mods you want.
2. Copy their IDs and paste them into a text editor.
3. Navigate to the Unturned folder inside the server folder. This should be in the File Manager’s main directory on the left side of the NodePanel.
4. Select “WorkshopDownloadConfig.json” in the Unturned folder and click “Edit.”
5. Clicking the edit button should bring up a few lines of code with File IDs at the top.
6. Input the Mod IDs between the white brackets.
7. Put each ID on one line and add a comma. The last ID does not need a comma.
8. Do not alter other parts of the code.
9. Click “Save.”
10. Start your server to download and install the mods.

Configuring Mods in the Server Files

You need to go to commands.dat to configure the mods. Do the following:

1. Navigate to your server file location.
2. Open your Unturned server and click “commands.dat.”
3. Add or modify commands on the server.

Managing Mod Updates and Compatibility Issues

Enabling automatic updates will save you the stress of checking for updates often. Do that in the server’s startup settings. This way, the “WorkshopDownloadConfig.json” file will download and update mods when the server starts.

Another way is to download updates manually from the Steam Workshop. Then, replace the old mod files with the new ones on the server.

Check the error message if you have trouble with compatibility issues during installation. Often, that should be enough to point you in the right direction. Otherwise, try redownloading the mod or looking for updated versions.

Firewall

Here’s how to configure firewall settings to allow Unturned traffic:

For Windows:

• Open “Firewall & Network Protection.” You can type that in the search bar.
• Access Windows security.
• Click “Allow app through firewall.”
• Find “Unturned” and check the boxes for private and public.
• Open “Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.”
• Click “Inbound Rules” and select “New Rule.”
• Pick “Port” and move to the next.
• Click “TCP” and “Specify Local Ports.”
• Enter the Unturned port numbers (27015 for game traffic and 27016 for server queries).
• Click “Allow the connection” and move on to the next.
• Check the domain, public, and private profiles and click “Next.”
• Name your rule and restart your computer.

For Linux:

• Install UFW on your servers (type “sudo apt update” and “sudo apt install UFW” on different lines).
• Allow the ports for game traffic and server queries (27015 and 27016).
• Enable UFW (type “sudo ufw enable”)
• Check UFW status (type “sudo ufw status”)

Allow SSH access to avoid locking yourself out.

For macOS:

• Go to System Preferences and click “Security & Privacy.”
• Go to the firewall tab and click the lock icon to make edits.
• Click “Firewall Options.”
• Click the + button to add new applications
• Find the Unturned server application and click “Add.”
• Set the application to allow incoming connections.
• Open Terminal
• Use the appropriate commands to allow specific ports (27015 and 27016).

Port Forwarding

Anything setup you have without port forwarding will restrict you to local network play. That limits accessibility and functionality, depending on where the players will be to join the game.

Port forwarding allows players outside your local network to connect to your Unturned server. It also helps to direct incoming traffic to the right device hosting the Unturned server.

Here’s how to implement port forwarding on your router:

1. Find your device’s IP
2. Go to your router’s settings and assign a static IP using your router’s MAC address.
3. Find your router’s IP address.
4. Open a web browser (Edge, Chrome, Safari, etc.) and enter the router’s IP address.
5. Log in with your router’s username and password.
6. Look for the port forwarding section.
7. Add a new rule
8. Enter the service name and port range. For the port range, enter the port numbers (27015-27016 for Unturned).
9. Save and apply the rule.

Once complete, you can use online tools to check if the ports are open. Try connecting to the Unturned server from outside your local network.

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Server Improvements

Once you’ve learned how to make an Unturned server and successfully create one, the next step is to optimize the server. You can make improvements through performance tuning and monitoring server performance. The latter can help you decide whether to add more RAM or boost the GPU.

Set your server to install automatic updates. Also, run regular backups.

You can adjust parameters like Max_Packets_Per_Second and Timeout_Game_Seconds in the Config.json file. You’ll find that in the server folder.

Server Security

A crucial part of setting up an Unturned server is preventing unauthorized access. A few security measures you can take include:

• Use strong passwords for admin and user accounts.
• Enabling two-factor authentication for admin accounts
• Securing remote access by using SSH with key-based authentication

Backup and Restore Procedures

How to create regular backups: essential steps

You can create backups by copying the Unturned folder to an external drive. However, we recommend creating automatic backups using scripts. Follow the steps below to use scripts for your backups:

• Create the script
• Save the script as backup.bat
• Run the script to create a timestamp.
• Open Task Scheduler
• Create a new task and set the trigger to run at your preferred intervals.
• Set the action to start the backup.bat script.

How to restore the server from a backup

The first thing you need is to stop the server before the restoration. If you have a local backup, you can quickly copy the backup and replace the server files in the directory.

Hosting providers often provide tools for easy backup restoration. Once restored, test and verify data integrity.

Useful Tools and Resources for Gamers

Adding a few tools and resources can make your game more enjoyable and engaging for your players. Here are our top recommended tools and resources:

• Discord: You can easily set up a new Discord server under the gaming categories and pick a text or voice channel.
• Email: Adding an email plugin for server support is crucial for your players. Do that and set up alerts.
• Server monitoring tools: Game Server Manager is ideal for monitoring your server. Install the manager, add the Unturned server, and select the Unturned game.
• Backup solutions: You can refer to the previous section on backup. Cloud storage can also be ideal to keep your backups and access them anywhere you are.
• Anti-cheat software integration: BattlEye is the primary anti-cheat system in Unturned. You can install it through the local files in the Unturned properties.

Community Management

Tips for Managing a Player Community

Here are a few tips to manage your player community:

• Establish clear rules from the start
• Maintain active presence and interaction on your community platform.
• Host events to boost engagement
• Appoint moderators or use moderation bots
• Encourage respect and provide guides and tutorials

Setting Up and Enforcing Server Rules

Follow the steps below to set up your rules:

• Create and document your rules.
• Use the commands.dat file to add and enforce your rules.
• Install plugins for automatic rule enforcement. An example is RocketMod for moderation.

Handling Player Reports and Disputes

You can add server commands that allow in-game reporting. Otherwise, use plugins. Your Discord channel or website is also ideal for player reports and dispute resolutions.

Create clear reporting guidelines and outline your dispute resolution process. We recommend appointing and training moderators to help with dispute resolution.

Advanced Configuration

Setting Up Multiple Servers on The Same Machine

One way to do this is to duplicate the server file to create new server directories. Then, configure each server using the commands.dat file. Pay attention to the ports when configuring the servers.

Once the configuration is complete, create batch files to launch each server. Then, adjust the paths and server names accordingly.

Using Server Management Tools for Advanced Configurations

WindowsGSM or AMP are prominent server management tools to manage multiple servers. They can help you start, stop, and monitor your servers for optimal performance.

Final Word

Learning how to make an Unturned server can be simple or challenging, depending on your approach. Opting for managed VPS hosting is the best way to avoid most of the technicalities. Notwithstanding, the process is fulfilling if you have the technical expertise and patience.

The primary step to setting up your Unturned server is to install SteamCMD on your device. Then, you can install the server and make modifications in the commands.dat file. Once your server is set up, you can add mods from Steam Workshop.

Follow our recommended steps to host your Unturned server and connect with your friends or other players. 

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Next Steps: What Now?

• Understand What is a Dedicated Server in Gaming
• Discover the Best Unturned Server Hosting Providers
• Check out the Top 5 Best Gaming Server Hosting Brands
• Get the Latest Game Server Hosting Coupons & Promo Codes

Further Reading – Useful Resources

• Unturned Official Wiki
• Steam Community for Unturned
• Game Server Management Tools