Join a 7 Days to Die serverVia IP & port or the server browser

Published on August 4, 2026 · last updated on November 4, 2026

Find IP and port

Every server at MainHoster.de has a fixed address made up of IP and port. You find both in the web interface after ordering. The 7 Days to Die default game port is 26900; what counts is always the port shown in the panel. You need IP and port together to connect directly.

Connect directly via IP

The most reliable way:

1. In the main menu, click Play and then Connect to Server.
2. At the bottom, choose Connect to IP and enter IP:port (e.g. 12.34.56.78:26900).
3. Connect - the server loads you into the world.

Add the server to your favorites with the star so you find it straight away in future.

Via the server browser

Alternatively, use the server browser under Connect to Server. Searching for the server name (ServerName from the serverconfig.xml) finds your server. With public visibility (ServerVisibility), it appears in the list; otherwise, you connect directly via IP.

Connection does not work?

• Is the server running? Check the status in the panel.
• Same game version? Server and client have to be on the same build - wait briefly after an update.
• Identical mods? On overhaul servers, you need the matching client mods and EAC off (see deactivate EAC).
• IP & port exact? Always use the port from the panel.

One point regularly causes confusion: 7 Days to Die uses several consecutive ports. To connect, you only need the first one - the one shown in the panel. The server browser internally uses another one, which is why a server is sometimes reachable via direct connection but missing from the list. That is not an error and no reason to change the settings.

Why the server is not in the list

The server browser is the most common source of supposed problems. Three causes cover almost all cases:

• Visibility is set to private. ServerVisibility in the serverconfig.xml controls this: 2 is public, 1 friends only, 0 private. With 0, the server appears nowhere - but it remains reachable via IP and port.
• The list is simply too long. The public browser shows thousands of servers. Without a filter on the server name, nobody finds it. Give your group the address directly - that is more reliable.
• The server has just restarted. After a restart, it takes a few minutes for the entry to appear again.

For a fixed group, the favorites list is the better way anyway: enter the address once, and the server is then reachable with one click - regardless of whether it is publicly listed.

Joining on console and with mods

Two special cases deserve a clear statement, because they are often only noticed after buying.

Consoles and PC together only work as long as EasyAntiCheat is active on the server. As soon as you switch off EAC for mods, the server is a pure PC server - see deactivate EAC. Your group should make this decision before anyone puts time into a character.

On a mod server, 7 Days to Die does not download the mods automatically. Every player copies the same folders into their own Mods directory - in the same version as on the server. The easiest way is to provide a packed archive with the complete Mods folder; then nobody can miss a single file. How to add the mods on the server side is explained under install mods.

Frequently asked questions