If you’ve ever been mid-Terraria playthrough, knee-deep in hellstone mining or prepping for your first Moon Lord fight, and wished your friends could jump straight into your world instead of starting a new shared save every time, you’ve probably wondered how do I make a server in Terraria. The default in-game host option works fine for quick 2-3 player sessions, but it’s unstable if you have more people joining, and your world goes offline the second you close the game. I’ve set up more than a dozen Terraria servers for my friend group over the past 8 years, from small vanilla private servers to large modded community worlds, so I know all the small pitfalls that can trip up first-time server hosts. This guide breaks down every step clearly, no advanced technical knowledge required.
How Do I Make a Server in Terraria: First, Pick Your Server Type
Before you start messing with settings or downloads, you need to decide what kind of server fits your needs. There are two core options for Terraria servers, each with their own pros and cons. The first is the built-in in-game host, which lets you share your current single-player world with friends in 2 clicks, no extra setup needed. The second is a dedicated server, which runs separately from your main game, so you can keep the world online even when you’re not playing, and support far more players without lag.
- Number of regular players: If you have 5+ people joining regularly, a dedicated server is non-negotiable to avoid constant lag and disconnections
- Uptime needs: If you want the world accessible even when you’re not playing, you’ll need a dedicated server either on a spare PC or a paid hosted service
- Technical comfort: In-game hosting takes almost no effort, while dedicated servers require a small amount of technical work to set up properly
- Mod support: If you plan to run tModLoader mod packs like Calamity or Thorium, you’ll need a dedicated server to avoid constant crashes for all connected players
For most new hosts, I recommend starting with the in-game host first if you only play with 2-3 friends for a few hours a week. It’s fast, easy, and you won’t have to mess with port forwarding or extra settings to get started. If you find yourself wanting more features or better stability later, you can always move your world file to a dedicated server down the line.
Step-by-Step Setup for Steam-Based Terraria Servers
If you’re still figuring out how do I make a server in Terraria for your small friend group, the Steam dedicated server tool is the easiest next step for players who own the game on Steam. First, open your Steam library, click the dropdown menu at the top that says “Games”, and check the “Tools” option to see all available server tools. Search for “Terraria Dedicated Server” in your library, install it, then run the tool to start the setup process.
When you launch the server tool, you’ll be prompted to select an existing world or create a new one, set a max player count (I recommend capping it at 8 for most home setups), enter a server password if you want to keep it private, and confirm the default port (7777) works for you. Once you confirm these settings, the server will start running on your local network. If your friends are on the same Wi-Fi as you, they can join immediately by searching for local servers in their Terraria multiplayer menu.
If your friends are connecting from a different network, you’ll need to set up port forwarding to let their traffic reach your server. Port forwarding steps vary by router brand, but the general process is logging into your router’s admin panel, finding the port forwarding section, and routing both TCP and UDP traffic on port 7777 to your PC’s local IP address. Always set a strong password for your server if you’re port forwarding, to prevent random strangers from joining and griefing your builds. If you don’t want to mess with port forwarding, you can use a virtual LAN tool like Hamachi, but it’s less stable for groups larger than 3 players.
Non-Steam and Modded Terraria Server Setup Tips
If you own the GOG version of Terraria, or want to run a modded server, the setup process is slightly different but still straightforward. For non-Steam vanilla servers, you can download the dedicated server files directly from the official Terraria website for free, no account required. The setup steps are identical to the Steam version once you have the files installed, you just won’t need to run Steam in the background to keep the server active.
For modded servers using tModLoader, you’ll need to download the tModLoader dedicated server tool instead of the vanilla Terraria server file. You’ll also need to make sure every player connecting to your server has the exact same mod versions installed as the server, otherwise they’ll get a connection error immediately. Modded servers require twice as much RAM as vanilla servers, so if you’re running a large mod pack like Calamity, allocate at least 8GB of RAM to the server to avoid lag, crashes, or world corruption. If you’re setting up a modded server for the first time, you might be surprised how much easier it is than when I first learned how do I make a server in Terraria back in the 1.2 update days.
If you don’t have a spare PC to run a 24/7 server, you can pay for a third-party Terraria server host, which starts at around $5 a month for 10 player slots. These hosts handle all port forwarding, server updates, and backup processes for you, so you don’t have to keep your PC running 24/7 to keep the world online. Most hosts also support one-click installation for popular mod packs, so you don’t have to mess with manual file uploads.
Common Terraria Server Issues and Quick Fixes
Even if you follow every step perfectly, you’ll probably run into a small issue or two when you first launch your server. The most common problem is friends being unable to connect, and the fix is almost always one of a few simple checks. First, confirm that all players are running the exact same Terraria version as the server, even a small hotfix update can break cross-version connections. Next, check that your firewall isn’t blocking the Terraria server from accessing the internet, and that your port forwarding rules are set to the correct local IP address for your PC.
If you’re experiencing constant lag during play, there are a few easy fixes to try. First, close any background programs on the PC hosting the server that use a lot of bandwidth or RAM, like streaming services or other game launchers. If you’re running a modded server, try removing any unused or low-priority mods to reduce the load on the server. You can also lower the max player count by 1 or 2, as each extra player adds a noticeable amount of load to the server.
World corruption is a rare but frustrating issue that can happen if your server crashes mid-save. To avoid losing weeks of build progress, enable automatic server backups at least once every 2 hours, so you can roll back to a recent save if something goes wrong. If you’re running a public server, make sure to set up user permissions so only trusted players can break blocks or access shared chests, or use a whitelist to only allow specific players to join in the first place.
I’ve spent dozens of hours playing on custom Terraria servers I set up myself, from silly vanilla playthroughs where we built a giant floating pizza castle, to grueling modded Calamity runs where we spent weeks fighting every boss in the pack. Even if you’re not super tech-savvy, figuring out how do I make a server in Terraria is way easier than it sounds, and it completely changes the game for group play. Start small with an in-game host or a basic dedicated server for your friend group first, and you’ll be exploring, building, and fighting bosses together in your own persistent world in no time.