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How to make your Project Zomboid server public or private

Project ZomboidUpdated Oct 18, 20263 min read

Four settings decide who can find and join your Project Zomboid server: Show in the in-game server list, the Join password, Anyone can make an account and the whitelist. For a private server, set a password and turn off the list. For a closed community, also turn off new accounts.

The four levers

LeverWhereWhat it does
Show in the in-game server listServer Settings, Listing and joiningLists the server in the game's own server browser. The panel says servers always appear in the Steam server browser either way.
Join passwordServer Settings, Listing and joiningPlayers must type it. Empty means none.
Anyone can make an accountServer Settings, Listing and joiningOn: new players make their account by joining. Off: whitelist only.
WhitelistActive players cardPlayers you add can join a closed server.

A private server for friends

  1. Stop the server. Open Settings, then Server Settings under Config files.
  2. In Listing and joining, set a Join password and turn off Show in the in-game server list.
  3. Click Save only or Save & start.
  4. Send friends the IP, the port and the password: How to invite friends to your Project Zomboid server.

Anyone who has the IP, the port and the password can still join, and servers appear in the Steam server browser either way, so a strong password is what keeps strangers out.

A closed community

Also turn off Anyone can make an account. Then a new player cannot make an account by joining. You add each player first: How to run a whitelist-only Project Zomboid server.

A public server

Turn on Show in the in-game server list, give the server a good Server name in the list and Server description, and leave the password empty. New servers can take a few minutes to show in a list.

See How to change the listing and joining settings of your Project Zomboid server for every setting in the group.

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