Your server updates itself. With Auto Update on, every start downloads the newest Rust build, and the panel restarts running servers onto a new build for you once Oxide or Carbon can run it. To update right now, use Restart and update now on Game Settings, or restart the server.
Why updates matter
Facepunch's updates are mandatory. The game updates itself on your players' computers, and a player on the new build cannot join a server still on the old one. Facepunch ships the monthly update on the first Thursday of the month at about 19:00 London time, and sometimes another update between those dates.
What the panel does for you
Every few minutes the panel checks Steam for a new Rust build. When it sees one, for the next two days it looks at every running server that has Auto Update on and is on the same branch:
- Vanilla: the server is restarted onto the new build.
- Oxide: the server is restarted once Oxide has published a release for the new build. An older Oxide does not run on a new Rust. Until then you get one notification and the server keeps running.
- Carbon: the server is restarted once Carbon has released for the build, or about an hour after the build first appeared, because Carbon often runs a new build as it is.
The restart is immediate when nobody is online. If players are on, the panel warns them in the game: Facepunch released a Rust update. The server restarts in 5 minutes to install it. and, four minutes later, The server restarts in 1 minute to install the Rust update. The server saves as it stops.
Each server is restarted once per build. The panel leaves a server alone while one of its schedules is running, for example a wipe or a backup. It also skips servers that are stopped, being installed, restored or moved, or that have Auto Update off. Oxide on the Staging branch is left alone, because Oxide is built for Release.
You can see what happened in Activity: Rust build N is out. The server restarts to install it once Oxide has released for it when it is waiting, and Restarted the server to install Rust build N when it restarted. See How to see what happened on your server.
The notice on Game Settings
Open Settings, then Game Settings. At the top, a box appears when Steam has a newer build than your server runs.
- A newer game build is out with
The panel restarts your server for you within a few minutes to install it, with a warning in game first. You can also restart now.Click Restart and update now if you do not want to wait. Confirm with Restart and update in the window Update now? The server stops, saving the world, downloads the build and starts again, which takes a few minutes. Players on it are disconnected. - A newer game build is out with
... has not released for it yet, and the old ... does not run on it, so please do not restart for now.The panel is waiting for Oxide or Carbon. It restarts your server as soon as the framework is out, with a warning in the game first. The button is not offered, and Update now is refused, while the framework cannot run the new build. Do not restart by hand: an old framework on a new Rust can leave your plugins not loading. - Your branch change is not installed yet: you changed Branch and the next restart switches it. See How to switch your Rust server to the staging branch.
This server needs a one-time refresh from our team before it can update from here.Your server was created before the branch switch existed. Open a ticket and we will update it for you.
The notice needs the permission to restart for the button, and the permission to change startup to change Auto Update: How to let a friend help run your Rust server.
Auto Update
Auto Update is on by default: Steam is asked for an update at every start. To find it, click Show advanced at the bottom of Game Settings. Leave it on unless you are deliberately holding a build. A server left behind cannot be joined by players on the new build.
With Auto Update off, the notice says Steam Auto Update is off, so the server will not install it by itself. and offers Update now. The panel does not restart the server for you then.
Update by hand
- Back up first if you like: How to back up and restore your Rust world.
- Click Restart and update now (or Update now with Auto Update off) on Game Settings, or use Restart at the top of the page.
- Watch the Console. Steam's lines show the download. When it shows Server startup complete, players can join.
On wipe day
If you use a wipe schedule, the schedule's start step installs the new build too: How to get your Rust server ready for forced wipe day.
Good to know
- Test an update first with the Staging branch, Facepunch's build of the next update: How to switch your Rust server to the staging branch.
- If players cannot join after an update, see Players cannot join your Rust server.
- If your plugins stopped loading after an update, see Rust plugins do not load after a Rust update.
- Oxide and Carbon update themselves at every start: How to update Oxide or Carbon on your Rust server.
