Players see World cache version mismatch on your Rust server

Players see World cache version mismatch or World File Outdated when their game has an older copy of your map saved under the same file name. Give each version of the map a new file name, update the link, and have the player clear the old copy.

Fix it

1. Rename your map file so the name is new, for example by adding a version number: mymap_v2.map.
2. Upload it and copy the new direct link. Keep dl=1 at the end of a Dropbox link.
3. Open Settings, then Game Settings, paste the new link into Custom Map URL, and restart the server.
4. Ask the player to join again. If it still fails, ask them to delete the old map file from the maps folder in their Rust install folder, then join again.

The steps for the link are in How to use a custom map on your Rust server.

Why it happens

The game keeps the maps it downloaded, named after the file. If you replace a map but keep the name, the game finds the old file and the versions do not match. Dropbox links that end in dl=0 give a web page instead of the file, which causes the same message.

Good to know

• A custom map must be reachable by the link all the time, because players download it when they join.
• If you wipe a custom-map server, the seed decides nothing: How to wipe your Rust server.
• Other join problems: Players cannot join your Rust server.