Players cannot join your Terraria server

Check these in order: the server is Online, the player typed the IP and the port from the Play with friends card, the password matches exactly, and everyone is on the server's game version. On tModLoader, players must start tModLoader, not plain Terraria.

1. The server is running and ready

The badge must say Online, and the Console must show Type 'help' for a list of commands. On the first start, the world is still generating for a minute or more. If the server stops by itself, read the Console from the start: Terraria server problems and fixes.

2. The right IP and port

Terraria asks for the IP first and the port on the next screen. Copy both from the IP and Port rows of the Play with friends card on Overview. A missing or wrong port is the most common mistake. See How to join your Terraria server.

3. The password

The password has to match exactly, capitals included. Check the Password row. If you changed the password, restart the server: the new one applies from the next start. See How to set a password on your Terraria server.

4. The same version

Everyone needs the same game version as the server: Players get a version mismatch on your Terraria server.

5. The right game

• tModLoader server: players start tModLoader on Steam. Plain Terraria cannot join it.
• TShock or Terraria Vanilla server: players use the normal game.

6. Not banned, not full, not shut out

• A banned player cannot join: check Bans on the Active players card. On Terraria Vanilla and tModLoader a ban blocks an address, so everyone on that player's home connection is blocked too: How to unban a player on your Terraria server.
• A full server turns new players away: How to change player slots on your Terraria server.
• On TShock, Whitelist only lets in only listed addresses, and the character rules (Hardcore characters only and the like) refuse other characters: How to change TShock settings on your Terraria server.
• A Journey world takes only Journey characters: How to set up Journey mode on your Terraria server.

Still stuck?

Click Ask support under Can’t connect? on the Play with friends card. It opens a ticket that asks what you typed, what you see and who can or cannot join. See How to open a support ticket.