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Playing Terraria with friends over peer-to-peer is fine for a quick session. But if you want a world that stays online when you log off, supports 6+ players simultaneously, or runs mods like Calamity and Thorium 24 hours a day, you need a dedicated server. This guide walks through both methods: the free self-hosting route using TerrariaServer.exe, and the paid dedicated hosting option for groups that want reliable uptime without the setup overhead.
If you are brand new to Terraria, read our Terraria beginner’s guide first — understanding the game’s basics will help you decide which world type and server configuration fits your group.
Why Host a Dedicated Terraria Server?
Terraria’s default multiplayer uses a peer-to-peer model where one player acts as the host. This works, but it has three hard limitations:
- World disappears when the host logs off — no host means no game. Players who want to log in at different times cannot.
- Host performance affects everyone — if the host has a slow connection or shuts down their PC, the entire session drops.
- Mod servers require TShock — running Calamity, Thorium, or other large content mods on a peer-to-peer session is technically possible but unstable for more than 2–3 players. Serious modded multiplayer needs a dedicated server running TShock.
A dedicated server solves all three. The world runs continuously on a separate machine or hosted server, players connect and disconnect freely, and the host player’s online status is irrelevant. For groups of 4+ or anyone running a modded playthrough, this is the correct setup.
For the best team strategies, check tmodloader server setup.
Method 1: Self-Hosting a Terraria Server (Free)
Self-hosting uses your own PC or a spare machine to run the Terraria server application. It is completely free and gives you full control. The trade-off is that your machine must stay on for the server to remain accessible, and you need to open a port on your router.
How to Find TerrariaServer.exe
Terraria ships with a dedicated server application. You do not need to download anything extra. To find it via Steam:
- Open your Steam Library
- Right-click Terraria and select Manage
- Click Browse local files
- You will see
TerrariaServer.exein the same folder asTerraria.exe
Alternatively, the server application is available as a separate download on the Terraria wiki server page for users who want to run the server on a machine without Terraria installed.
Step-by-Step Self-Hosting Setup
Step 1 — Prepare your world file
Create or copy your Terraria world file (.wld) to a folder you will use for the server. World files are stored at:
- Windows:
C:\Users\[username]\Documents\My Games\Terraria\Worlds\ - Linux/Mac:
~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds/
Step 2 — Configure serverconfig.txt
In the Terraria game folder, find or create serverconfig.txt. This file controls all server settings. The key parameters to edit:
| Setting | Example value | What it does |
|---|---|---|
world | C:\Users\you\Documents\My Games\Terraria\Worlds\MyWorld.wld | Full path to your world file |
maxplayers | 8 | Maximum simultaneous players (1–16) |
port | 7777 | TCP/UDP port for connections (default 7777) |
password | mysecretpass | Server password (leave blank for open access) |
motd | Welcome to our server! | Message of the day shown on connect |
worldname | MyWorld | World name displayed in server list |
Step 3 — Launch the server
Double-click TerrariaServer.exe. If you configured serverconfig.txt, the server loads automatically. Without a config file, it prompts you interactively to choose a world, set a password, and define max players. The console window shows connections and server activity in real time.
Step 4 — Open port 7777 on your router
For friends outside your local network to connect, you must forward port 7777 (TCP and UDP) on your router. The exact steps vary by router brand, but the general process is:
- Log into your router admin panel (usually
192.168.1.1or192.168.0.1in a browser) - Navigate to Port Forwarding or NAT / Virtual Server
- Create a new rule: external port 7777, internal IP = your PC’s local IP, protocol TCP/UDP
- Save and apply
To find your PC’s local IP on Windows: open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. Look for the IPv4 address (usually 192.168.x.x).
Step 5 — Share your external IP with friends
Your friends need your external (public) IP address to connect. Find it by visiting whatismyip.com from any browser. Share that IP and your port (7777) with your group. In Terraria’s multiplayer menu, they select Join via IP and enter your external IP and port.
LAN play only? Use Hamachi. If all players are on the same local network, or if you want to avoid router port forwarding entirely, LogMeIn Hamachi creates a virtual LAN. All players install Hamachi, join the same network, and connect using the Hamachi IP shown in the Hamachi panel. No router configuration required.
Method 2: Dedicated Hosting (Recommended for Groups)
If your group wants 24/7 access, consistent performance, and no dependency on someone’s home PC staying online, dedicated hosting is the better choice. Terraria server hosting starts at under $3/month and removes all the port forwarding, uptime, and hardware concerns of self-hosting.
Shockbyte
Shockbyte is one of the most popular Terraria hosting providers with plans starting at $2.99/month. Key features:
- Web control panel — start, stop, restart, and configure your server from a browser without touching command lines
- One-click world upload — upload your existing
.wldworld file directly through the panel - TShock support — switch between vanilla and TShock server software from the panel
- Automatic backups — scheduled world backups prevent data loss from corrupted worlds
- Instant setup — server is live within 5 minutes of purchase
Bisect Hosting
Bisect Hosting offers Terraria plans from $2.99/month with 15 data centre locations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Choosing a data centre close to your player group reduces latency meaningfully. Bisect also supports TShock and vanilla server software with a similar web panel experience to Shockbyte.
Both Shockbyte and Bisect Hosting are solid choices. Pick Shockbyte if your group is primarily North American; Bisect if you have players spread across multiple regions and want the lower-latency data centre options.
TShock: Server Software for Modded Terraria
TShock is open-source server software that replaces the vanilla TerrariaServer.exe. It is not a mod itself — it is an alternative server runtime that runs the same Terraria world files but adds a full admin and plugin layer on top. TShock is effectively required for any serious modded Terraria multiplayer server.
What TShock adds over the vanilla server:
- Admin command system —
/kick,/ban,/give,/tp, and 80+ additional commands accessible in-game by admin players - Permission groups — assign different permission levels to different players (guest, member, admin, superadmin)
- Anti-cheat and anti-grief — detection for item spawning, tile editing abuse, and speed hacks
- Plugin support — server-side plugins for custom NPC shops, economy systems, custom events, and more
- MySQL/SQLite database — persistent player data, bans, and user accounts stored in a database rather than flat files
TShock is available as a free download at tshock.co. Drop the TShock files into your server folder and run the TShock executable instead of TerrariaServer.exe. First launch generates a tshock/ config folder — check config.json to customise settings.
If you want to run Calamity Mod or Thorium on your server, TShock is your foundation. See our tModLoader guide for the client-side mod setup that connects to your TShock server.
Troubleshooting Common Server Problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Friends cannot connect | Port 7777 not open or wrong external IP shared | Verify port forwarding rule in router admin panel. Recheck external IP at whatismyip.com. If using Hamachi, share Hamachi IP not external IP. |
| World not found on startup | Incorrect file path in serverconfig.txt | Use the full absolute path including the .wld extension. On Windows use double backslashes or forward slashes in the path. |
| Random disconnects mid-session | Keep-alive not configured (TShock) or host machine sleeping | In TShock config.json, ensure KickProxyUsers is false and check your PC sleep/hibernate settings. Paid hosting eliminates this entirely. |
| Server crashes on mod load | TShock version mismatch with Terraria version | Match TShock version to your Terraria version exactly. Check the TShock GitHub releases page for the correct version number. |
| High latency for all players | Upload speed on self-hosted connection too low | Terraria server needs at least 1 Mbps upload per player. If your home connection is bottlenecked, switch to dedicated hosting with a nearby data centre. |
Self-Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting: Quick Comparison
| Factor | Self-Hosting | Dedicated Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | From $2.99/month |
| 24/7 uptime | Only if your PC stays on | Always on |
| Setup complexity | Medium (port forwarding required) | Low (web panel) |
| Performance | Depends on your hardware and internet | Consistent, SLA-backed |
| Mod support | Full (run TShock yourself) | Full (panel-selectable) |
| Backups | Manual | Automatic |
| Best for | Small groups, occasional play, testing | Groups of 4+, modded playthroughs, 24/7 access |
Looking for a hosted solution instead of self-hosting? Our guide to the best Terraria server hosting providers covers paid plans starting at $2.99/month with 24/7 uptime and automatic backups — no configuration required beyond a web browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What port does Terraria use for multiplayer?
- Terraria uses port 7777 by default for both TCP and UDP. This can be changed in
serverconfig.txtusing theport=setting. If you change it, your players must enter the custom port in Terraria’s multiplayer connection screen. - How many players can a Terraria server support?
- The vanilla server supports up to 255 players, but performance degrades significantly above 16 players on typical hardware. The
maxplayerssetting inserverconfig.txtcaps simultaneous connections. Most servers set this to 8–16 for a good balance of capacity and performance. - Do all players need to own Terraria to join a server?
- Yes. All players must have a legitimate copy of Terraria to connect. The server does not bypass Steam authentication for TShock servers by default, though TShock can be configured to allow non-Steam connections for LAN play.
- Can I run a Terraria server and play on the same PC?
- Yes. Launch
TerrariaServer.exefirst, then launchTerraria.exeand connect tolocalhostor127.0.0.1on port 7777. This works well on modern hardware with 8+ GB RAM. Performance may drop during boss fights with multiple players connected. - What is the difference between TShock and vanilla Terraria server?
- The vanilla
TerrariaServer.exeruns the game with no admin tools, no plugin support, and no anti-cheat. TShock replaces it with the same core game runtime plus a full admin layer. For private servers with trusted friends, vanilla is fine. For public servers or modded runs, TShock is the standard choice. - How do I update my Terraria server after a game update?
- For self-hosted vanilla servers: Steam auto-updates Terraria, including
TerrariaServer.exe. Just restart the server after the update. For TShock: download the matching TShock version from GitHub after each Terraria update, as TShock must match the game version exactly.