You started your Palworld server, but it does not appear in the server browser. This is one of the most common issues. The server is probably running fine, but the browser cannot find it. Here is how to fix it.
1. Check the PublicIP and PublicPort
In PalWorldSettings.ini, these two settings must match your server's actual IP and port:
PublicIP="YOUR_SERVER_IP" PublicPort=8211
If PublicIP is empty or wrong, the server registers with the wrong address and becomes invisible.
2. Connect directly instead
The community server browser can be unreliable. Instead of searching:
- Open Palworld.
- Select "Join Multiplayer Game."
- At the bottom, enter the IP and port directly:
YOUR_IP:8211. - Click Connect.
If direct connection works but the browser does not, the issue is with server browser registration, not your server.
3. Version mismatch
The server and client must run the same version. If either is outdated, the server will not appear in the browser and direct connections fail with "incompatible version." Update both to the latest version.
4. Port not open
Palworld uses UDP port 8211 by default. Verify:
- On managed hosting: the port is pre-configured. Check the Network tab for the correct port.
- On a VPS:
sudo ufw allow 8211/udp. - On a home server: port forward UDP 8211 in your router.
5. Server not fully started
Palworld takes 1 to 3 minutes to fully start. Wait until you see "Setting breakpad minidump AppID" or a similar startup-complete message in the console before trying to connect.
6. Community server vs dedicated server
The "Community Server" tab in Palworld's browser does not always list all dedicated servers. Some servers only appear after a delay. Direct connection is always the most reliable method.
My friends see the server but get "connection timeout"
This is usually a firewall issue. The server is registered but packets are being dropped. Double-check that UDP 8211 is open and not blocked by a software firewall on the server itself.
Does restarting the server fix it?
Sometimes. If the server lost its registration with the browser, a restart re-registers it. But first check the IP, port and version before restarting blindly.
Palworld servers at HostValues have ports pre-configured and direct connection details in the panel.
