# How to Make Your DayZ Server Appear in the Community Browser (/docs/dayz/make-server-public)





import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

If your DayZ server is running but doesn't appear in the in-game **Community** tab, it's most likely set as a **Private** server. This is controlled by the `shardId` setting in `serverDZ.cfg` — if `shardId` has any value, the server is marked Private and hidden from the Community browser.

<img alt="Community browser not showing the server" src={__img0} placeholder="blur" />

Make Your Server Public [#make-your-server-public]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop the server [#stop-the-server]

    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), go to **Console** and stop the server.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Open serverDZ.cfg [#open-serverdzcfg]

    Click **Files** in the sidebar and open `serverDZ.cfg` in the server root.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Remove or empty the shardId [#remove-or-empty-the-shardid]

    Find the `shardId` line:

    ```
    shardId = "123abc";
    ```

    Either **delete the line entirely**, or set it to empty:

    ```
    shardId = "";
    ```

    When `shardId` is set to any value (e.g., `"123abc"`), the server is treated as **Private** and won't appear in the Community list. Removing it makes the server **Public**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Verify the Steam query port is open [#verify-the-steam-query-port-is-open]

    Your server needs the Steam query port open for browsers to see it. Check `steamQueryPort` in `serverDZ.cfg` — then confirm that port is allocated in the **Network** tab on your panel.

    ```
    steamQueryPort = 2458;
    ```

    > XGamingServer assigns custom ports — the query port may not be the default 2305. Always check your actual config.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Save and start [#save-and-start]

    Click **Save Content** and start from **Console**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Wait for indexing [#wait-for-indexing]

    The DayZ community browser is slow to index new servers. It can take **24–48 hours** for your server to appear in the Community tab after making it public. This is normal.

    In the meantime, players can join via **Steam Favorites** or **Direct Connect** — see [How to Connect](/docs/dayz/join-server).
  </Step>
</Steps>

How to Verify It Worked [#how-to-verify-it-worked]

After waiting for the browser to index:

1. Open DayZ and go to the server browser
2. Click the **Community** tab
3. Search for your server name
4. It should now appear as a public community server

If it still doesn't appear after 48 hours, double-check:

| Check                         | How                                                                        |
| ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `shardId` is empty or removed | Open `serverDZ.cfg` in **Files**                                           |
| Steam query port is open      | Verify in **Network** tab that the port from `steamQueryPort` is allocated |
| Server is actually running    | Check **Dashboard** — must be Online                                       |
| `BattlEye = 1`                | Some browser filters only show BattlEye-enabled servers                    |

Private vs Public Servers [#private-vs-public-servers]

|                                         | Public                 | Private                             |
| --------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| `shardId`                               | Empty or not set       | Set to any value (e.g., `"123abc"`) |
| Appears in Community tab                | Yes (after indexing)   | No                                  |
| Joinable via Favorites / Direct Connect | Yes                    | Yes                                 |
| Use case                                | Open community servers | Whitelisted / invite-only groups    |

> **Private servers are still joinable** — they just don't appear in the Community browser. Players can still connect via Steam Favorites or Direct Connect if they know the IP and port.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [How to Connect](/docs/dayz/join-server)
* [Server Configuration](/docs/dayz/server-config)
* [Set a Password](/docs/dayz/server-config#server-identity)