# SPT-Fika Troubleshooting — Can't Connect, Mods Not Working, Crashes (/docs/escape-from-tarkov/troubleshooting)



Most SPT-Fika problems come down to a handful of causes. Work through these in order.

A player can't connect / join the raid [#a-player-cant-connect--join-the-raid]

* **Version mismatch** — the player's SPT version, Fika version, or a **required** client mod doesn't match the server. Everyone must run the same SPT + Fika versions. This is the #1 cause.
* **Missing required mod** — the host marked a mod as required and the player doesn't have it (client-side). Share the exact mod list. See [server vs client mods](/docs/escape-from-tarkov/server-vs-client-mods).
* **Wrong IP/port or password** — double-check the connection details from your [panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com).
* **Doesn't own the game** — every player needs a legitimate copy of Escape from Tarkov.

A mod isn't working [#a-mod-isnt-working]

* **Client mod installed only on the server** — client-side plugins (`BepInEx/plugins/`) must be installed by each player, not just the server. The server can't push them to clients.
* **Server mod installed only on a client** — server-side mods belong in the server's `user/mods/`, not in a client.
* **Didn't restart** — server mods apply on the next restart. Restart the server after installing.
* **Incompatible / outdated mod** — confirm the mod matches your SPT version on its [Hub](https://hub.sp-tarkov.com/) page.

See [Do Fika mods go on the server or the client?](/docs/escape-from-tarkov/server-vs-client-mods) for the full breakdown.

The server won't start [#the-server-wont-start]

* Open the **Console** in the panel and read the last lines — a bad mod or malformed config is usually named there.
* A broken `fika.jsonc` or a mod's config file can stop startup. Remove the last mod you added and restart to confirm it's the culprit.
* If you've heavily modded a working setup and it broke, the cleanest fix is often a fresh SPT-Fika base plus re-adding mods one at a time.

Headless client problems [#headless-client-problems]

* **"Use Headless Host" greyed out** — the headless client is unavailable, usually due to an unsupported mod in it or a networking issue. Check `BepInEx/LogOutput.log` for incompatible-mod warnings.
* **Headless crashes** — it's very mod-sensitive; keep its plugin set minimal and don't mirror your normal client mods onto it. See [headless client](/docs/escape-from-tarkov/headless-client).

Performance / desync [#performance--desync]

* SPT-Fika raids run best on strong single-thread hardware. XGamingServer SPT-Fika servers use AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPUs for smooth raids; if you're self-hosting on a weak PC, expect desync with many AI.

Still stuck? [#still-stuck]

Open a ticket from the [XGamingServer panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com) with your server console output (last \~30 lines) and your SPT/Fika versions, and our team will help.