How to Connect to Your Ground Branch Server
Learn how to find your server IP and join your Ground Branch dedicated server using the server browser or direct connect.
Here's how to find your server's IP address and connect to your Ground Branch server. You can join through the in-game server browser or by using direct connect with your IP and port.
Finding Your Server IP
Open the XGamingServer panel
Log in to the XGamingServer panel and select your Ground Branch server.
Locate your IP address
Your server IP address is displayed in the sidebar (e.g., 198.137.23.46:7777). The number before the colon is the IP address, and 7777 is the default game port.
💡 Tip: Click the IP address to copy it to your clipboard. You'll need both the IP and the port to direct connect.
Using the Server Browser
The server browser is the easiest way to find and join your server:
Open Ground Branch
Launch Ground Branch from Steam.
Go to Multiplayer
From the main menu, select Multiplayer.
Open the server browser
Click Server Browser. Wait a few moments for the list to populate.
Search for your server
Use the search bar or scroll through the list to find your server by name.
Join the server
Select your server and click Join. If the server has a password, you'll be prompted to enter it.
The server browser displays useful information:
Direct Connect
If you can't find your server in the browser, or you want to connect quickly:
Open the console
In Ground Branch, press the tilde key (~) to open the console.
Enter the connect command
Type the following command with your server's IP and port:
open 198.137.23.46:7777Replace 198.137.23.46:7777 with your actual server IP and port from the XGamingServer panel.
Connect
Press Enter. The game will connect directly to your server.
📝 Note: If the server has a password set, you'll need to append it to the connect command:
open 198.137.23.46:7777?password=YourPassword
Adding Your Server to Favorites
After finding your server in the browser, you can favorite it for quick access:
Find your server
Locate your server in the server browser.
Favorite the server
Right-click on the server and select Add to Favorites.
Access from Favorites
Your server now appears under the Favorites tab, making it easy to join without searching every time.
Troubleshooting Connection Issues
If you can't connect to your server:
- Server not showing in browser — Make sure the server has fully started. Check
Consoleon the XGamingServer panel for startup progress. The query port (27015) must be accessible for the browser to list the server. - "Connection failed" — Verify the IP address and port are correct. Try restarting the server from the XGamingServer panel.
- Timeout when connecting — The server may still be loading a map. Large maps take longer to initialize — wait 30–60 seconds after starting the server and try again.
- Version mismatch — Both your game client and the server need to be on the same version. Update your game through Steam and restart the server to pull the latest version.
- Password prompt — The server has a password set. Ask the server owner for the password.
If you get stuck at any time, you can join our Discord.
How is this guide?
How to Configure Your Ground Branch Server
Learn how to configure your Ground Branch dedicated server using startup parameters and server config files on the XGamingServer panel.
How to Set a Password on Your Ground Branch Server
Learn how to password protect your Ground Branch dedicated server for private sessions, clan training, and restricted access.