# Sons of the Forest Server Troubleshooting (/docs/sons-of-the-forest/fix-issues)



Most Sons of the Forest server problems come down to **ports** or the **network accessibility test**. This guide maps each symptom to its cause and fix.

Disconnect Immediately After Joining (right after Steam auth) [#disconnect-immediately-after-joining-right-after-steam-auth]

**Symptom:** you find the server, click join, load briefly, then get kicked back — often right after Steam authenticates.

**Cause:** the **BlobSync port (9700)** isn't reachable. Sons of the Forest uses three ports, and the actual game-state handoff happens over BlobSync. If only the game and query ports work, you can *see* and *start* joining but the connection can't complete.

**Fix:** make sure all three ports are allocated and reachable:

| Port (default)           | Purpose                                       |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| Game Port                | Gameplay netcode                              |
| Query Port (27016)       | Server browser discovery                      |
| **BlobSync Port (9700)** | Player-connect state sync — the usual culprit |

On XGamingServer the BlobSync port needs its **own allocation**, and the `BLOBSYNC_PORT` startup variable must point at it. Confirm it in the **Network** and **Startup** tabs, then restart. See [Server Configuration](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/server-config) for the full port list.

Server Won't Start / "Network Accessibility Test Failed" [#server-wont-start--network-accessibility-test-failed]

**Symptom:** the server exits during startup, logging a failed network accessibility test.

**Cause:** on boot the server tries to verify its ports are reachable from the outside. Behind NAT/Docker this check can fail even when the server is actually reachable by players.

**Fix:** set the **`SKIP_TESTS`** startup variable to `true` (this passes `-dedicatedserver.SkipNetworkAccessibilityTest true`). The server then boots without the self-test. Restart after changing it.

> Only skip the test if the server otherwise refuses to start — it's a diagnostic, not the actual networking. If players still can't connect after skipping, the real problem is a port (see above).

Server Doesn't Appear in the Browser [#server-doesnt-appear-in-the-browser]

* Confirm the **Query Port (27016)** is allocated and reachable — it's what the server browser uses for discovery.
* Give it a minute after startup to register.
* Have players use **direct IP connect** (`IP:GamePort`) as a reliable fallback — see [How to Join](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/join-server).

Can't Join With a Password [#cant-join-with-a-password]

* The password is `SRV_PW` / `Password` in the config — it's case-sensitive.
* After changing it, **restart** the server; players must re-enter the new password.
* An empty password makes the server open. See [Set a Password](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/server-password).

Save Didn't Load / World Reset [#save-didnt-load--world-reset]

* The server stores data under its user-data path (`serverconfig`). Don't edit files while the server is running or the current save can be overwritten on shutdown.
* If you uploaded a save, confirm it's in the correct save slot folder — see [Upload Save](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/import-save).
* A full reinstall wipes the world; back up first — see [Reset Server](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/wipe-reinstall).

First Boot Is Slow or Errors Once [#first-boot-is-slow-or-errors-once]

The server runs the Windows binary through Wine, and the **first** launch initializes the Wine prefix (mono/vcrun). An initial slow start or one-time error that clears on the next restart is normal. If it never comes online, check the console log and, if needed, do a clean reinstall.

Still Stuck? [#still-stuck]

Open the **Console** tab and read the startup log top to bottom — Sons of the Forest logs the exact port bind results and the network test outcome, which almost always points at the cause. XGamingServer support can help if the log is unclear.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Configuration](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/server-config)
* [How to Join Your Server](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/join-server)
* [Change Difficulty](/docs/sons-of-the-forest/difficulty-settings)