How to Play Terraria Multiplayer: Host, Join and Servers

Terraria multiplayer works in three ways: Host & Play over Steam for friends, Join via IP for anyone who knows your address, and a dedicated server that keeps a world online without you in it. Steam is the easiest. IP and dedicated servers take a little setup but work on PC, mobile and the server software alike.

Last checked: November 9, 2026. Current versions are 1.4.5.8 on PC and the dedicated server, and 1.4.5.8.1 on console and mobile.

Which multiplayer method should you use?

If everyone in your group is on Steam, start with Host & Play. Use a dedicated server when people play at different times or when the host does not want to keep the game open.

How to host a game with Host & Play

1. From the main menu, choose Multiplayer, then Host & Play.
2. Pick the character you will play as.
3. Pick the world to open, or create one first.
4. Set the Steam options:
   • Steam Multiplayer: Enabled lets friends join through Steam. Disabled means they must connect over your local network or by IP.
   • Allowed users: Friends lets any Steam friend join from their friends list. Invite Only lets in only people you send a Steam invite to.
   • The two extra toggles decide whether friends of friends can join and whether your friends can invite others.
5. Type a password if you want one, or leave it blank for an open game.
6. Start the server and wait for the world to load.

Two things to know about this method. Everyone gets disconnected when the host closes the world. And in Expert and Master, enemy and boss health scale with the number of players in the world, so a boss summoned by one player while an idle host sits at base has more health than a solo fight.

How to join a friend's game

Through Steam: open Multiplayer, then Join via Steam, or right-click your friend in the Steam friends list and choose to join their game. Since 1.4.5 you can also join your own server through Join via Steam.

By IP address:

1. Choose Multiplayer, then Join via IP.
2. Pick your character.
3. Enter the host's IP address.
4. Enter the port. The default is 7777 unless the host changed it.
5. Enter the password if asked.

Everyone needs the same game version. A player still on an older patch cannot join.

How to play over the internet by IP

Joining by IP on the same home network needs no extra setup: use the host's local IPv4 address, which the host can find by typing ipconfig in a Windows command prompt.

Over the internet, players outside the host's home network need the host's public IP address, and the host's router has to let the connection through:

• Forward port 7777 (or the port you picked) on the router to the host's PC, and allow it through the firewall.
• Try UPnP first. Version 1.4.5 added UPnP support, so the game can open the port by itself. Re-Logic's partner studio DR Studios notes that this only works when the router and network support it.
• The host connects locally. The host should join with 127.0.0.1 or their local IPv4 address, not the public one.
• Virtual LAN tools. Some players get around router limits with tools such as ZeroTier, Hamachi or Radmin, which put everyone on one virtual network.

How to run a Terraria dedicated server

A dedicated server runs a world in its own window, so players can come and go while the host does something else or plays on another character.

On Steam, the server program ships with the game. Open the Terraria install folder (in Steam, right-click Terraria, then Manage and Browse local files) and you will find:

You can also download the standalone PC dedicated server from the official site, terraria.org, which is handy for running a world on a separate machine.

When the server starts it asks a series of questions:

1. World: type the number of an existing world, or n to create a new one. Creating the world in the game first is simpler.
2. Max players: press Enter for the default of 16, or type a number.
3. Port: press Enter for the default 7777.
4. Automatically forward port: say yes if you want the server to try to open the port for you.
5. Password: type one or leave it empty.

Then join it yourself with Join via IP using 127.0.0.1 and the port. In the server window, type help to list commands, and save to save the world on demand.

Many public servers run TShock, a free third-party server mod that adds user accounts, permissions and anti-grief tools. It is not made by Re-Logic, so check that it supports your game version before you switch.

Multiplayer features added in 1.4.5

The Bigger & Boulder update brought several multiplayer changes:

• Spectating: after you die you can switch between other players' views while you wait to respawn. The new Scrying Orb item also lets you spectate.
• Boss damage tracker: type /bossdamage in chat to see how much damage each player dealt in recent boss fights.
• Teams: you rejoin your last team automatically when you reconnect.
• Pylons during fights: you can now use Pylons during boss fights and invasions.
• Journey Mode research: researching items also counts towards your online team members' research.

Playing with mobile and console players

PC, the dedicated server and mobile have been able to play together for years when everyone is on the same version. On mobile, games on the same local network connect easily; over the internet you connect by IP and port, the same way as on PC.

Consoles cannot join PC or mobile games yet. Re-Logic says cross-platform play for consoles arrives with Terraria 1.4.6 (Crossplay Phase One). As of the October 2026 State of the Game, that update was in final testing before it goes to Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo for approval, and no release date had been given. The Terraria crossplay guide tracks where it stands.

Fixing common connection problems

• Version mismatch: update everyone to the same version number before you try again.
• Stuck on "Connecting to...": restart the server and try again, then check that port 7777 is forwarded and allowed through the firewall.
• Password rejected: ask the host to confirm the password, or to clear it while you test the connection.
• Can't reach your own server: use 127.0.0.1 or Join via Steam rather than your public IP.
• Friends can't find the game on Steam: check that Steam Multiplayer is enabled and that Allowed users is set to Friends, or send them an invite.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Terraria multiplayer with friends?

Choose Multiplayer, then Host & Play, pick a character and world, and enable Steam Multiplayer. Your Steam friends can then join from Join via Steam or from your name in their friends list. Players outside Steam can join by IP instead.

What port does Terraria use?

Terraria uses port 7777 by default. You can choose a different port when you start a dedicated server, and anyone joining by IP then has to enter that port.

How many players can join a Terraria server?

A dedicated server allows 16 players by default. You set the limit when the server starts, so you can type a different number at the max players prompt.

Do I need to port forward to play Terraria online?

Not if you play through Steam multiplayer. To host a game by IP over the internet you need port 7777 forwarded on your router, unless the UPnP support added in 1.4.5 opens it for you.

Can my friends play on my world when I am offline?

Only if the world runs on a dedicated server. With Host & Play, the world closes for everyone as soon as the host leaves.

Is Terraria crossplay between PC and console?

Not yet. PC, the dedicated server and mobile can already play together on the same version, while console crossplay is planned for update 1.4.6, which had no release date as of November 9, 2026.