Barotrauma Updated April 27, 2026

How to Fix Barotrauma Connection Problems

Step-by-step diagnosis for Barotrauma connection issues — server not in browser, version mismatch, timeouts, mod errors, and being kicked on join.

BarotraumaConnectionTroubleshootingNetworkPort Forwarding

Start with Direct Connect

Before troubleshooting the server browser, try connecting directly:

In the server browser → Direct Join → enter [your.server.ip]:27015

This bypasses the Steam server list entirely. If direct connect works but the browser doesn't show your server, the issue is propagation or isPublic config — not networking.

Problem: Server Not in the Browser

Check in this order:

  1. Confirm isPublic="true" in serversettings.xml
  2. Confirm the server is actually running (check the console window)
  3. Confirm UDP 27015 is open in your firewall — test with canyouseeme.org
  4. Wait — Steam's server list takes 2–5 minutes to propagate after a server starts
  5. Restart the server after any config change; there is no hot-reload

Problem: Version Mismatch

The error "Version mismatch" means the client and server are on different game versions.

Fix:

  • Have the player update Barotrauma via Steam
  • Or update your server via SteamCMD: app_update 1026340 validate
  • Both sides must be on the same version before connecting

Problem: Wrong Password

Passwords in Barotrauma are case-sensitive. Double-check:

  • The password in serversettings.xml matches exactly what players are entering
  • No leading/trailing spaces were accidentally added to the config file

Problem: Connection Timeout

Timeouts mean the client can't reach the server at all — the packets aren't getting through.

Fix:

  • Verify UDP 27015 is open (not TCP)
  • If on a home network, check both your firewall AND your router's port forwarding
  • Test from canyouseeme.org with the server running
  • See How to Open Ports for Your Barotrauma Server for the full walkthrough

Problem: Mod Mismatch

The error "Content package mismatch" or "You are missing content packages" means the client and server have different mods enabled.

Fix:

Problem: Server Is Full

"Server is full" means maxplayers has been reached.

Fix: edit serversettings.xml, increase maxplayers, and restart the server.

Problem: Kicked Immediately on Join

If you connect and get kicked within seconds:

  1. Check Servers/<ServerName>/banlist.txt — your name or SteamID may be on it
  2. Have a server admin run listbans in the console to confirm
  3. Have the admin run unban [yourname] or unban [yourSteamID] to remove the ban

If you're not banned and still getting kicked, check whether KarmaEnabled is causing the issue — low karma from a previous session can trigger an auto-kick on reconnect. An admin can reset karma via the console.

Problem: Campaign Not Loading After Connect

This is a campaign sync issue, not a connection issue. See How to Fix Barotrauma Campaign Sync Issues.

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