How to Set Up an Unturned Dedicated Server

Unturned Dedicated Server Setup

Important AppID note: The Unturned dedicated server uses AppID 1110390, not the game's AppID (304930). Using 304930 for server installs was deprecated in June 2019 — always use 1110390.

Unturned dedicated servers run natively on Linux and Windows. Linux hosting is recommended for production servers.

System Requirements

Installing via SteamCMD

# Install SteamCMD on Ubuntu
sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install steamcmd

# Download the Unturned dedicated server
steamcmd
  login anonymous
  force_install_dir /opt/unturned-server
  app_update 1110390 validate
  quit

Server files install to /opt/unturned-server/steamapps/common/U3DS/.

Directory Structure

U3DS/
├── ServerHelper.sh         ← use this to launch (not the binary directly)
├── ServerHelper.bat        ← Windows equivalent
├── Unturned_Headless.x86_64 ← Linux binary (invoked by ServerHelper.sh)
├── Modules/                ← OpenMod, plugins
└── Servers/
    └── MyServer/           ← created automatically on first launch
        ├── Server/
        │   └── Commands.dat    ← your server config
        ├── Level/              ← world save data
        └── WorkshopDownloadConfig.json

First Launch

Use the ServerHelper.sh wrapper — not the binary directly. The wrapper sets up the Steam library path correctly on Linux:

cd /opt/unturned-server/steamapps/common/U3DS
./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer

Replace MyServer with your chosen server name. On first run this creates the Servers/MyServer/ directory with default files.

With improved Linux console input:

./ServerHelper.sh +InternetServer/MyServer -ThreadedConsole

LAN-only (no Steam browser listing):

./ServerHelper.sh +LanServer/MyServer

After First Launch

1. Stop the server (Ctrl+C or type shutdown in the console).
2. Edit Servers/MyServer/Server/Commands.dat with your server settings (see the Commands.dat configuration guide).
3. Restart the server.

Getting a GSLT (Game Server Login Token)

A Game Server Login Token is required for your server to appear in the public Unturned server browser.

1. Go to https://steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers
2. Log in with your Steam account.
3. Under Create a new game server account, enter App ID 304930 (the game ID) and a memo.
4. Copy the generated token.
5. Add it to Commands.dat:

   Login_Token YOUR_TOKEN_HERE
   

Updating the Server

steamcmd \
  login anonymous \
  force_install_dir /opt/unturned-server \
  app_update 1110390 validate \
  quit

Stop the server before updating. Unturned updates regularly — follow @SDGNelson on Steam for patch announcements.