Don't Starve Together Server Not Showing in Browse Games (Fixes)

A Don't Starve Together dedicated server that does not show in Browse Games almost always has a cluster token problem: cluster_token.txt is missing, empty, in the wrong folder or holds a token Klei no longer accepts, and the log says E_INVALID_TOKEN. After that, check that offline_cluster and lan_only_cluster are false in cluster.ini, that the server is on the current game version, that your Browse Games filters are not hiding it, and that the Master shard finished loading. The server log tells you which one within a minute of starting.

Read the log first

Open the Master shard's log, server_log.txt in the Master folder of your cluster. These lines point to the cause:

If you see Sim paused and still cannot find the server, the token is fine. Skip to causes 3 to 5.

Cause 1: the cluster token

Klei only lets a dedicated server go online with a token tied to an account that owns the game.

1. Sign in at accounts.klei.com with your Klei account linked to the game.
2. Open the game servers page for Don't Starve Together and press Add New Server.
3. Copy the token. It starts with pds-g.
4. Put it alone on the first line of cluster_token.txt in the cluster folder, next to cluster.ini, not inside Master or Caves.
5. Restart the server.

The old method also still works: in a logged in game client, open the console with the tilde key and run TheNet:GenerateClusterToken(). It writes cluster_token.txt into your client's settings folder, which you then copy to the server's cluster folder.

What breaks it:

• The file is in the wrong folder. It must be in the cluster folder the server loads, for example DoNotStarveTogether/MyDediServer/cluster_token.txt.
• Extra characters. Copying from a web page can add spaces, a line break before the token or quotes around it. The file should hold only the token.
• The token was deleted on the Klei site. Removing a server from your Klei account revokes its token, and the server stops listing on its next start.
• The token changed but the file did not. If a setup script writes the token once on install, changing it later in a launcher or panel does not update an existing cluster_token.txt. Open the file and check that it holds the new token.

Cause 2: offline or LAN only in cluster.ini

Open cluster.ini and look at the [NETWORK] section:

[NETWORK]
cluster_name = The Constant Crew
cluster_description = Endless, caves, a few QoL mods
cluster_password =
cluster_intention = cooperative
offline_cluster = false
lan_only_cluster = false

offline_cluster = true runs the server without connecting to Klei at all, so it never lists. lan_only_cluster = true shows it only on your local network. Both should be false for an internet server. Also check steam_group_only: when it is on, only members of the set Steam group see and join the server.

Cause 3: the version

DST updates through Steam, and the client and server must match. A server on the old build drops out of the list for updated players. Update with SteamCMD (the dedicated server app ID is 343050), or turn auto update on so it updates on restart. After a big update, the Workshop mods also update, and a mod that has not caught up can crash the shard on start.

Cause 4: filters and search

Browse Games hides a lot by default and the list is huge.

• Type the exact cluster_name into the search box.
• Check the filters for password protected and modded servers. If your server has a password or mods, a filter that excludes them hides it.
• Match the server's game mode and playstyle in the filters, or clear them.
• Give it a minute after the start, then refresh.

Cause 5: the Master shard did not finish

The server lists through the Master shard. If Master crashes during world generation or mod loading, nothing shows. If only Caves fails, the surface can still list but players cannot go underground, and the logs show the shards not connecting. Check both server_log.txt files.

Common reasons a shard stops:

1. A mod error. Mods download from dedicated_server_mods_setup.lua and must be enabled in modoverrides.lua for both Master and Caves. Remove the most recent mod and start again to find the bad one.
2. Mismatched shard settings. Both shards need the same cluster_key from cluster.ini, and Caves needs is_master = false in its server.ini.
3. Ports clashing. Each shard needs its own server_port in its server.ini. Two shards on the same port means one of them fails.

The full layout is in our guide to setting up a DST server with caves.

Cause 6: home network

For a server on your own PC, each shard's server_port (10999 is the default, and the second shard needs its own) needs to be reachable as UDP, so forward it on the router and allow the server through the firewall. If friends can see the server but time out joining, this is the usual reason. Check for carrier grade NAT with this test before you spend time on the router.

Console players

Console versions of DST cannot join PC servers. If a friend on PlayStation or Xbox cannot find your server, that is why, and no setting changes it.

The easy option

On a GamezServers Don't Starve Together server the surface and caves shards are already set up and connected, the cluster name, description, game mode and max players are fields in the control panel, and the server has its own address. You still make the Klei token yourself, since only the account owner can, and paste it into the Klei server token field. If you change it later, open cluster_token.txt in the file manager and check it holds the new one. The live console shows the token check as the server starts. For the full setup, see our DST hosting guide.

FAQ

Why is my DST server not showing in Browse Games?

Most often the cluster token is missing, wrong or revoked. Check the log for E_INVALID_TOKEN, make a new token on accounts.klei.com and put it in cluster_token.txt in the cluster folder.

Where does cluster_token.txt go?

In the cluster folder, next to cluster.ini, not inside the Master or Caves folders.

What does E_INVALID_TOKEN mean?

The server could not find a valid Klei token. The file is missing, empty, has extra characters, or the token was deleted from your Klei account.

Why can I see my server but my friends can't?

lan_only_cluster is on, steam_group_only limits it to a group, or your friends' filters hide password protected or modded servers.

Can console players join a PC DST server?

No. Console versions cannot join PC servers.