Hytale Server Authentication Error: How to Fix Server Auth

A Hytale server authentication error means the server has not been linked to a Hytale account, or it lost its saved login after a restart. Until it is authorised, the server starts but refuses every player. The fix is to run /auth login device in the server console, approve the code in your browser, then run /auth persistence Encrypted so it stays logged in.

The error messages

You will usually see one of these in the server console or log when a player tries to join:

No server tokens configured. Use /auth login to authenticate.

[HandshakeHandler] Server session token not available - cannot request auth grant

Players on their side just fail to connect or are kicked straight away during the join.

Why Hytale servers need authentication

Every Hytale server running in the default authenticated mode has to prove it is linked to a real Hytale account. That lets the server check that each joining player owns the game and is who they say they are. Hypixel uses a device login flow, the same kind you use to sign in to a TV app: the server shows a code, you approve it in a browser.

Hypixel allows up to 100 servers per Hytale game license, so one account can authorise all the servers you realistically need.

Quick fix

1. Start the server and wait until it has fully loaded.

2. In the console, type:

   /auth login device
   

3. The console prints a URL and a short code. Open the URL in a browser, sign in with your Hytale account and enter the code exactly. It is case sensitive.

4. Wait for the console to confirm the login succeeded.

5. Save the login so you do not have to repeat this:

   /auth persistence Encrypted
   

6. Check it worked:

   /auth status
   

Players can join as soon as the login is done. There is no need to restart.

"I have to log in again after every restart"

This is the most common follow up problem. By default the login only lasts for the current session. Running /auth persistence Encrypted once, after a successful login, tells the server to store its credentials in an encrypted file in the server folder and reuse them on the next start.

If it still asks after a restart:

• The file could not be written. The server needs write access to its own folder. On Linux, make sure the server runs as the user that owns the folder, not as root one time and a normal user the next.
• The folder was wiped. Some update scripts delete and replace the whole server folder. Keep your server data and config separate from the files you overwrite on update, or copy the credentials file back.
• You ran persistence before logging in. Log in first, then run the persistence command.

Treat the saved credentials like a password. Do not share the server folder, zip it up for a friend or commit it to a public GitHub repo.

Other causes

The system clock is wrong

Login tokens are time limited. If the server machine's clock is far off, tokens can look expired or not yet valid. Turn on automatic time sync (on Windows: Settings, Time and language, Set time automatically; on Linux: timedatectl set-ntp true), then log in again.

No outbound internet access

The server has to reach Hypixel's account service to log in and to check players. A firewall that blocks outbound connections, or a machine with no internet, will fail authentication even with UDP 5520 open.

Wrong account or expired code

The device code only works for a short time. If you took too long, run /auth login device again for a fresh one. Make sure you are signed in to the Hytale account you want the server linked to.

Offline mode

The server has an --auth-mode launch option that takes authenticated (the default) or offline. Offline mode skips account checks, which is only meant for local testing and development. It does not fix authentication for a normal server, and it drops the protection that stops people joining as someone else. Keep public and friends servers on authenticated mode.

If players still cannot join

Once /auth status shows the server is logged in, the problem is somewhere else. The usual suspects are UDP port 5520 not being open or a version mismatch, both covered in Hytale server can't connect. For the whole setup from the start, see how to make a Hytale server.

The easier way

The auth flow, keeping the saved login between restarts and protecting the credentials file are all part of running your own Hytale server. We are preparing Hytale servers with a live console where you can run the /auth commands and 3 backups to fall back on. They are not open yet, so join the waitlist on the Hytale server hosting page, and read the Hytale quick start guide for what hosting will look like.

FAQ

Why does my Hytale server say "No server tokens configured"?

The server has not been authorised with a Hytale account yet. Run /auth login device in the console and approve the code in your browser.

How do I keep my Hytale server logged in after a restart?

After logging in, run /auth persistence Encrypted. The server saves its credentials in an encrypted file and reuses them next time.

How many Hytale servers can one account authorise?

Hypixel allows up to 100 servers per Hytale game license.

Do players need to be authenticated too?

Yes. In authenticated mode the server checks each player's Hytale account when they join. That is why the server itself needs to be logged in first.