Palworld Server Connection Timed Out? How to Fix It (2026)

A Palworld server "connection timed out" error means your game sent a request to the server address and never got an answer. Most of the time the address is wrong or missing the port, UDP 8211 is not reaching the server, or the server and your game are on different versions. The fixes below are in order of how often they solve it, starting with the ones that take ten seconds.

Quick fix

1. Type the full address with the port, for example 203.0.113.10:8211, into the box at the bottom of the Join Multiplayer Game screen. Do not use the Recent Servers list.
2. Update Palworld on your device and update and restart the server.
3. If you self host, forward UDP 8211 to the server and allow it through the firewall.
4. Friends outside your house must use your public IP, not the 192.168.x.x local one.
5. Turn off any VPN and try again.

Check the address first

• Include the port. 203.0.113.10 alone will time out. It has to be 203.0.113.10:8211, with a colon and no spaces.
• Use the right IP for where you are. Players on the same home network as the server use its local IP, such as 192.168.1.50:8211. Everyone else uses the public IP from a "what is my IP" site. Some routers do not let you connect to your own public IP from inside the network, which is called missing NAT loopback, so the host may need the local IP even when friends use the public one.
• Skip Recent Servers. The Recent Servers list can hold old connection details and keep timing out against a server that is running fine. Type the address into the direct connect box instead.

Make sure versions match

After a Palworld patch, Steam and the consoles update the game straight away, but a self hosted server does not update itself. The server and every player must be on exactly the same version. If you self host, update the server with SteamCMD and restart it:

steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit

Then have every player update. On Steam, you can also right click Palworld, open Properties, Installed Files and click Verify integrity of game files if the game seems stuck on an old build.

Open UDP port 8211

If friends outside your network time out but you can join locally, the port is the problem. Palworld uses one port:

1. Give the server PC a fixed local IP in your router.
2. Forward UDP 8211 to that IP. UDP matters: a TCP only rule will not work.
3. Allow the server through the firewall. On Windows, from an admin Command Prompt:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Palworld Server" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=8211

If you changed the port with -port=, forward that number instead. Our port forwarding guide walks through the router side.

If the rule is right and it still times out, compare the WAN IP in your router with your public IP. If they differ, your internet provider uses CGNAT, and port forwarding will not work until they give you a public IP. This is one of the most common reasons home hosting fails, and a hosted server avoids it completely since there is nothing to forward.

Check PublicIP and PublicPort

PalWorldSettings.ini has PublicIP and PublicPort settings, used mainly for the community server list. If they are set to an old IP or the wrong port, players connecting through the list can time out. Either leave PublicIP="" empty or set it to your real public IP, and make sure PublicPort=8211 matches the port you use.

Console players timing out

Xbox and PS5 players cannot type an address, so they join through the community server list. For them to connect:

• The server needs to be listed, which a self hosted server does with the -publiclobby launch option.
• Their platform must be allowed in CrossplayPlatforms, for example CrossplayPlatforms=(Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac).
• Everyone must be on the same game version as the server.

Other causes

• VPN or slow connection. Since 1.0, the server is stricter about how fast a client responds while joining. A VPN can add enough delay to get you dropped. Turn it off and try again.
• Server still starting. A big world can take a minute or two to load after a restart. Wait for the server log to show it is ready.
• Server out of memory. If the server crashes or freezes as players join, it can look like a timeout. Pocketpair recommends 16 GB for the server. See how much RAM a game server needs.
• Wrong password. A wrong password usually shows its own message, but check it has no typos and matches ServerPassword exactly.

Timing out on a GamezServers server

On a hosted server, the port is already open and there is no router or firewall on your side to fix. If you time out:

1. Check the server shows Online on your dashboard.
2. Copy the address from the top of the control panel and paste it into the direct connect box, port included.
3. Restart the server after a Palworld patch so it runs the new version, and make sure every player has updated.
4. Look at the Console tab to see whether the server has finished starting.

FAQ

Why does my Palworld server say connection timed out?

The server never answered your game. Check the address includes :8211, that the server and game versions match, and, if you self host, that UDP 8211 is forwarded and allowed through the firewall.

Can I join my own Palworld server from the same PC?

Yes, but use the local IP, such as 127.0.0.1:8211 or 192.168.x.x:8211, instead of your public IP.

Why can I join but my friends cannot?

Your connection is inside the network, theirs is outside. Forward UDP 8211, allow the firewall rule, and give them your public IP. If your router's WAN IP differs from your public IP, you are behind CGNAT.

Why can Xbox players not connect?

They need the server in the community list and their platform in CrossplayPlatforms, and they must be on the same version.

Skip the networking

Timeouts on home hosted servers almost always come down to ports, firewalls and home internet. A hosted server has its own address and nothing to forward. See Palworld server hosting or the quick start guide.