# Is my game server reachable?

Enter your server's public IP address and port and pick the game. We try to reach it from the internet the way your friends would: through the game's own server query where it has one, which also tells you how many players are on, or with a plain TCP connection otherwise. If it does not answer, you get the likely cause and what to fix.

Use it free at https://gamezservers.com/tools/port-checker

## How it works

For games with a public server query (Minecraft, Valheim, Rust, Project Zomboid, CS2, 7 Days to Die and most other Steam games), we send that query to the game's query port. An answer proves the server is running and its ports are open, and includes the player count.

For other games, we open a TCP connection to the port. That shows the port is open, but games that only use UDP can still be blocked, so treat a failed TCP test on a UDP game as unknown rather than closed.

We only check public addresses. A local address like 192.168.1.20 only works inside your own home, so friends need your public IP and a forwarded port.

## Example

Checking a Valheim server at 203.0.113.10:2456 sends a Steam server query to port 2457, the game port plus one. A running, forwarded server answers with its player count, for example "Reachable, 3 players online". No answer usually means the server is still starting, UDP 2456 to 2457 is not forwarded on the router, or the internet provider uses CGNAT.

## FAQ

### Why does my server work for me but not my friends?

You are connecting over your home network. Friends come in from the internet, which needs your public IP, the port forwarded on your router to the server's local IP, and the port allowed through the firewall.

### What is a query port?

Many games answer server list questions (name, map, players) on a second port, often the game port plus one. Server browsers and this checker use it. If only the query port is blocked, the server can work by direct connect but not show in the browser.

### What is CGNAT?

Some internet providers share one public IP between many homes. Forwarded ports never reach you, so nobody outside can connect. If your router's WAN IP differs from what "what is my IP" sites show, you are probably behind CGNAT.

### Do you store the addresses I check?

No. We do not save the address you check. We only count checks, by game and whether they got an answer, to see how the tool is used.

## Related guides

- https://gamezservers.com/guides/how-to-port-forward-a-game-server
- https://gamezservers.com/guides/how-to-tell-if-you-are-behind-cgnat
- https://gamezservers.com/guides/how-to-test-if-a-udp-port-is-open
- https://gamezservers.com/guides/upnp-not-working-for-game-server