Players can’t join

1. Is the server running? Start it in the panel and wait until it says Running. Some games take a few minutes to load their world the first time.
2. What does the panel say? Open the server. Players can join means Aperture reached it from the internet; check that your friends use the exact address shown, including the port. Players can’t reach it comes with the ports to open.
3. Forward the ports. On a home network, forward every port the server lists, with the protocol shown (TCP, UDP or both), to the machine’s home address. Then choose Check again. Open your ports has the details.
4. Open the provider’s firewall. On a VPS, allow the same ports in the provider’s firewall or security group.
5. Rule out CGNAT. Compare your router’s internet (WAN) address with the public address on the Machines page. If they differ, port forwarding can’t work. Use a tunnel, ask your provider for a public IPv4 address, or use a VPS.
6. Using a tunnel? The panel tests the tunnel’s address, not your router. If it says players can’t reach it, check that the tunnel’s program is running on the machine and sends players to 127.0.0.1 and the server’s port. With playit, running playit in a terminal on the machine shows its tunnels.
7. Testing from home? Many routers can’t connect you to your own public address from inside your network, even when everyone else can (this is called NAT loopback or hairpinning). Join with the machine’s home address and port, or test over mobile data.

Still stuck? Contact support with the server’s address and what the panel shows.