Fix Rust Server Not Showing in the Server Browser

A Rust server that won't show is usually ports, or it's in a different browser tab than you're looking (modded vs community). Here's the fix, plus the identity-folder and Rust+ causes.

Open the ports

Rust uses the game port plus a query port (and RCON if used):

28015/udp  game
28017/tcp  RCON (optional)
28016     query (Rust+ app, optional)

Look in the right tab

A modded server (Oxide/Carbon) appears in the Modded tab, not Community or Official. Players filtering Community won't see it. Make sure people look in the right tab — or connect directly.

Set server tags & description

Browser filters use server.tags, server.description and the server name. Aggressive filters can hide a server with no tags. Set sensible tags so it surfaces in searches.

Connect directly

Press F1 for the console and connect by IP:

client.connect server-ip:28015

Open 28015/udp, look in the Modded tab, set server.tags, and use F1 "client.connect ip:port" to join.

Other reasons it stays hidden

• Two Rust instances on the same box sharing a server.identity folder can corrupt each other's save/listing state — give each server its own identity folder.
• The Rust+ companion app needs app.port open separately from the game port; a missing app.port doesn't hide the server from the main browser but breaks Rust+ pairing.
• The host's OS firewall blocks 28015 even though the router forwards it.
• A broken Oxide/Carbon plugin can hang the server during startup before it finishes registering.

How to prevent it

• Give every Rust instance on shared hardware its own -server.identity value.
• Set server.tags and a clear hostname before the first public wipe, not after players complain.
• Verify listing with our server status checker after any restart or config change.

Related errors

If players connect but get disconnected by anti-cheat, see fixing Rust EAC disconnects. If uMod/Oxide plugins fail to load, see fixing Rust plugins not loading (uMod). For setting up a server from scratch, see how to make a Rust server.

Rust is a trademark of Facepunch Studios. Oxide/uMod and listed plugins are the property of their respective authors. ESAGAMES is an independent hosting provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by Facepunch or the uMod project.