Fix SCP: Secret Laboratory Server Not Showing
server not showingnot verifiedcan't find serverAn SCP: Secret Laboratory server that won't list usually fails the central-server verification or has a blocked port. Here's how to fix it, plus the account and update-related causes that trip people up.
Open the port
SCP:SL uses a single UDP port (default 7777). Open/forward it:
7777/udp game (default)It must verify with the central server
SCP:SL servers register with the official central server to appear in the browser. If verification fails, the server runs but won't list. Check the server console on startup — it logs whether verification succeeded, and why if it didn't (commonly the port not being reachable from outside).
The central server tests your port from the outside. If a firewall/NAT blocks it, verification fails and the server stays hidden — even though it's "running".
Connect directly
You can join by ID or directly. In-game, use the direct connect option with server-ip:7777 to get in while you sort out listing.
Open 7777/udp so it's reachable from outside, watch the console for verification, and direct-connect by IP meanwhile.
Other reasons verification fails
- An outdated server build against the current SCP:SL release — the central server can reject old builds from listing.
- Your Northwood account credentials (if used for the server ID) are wrong or the token expired.
- The server crashed or hung shortly after boot, so it never reaches the verification step at all — check the log for a crash before the "verifying" line.
- A second server instance is already using the same port on the same machine.
How to prevent it
- Update the server as soon as a new SCP:SL release ships — verification is stricter on stale builds.
- Open the port before the first launch and verify externally with our server status checker.
- Watch the console on every restart, not just the first — a config change can silently break verification later.
Related errors
For general port-forwarding steps, see how to port forward a game server. If players see the server but can't join, see fixing "connection timed out" on game servers.
SCP: Secret Laboratory is developed by Northwood Studios and based on the SCP Foundation (CC BY-SA). ESAGAMES is an independent hosting provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by Northwood Studios.
SCP:SL hosting that lists
Our SCP: Secret Laboratory hosting opens the port and verifies cleanly on a protected Frankfurt network.
Frequently asked questions
What port does an SCP: Secret Laboratory server use?
UDP 7777 by default. It must be open and reachable from the internet, because the central server verifies it externally before listing your server.
Why does my SCP:SL server run but not show?
It failed central-server verification — usually the port isn't reachable from outside due to a firewall or NAT. Check the startup console log for the verification result.
Can I join an SCP:SL server directly?
Yes — use the direct-connect option with the server IP and port 7777, which works even while you troubleshoot why it isn't listing.
Do I need a Northwood account to run a server?
Not always, but if your server uses an account-linked ID for verification, wrong or expired credentials will block verification — check the console for an authentication error.
Why did my server stop listing after it worked fine before?
A recent SCP:SL update likely requires a newer server build, or a config change broke the verification step. Update the server and re-check the console log after restart.
Can two SCP:SL servers run on the same machine?
Yes, but each needs its own port — running two on the default 7777 causes the second to fail to bind or fail verification.
Go deeper on this
Guides and explainers that pair with this fix — from our guides and blog.
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Passwords, admin access, backups — beyond Anti-DDoS.
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