How do you Join on your Garrys Mod Server
Learn how to set up and join your Garrys Mod server: generate the Steam server token, add the IP to Favorites or Steam server browser.
Welcome to the ultimate sandbox! Getting your friends into your Garry's Mod (GMod) server is the first step to endless physics-bending fun. Before anyone can start spawning props or building massive contraptions, you need to ensure your server is properly authenticated with Steam during its setup. Once that is out of the way, players can easily connect using your server's IP and port.
This guide will walk you through generating your required Steam token and the best methods for players to join your world.
Prerequisite: The Steam Server Token (During Server Creation)
When you are initially creating your GMod server, you will be required to provide a Steam Server Token. This token allows your server to reliably download mod collections and ensures it ranks properly on the public server browser.
Go to the official Steam Game Server Account Management or go to this link.
Log in with your Steam account and create a new game server account. You must use App ID 4000 (the specific ID for Garry's Mod).
Copy the newly generated login token.
Paste this token into the Steam Server Token field when filling out your server creation details. Complete your setup to create the server.
Method 1: Connecting via In-Game Favorites (Recommended)
This is the most reliable way for players to find and join your server every time they launch the game.
Launch Garry's Mod on your PC.
From the main menu, navigate to Find Multiplayer Game.
Click on the Favorites tab at the top.
Enter your server's exact IP and port in the option located near the bottom of the screen (your server's IP and Port can be found on your server panel).
Click Find servers at given address, and click on the heart icon on the left side of the server name, and your server will now appear on the list—just double-click it to connect!
Method 2: Using the Steam Server Browser
Players can also add the server directly through the Steam client before even launching the game.
Open the Steam Client on your computer.
Click on View in the top left menu bar, then select Game Servers (or just Servers on older Steam versions).
Navigate to the Favorites tab.
Click the + (Plus) icon at the bottom to add a new server.
Paste your server's IP and Port and save it by pressing OK.
Select the server from the list and click Connect to launch the game and join automatically.
Troubleshooting & Tips
If your crew is having trouble loading into the game, run through these quick checks:
Connection failed after 4 retries: This almost always means the IP or Port was entered incorrectly. Make sure there are no accidental spaces copied at the beginning or end of the numbers.
Server not responding / not showing up: Ensure your server status is "Running" in your server panel. If the server fails to boot, it may be due to an invalid Steam Server Token entered during creation.
Missing textures or giant red "ERROR" signs: If your server runs custom Workshop content, ensure your joining players have "Allow all custom files from server" enabled in their local GMod multiplayer options.
Conclusion
Your sandbox is now open for business! Whether your crew is gearing up for Trouble in Terrorist Town, hiding in Prop Hunt, or just building rockets in Sandbox mode, having your server saved in the Favorites tab makes jumping back into the action effortless.
If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to contact our support team for assistance!