Table of contents

1. Check if the Palworld server is running and accessible2. Test your server’s public IP and port3. Port forwarding and NAT issues4. Check firewall and antivirus settings5. Verify game server configuration6. Hosting provider or NAT gateway blocking traffic7. Restart everything8. Use Steam Direct Connect9. Still stuck?Next stepsAdditional resources

Get the industry’s best dedicated server hosting◦ 99.999% uptime
◦ Security rich
◦ Built to spec

Explore options

Dedicated Server → Palworld → Connection Timed Out

Fixed: Connection timed out on Palworld dedicated server

Connection errors hit hard, especially when you’re hosting a Palworld server for friends or a public community. The dreaded “connection timed out” message means your server isn’t reachable, but that doesn’t tell you why. It could be firewall rules, router settings, server crashes, or something as simple as the wrong IP.

Let’s break down every common cause and how to fix it fast—no matter how your server is hosted.

Just want to jump in?

If you just need a server upgrade, you can get started right now. Our dedicated servers combine the best hardware with industry-leading services.

Explore dedicated gaming servers

Build now

What does “connection timed out” mean in Palworld?

This message pops up when the game can’t connect to your server before a timeout threshold is hit. That means your server didn’t respond at all, not even to say “no.”

Usually, one of these things is happening:

The server isn’t running or has crashed.
The game is trying to connect to the wrong IP or port.
The server is blocked by a firewall, NAT, or hosting provider policy.

It’s especially common with home-hosted servers, but even dedicated or VPS setups can trigger it if something’s misconfigured.

1. Check if the Palworld server is running and accessible

Before tweaking any settings, confirm the server is actually up.

Self-hosted on your PC

Open Task Manager and look for PalServer.exe.
If it’s not running, start it manually.
If it crashes instantly, check the Pal/Saved/Logs folder for clues.

Dedicated or VPS server

SSH or Remote Desktop into the server.
Use top, htop, or Task Manager to confirm the server process is running.
Review log files in /Pal/Saved/Logs for errors like “failed to bind” or “fatal exception.”

“Failed to bind to port”

This means the server software tried to claim a specific network port (usually UDP 8211), but it was already in use or blocked. Common causes:

Another process is already using that port (like a second Palworld server or VPN software)
You launched two instances of the server accidentally
The port wasn’t released properly after a crash
OS or firewall restrictions are preventing access to the port

Fixes:

Reboot the machine to release stuck ports.
Run netstat -ano (Windows) or lsof -i :8211 (Linux) to see which process is using the port.
Kill the conflicting process or change the server port in the config.

“Fatal exception”

This means something inside the server application crashed hard, often due to a bug, bad configuration, or missing resource. You’ll see this if:

A required file is missing or corrupted (like PalWorldSettings.ini)
The server ran out of memory or crashed due to overload
Mods or plugins caused instability
The server config references invalid values (like an out-of-range setting)

Fixes:

Check the full error message for more detail (memory fault, missing file, etc.)
Validate game files or re-upload the server files if something’s corrupted
Review your configuration for typos or invalid entries
Check RAM and CPU usage; scale up hosting if you’re hitting limits

2. Test your server’s public IP and port

If the server is running but the port isn’t open, you’ll still time out.

Get your public IP

Use whatismyip.com or run curl ifconfig.me
Use this IP when connecting from another machine—not localhost or 192.168.x.x

Check if the Palworld port is open

Default Palworld port is 8211 (UDP)
Use YouGetSignal or telnet [IP] 8211
If the port is closed, you’ve got a firewall or NAT issue to fix

3. Port forwarding and NAT issues (for home-hosted servers)

If you’re running a Palworld server from your home network, the router needs to send traffic to the correct PC.

Forward UDP port 8211

Log into your router’s web interface.
Forward UDP port 8211 to your PC’s local IP.
Make sure your PC has a static IP or DHCP reservation.

Watch for CGNAT

Some ISPs use Carrier-Grade NAT, which blocks all incoming connections by default. You won’t be able to host a public server in this case, so call your ISP and ask for a public IP address (some charge extra).

4. Check firewall and antivirus settings

Even if port forwarding is correct, your OS or security software might block Palworld.

On Windows

Open Windows Defender Firewall
Click “Allow an app or feature” > Add PalServer.exe
Create an inbound rule for UDP port 8211

On Linux

If you’re using UFW:

sudo ufw allow 8211/udp
sudo ufw reload
sudo ufw status

Or with firewalld:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=8211/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

5. Verify game server configuration

Double-check your server settings file—it may be misconfigured.

Open Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini.
Confirm PublicIP, Port, and IsPublic (or equivalent) are set correctly.
If the server tries to bind to a local IP like 127.0.0.1, players outside your LAN won’t connect

6. Hosting provider or NAT gateway blocking traffic

Some hosting providers lock ports or throttle game server traffic until you manually unblock it.

Check your server dashboard (like WHM, InterWorx, or Plesk) for a firewall manager.
Open UDP port 8211.
Ask your hosting provider if there are anti-DDoS policies that interfere with game traffic.

7. Restart everything (server, router, game)

Before diving deeper, do a hard reset:

Reboot your server.
Restart your home router.
Fully close and reopen Palworld.

This clears stale NAT sessions, memory corruption, and locked port bindings, especially after crashes or updates.

8. Use Steam Direct Connect as a workaround

If regular server browsing fails, try connecting through Steam.

Shift+Tab in Palworld
Click “View” > “Servers”
Go to the Favorites tab
Add your server: IP:8211
Join from the list once it appears

Sometimes this method works even when the in-game list doesn’t.

9. Still stuck? Check server logs and community forums

Palworld logs are located in: Pal/Saved/Logs

Look for:

“Failed to bind to port”
“Fatal error”
“No response from Steam”

If you don’t see anything obvious, head to:

Search for your symptoms or post logs for help.

Prevent future connection timeout errors

To keep your Palworld server stable and accessible long-term, a few preventative steps can help you avoid repeat connection issues.

Keep ports and IPs documented in a Google Doc or notepad.
Use a static public IP or point a domain to your server.
Monitor with tools like UptimeRobot to catch downtime early.
Use an auto-restart script or hosting panel to recover from crashes automatically.

Next steps for fixing Palworld connection timeouts

Palworld connection timeout errors usually come down to firewalls, port blocks, or network config—but they’re all fixable. A few command-line checks and rule tweaks are usually enough to get back online.

If you’re using a VPS or dedicated server, take time to verify the provider’s port access and firewall defaults. It’s the most common roadblock.

When you’re ready to upgrade to a dedicated server—or upgrade your server hosting—Liquid Web can help. Our dedicated server hosting options have been leading the industry for decades, because they’re fast, secure, and completely reliable. Choose your favorite OS and the management tier that works best for you.

Click below to explore dedicated server options or start a chat with one of our experts to learn more.

Ready to get started?

Liquid Web is known for providing high-performance dedicated server hosting solutions. Choose from bare metal or a fully manage dedicated server, and get 99.999% uptime, rich security features, and much more.

Explore dedicated servers

Build now