How to Fix “Could Not Retrieve Server ID” in 7 Days to Die
It's the zombies, trust me.
7 Days to Die, one of the oldest titles from the Steam Greenlight days, has finally left early access after nearly 12 years. The 1.0 version has lifted the concurrent player count from around 50,000 to almost 100K on Steam, and it’s only going up. This also means that there are a few stability issues and server issues that are common with major launches like this. If you’re running into the “Could Not Retrieve Server ID” error in 7 Days to Die, here are a few things you can do to fix that.
Fixing the “Could Not Retrieve Server Information” Error in 7 Days to Die
This error is common if you have set up your own dedicated server in 7 Days to Die, but can’t connect to it, or your friends aren’t able to connect to it.
Accept Firewall Permissions
If you recently installed 7 Days to Die, you will get a prompt from Windows asking if you agree with the Firewall rules and permissions required by 7 Days to Die to connect to servers. If you declined at this point, you will need to manually allow these settings from Windows Firewall settings for both 7 Days to Die and the 7 Days to Die dedicated server. Alternatively, you can just reinstall the game so the prompt will show up.
Forward Specific TCP and UDP Ports
If you think everything is fine on your end when it comes to your network connection, and firewall permissions have been granted, you will need to ensure that a few ports have forwarded in your router.
TCP Ports for 7 Days to Die
- 26900 (This is the port designated in the serverconfig)
- 8080-8081 (ONLY if you plan to administer your server remotely AND do not change the ports in the serverconfig.)
UDP Ports for 7 Days to Die
- 26900-26903
Forwarding ports is a bit tricky and can vary from modem, and router, so it’s better to contact your ISP to assist you with this part. You can also refer to this website linked by the developers for a list of popular routers, and instructions to forward ports.
For more on how to set up the dedicated server, make sure you carefully read the instructions provided by the developers.
Add an Exception in Your Antivirus Software
It’s also possible that your antivirus service is blocking 7 Days to Die to properly connect to the dedicated server. To make sure that isn’t the case, first, temporarily disable the antivirus server and see if you can connect to the servers. If you can, add 7 Days to Die’s main folder in the antivirus list of exclusions or exceptions.
Generic Troubleshooting
Apart from that, you can try the following if none of the suggestions above worked. These could result in success and have helped users in the past.
- Keep trying to connect, or try connecting to the servers in a few hours
- Restart the modem or router to refresh it and resolve any lingering issues
- Reset your internet connection in Windows
- Unplug your ethernet cable, restart your PC, and replug the cable
If nothing works, you can try contacting 7 Days to Die’s official support for further assistance. We hope that our recommendations have fixed the 7 Days to Die “Could Not Retrieve Server ID” error, and you can finally connect to the server of your choice.
