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The Front Connection Failed Fix - The Front Wiki

The Front Guide โ€ข Updated Jan 22, 2026

The Front Connection Failed: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

"Connection failed" errors occur when clients cannot establish a stable connection to your The Front dedicated server. This comprehensive guide covers all common causes and solutions.

Common Symptoms

๐Ÿšซ Connection Failed

Client cannot establish connection after clicking Join button

๐Ÿ”„ Timeout Errors

Connection attempts time out during handshake process

๐Ÿ‘ค Server Not Visible

Server appears offline or doesn't show in browser

Comprehensive Troubleshooting Steps

1. Network Configuration

๐Ÿ”Œ Port Forwarding

Ensure all required ports are forwarded:

  • Game Port: Default 7777 UDP
  • Beacon Port: Default 7778 UDP
  • Query Port: Default 7779 UDP
  • Shutdown Service: Default 7780 UDP

๐Ÿ”ฅ Firewall Configuration

Allow TheFrontServer.exe through:

  • Windows Defender Firewall
  • Third-party antivirus software
  • Network hardware firewalls
  • Cloud security groups (if hosted)

2. Server Configuration

โš™๏ธ Launch Parameters

Verify your startup command includes all necessary parameters:

start "" "C:\TheFront\ProjectWar\Binaries\Win64\TheFrontServer.exe" ProjectWar ProjectWar_Start ?Listen?MaxPlayers=8 -server -game -QueueThreshold=8 -ServerName="My Front Server" -ServerAdminAccounts=STEAM64ID -OutIPAddress=YOUR_PUBLIC_IP -ServerID=1 -port=7777 -BeaconPort=7778 -QueryPort=7779 -ShutDownServicePort=7780 -log

๐Ÿ“ Config Files

Check these configuration files:

  • TheFrontManager/ServerConfig_.ini (note the underscore)
  • Game.ini in saved folder
  • Engine.ini for engine settings

3. Version and Compatibility

๐Ÿ”„ Server Updates

Keep server updated via SteamCMD:

steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2612550 validate +quit

๐ŸŽฎ Client-Server Match

Ensure client and server versions match exactly

  • Check Steam build numbers
  • Verify no conflicting mods
  • Clear client cache if needed

Verify the Launch Command

The Front uses multiple ports. Keep them sequential to simplify firewall rules:

start "" "C:\TheFront\ProjectWar\Binaries\Win64\TheFrontServer.exe" ProjectWar ProjectWar_Start ?Listen?MaxPlayers=8 -server -game -QueueThreshold=8 -ServerName="My Front Server" -ServerAdminAccounts=STEAM64ID -OutIPAddress=YOUR_PUBLIC_IP -ServerID=1 -port=7777 -BeaconPort=7778 -QueryPort=7779 -ShutDownServicePort=7780 -log

Confirm ServerConfig_.ini Loads

Create a folder named TheFrontManager in the server directory and add ServerConfig_.ini inside it. If the folder or file name is wrong, the config will not load.

[BaseServerConfig]
ServerName="Your server name"
ServerPassword=
ServerTitle="Short description"
PlayerAddExpRate=1

Open Ports and Firewall Rules

  • Allow TheFrontServer.exe through your firewall.
  • Forward the base port plus three additional ports (example: 7777-7780).
  • If players can join locally but not remotely, this is almost always port forwarding.

Update and Version Match

Make sure the dedicated server is updated to the same version as clients:

steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2612550 validate +quit

Advanced Troubleshooting

Client-Side Fixes

  • Verify Game Cache: Delete The Front cache in %localappdata%/TheFront/Saved
  • Check Network Drivers: Update network adapter drivers
  • Disable VPN/Proxy: These can interfere with game connections
  • Steam Client Restart: Restart Steam completely before attempting to join

Server-Side Solutions

  • Restart Services: Stop/start server processes completely
  • Check Resource Usage: Monitor CPU, RAM, and network utilization
  • Validate Game Files: Run SteamCMD with validate option
  • Review Log Files: Check Saved/Logs for specific error codes

Network Diagnostics

  • Port Testing: Use online port checking tools to verify openness
  • Ping Tests: Have players ping your server IP directly
  • Trace Route: Run tracert to identify network bottlenecks
  • Firewall Logs: Check firewall blocking logs for denied connections

Community Resources

Keep your squads connected. Host your The Front server with Supercraft for managed ports, auto-updates, and backups.

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