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The Front Connection Failed Fix - The Front Wiki

The Front Guide • Updated Feb 14, 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

🚫 Connection Failed

Client cannot establish connection after clicking Join button

🔄 Timeout Errors

Connection attempts time out during handshake process

👤 Server Not Visible

Server appears offline or doesn't show in browser

Comprehensive Troubleshooting Steps

1. Network Configuration

🔌 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

🔥 Firewall Configuration

Allow TheFrontServer.exe through:

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

2. Server Configuration

⚙️ 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

📝 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

🔄 Server Updates

Keep server updated via SteamCMD:

steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2612550 validate +quit

🎮 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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