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Connection problems

From Dawn of the Dead Wiki

Guide · Troubleshooting

Can't get in? Start with the quick checks and troubleshooting, then look up your kick message. If nothing fits, the Universal Fix repairs almost everything else.

Quick checks

  1. Is the server up? deadeyedotd.org shows its live status and player count.
  2. Is it restart time? The server restarts at 03:00, 09:00 and 16:00 UK time. Wait a few minutes and try again.
  3. Right game version? You need the Default Public Version: Steam → Properties… → Betas → None.
  4. Right details? IP 5.39.74.81, port 16261, no password — see How to connect.
  5. VPN on? Turn it off. Connections through a VPN are kicked.

Troubleshooting

  • Infinite Loading?

Try closing the game and changing the game language to English if not already, then retry joining. This is due to an issue with translation files in some mods.

  • Workshop Version Different

Steam updated one of the server's mods on your copy the moment its author published it — the server keeps running the version it booted with until it restarts. That gap is exactly what the error is reporting.

⚠️ Nothing is broken and nothing is wrong on your end: the next restart clears it. See Server Restarts for more details on what happens next.

  • Wrong username or password

Try a different username if it's your first time on the server, the name you want may already be taken.

If you forgot your password, create a support ticket.

  • No More Accounts Can Be Created

Only one account per user is allowed. You may have a forgotten account or one was made in error by the server during a prior attempt to join, create a support ticket.

  • Unexpected Error

Firstly, try the universal fix for a clean install.

If you still get this error:

  1. Open Run (Windows Key + R)
  2. Paste the following and hit enter %USERPROFILE%\Zomboid\
  3. Find console.txt

This contains recent error logs. If the source of the problem is unclear, open a ticket under Access Issues, after the ticket is opened attach the console file.

Kick messages explained

Kicked with a message? Find it here.

The message starts with What it means What to do
Failed Checksum - invalid files detected Some of your game or mod files don't match the server's. Follow Failed checksum.
Failed Checksum - invalid workshop ID detected Workshop items you have don't match the server's. The message lists them. Follow Failed checksum — the checksum page shows the full list.
VPN detected You are connecting through a VPN or proxy. Turn the VPN off and join again. Can't? Open a ticket under Access Issues.
VPN ban You were asked to turn a VPN off and came back through a different one. Appeal with a ticket under Access Issues.
This IP Provider is under cheater quarantine Your internet provider's addresses are blocked because of cheating from them. It is not about you personally. Ask to be whitelisted with a ticket under Access Issues.
New account check The server needs to verify your account one time due to issues regarding purchased accounts. In Steam, click your name top-right, View Profile, Edit Profile, Privacy Settings. Set Game Details to Public. You change back to private after connecting.

Connection lost & high ping

The server streams roughly 2 Mbps of data to every player. If your connection can't keep up, the server's queue for you fills, your ping climbs into the hundreds, and you eventually get dropped — even though your internet looks fine everywhere else.

  • 🔌 Use a wired connection if you can. WiFi is by far the most common cause, especially if you're a few rooms away from the router.
  • 📥 Close background downloads and streams. Game updates, cloud backups and video calls all compete for the same bandwidth.
  • 👥 Check who else is on your network. Someone streaming video in another room is a very common culprit.

💬 If it keeps happening after all that, contact staff to look at your connection specifically.

The Universal Fix

Kicked on join, stuck loading, or mods refusing to load? Work through the stages in order and stop as soon as you get in — Stage 1 fixes most people.

Stage 1 — Reset your mods

  1. Unsubscribe from all your Steam Workshop mods. Old subscriptions are the single biggest cause of conflicts and broken files.
  2. Subscribe to the Dawn of the Dead B42 Modpack — Season 2.
  3. Let Steam finish downloading before you launch the game, then try to join.

Stage 2 — Force a clean re-download

  1. Open the modpack page and use Subscribe all → Override all.
  2. Verify the game: Steam Library → right-click Project Zomboid → Properties… → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.
  3. Try to join again.

Stage 3 — Full clean reinstall

The last resort, for when nothing else has worked.

  1. Unsubscribe from all Workshop mods.
  2. Uninstall Project Zomboid, then exit Steam completely.
  3. Delete these three folders and one file by hand: 
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ProjectZomboid
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\appworkshop_108600.acf C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\108600 C:\Users\USERNAME\Zomboid
  1. Reopen Steam and reinstall the game.
  2. Re-subscribe to the modpack, then add the server again as in How to connect.
Before you delete

The Zomboid folder holds your settings, keybinds and single-player saves — copy it somewhere safe first if you want to keep them. If the game isn't installed on C:, swap the drive letter; the Users folder never moves.

Still can't get in?

Open a ticket under Access Issues. Tell us your in-game name, the exact message you saw, and what you have already tried from this page.

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