How to Connect to Your Arma Reforger Server

To connect to your Arma Reforger server, open the in-game Multiplayer menu and either search for the server name in the browser or use Direct Join with the server IP and port. Reforger’s default game port is UDP 2001, and the Direct Join prompt is opened with the V key on the keyboard or the Right Stick on a controller. This guide walks through every connection route and what to do when a search does not return your server.

Find Your Server’s IP and Port

Before a player can connect, you need two pieces of information: the public IP address and the game port. Both are visible in the LPV5 panel for any LoafHosts Arma Reforger server. The default Reforger game port is UDP 2001, and your server uses that unless you have explicitly changed bindPort.

1. Sign in to LoafHub at hub.loafhosts.com
2. Open your Arma Reforger server in the LPV5 panel
3. Copy the public IP shown on the server overview
4. Copy the game port; the default is 2001
5. Share the IP and port with your players

Note: The default Reforger game port is UDP 2001 per the config spec

Note: The A2S query port defaults to 17777 and the RCon port defaults to 19999; players do not need these to join

Connect via the In-Game Server Browser

The simplest route is to search for the server name in the in-game browser. Arma Reforger’s multiplayer page has a search bar in the top right that filters the list as you type.

1. Launch Arma Reforger and open the Multiplayer menu
2. Wait for the server list to load
3. Type a few words from your server name in the search bar in the top right
4. Find your server in the filtered list
5. Double-click the row to join, or select it and click Play

Tip: Search for two or three distinctive words from the name, not the full string

Tip: If your server is modded, make sure any browser filters that hide modded servers are off

Connect via Direct Join by IP

Direct Join is the most reliable connection route, especially for modded servers that browser filters can hide. You enter the IP and port and the client connects without going through the public list.

1. Open the Multiplayer menu in Arma Reforger
2. Press V on the keyboard, or the Right Stick on a controller, to open the Direct Join prompt
3. Enter the server IP
4. Enter the port; use 2001 unless your admin told you otherwise
5. Click Connect and wait for the mod download and join

Tip: Direct Join always works even when the server is set to game.visible = false in config.json

Tip: Share IP and port together in the form IP:PORT so players can paste cleanly

Note: Arma Reforger does include in-game Direct Join by IP today; you do not need a third-party tool or a batch file

Enter the Password if One Is Set

If the server has game.password set, the Reforger client prompts for the password before completing the connection. The prompt is the same in the browser route and the Direct Join route.

1. When prompted, type the password your admin shared
2. Press Connect
3. Wait for the mod sync, world load, and slot selection
4. Pick a role or slot and spawn in

Warning: Passwords are case-sensitive; a typo looks like a server problem but is almost always a wrong password

Warning: Never paste a server password in a public chat or stream overlay

Favourite a Server for One-Click Access

Once you have joined a server, you can mark it as a favourite from the in-game browser so it appears in your favourites filter on every future session. This is the cleanest way to give your group quick access without sharing IP and port over and over.

1. From the in-game server browser, find or search for your server
2. Select the row to highlight it
3. Use the favourite option to add it to your favourites list
4. On future sessions, switch the browser filter to Favourites to find it instantly

Tip: Tell new members to favourite the server right after their first successful join

Tip: Favourites travel with your Reforger profile, so they persist across reinstalls

Troubleshooting When You Cannot Connect

If a player cannot find or join the server, the cause is almost always one of a few well-known issues. Work through them in order: search, filters, password, then mods.

Tip: If a name search returns nothing, switch to Direct Join with the IP and port

Tip: Check the browser filters: a modded server can be hidden if Mods filter is off

Tip: Confirm the player typed the password correctly; it is case-sensitive

Tip: If the join hangs on mod download, the player may need to retry once the modlist settles

Tip: Confirm the server is actually running by checking the LPV5 Console tab

Warning: If you change the modlist mid-session, every player must redownload mods on their next join

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default port for Arma Reforger servers?

Per the Reforger config spec, the default game port (bindPort) is UDP 2001. The A2S query port defaults to 17777 and RCon defaults to 19999, but players only need the game port to join.

Can I connect to a Reforger server by direct IP?

Yes. Arma Reforger includes an in-game Direct Join feature. Open the Multiplayer menu and press V on keyboard or Right Stick on controller to open the prompt, then enter the IP and port.

Why can I not find my server in the in-game browser?

The most common causes are browser filters hiding modded servers, the server still booting, or the server set to game.visible = false. Try Direct Join with the IP and port to bypass the browser.

Do I need to forward ports to join a Reforger server?

No. Players never need to forward ports to join a server; port forwarding only matters for someone self-hosting from a home connection. With LoafHosts hosting, the ports are already open.

Is the Reforger game port TCP or UDP?

UDP. The Reforger config spec defines bindPort as a UDP port with a default value of 2001. The other server-side ports (A2S query and RCon) are also UDP.

How do I save my Reforger server as a favourite?

Find the server in the in-game browser, select the row, and use the favourite option to add it to your favourites list. Future sessions can find it instantly under the Favourites filter.

What does the password prompt look like?

When you try to join a password-protected server, the Reforger client shows a small dialog asking for the password before completing the connection. It works the same way from the browser or from Direct Join.