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There are several ways to join a Garry’s Mod server: the in-game server browser, the Legacy Browser, or a direct console connect. This guide covers all of them, plus favorites, password-protected servers, and how to confirm your server is actually online first.

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Verify the Server Is Online

Before connecting, make sure the server has finished starting:
1

Open the panel console

Log in to the Wasabi Hosting Game Panel, select your Garry’s Mod server, and open the Console tab.
2

Check the startup output

A fully started server ends its boot log with lines like Connection to Steam servers successful. and VAC secure mode is activated. If the console is still scrolling mount/addon messages, give it a moment, since servers with large Workshop collections take longer on first boot.
3

Copy the address

Note your server’s address from the panel dashboard in the format IP:port. The default Garry’s Mod port is 27015.

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Method 1: Console Connect (Fastest)

1

Enable the developer console

In GMod, go to Options → Keyboard → Advanced and check Enable Developer Console. The console opens with the backtick/tilde key (`).
2

Connect

Open the console and type:
Replace the example address with your server’s actual IP:port.
You can share this as a one-liner with your community, so anyone can paste a connect command into their console to join instantly.

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Method 2: Server Browser

  1. From the GMod main menu, click Multiplayer (or the server browser icon).
  2. Pick the category matching your gamemode (e.g. Sandbox or DarkRP), since servers are grouped by gamemode.
  3. Search for your server’s hostname (set via hostname in server.cfg; see Server Configuration).
  4. Double-click the server to join.
A freshly started server can take a few minutes to appear in the public browser list. The console connect method works immediately.

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Method 3: Legacy Browser

The Legacy Browser is the classic Source-engine server list and includes a direct-connect option:
  1. From the main menu, open the Legacy Browser (bottom-right of the multiplayer menu).
  2. Use the Favorites tab and click Add a server.
  3. Enter your IP:port and click Add this address to favorites.
  4. Select the server and click Connect.

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Adding to Favorites

Keep your server one click away:
  • Via Legacy Browser: Favorites tab → Add a server → enter IP:port. This works even when the server is offline.
  • From the server list: right-click the server in the Legacy Browser and choose Add server to favorites.

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Password-Protected Servers

If the server has a password set (sv_password "yourpassword" in server.cfg or the panel startup settings):
Set the password in your console before connecting:
If you join via the server browser instead, GMod will simply prompt you for the password.

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Can’t Connect?

  • Server not responding: confirm it’s fully booted in the panel console (see above).
  • Wrong port: GMod defaults to 27015, but always use the exact port shown on your panel dashboard.
  • “Bad password” loop: re-run password "..." in your console; quotes matter if the password contains spaces.
  • Stuck on downloading/mounting addons: large Workshop collections take time on first join; see Workshop Addons.
  • Firewall rules: if you use the Firewall Manager, verify no rule is blocking your IP.

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