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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 — 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:
connect 203.0.113.10:27015
Replace the example address with your server’s actual IP:port.
You can share this as a one-liner with your community — 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) — 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:
password "yourpassword"
connect 203.0.113.10:27015
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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