To find a server IP in Terraria and connect, you are either joining a friend's server (needing their IP) or hosting your own (needing to share your IP). Open Terraria, select Multiplayer, then Join via IP, and enter the address in the IP:Port format, such as 192.168.1.10:7777.
How to find your own Terraria server IP to share
If you are hosting a server, you need to find either your local IPv4 address for LAN play or your public IP address for internet play. To find your local IPv4 address on Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. Look for the IPv4 Address entry under your active network adapter; this is the address to share with players on the same home network. To find your public IP address for players outside your network, simply search "what is my IP" in a web browser. Share your public IP with friends who are not on your local network, but remember that they will also need your port number (default 7777) to connect.
Setting up your network for a Terraria server
For players outside your local network to connect, you must configure port forwarding on your router. Log into your router's settings, find the port forwarding section, and create a new rule for port 7777 (both TCP and UDP) directed to your server machine's local IP address. To access your router's settings, you need its default gateway IP address, which is typically found in Command Prompt by typing ipconfig and looking for the Default Gateway entry. Additionally, configure your Windows Firewall to allow TerrariaServer.exe or traffic on port 7777. These steps resolve the common "why can't my friend connect?" issue.
Joining a Terraria server on console
Console versions of Terraria (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch) do not have a direct "Join via IP" option. Instead, you typically join through platform-specific friends lists or use workarounds for crossplay with PC or Mobile servers. If you are on console and need to connect to a specific server, you may need to check your console's network settings or rely on the server being hosted through a platform that supports console connections. Managing expectations is important, as console multiplayer is more restricted than PC or Mobile.
