How to Connect to a Garry's Mod Server

There are several ways to connect to a Garry's Mod server. This guide covers the three most reliable methods: connecting via the in-game console using a direct IP, adding the server to Steam favorites, and using the in-game server browser.

Finding Your Server's IP Address and Port

Your server's IP address and port are displayed in the top-left area of the console in the NolimitHost Game Panel when the server is running. First, log in to the panel, click on your Garry's Mod server, and open the Console tab. The address will look like 123.45.67.89:27015 — the numbers before the colon are the IP address (where the server lives), and the number after is the port (which door to enter through). You'll need this ip:port combination for the methods below.

Method 1 — Connect via the In-Game Console (Recommended)

This is the most direct and reliable way to connect:

1. Make sure your server is running.
2. Open Garry's Mod from Steam.
3. Press the tilde (~) key to open the in-game console. If it's disabled, go to Options > Keyboard > Advanced and enable the developer console.
4. Type the following command and press Enter:

   connect 123.123.123.123:27015

   The connect command tells Garry's Mod to join the server at the given address. Replace 123.123.123.123:27015 with your actual server IP and port.

Method 2 — Add to Steam Favorites and Connect

Adding your server to Steam favorites makes it easy to find and join from the Steam client later:

1. In the Steam client, go to View > Game Servers.
2. Switch to the Favorites tab.
3. Click Add a Server in the bottom-right corner.
4. Paste your server's IP and port (e.g. 123.123.123.123:27015) and click OK.
5. Launch Garry's Mod, go to Find Multiplayer Game, select Favorites, and click on your server to connect.

Method 3 — In-Game Server Browser

The server browser lets you find servers from inside Garry's Mod, without typing any commands:

1. Open Garry's Mod and click Find Multiplayer Game.
2. Select the game mode tab that matches your server (e.g. DarkRP, Sandbox, TTT).
3. Browse the list or use the search bar to find your server by name.
4. Click the server to connect.

Troubleshooting Connection Issues

• Server not appearing in browser — It may be set to hidden (-nomaster). Use a direct IP to connect.
• Connection failed — Confirm the server is fully started and the IP and port are correct.
• Password prompt — The server has sv_password set. Ask the server owner for the password.
• Missing addons / content errors — Subscribe to the server's Workshop collection before joining.