How to Host a Prop Hunt Server in Garry's Mod

Prop Hunt is one of the most popular game modes in Garry's Mod — a hide-and-seek game where players disguise themselves as props. This guide shows you how to install Prop Hunt, add maps, and configure your server so players can join without errors.

Step 1: Get a Garry's Mod Server

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Step 2: Install Prop Hunt via the Steam Workshop

A Steam Workshop collection is a list of addons hosted on Steam that your server downloads automatically. Prop Hunt is distributed as a Workshop addon, so this is the easiest way to install it.

1. Go to the Garry's Mod Steam Workshop.
2. Search for Prop Hunt Enhanced and add it to your server's Workshop collection.
3. If you don't have a Workshop collection yet, see our Workshop Collection guide.
4. Restart your server (press Restart, or Stop then Start). It will auto-download the game mode on startup.

Step 3: Set the Game Mode to Prop Hunt

The game mode defines the rules of your server — Prop Hunt adds the hide-and-seek gameplay on top of the base game.

1. Log in to the NolimitHost Game Panel and click on your Garry's Mod server from the dashboard.
2. In the left sidebar, go to Startup or Server Options.
3. Set the Game Mode field to prophunt.
4. Save and restart the server.

Alternatively, open garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg in the File Manager and add:

gamemode prophunt

server.cfg is the main configuration file for your server. If you use this method, stop the server before editing the file and start it again afterwards so the change is applied.

Step 4: Add Prop Hunt Maps

Prop Hunt maps typically use the prefix ph_ (e.g. ph_office, ph_clue). Find maps on the Steam Workshop by searching for "Prop Hunt maps", then add them to your Workshop collection. After your server restarts, set the starting map in Startup settings or in server.cfg:

+map ph_office

The map name is the filename without the .bsp extension — the .bsp extension is the file format used for Source engine maps. Remember to stop the server before editing server.cfg and restart it afterwards to apply the change.

Step 5: Verify the Server Loaded Correctly

Check the Game Panel console for:

• Correct game mode loaded (prophunt)
• No missing map errors
• No missing addon warnings

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Server won't load — Double-check the game mode name. It must be exactly prophunt.
• Missing props or sounds — Addons haven't fully downloaded yet. Wait for the server restart to complete.
• Players can't join — Check whether a sv_password is set and that all required addons are downloading correctly on join.
• Wrong gameplay loading — The server may have started in Sandbox mode. Confirm the game mode is set correctly in Startup settings.