How to Update a Garry's Mod Server

Last updated: May 6, 2026

Keeping your Garry's Mod server up to date is essential for stability, security, and addon compatibility. An outdated server can cause version mismatch errors (where the server and the game client disagree on the game version), prevent players from joining, and break addons after game patches. This guide shows you how to update a NolimitHost-managed server and how to update a self-hosted VPS server.

Updating a NolimitHost-Managed Server

NolimitHost handles Garry's Mod updates automatically. Every time you restart your server, the Game Panel checks for and applies the latest update before starting. No manual steps needed — just restart your server after Facepunch releases a new patch:

Log in to the NolimitHost Game Panel and click on your Garry's Mod server from the dashboard.
Click Restart (or Stop, then Start).
The panel downloads and applies the latest Garry's Mod server build automatically.

Updating a Self-Hosted / VPS Server via SteamCMD

If you're running Garry's Mod on a VPS, you'll update using SteamCMD — a command-line tool Valve provides for downloading and updating game servers:

Stop your running server. Updating while the server is running can corrupt files or cause conflicts.
Run SteamCMD:
```
steamcmd
```
Log in anonymously:
```
login anonymous
```
Set the install directory to your server folder:
```
force_install_dir ~/gmodserver
```
Run the update:
```
app_update 4020
```
Validate files to confirm the update is complete:
```
app_update 4020 validate
```
Exit SteamCMD:
```
quit
```
Restart your server.

Handling Addon Errors After an Update

Occasionally a Garry's Mod update changes or removes a function that an addon relies on, causing Lua errors in the console. Here's how to handle it:

Check for addon updates — Visit the addon's Steam Workshop or GModStore page. If an update is available, it will auto-download or you can re-add it to your collection.
Temporarily disable broken addons — Move the addon folder out of garrysmod/addons/ until an update is released.
Read the console error — The error message will point to the exact file and line. If you're comfortable with Lua, you may be able to fix it yourself.
Find a replacement — If an addon is no longer maintained, look for an actively maintained alternative on the Workshop.

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