A private BeamMP server is one only your friends can join. It doesn't appear in the in-game server list, people connect by IP and port, and — if you want a hard gate — a whitelist turns away anyone you haven't named. This guide covers the two ways to get one: a hosted server that's private in about a minute, and a self-hosted one on your own PC.
One thing to clear up first, because it's the most common question: BeamMP has no server password. There is no Password line in ServerConfig.toml and the launcher never asks for one. "Private" in BeamMP means unlisted, and the real lock is a whitelist.
What "private" means in BeamMP
Every BeamMP server has a Private setting. With Private = true:
- Your server is hidden from the public server list.
- Players join through the launcher's Direct Connect tab using your server's IP and port.
- Everything else works normally — mods, maps, the server's own player limit.
That's it. Anyone who has the IP and port can still try to join, which is why a whitelist matters if the address ever leaks. More on that below.
Option 1: a hosted private server (60 seconds)
If you'd rather not port forward, expose your home IP or leave a PC on all night, this is the route. It also happens to be free for a small group.
- Get a server. A free BeamMP server covers 3 players and needs a Discord account, no card. For a bigger friend group, a paid plan from $3.49/month removes the slot limit and adds custom mod uploads and backups.
- Add your AuthKey. Even a private server needs one — the BeamMP server won't start without it. Grab it from the Keymaster (log in with Discord, create a key, copy it) and paste it into the Server Settings tab.
- Leave it unlisted. New servers start private. In Server Settings the Server list group has the toggle that controls whether the public browser can see you — leave it off. Don't run the Go Live wizard; that's the "make me public" path.
- Copy the address. The Overview tab shows your IP and port. Send it to your friends privately (a Discord DM, not a public channel).
- Friends join via Direct Connect. In the BeamMP launcher: Multiplayer → Direct Connect → paste the IP, enter the port → Connect.
Lock it with the whitelist
The Players tab has a whitelist. Switch it on, add your friends' BeamMP usernames, and the server turns away everyone else at the door — including anyone who found the IP by accident. The same tab has a block guests switch, which refuses players who haven't created a BeamMP account (the AllowGuests setting in the config file). For a friends-only server, turn both on.
That's the whole setup. No port forwarding, no firewall rules, and your home IP never leaves your router.
Option 2: self-hosting a private server
Fine for two or three friends who play occasionally, and it's free — but your PC has to be on, your upload speed limits how smooth it feels, and you'll be opening a port on your home network.
1. Install the server
Download the BeamMP server from beammp.com, run it once to generate ServerConfig.toml, then stop it. The full walkthrough for Windows and Linux, including the Visual C++ dependency Windows needs, is in our BeamMP server setup guide.
2. Configure it as private
Open ServerConfig.toml and set these:
[General] Port = 30814 AuthKey = "paste-your-keymaster-key-here" AllowGuests = false Private = true Name = "The Squad" MaxPlayers = 8 MaxCars = 3 Map = "/levels/west_coast_usa/info.json"
Private = truekeeps you out of the list.AllowGuests = falseblocks players who haven't made a BeamMP account — a cheap first filter.AuthKeyis still required. Private servers don't skip it.
Every other setting is explained in BeamMP ServerConfig.toml: every setting.
3. Port forward (the part that catches people)
Friends outside your house need port 30814, TCP and UDP, forwarded from your router to your PC. Find your PC's local IP (ipconfig on Windows), log in to your router, add a forwarding rule for 30814 on both protocols to that IP, and let BeamMP-Server through Windows Firewall.
If your ISP uses carrier-grade NAT (common on fibre and mobile broadband), port forwarding will not work at all — you'd need a public IPv4 address from your ISP or a hosted server. Test the port with a checker like canyouseeme.org before blaming BeamMP.
4. Share the address
Friends connect to your-public-IP:30814 via Direct Connect. Your public IP is what Google shows for "what is my IP", not the 192.168.x.x one. It can change when your router reboots, so expect to resend it.
Whitelisting a self-hosted server
Vanilla BeamMP has no built-in whitelist. On a self-hosted server you'd add a server-side Lua plugin that checks each joining player's name or BeamMP ID in onPlayerAuth and kicks anyone not on the list — community plugins exist, or it's about twenty lines of Lua. On Connect Hosting this is the whitelist switch in the Players tab.
Recommended settings for a friends server
Small groups can afford settings a public server can't:
| Setting | Friends server | Why |
|---|---|---|
MaxPlayers | 5–8 | Leave headroom for a couple of extras |
MaxCars | 3–5 | Nobody's fighting for physics budget with 4 players |
Map | Whatever you like | Custom maps are fine — you control who downloads them |
AllowGuests | false | Accounts make kicks and bans stick |
LogChat | false | No moderation needed among friends |
Load a couple of car packs and a favourite map from the mod library and you're done. Keep the total mod size in mind: every joining friend downloads everything in Resources/Client on their first connect.
Going public later
Changed your mind and want strangers? Flip Private = false (or run the Go Live wizard on Connect Hosting, which also sets your name, description and tags), make sure the AuthKey is valid, and your server appears in the list within a few minutes. Server not showing up covers the usual reasons if it doesn't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you password-protect a BeamMP server?
No. BeamMP has no password setting and the launcher never prompts for one. A "private" server is an unlisted one — players need the IP and port — and a whitelist is the way to actually restrict who gets in.
Do private BeamMP servers need an AuthKey?
Yes. The server refuses to start without one, private or not. Get it from the Keymaster; it costs nothing.
How do friends join a private BeamMP server?
Through Direct Connect in the BeamMP launcher, with the server's IP and port. Hosted servers show the address in the dashboard; self-hosted ones use your public IP and the port you forwarded.
Can friends join without a BeamMP account?
Only if AllowGuests = true. For a friends server, leave it false — accounts are free, and guests can't be reliably whitelisted or banned.
Is a free server enough for a private group?
For up to 3 players, yes — the free BeamMP server is a real server with mod support, no time limit and no card. Above that, the Starter plan lifts the slot cap for the price of a coffee.
