How To Connect To Your Team Fortress 2 Server

Ready to jump into the action? Connecting to your new Team Fortress 2 server only takes a few seconds. There are a couple of different ways to join your world, whether you prefer using the in-game console or saving it to your Steam favorites list.

Before we start, you will need your server's IP address and port. You can find this right on the main page of your MintServers control panel.

Method 1: Using the In-Game Console (Recommended)

The fastest way to connect is by using the developer console directly inside the game. If you do not have the console enabled yet, you will need to turn it on first.

1. Launch Team Fortress 2.
2. Click on Options at the bottom of the main menu.
3. In the Keyboard tab, click the Advanced... button.
4. Check the box next to Enable developer console (~) and click OK to apply.
5. Press the tilde key (~) on your keyboard to open the console window.
6. Type connect followed by a space, and then paste your server IP and port. It should look like this: connect 192.168.1.1:27015
7. Press Enter, and you will immediately start loading into your server!

Method 2: Using the Steam Server Browser

If you want to save your server so you don't have to copy and paste the IP every time you play, adding it to your Steam Favorites is the best method.

1. Open your Steam client (do not launch the game yet).
2. Click on View in the top-left menu bar, then select Game Servers.
3. Click on the Favorites tab.
4. Click the plus (+) icon at the bottom to add a new server.
5. Paste your server's full IP and port into the text box and click OK.
6. Your server will now appear in your favorites list. Just select it and click Connect to join!

Troubleshooting Connection Issues

If you are getting a "Connection failed after 4 retries" error, make sure your server is fully started in the MintServers panel. If the server just restarted, it might take a minute or two to finish booting up.

If it still refuses to connect, double-check that you copied the IP and port exactly as they appear in your panel without any extra spaces. If you are still stuck, open a support ticket and our team will gladly help you get connected.