How to Join an Arma 3 Server

Last modified on Oct 26, 2022 in arma

By Dalton Whalen

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Overview

In the world of Arma 3, enemies await your arrival on a war-driven battlefield. With tons of vehicles and weapons, you and your team must head into combat with a variety of these tools and transportation across a large open world. Use tanks to charge ahead, helicopters to soar above the trees, and much more to gain the tactical advantage. When playing on an Arma 3 dedicated server, form a squad and play in one of the official or community game modes to keep the gameplay fresh. If that isn’t enough, the powerful modding tools and editors can revamp the entire multiplayer experience for server owners and players alike with new scenarios and even custom weapons. With Apex Hosting, joining an Arma 3 server is a simple experience, so we have created this tutorial to guide you through the necessary steps to get started.
 

Adding IP to Steam Servers

1. Navigate to the Apex Server Panel, then log in.
2. Once done, locate the IP Address:Port section.
   
3. Copy the entire address, then launch Steam.
4. Near the top of Steam, proceed to View > Servers.
5. Here, press Add A Server, then paste in the IP.
   
6. Finally, click Add this address to favorites.

 
After a moment, you can press the Refresh button to make your server appear. This means that the server was successfully added and can be joined at any time!
 

Connecting to a Server

1. Ensure you are on the Steam server page from earlier.
2. Click to select your server, then press Connect.
   
3. After a moment, a server prompt for Arma 3 will appear.
4. Select whether to set up mods or keep selection.
   
5. After choosing an option, you will automatically connect to the server.

Connecting Directly from the Panel

An alternative method for joining the server is using the Steam button accessible from the panel page. This will immediately launch the game without needing to add an IP manually, however you will need to launch the game or return the panel to reconnect to the server.

1. Visit the Apex Panel page, then log in.
2. Scroll down to the IP Address:Port section.
3. Press the Connect with Steam button.
   
4. If a browser prompt appears to launch Steam, accept it.
5. After a moment, a prompt will appear to choose your server options.
6. Choose to setup the mods or keep the current selection to launch the game.

 
To rejoin a server, you will need to start the Arma 3 launcher, then proceed to the Servers section. Here, you can view recent servers and reconnect at any time.
 

Common Issues

Server does not appear after refreshing the Steam server page:
If the server does not appear, ensure the server is online and functional on the Apex panel. If you are unsure, stop the server and restart it to ensure its functionality. In addition, the console can be viewed to watch the startup process. If issues are still occurring, ensure the correct IP is entered in the Steam server viewer and press Find Games at this Address. Once your Arma 3 server is found, you can add it and try to join once again. If issues persist after all of this, try to connect directly through the panel.

I can’t properly join a modded server:
Oftentimes, issues can occur if the server is running mods that you are not. When connecting to the server, make sure you choose to setup any mods and DLC to ensure you are matching the server. If issues still occur or if other players encounter the same issue, the mod may be out-of-date and need adjusting or removal from the server itself.
 

Helpful Links

Arma 3 Steam Page