Hytale requires every dedicated server to be authenticated before players can connect. There are two ways to do this: GSP Authentication and User Authentication. This guide explains what each one does and how to switch between them.
What is GSP Authentication?
GSP (Game Server Provider) authentication means our hosting platform authenticates your server automatically using our own Hytale keys. No action is needed from you — the server receives valid tokens at startup and stays authenticated without any manual steps.
Use this if you want:
- A zero-effort setup where authentication is handled for you
- Reliable, automatic re-authentication every time your server starts
Limitation: Servers running under GSP authentication will not appear in Hytale's Server Discovery catalogue. If you want your server listed publicly so players can find it through the in-game browser, you will need to use User Authentication instead.
What is User Authentication?
User authentication means your server is authenticated using your own Hytale account. When the server starts, you complete a one-time device login through the Hytale website to link your account to the server.
Use this if you want:
- Your server to appear in Hytale's Server Discovery (current and future)
- The server to be associated with your personal Hytale profile
What to expect: After switching to User Authentication and starting your server, you will need to complete the login process using the console. See the steps below.
Key Differences
| GSP Authentication | User Authentication | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup required | None | One-time device login |
| Automatic on restart | Yes | Yes (credentials saved) |
| Appears in Server Discovery | No | Yes |
| Re-auth needed | Never | Only if offline 30+ days |
How to Switch Authentication Types
- Log in to your game panel and navigate to your Hytale server.
- Go to the Startup tab.
- Find the AUTH TYPE variable and change it to either
GSPorUser. - Save the change and restart your server for it to take effect.
Completing User Authentication (First Time)
If you switch to User Authentication, you must log in once after your server starts:
- Open your server's Console tab in the game panel.
- Wait for the server to finish loading, then run:
/auth login device - The console will display a URL and a short code, for example:
Visit: https://accounts.hytale.com/deviceEnter code: ABCD-1234 - Open that URL in your browser, sign in to your Hytale account, and enter the code.
- Once confirmed, the console will show:
Authentication successful! Mode: OAUTH_DEVICE
Your server is now authenticated under your account. Credentials are saved and will persist across restarts automatically. You will only need to repeat this process if your server has been offline for more than 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to re-authenticate every restart?
No. Once authenticated, the server automatically refreshes its credentials in the background. You only need to re-authenticate if the server has been offline for over 30 days and the saved credentials have expired.
Can I check which authentication mode is active?
Yes. In the server console, run /auth status to see the current authentication state and mode.
I switched to GSP but my server still shows as unauthenticated — what do I do?
Make sure you saved the AUTH TYPE change and restarted the server fully. If the issue persists, contact our support team.
Will my server stay authenticated in GSP mode?
Yes. GSP authentication is managed by our platform. As long as your server is running, it will stay authenticated automatically.
