How to list your Hytale server in the official Server Discovery

Since Update 5, Hytale has its own in-game list of community servers, called Server Discovery. Getting listed is now the easiest way to bring in new players, but the process chains several steps (profile, DNS, token, moderation) that most guides only cover partially. Here is the complete walkthrough, along with the most common errors and how to fix them.

What is Hytale Server Discovery?

Server Discovery is the official list of community-run servers, available directly in the game. Hypixel Studios opened the listing tools to server operators on April 28, 2026, and the list went live for players with Update 5 at the end of May 2026.

Players can use it to:

• search for a server by name or description;
• filter by server type, intended audience and region;
• open a server's profile before joining;
• add servers to their favorites.

The list also runs a compatibility check, so players only see servers they can actually join. Since version 0.5.2, this check relies on the protocol version rather than the server version.

In this first version, a listing is limited to a name, a description and tags: no icon, no banner and no live player count. Hypixel Studios has said these features are planned for later.

Prerequisites

• A Hytale account with access to the Account Manager on the official website.
• A Hytale server that is online and publicly reachable, ideally running around the clock (the heartbeat section explains why).
• Operator access to the server, through the console or in game.
• A domain name you control, strongly recommended for TXT record verification.

Keep one important rule in mind: one listing per game profile. If you run several servers, each one needs its own game profile.

The key point: your server's game profile

A Hytale server authenticates with the official services using a game profile. The heartbeat (the signal sent to the list) is only accepted if the server is signed in with the same profile that owns the listing. This is the most common cause of failure, especially with a hosting provider, where the server may start with a session supplied by the host instead of your own account.

To sign the server in with your own account, use device login in the console, then store the credentials in encrypted form so they survive restarts:

/auth login device
/auth persistence Encrypted

The first command displays a code that you approve on the device login page of your Hytale account. Once the session is in place, restart the server so it boots under your profile.

Step 1: create the server listing

Sign in to the Account Manager, open the Server Profiles page and click Create server. The form asks for:

• The server name and description;
• The server type: Survival, Adventure/RPG, Creative, PvP, Minigames, Roleplay, Social, Sandbox or Other;
• The intended audience: Everyone, Teen or Mature;
• The regions served, from ten options covering North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania;
• The server address, ideally a domain or subdomain you can verify.

Once you submit, a window lists the remaining actions: run a command on the server, publish a DNS TXT record and verify the domain. Keep it open, or carefully note the token and values shown, as you will need them in the next steps.

Filling in your listing well

Player searches look at the name and the description, so use concrete terms that describe what your server offers (game mode, atmosphere, spoken language). Pick a type and an audience that honestly reflect your content: an inaccurate listing is a reason for rejection during moderation. Finally, only select the regions you actually serve, since distant players will suffer from high latency.

Step 2: verify your domain with a TXT record

Domain verification proves that you control the address you advertise and protects players from servers impersonating well-known ones. It works by adding the TXT record provided by Hytale to your domain's DNS zone.

1. Open DNS management at your registrar or DNS provider.
2. Create a TXT record, copying the name and value shown by Hytale exactly.
3. Make sure the record sits on the same domain or subdomain you declared in the listing: any mismatch blocks verification.
4. Wait for DNS propagation (often a few minutes), then start the verification from your listing.

To check that the record is visible before clicking the verify button, you can query it from your computer:

# Linux or macOS
dig TXT name-given-by-hytale.your-domain.com +short

# Windows
nslookup -type=TXT name-given-by-hytale.your-domain.com

Until the check succeeds, the listing stays in Pending verification. Be careful: listings stuck in this status for more than 30 days are removed. Hytale also allows small personal servers to be listed by IP address or without verification, but the listing then lacks the verified domain signal.

Step 3: link the server with the discovery token

The discovery token is the secret that authenticates your server's heartbeats with the list. It is shown on your listing. To link the server, run the following command in the console, or in game with an operator account:

/discovery link <your_token>

If everything goes well, the console confirms that the server is linked to Server Discovery. Since the Update 6 fixes, the command tells you exactly what went wrong when it fails: a token that matches no listing, a server signed in with a different game profile, or an unreachable service. The token is only saved when the heartbeat actually succeeds.

Treat this token like a password: never post it in a public channel or a screenshot, since it allows heartbeats to be sent on behalf of your listing.

Step 4: get through moderation

Every listing enters a moderation queue, handled in order of arrival. A moderator checks that the details are accurate and that the server follows Hytale's Server Operator Policies. The possible statuses are:

• Under review: the listing is waiting for a moderator;
• Accepted: the listing has been approved;
• Denied: the listing was rejected; read the reason, fix it and resubmit;
• Pending verification: the TXT check is in progress;
• Paused: the listing has been hidden by the operator.

The operator policies notably prohibit sexual content, real-money gambling, NFTs and speculative crypto tokens. They also set rules for monetization: transparent purchases, published odds for paid random items and respect for players' official cosmetics. Read them before you submit, especially if your server runs a store.

Most fields can still be edited after approval, but a significant change, such as moving to a new host, may trigger a new review.

The heartbeat: staying visible in the list

Once linked, your server sends a heartbeat to the discovery service every two minutes. If no signal arrives for more than two minutes, the server is hidden from the list, then reappears automatically as soon as heartbeats resume, with no action needed on your part.

The direct consequence: a server that is often offline or unstable regularly drops out of the list. Hosting that stays available around the clock and restarts scheduled during off-peak hours keep these invisible periods to a minimum.

Common causes of rejection or invisibility

• Server signed in with another profile: the heartbeat is refused with a 403 error stating that the session token needs to be from the same profile as the server. Sign the server in with /auth login device, restart it, then run /discovery link again.
• Server not restarted after signing in: it keeps running with the old session.
• Incorrect TXT record: a typo, the wrong subdomain or an incomplete value.
• DNS propagation not finished: wait a few minutes before retrying verification.
• Inaccurate listing or policy violation: a type, audience or description that does not match the actual content.
• Outdated server: after a game update, a server whose protocol no longer matches the players' is not offered as joinable.
• Server offline: with no heartbeat for more than two minutes, it is hidden.

Tips to improve your visibility

• Verify your domain: it gives players a confidence signal that IP-only listings lack.
• Polish your description: explain the concept, game modes, language and what sets your server apart in a few lines.
• Update your server quickly after each game release to stay compatible with as many players as possible.
• Target the right region: a server close to its players delivers lower latency and a better first impression.
• Use the Paused status during long maintenance instead of letting players land on an unreachable server.
• Give players a reason to come back: they can add servers to their favorites, and a loyal community remains your best growth lever.

Summary

1. Sign your server in with your own Hytale account and restart it.
2. Create the listing in the Account Manager, under Server Profiles.
3. Publish the TXT record and verify the domain.
4. Run /discovery link with your token.
5. Wait for moderation approval.
6. Keep the server online and up to date so the heartbeat keeps it in the list.

Server Discovery is still evolving, with new features and adjustments arriving through updates. If you are unsure about a step, always follow the instructions shown on your listing on the official Hytale website.