Basics: Joining Servers Your Friends Are On

"Server not responding" eh? Well, read this guide then...

Video Version

If video does not work, follow this LINK:

Text Version

STEPS:

If you are lucky, you can join by the following:

• Open Multiplayer

• Under "Friends" tab, find server

• Join like normal

If your friend's server's not showing:

• Open steam overlay (default: shift+tab)

• View Friends List

• Locate friend and click on arrow next to their name

• Select Join Game

That sometimes works. If it does not, you get a pop-up

• Copy the IP from that pop-up

• Get out of Overlay

With IP, you can join it two different ways

Option 1:

• right-click>Open IP

• Ctrl+V to paste IP

• OK to join

OR

Option 2:

• Press ~ button (above tab) to open console

• Type into console "open" [without quotation marks] and paste IP

Example:
open 12.345.678.90:1111

Happy Hunting!

Edit: Dec 30 2013: fixed default overlay keys and improved screenshots.

Credit to Stevefox for forcing me to give him credit for maybe possibly teaching me some of these tricks.

[TheLorisCrak]

i doesnt work, help

[wongthong25181975]

how can i join friends in 2024 it's not working help

[xxheathenbloodxx]

Tried every option and they just get a black screen and can’t join. Used to play like 10 years ago and never remember it being so difficult.

[the missile]

ty man it rely much helped

[✪ Tommy]

yday I tried with "start" instead of "open" and it was working too

[DarkCrusnik]

did this, cant join

[LyndaSmiles ᴱᴳ]

Thank u very much, my friends and I tried the 3rd option and it works every time! Great guide and I'm happy to have favorited it too!

[QuantizedAnson]

I made this easy by just right clicking the server and click the copy IP button before joining in it, so I can share the IP to my steam friends.

[Моро]

We were trying to connect at the "double-map-click" server and the listen. Sometimes it works, but more often doesn't.
Well, we opened ports in the firewalls. At least we think so.
Nah, we didn't download any maps and mods

[Kuebic]

@Gray Cat 2 Are you trying to join a friend's listen server? Are the proper ports opened on their end? Are they running maps/mods that you do not have?