How to Update Your Team Fortress 2 Server

Valve regularly ships updates to Team Fortress 2, and your server needs the matching version so that updated clients can join. This guide shows you how to update your server while keeping your config, plugins, and maps.

Step 1: Back Up Your Custom Files

Before updating, copy your custom content somewhere safe so nothing is lost if an update replaces a file:

• tf/cfg/ - your server.cfg and other configs.
• tf/addons/ - MetaMod, SourceMod, and plugins.
• tf/maps/ - any custom maps you uploaded.

You can download these folders with SFTP, or create a backup from the panel if your plan offers one.

Step 2: Update the Server

1. Log in to the NolimitHost Game Panel and select your TF2 server.
2. Stop the server from the Console page.
3. Run the update. On most plans, starting the server applies pending updates automatically. You can also go to Configuration > Advanced > Reinstall Server to re-run the installer, which validates and updates the game files.
4. Start the server again and watch the console for the reported build number.

Updating Manually on a VPS

If you run the server yourself, update it with SteamCMD using the TF2 dedicated server App ID 232250:

steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /path/to/server +app_update 232250 validate +quit

The validate flag checks the files and re-downloads anything missing or corrupted.

Step 3: Check Plugins After Updating

Major game updates can break MetaMod or SourceMod until a new build is released. After updating, run meta version and sm version in the console to confirm both still load. If not, update MetaMod:Source and SourceMod to their latest builds - see Install Plugins.