My Server Stopped on Its Own
If players suddenly disconnect, first check whether the server actually stopped. A connection failure and a Stopped server need different checks.
Confirm the status and stop time
Open the server in Console, refresh once, and review Activity Log around the disconnection.
- Running: start with connection troubleshooting.
- Stopping: wait for the current operation rather than submitting another action.
- Stopped: check credit, schedules, and recent actions below.
- Error: read the message and use startup troubleshooting. Error is not confirmation that billing has paused.
If an entry says the save backup did not complete, or the world is outdated after restarting, follow save-data troubleshooting before playing again.
Check the owner's credit
When a paid hour ends, the server needs enough of the owner's Credit Balance for its next hour. If it cannot cover that charge, it is stopped rather than deleted. The balance does not go below zero.
Compare the displayed hourly rate, balance, and charges in Cost & Usage. A current balance alone does not prove what was available at the stop time, especially if other servers use the same wallet.
If low credit caused the stop, confirm a top-up on the owner's account, then select Start once. Expect Starting, followed by Running. Buying credits does not itself start the server.
Check Auto-shutdown
Open Automation and compare the selected day, Auto-shutdown time, and Timezone with the stop time. A scheduled shutdown can stop the server even while players are connected.
If the schedule is wrong and you have permission to change it, correct or disable that action, select Save schedule, and confirm Schedule saved. Reopen the section to check the saved rule. Changing a schedule does not undo a stop that has already happened; start manually when ready.
Check recent actions and access
Use Activity Log to look for a manual stop, restart, or configuration change. Ask other authorized members whether the action was intentional before changing their access.
If access is no longer appropriate, the owner can review Roles & Sharing. Revoking a link stops future use of that link but does not remove members who already joined through it. Review those members separately. See Roles, Permissions, and Members.
Restart only after the cause is understood
For an expected credit, schedule, or manual stop, select Start when ready to play. Any unused Banked Hour stays with that server; otherwise starting requires a new paid hour. Wait until Running and game loading completes before asking players to join.
Do not lower the server size or remove mods simply to test an unexplained stop. Those changes may introduce a second problem. Keep enough credit for all servers you intend to run, and review unwanted shutdown schedules to reduce repeat interruptions.
When to contact support
Contact support if stops repeat without an identified cause, Stopping does not complete, or Activity Log contains an error you cannot safely resolve. Include the server name, game, stop time and timezone, status message, relevant activity, and whether a schedule or another member could have stopped it.
Use the support-case steps and safe evidence checklist. Do not delete the server to clear an unexplained error.