If "Update All" fails, your mod lists are likely mismatching.
Furthermore, internal engine bugs have historically compounded this. In earlier tModLoader versions, subsequent reloads required more time and memory due to inefficient unloading of previous mod instances. This meant that while the first join attempt might fail due to a 2-minute timeout, the second attempt would be even slower, making success virtually impossible.
You can force Java and the .NET runtime to utilize more system memory by adjusting Steam's launch arguments: Open your . Right-click on tModLoader and select Properties . Under the General tab, locate the Launch Options text box.
Enable them in your main menu before click-joining the server.
Ensure your dropdown selection matches the server host (e.g., both on "None" for the default stable build, or both on "1.4.4-preview"). 4. Allocate More RAM / Use 64-Bit reload complete joining tmodloader
The game ran out of memory while initializing the world. How to Fix the "Reload Complete" Freeze
Allocate more priority to tModLoader via Windows Task Manager (Details tab -> Right-click tModLoader.exe -> Set Priority to High). 5. Use the "Enable All" Pre-Load Workaround
Close your game, subscribe to or enable the exact same mods manually, and click from your main menu.
Sometimes, cached data in the temporary folders disrupts the joining process. If "Update All" fails, your mod lists are likely mismatching
Your internet connection drops packets during the final handshake phase.
The message is supposed to be a transitional status—a brief moment between mod initialization and actual gameplay. The problem arises when this step stalls, fails silently, or repeats indefinitely.
The subsequent "Joining" hang occurs when the client attempts to establish the actual network connection and handshake with the server, but fails due to:
It reloads the entire game engine to initialize the new modded code. This meant that while the first join attempt
: Ensure both you and the host are on the same tModLoader branch (e.g., 1.4.4-stable 1.4.3-legacy ). You can switch these under the tab in the Steam properties for tModLoader. Config Changes
A. Absolutely. If your firewall blocks the connection during the initial handshake, the server cannot verify your mod status, leading to a freeze.
Disable auto-updates for mods mid-playthrough. A mid-week patch to a major mod can break server compatibility instantly until everyone updates. To help narrow down the exact issue, let me know: