This guide will help you learn about Hytale Startup Failure: Missing Server Session Token and Auth Grant Error.
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Running into the “Missing Server Session Token” and “Cannot Request Auth Grant” errors when launching Hytale can be frustrating, especially when the game fails before it even reaches the main menu. This startup issue typically points to a problem in the authentication process, where the client is unable to obtain the necessary session token from the server. As a result, Hytale cannot complete its login sequence and shuts down before loading any gameplay content. In this post, I’ll break down what this error means, why it might occur, and what steps you can take to resolve it so you can get back into the game smoothly.
Overview
When starting a Hytale server, you may see the following message appear in the console:
Server session token not available – cannot request auth grant
When this occurs, the server will technically start, but will immediately reject all incoming player connections. This happens because the server has not yet authenticated itself with a valid Hytale account, preventing it from obtaining the required session token.
This guide explains why the error appears and walks you through fixing it using Hytale’s device authentication process.
Symptoms
A typical console output for this issue looks like:
Server authentication unavailable - please try again later
Until authentication succeeds and a valid session token is obtained, all connection attempts will be rejected.
Post Mortem ( The Cause\Issue )
Hytale servers must authenticate with a valid Hytale account before they can generate a server session token. If this authentication step hasn’t been completed, or if previously saved credentials are missing, the server cannot obtain the token it needs to request an authentication grant.
This error appears when either of the following is true:
The server has never been authenticated.
The server was authenticated previously, but the credentials were not saved and were lost after a restart.
Without a valid session token, the server cannot complete the authentication handshake and will reject all incoming player connections.
Most commercial game server providers, such as CitadelServers.com, handle this process automatically behind the scenes. If you’re hosting your own instance, however, you’ll need to perform the authentication step manually.
Solution: Authenticate the Server
Step 1: Start the Server
Start by logging into your Citadel Servers Game Control Panel and navigating to your Hytale service.
Launch your Hytale server as you normally would and allow it to finish its startup sequence.
At this point, you may already see the authentication error in the console. This is expected and simply indicates that the server has not yet been linked to a Hytale account.
Step 2: Run the Device Login Command
In the server console, run the following command:
This code is unique to your server instance and will be used to link it to your Hytale account.
Step 3: Authorise via Browser
Open the verification URL shown in the console and sign in using your Hytale account. If prompted, enter the device code displayed by your server and approve the authorization request.
Once the authorization is confirmed, the server will automatically complete the authentication process. You should then see log entries similar to:
Step 4: Persist Authentication (Required)
To ensure authentication persists across server restarts, run the following command in the console:
Loaded encrypted credentials from auth.enc
Verification
You can check the server’s current authentication state at any time by running:
Want a Trouble-Free Setup?
If you prefer to avoid manual authentication, command‑line setup, and hands‑on server management, you can opt for a fully managed Hytale server from LOW.MS.
With LOW.MS:
Server authentication is handled automatically
Credentials are securely persisted for you
Servers come preconfigured and ready to join
No manual console commands are required
This is the most convenient option if you want a reliable, low‑maintenance Hytale server without dealing with setup steps or future authentication changes.
Summary
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Start the server |
| 2 | Run /auth login device |
| 3 | Authorise in browser |
| 4 | Run /auth persistence Encrypted |
| 5 | Restart safely |
Still Seeing the Error?
If the error continues to appear, work through the following checks:
Confirm that the Hytale account login and device authorization completed successfully
Ensure the server has outbound internet access for authentication requests
Verify that auth.enc exists in the server directory and is writable
Restart the server after enabling credential persistence
If the issue persists, contact our support team and include your full server startup logs so we can investigate further.
