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Installing Nitrox Unlocked

This guide will walk you through installing Nitrox Unlocked and configuring it to work with your copy of Subnautica.

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System Requirements

Before you begin, ensure your system meets these requirements:
  • Operating System: Windows 10/11, Linux (via Wine/Proton), or macOS
  • Subnautica: A valid installation of Subnautica (any version)
  • Disk Space: ~500 MB for Nitrox Unlocked installation
  • Network: Internet connection for download; port 11000 (default) for multiplayer
  • .NET Runtime: .NET 7.0+ (automatically included with the launcher)
The launcher includes game version validation. Outdated versions of Subnautica may not be compatible with the latest Nitrox Unlocked build.

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Installation Steps

1

Download Nitrox Unlocked

Navigate to the GitHub Releases page and download the latest release.Look for the file named something like Nitrox-Unlocked-vX.X.X.zip where X.X.X is the version number.
Always download from the official GitHub repository to ensure you’re getting a safe, unmodified version.
2

Extract the Archive

Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a location of your choice. We recommend:
  • Windows: C:\Program Files\NitroxUnlocked\
  • Linux: ~/NitroxUnlocked/
  • macOS: ~/Applications/NitroxUnlocked/
Avoid extracting to locations that require administrator permissions, as this may cause issues with file operations.
3

Launch the Nitrox Launcher

Navigate to the extracted folder and run the launcher executable:
  • Windows: Nitrox.Launcher.exe
  • Linux/macOS: Nitrox.Launcher (may need to mark as executable first)
The launcher will initialize and display the main interface.
4

Configure Game Path

When you first launch Nitrox, you’ll need to tell it where Subnautica is installed:
  1. Click the Options or Settings icon in the launcher
  2. Locate the “Game Path” or “Subnautica Installation” field
  3. Click Browse and navigate to your Subnautica installation directory
Common installation paths:
Windows (Steam)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica
Windows (Epic Games)
C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Subnautica
Linux (Steam)
~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Subnautica
macOS (Steam)
~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Subnautica
The launcher will validate your game path. You should see confirmation that Subnautica was detected successfully.
5

Initial Setup Complete

Your Nitrox Unlocked installation is now ready! The launcher will:
  • Automatically patch the game files when you start multiplayer
  • Create necessary configuration files in the Nitrox directory
  • Set up the embedded server functionality
You can now proceed to Quick Start to join or host your first multiplayer session.

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Verifying Installation

To verify that Nitrox Unlocked is installed correctly:
  1. Check the launcher version: The main launcher window should display the current version (e.g., “RELEASE 1.8.1.0”)
  2. Game path validation: In settings, confirm the game path shows a green checkmark or success indicator
  3. Platform detection: The launcher should automatically detect your game platform (Steam, Epic, Standalone, etc.)

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Game Path Configuration

The launcher uses the GameInspect utility to validate your Subnautica installation. It performs several checks:

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Version Validation

Nitrox Unlocked checks that your game version is compatible: 
Minimum supported version: Check plastic_status.ignore file
Location: <Game Path>/Subnautica_Data/StreamingAssets/SNUnmanagedData/plastic_status.ignore
If your game is outdated, you’ll see an error dialog with:
  • Your current game version
  • The minimum required version
  • Path to the version file
Nitrox does not support legacy versions of Subnautica. If you receive an “Outdated Game Detected” error, update your game to the latest version.

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Mod Compatibility Warnings

The launcher will warn you if it detects other mods:
  • BepInEx mods: Detected in <Game Path>/BepInEx/plugins/ or BepInEx/patchers/
  • QModManager: Detected in the game folder
Nitrox multiplayer does not support other mods. Mods may cause instability, desynchronization, or crashes in multiplayer sessions.

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Firewall and Network Configuration

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Port Forwarding

If you plan to host a server accessible from the internet:
1

Enable UPnP (Automatic)

Nitrox Unlocked includes automatic port forwarding via UPnP:
  • This is enabled by default in server.cfg
  • Set AutoPortForward = true (default)
If successful, you don’t need manual port forwarding.
2

Manual Port Forwarding (If Needed)

If UPnP fails or is disabled on your router:
  1. Access your router’s admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
  2. Navigate to Port Forwarding settings
  3. Forward port 11000 (UDP and TCP) to your computer’s local IP
  4. Save and restart your router if required

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Firewall Rules

Allow Nitrox through your firewall: Windows Firewall: 
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Nitrox Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 11000 -Action Allow
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Nitrox Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 11000 -Action Allow
Linux (UFW): 
sudo ufw allow 11000/tcp
sudo ufw allow 11000/udp

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Common Installation Issues

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”Location of Subnautica is unknown”

Solution: The game path is not configured or is invalid.
  1. Go to Options/Settings in the launcher
  2. Set the correct path to your Subnautica installation
  3. Ensure the path contains Subnautica.exe (Windows) or the Subnautica executable

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”Launcher files seems corrupted”

Solution: The NitroxPatcher.dll file is missing from the installation. From the launcher code (LaunchGameViewModel.cs:124-131): 
string patcherDllPath = Path.Combine(NitroxUser.ExecutableRootPath, "lib", "net472", PATCHER_DLL_NAME);
if (!File.Exists(patcherDllPath))
{
    LauncherNotifier.Error("Launcher files seems corrupted, please contact us");
    return false;
}
  1. Re-download Nitrox Unlocked from the official GitHub releases
  2. Extract the full archive to a new directory
  3. Don’t delete or move files from the installation folder

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”An instance of Subnautica is already running”

Solution: Close any running Subnautica processes.
  1. Close Subnautica completely
  2. Check Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) for lingering processes
  3. Alternatively, enable “Allow Multiple Game Instances” in launcher settings

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Game Won’t Start After Installation

Possible causes:
  1. Antivirus blocking: Add Nitrox folder to antivirus exclusions
  2. Missing .NET runtime: Ensure .NET 7.0+ is installed
  3. Corrupted game files: Verify Subnautica game files through your game platform
  4. Incompatible mods: Remove BepInEx and QModManager from game directory

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Server Configuration Files

After first launch, Nitrox creates several configuration files:
  • server.cfg: Server settings (port, game mode, passwords, etc.)
  • Save files: Located in the saves folder specified during server creation
These files are created automatically and don’t require manual configuration for basic usage. See Server Configuration for advanced settings.

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Next Steps

Your installation is complete! Now you can:

Quick Start Guide

Jump into your first multiplayer session

Server Configuration

Customize server settings and game modes

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Updating Nitrox Unlocked

To update to a newer version:
  1. Download the latest release from GitHub
  2. Close the launcher and any running servers
  3. Extract the new version over your existing installation (or to a new folder)
  4. Your save files and configuration are preserved
Always back up your save files before updating, especially if the update includes changes to the save format.

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