How to check listening ports on a Windows VPS

Checking listening ports tells you whether software is actually waiting for connections on your Windows VPS. Use this when a game server, web server, RCON tool, or database is not reachable.

If the application is not listening locally, opening a firewall rule will not make it reachable. Start the game server or application first, then check the port.

1. Connect to the Windows VPS with Remote Desktop.
2. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
3. List listening TCP ports:

   Get-NetTCPConnection -State Listen

4. Filter for a specific TCP port:

   Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 7777

5. Show the process that owns a listening TCP port:

   $connection = Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 7777 -State Listen
   Get-Process -Id $connection.OwningProcess

   

6. For UDP game ports, check UDP endpoints:

   Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 7777

If the port is listening but unreachable

• Check Windows Firewall allows the port and protocol.
• Check any VPS panel firewall rules.
• Confirm the game uses the port you are testing.
• For UDP game ports, test through the game client where possible.