How do I connect to a Quake III server?

In Multiplayer, choose Specify and enter the IP and port 27960. Or open the console with the key below Esc, left of 1, and type connect followed by the address, for example connect 203.0.113.7:27960.

Why does rcon_password say unknown command in Quake III?

Quake III spells it as one word: rconpassword. In a match, type \rconpassword YOURPASSWORD with the leading backslash, or it is sent as chat.

Should I launch Quake III Arena or Team Arena?

Launch Team Arena only when your server runs a Team Arena mode such as One Flag CTF, Overload or Harvester. For every other mode, launch Quake III Arena. CPMA modes also need the free CPMA mod installed.

How do I remove bots from my Quake III server?

Run \rcon bot_minplayers 0 first, then \rcon kick allbots. Without the first command the server adds the bots back.

How to join a Quake III Arena server: connect, rcon, bots

Updated Oct 5, 2026

The Steam version of Quake III Arena joins dedicated servers directly. Here is which game to launch, how to connect, and how to run the server once you are in.

Which game to launch: the three mode families

Every mode belongs to one of three families. The mode on your server card tells you which one, and so which game everyone launches:

Quake III Arena: Free For All, Duel, Team Deathmatch and CTF. Launch Quake III Arena.
CPMA: CPMA Duel, CPMA CTF, Clan Arena, Freeze Tag and InstaGib CTF. Launch Quake III Arena with the free CPMA mod and map pack from playmorepromode.com. Unzip the CPMA mod into your Quake III folder and the map pack into your baseq3 folder.
Quake III Team Arena: Modes marked Team Arena: One Flag CTF, Overload, Harvester and the Team Arena versions of FFA, Duel and CTF. Launch Quake III Team Arena.
Switching: The web console changes mode within a family while you play. Moving to another family, for example from CTF to Overload, needs a new server, because the server loads a different game.

How to connect

From the menu: Multiplayer, then Specify. Enter the IP and port 27960 from your server card.
From the console: Press the key below Esc, left of 1 (~ on a US keyboard), and paste the connect line from your server card, for example connect 203.0.113.7:27960.
Password: On a private server, the connect line on your card starts with password YOURPASSWORD; so one paste does both.

The slash rule

In the menus, console commands work with or without a slash. Once you are in a match, anything you type without a leading \ or / is sent to everyone as chat. So in game, always start a command with \, for example \rcon status. Forget it on your rcon password and the whole server reads it.

Become admin with rcon

\rconpassword YOURRCONPASSWORD: log in (rcon_password with an underscore is Quake II and does not work here).
\rcon status: list players with their slot numbers and ping.
\rcon map q3dm6: change map.
\rcon kick Hunter: kick by name, or \rcon clientkick 2 by slot number.

Prefer clicking? The web console on 2hours.gg sends the same commands from your browser.

Bots

They talk: Quake III bots taunt, complain and answer chat with stock lines. A bot saying "huh?" is not a person. Mute them with \rcon bot_nochat 1.
Add one: \rcon addbot Sarge 4, with a skill from 1 to 5.
Fill automatically: \rcon bot_minplayers 6 keeps 6 players in the match, or 6 per team in team modes. Bots leave as people join.
Remove them: Run \rcon bot_minplayers 0 first, then \rcon kick allbots. Otherwise the kicked bots come straight back.

Deploy a Quake III Arena server by the hour