Rust: How to Load into a Server Fast After Wipe

In Rust, wipes offer fresh starts for new and returning survivors, whether they were once dangerous figures on a server or it's their first time arriving. However, some players may experience slow server loading times after a wipe, putting them a step behind in the race to progression. So, keep reading this guide to learn about possible solutions to loading into a Rust server faster after a wipe so you can lead the charge and take over on wipe day!

How to Load Into a Rust Server Fast After Wipe

The possible solutions mentioned below may help survivors load into a Rust server faster after a wipe, but results aren’t guaranteed. Remember, each system behaves differently, so consider these potential fixes as disclaimers rather than surefire fixes. Consider testing these methods first to see which works best for your preferred gaming platform.

Delete Storage Space

Generally, Rust needs about 7 GB of free storage space on your main hard drive for the game to load assets properly. The game saves various in-game elements to your system’s primary drive, which should typically be the C Drive for PC users. That means your chosen server might load more slowly than usual if the main drive has less than 7 GB of storage space to work with. Additionally, consider verifying that the stored files are installed correctly. This additional measure can help ensure the game reads the assets properly, reducing the risk of slow loading times and other errors, such as crashes.

Load Into the Server Before the Wipe

As mentioned earlier, many assets from Rust are saved locally. So, it’s a good idea to load into a server before a wipe. This way, the game immediately saves the elements while you’re still in the game, reducing the time it takes to return to the server moving forward. For example, the next Rust force wipe should be on May 7, 2026. Logging into and staying on a server from May 6 lets your system pre-load the assets, allowing you to hop back into the game faster post-wipe.

Enable Automatic Processor Affinity

At the time of writing, an Automatic Processor Affinity toggle can be seen on the Options menu in the Experimental tab. Activate this setting to let the game automatically prioritize faster CPU cores, which may help reduce server loading times. Disabling this option might prevent Rust from automatically handling CPU core switching. If so, the CPU might only use its most frequently used cores when running the game, increasing load times.

Upgrade to an NVME SSD

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are superior to Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) in more ways than one. The former has significantly faster transfer speeds, higher reliability, and improved system responsiveness than the latter. However, a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) SSD is even faster than its standard counterpart. An NVMe SSD connects directly to the CPU, bypassing the typical, longer path. The result is a significantly higher bandwidth, lower latency, and massive improvements to reading and writing speeds, which ultimately aid in improving Rust server loading times.

Use The Staging Branch Trick

Oftentimes, updates appear on the Rust Staging Branch before they appear on the Main Branch. Some players report that accessing the Staging Branch may help pre-load the assets needed when the Main Branch receives the updates. Doing so might help reduce Rust server loading times at the Main Branch, particularly after a wipe. However, this trick often only works on official servers after a wipe. Community or modded Rust servers might require additional assets to load, reducing the efficacy of this technique.