If your Tadpole suddenly warps straight back into your Moonpool while exploring in Subnautica 2, you’re definitely not alone. A growing number of players — especially on Xbox Series X — are running into a strange teleport bug that instantly pulls vehicles back to base from hundreds of meters away.
The issue has started spreading across Reddit, Steam discussions, and community forums, with players reporting random auto-docking, forced teleports, and Moonpool glitches tied to the Tadpole submarine.
Thankfully, the Subnautica 2 teleport bug doesn’t seem to corrupt saves or permanently delete vehicles. But until Unknown Worlds releases an official fix, there are a few workarounds that can help stop the problem from happening constantly.
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What Is the Subnautica 2 Teleport Bug?

The Subnautica 2 teleport bug happens when the Tadpole unexpectedly snaps back into the Moonpool docking station while you’re still far away from your base.
Most players describe:
- teleporting back to base from 100–300 meters away
- getting instantly docked without pressing anything
- the Tadpole behaving like it’s already connected to the Moonpool
- random teleportation after reloading saves
- docking glitches near shallow Moonpools
The bug is currently being reported most often on Xbox Series X, though some PC players have experienced similar issues as well.
Why Your Tadpole Keeps Teleporting Back to the Moonpool
Right now, the community believes the problem is caused by broken docking detection tied to the Moonpool.
Essentially, the game may incorrectly think your Tadpole is still docked even after leaving the base. Once the Moonpool loads back into range, the docking system appears to forcibly snap the vehicle back home.
Several common triggers keep appearing in player reports.
Shallow Moonpool Placement
This is the biggest cause players mention.
If the Moonpool is built too close to the surface, seabed, or terrain, the Tadpole may not dock properly. The game can then bug out and repeatedly auto-attach the vehicle.
Obstructions Around the Dock
Crowded base layouts can also confuse the docking system.
Modules, corridors, foundations, ladders, and nearby structures may interfere with the Tadpole’s docking alignment.
Reloading While the Tadpole Is Half-Docked
Some players say the teleport bug started after restarting the game while the Tadpole was partially connected to the Moonpool.
After loading back in, the game still treats the vehicle as docked even while driving away.
Base Streaming Issues
A few players believe the bug is connected to Subnautica 2’s current base streaming system in Early Access.
As the base reloads into memory from a distance, the Moonpool may instantly trigger docking behavior and teleport the Tadpole back inside.
How To Fix the Subnautica 2 Teleport Bug
There’s no guaranteed permanent fix yet, but these community-tested workarounds have helped many players reduce or completely stop the issue.
Rebuild or Expand Your Moonpool
This is currently the most effective fix players have found.
Try:
- moving the Moonpool deeper underwater
- adding more vertical clearance
- rebuilding the docking area entirely
- relocating it away from terrain or cliffs
Players with shallow Moonpools seem to encounter the teleport bug much more often.
Remove Nearby Base Obstructions
If your Moonpool is tightly packed into your base, clear some space around it.
Try removing:
- nearby corridors
- foundations
- ladders
- extra modules
- clutter near the docking entrance
More open space appears to help the Tadpole dock correctly.
Fully Dock Before Saving the Game
Before quitting Subnautica 2, make sure the Tadpole is properly locked into the Moonpool.
Avoid saving while:
- partially docked
- clipping through the platform
- floating unevenly
- stuck against nearby structures
This alone has helped some players stop repeated teleporting.
Rebuild the Tadpole
If the issue keeps happening, rebuilding the Tadpole itself may reset the bugged docking state.
It’s not a guaranteed solution, but several players reported fewer docking glitches after replacing the vehicle.
Is the Subnautica 2 Teleport Bug Only on Xbox Series X?
No. While Xbox Series X players seem to report the issue most frequently, PC players have also experienced:
- Tadpole docking bugs
- forced Moonpool docking
- teleporting back to base
- broken docking animations
Right now, it looks like a general Early Access vehicle bug rather than a platform-exclusive problem.
Can the Teleport Bug Corrupt Saves or Delete Vehicles?
So far, most player reports say no.
The Subnautica 2 teleport bug appears annoying rather than destructive.
Most players have reported:
- no save corruption
- no inventory loss
- no permanent vehicle deletion
- no base damage
The Tadpole usually just snaps back into the Moonpool unexpectedly.
Will Unknown Worlds Fix the Moonpool Bug?
Most likely, yes. The issue is becoming increasingly common across Reddit and community discussions, which means it’s probably already on the developers’ radar.
Since Subnautica 2 is still in Early Access, vehicle physics and docking systems are likely to receive multiple fixes over the coming updates.
Until then, improving Moonpool placement and avoiding awkward docking states seems to be the best temporary solution.
FAQ
Why does my Tadpole keep teleporting back to base in Subnautica 2?
The issue appears connected to a Moonpool docking bug where the game incorrectly thinks the Tadpole is still docked and forcibly teleports it back to the base.
How do you stop the teleport bug in Subnautica 2?
Players have had the most success by rebuilding the Moonpool deeper underwater, removing nearby obstructions, and fully docking the Tadpole before saving the game.
Is the Subnautica 2 teleport bug happening on PC?
Yes. Xbox Series X players report it most often, but some PC users have experienced the same Moonpool docking issue.
Can the Moonpool bug destroy your vehicle?
So far, players have not reported permanent vehicle loss caused by the teleport bug.
Is this an Early Access bug?
Yes. The issue currently appears to be one of several Early Access vehicle and docking bugs affecting Subnautica 2.
