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Valheim Dedicated Server Setup Guide - Knowledgebase

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Valheim Dedicated Server Setup Guide

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Available in: ESPAÑOL PORTUGUÊS (BRASIL)

Valheim Dedicated Server Setup Guide

This guide covers getting your Valheim dedicated server running: configuring startup variables, connecting via Steam, and managing world save files.

Server Startup Configuration

All core server settings are controlled through the Startup tab in GPanel. The primary variables you need to set are:

Variable Description Default / Example
ServerName The name displayed in the server browser My Viking Server
WorldName The name of the world file to load or create Midgard
Password Password players must enter to join (see rules below) shield123
PUBLIC_SERVER Set to 1 to list the server publicly in the server browser, or 0 to make it unlisted/private (connect via direct IP only) 1
ENABLE_CROSSPLAY Set to 1 to allow Xbox and Game Pass players to join via crossplay. Set to 0 to restrict to Steam players only. 1
BACKUP_INTERVAL How often (in seconds) the server automatically backs up world files 1800 (30 min)
BACKUP_COUNT Number of automatic backup copies to keep (oldest are removed when the limit is reached) 4

Password Requirements

Important: Valheim enforces strict password rules. Failure to follow these will prevent your server from starting or cause players to be unable to connect.
  • The password must be at least 5 characters long.
  • The password must not contain the server name (ServerName) as a substring.
  • A password is required — you cannot leave it blank.

For example, if your ServerName is Viking Realm, you cannot use a password like VikingRealm2024 or viking. Use an unrelated word or phrase instead.

After updating your startup variables, restart the server from GPanel for the changes to take effect.

Server Ports

Valheim uses two UDP ports that must both be open and accessible:

Port Purpose
Game port Primary connection port for players
Query port Used by the Steam server browser to list the server
Both ports are automatically allocated and configured for your server. Check the Network tab in GPanel for your assigned port numbers, or see How to Find Your Server IP and Port.

Connecting to Your Server

Method 1: Steam Server Browser (Favorites)

This is the most reliable way to connect and avoids issues with the in-game server list not refreshing.

  1. Open Steam and click View in the menu bar, then select Game Servers.
  2. Click the Favorites tab, then click Add a Server.
  3. Enter your server's IP and query port in the format your.ip.address:queryport. Check the Network tab in GPanel for your assigned query port.
  4. Click Find Games at this Address, then Add Selected Game Server to Favorites.
  5. Your server will appear in the Favorites list. Double-click it to connect, or right-click and choose Connect.

Method 2: Direct Connect In-Game

  1. Launch Valheim and click Start Game, then select a character.
  2. On the server list screen, click Add server at the bottom.
  3. Enter your server's IP and game port in the format your.ip.address:gameport. Check the Network tab in GPanel for your assigned game port.
  4. Click Connect and enter the server password when prompted.
Tip: The in-game community server list can be slow to update. Using Steam Favorites is recommended for consistent access to your own server.

World and Save File Locations

Valheim stores world data in two files per world. Both files must be present for the world to load correctly:

  • <WorldName>.fwl — World metadata file (seed, name, settings)
  • <WorldName>.db — World data file (terrain, structures, progress)

These files are located in the following path on your server's file system:

/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/

You can access them via SFTP — see How to Upload Files via SFTP for instructions.

Uploading an Existing World

To transfer a world from your local game or another server:

  1. Locate your local Valheim world files. On Windows (Ashlands update and later) they are at: 
    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local
  2. Connect to your server via SFTP.
  3. Upload both the .fwl and .db files to /.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/ on your server.
  4. Set the WorldName startup variable to match the filename (without extension) of the files you uploaded.
  5. Restart the server.
Always back up both files together. Uploading only one of the two files will cause the world to fail to load or generate a new world instead.

Backing Up Your World

Download both world files via SFTP regularly. Keeping local backups protects against accidental deletion or world corruption.

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If you need help with your server, open a support ticket and include your server's GPanel details and a description of the problem.
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