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Getting started with your Valheim server

Set the server name, password and world, join by IP or join code (also from Xbox), add admins, and move your own world onto the server.

Last updated November 6, 2026

This guide gets your Valheim dedicated server ready for your group: name and password, joining (also from Xbox and PC Game Pass), admins, moving your own world onto the server, and backups.

Step 1: Set the name, password and world

Open the Startup tab. These settings are read every time the server starts, so this is where you change them (not in a file).

Setting What it does
Server Name The name in the server list. Up to 60 characters.
Server Password Required by Valheim: 5 to 20 characters. Pick something that isn't part of your server name.
World Name The world to load or create. Up to 20 characters. A new name creates a new world; your other worlds stay on the server.
Public Server 1 shows the server in the community list, 0 hides it so players join by address or join code only.
Enable Crossplay 1 (the default) lets Xbox and PC Game Pass players join too.
Backup Interval, Backup Count, Backup Shorttime, Backup Longtime How often Valheim saves (default every 30 minutes) and how many of its own world backups it keeps.
Auto Update Updates the Valheim server when it starts. Leave it on so your server matches players' game version.

Click Save Changes, then restart the server.

Step 2: Start and join

Click Start and watch the Console. The first start downloads the game and takes a few minutes. With crossplay on, the console shows a line like Created new join code 123456.

Players can join in three ways:

  • Join IP: in Valheim, choose Join game, then Add server, and enter the address and port from the Overview tab, for example 123.45.67.89:12345.
  • Join code (crossplay): enter the six-digit code from the console. A new code is made when the server restarts.
  • Server list: when Public Server is 1, search for your server name in the community list.

Everyone needs the Server Password.

Step 3: Make yourself an admin

Admins, bans and an optional allowlist are three text files in this folder:

.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/

Open it in Files: first .config, then unity3d, IronGate and Valheim.

File What it does
adminlist.txt Admins. They can use admin commands in the in-game console.
bannedlist.txt Banned players.
permittedlist.txt If it has anyone in it, only those players can join.

Add one player ID per line. Valheim shows your ID in game: press F2. IDs look like Steam_76561198000000000 (with crossplay on, keep the platform part, such as Steam_ or Xbox_). Save the file and restart the server.

In game, admins press F5 to open the console and can use kick, ban, unban and banned with a player name.

Step 4: Bring your own world (optional)

You can move a world you played on your own computer onto the server.

  1. On Windows, open %userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local. Your world is there under its name. Newer versions of Valheim keep a world in a folder with its name; older saves are two files, <name>.db and <name>.fwl.
  2. Stop the server.
  3. In Files, open .config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local and upload the world. For a folder, use Actions, then Upload Folder…, or upload a zip and Decompress it there.
  4. On Startup, set World Name to your world's name, exactly as it is written (it's case sensitive). Save and start the server.

Take a backup of the server first if it already has a world you want to keep. See Backing up your server.

Backups

Valheim makes its own rolling backups in worlds_local (folders or files with _backup_auto- in the name), based on the backup settings on Startup. These don't use your backup slots, and they help if a world gets damaged.

For a full copy of the server, use Backups in the sidebar (under Server Settings). Take one before big game updates.

Mods

Our Valheim servers run the standard dedicated server, without a mod loader. If you'd like to run BepInEx mods, open a support ticket and we'll tell you what's possible for your server. Remember that every player needs the same mods.

Common issues

What you see What to do
The server doesn't start after changing the password It must be 5 to 20 characters. Read the last lines in the Console for the reason.
A brand new world appeared World Name doesn't match your world's name. Set it exactly and restart.
"Incompatible version" when joining Players and the server must run the same Valheim version. Leave Auto Update on and restart the server after a game update.
Console players can't find the server Set Enable Crossplay to 1, restart, and use the join code from the console.
Admin commands don't work Check the ID in adminlist.txt matches F2 exactly, including the platform part, then restart.

If you're stuck, open a support ticket with your server name and what you see in the console, and we'll help.