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To change a Valheim Dedicated Server version safely, stop the server, back up the world and launcher, update the server files through Steam Library Tools or SteamCMD, select a branch only when you deliberately need one, then restart and test with a client on the same compatible build. SteamCMD identifies the Valheim Dedicated Server with app ID 896660.
What changing the server version actually does
A Valheim Dedicated Server is a Steam-distributed application that keeps a persistent world available for players. Changing its version means changing the application files that the server process loads. It does not, by itself, move your world to a new server or erase the save. The risk comes from updating while files are in use, selecting a different branch than your players use, or updating one directory while the launcher starts another.
The ordinary public build is the right choice for a stable community server. The default_old branch is used when you need the previous stable build, while public-test is intended for testing upcoming content. Branch names, passwords and availability can change, so treat a branch command as a point-in-time instruction and verify it when you switch.
Choose the version path before touching the files
| Goal | SteamCMD selector | Best fit | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current public release | No selector, or -beta public |
Most established servers and normal player clients | A client on another branch still cannot connect |
| Previous stable release | -beta default_old |
Temporary rollback after a compatibility problem or mod transition | Newer clients may be incompatible; branch availability can change |
| Public test release | -beta public-test -betapassword yesimadebackups in the cited instructions |
Testing unreleased changes with players who intentionally use the test branch | Builds and the password are volatile; instability and save compatibility need extra care |
| Repair an incomplete update | Keep the intended branch and add validate |
Missing or damaged files | Verification can restore default launcher contents |
Compare five things before choosing: the branch used by every connecting client, stability versus testing new content, whether you have a usable backup for rollback, whether the server is managed through Steam or headless SteamCMD, and whether your launcher points to the directory you plan to update.
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Prepare a safe version change
- Schedule downtime. Tell players when the world will be unavailable. Do not update while the server is accepting saves.
- Stop the process cleanly. In a console window, use
Ctrl+C. If the server is supervised by a service manager, use that manager’s normal stop command instead of killing the process. - Back up the complete world and save directory. Copy the directory that contains your Valheim world files to storage separate from the live installation. Keep a dated copy so you can restore the pre-change state.
- Back up the launcher and configuration. Preserve your customized
start_headless_server.bator shell launcher, plus any configuration it references. Steam updates and file verification can restore the default startup script and remove custom edits. - Confirm the actual install directory. Read the path in the service definition, scheduled task, container, or launcher. SteamCMD updates only the directory supplied to
+force_install_dir; updating a different folder has no effect on the running server. - Record the intended branch. Write down whether you are staying on public, moving to
default_old, or testingpublic-test. This prevents an old command or service script from silently selecting another branch.
A backup is especially important when moving between branches. Keep the original launcher until the updated server has started and a client has connected successfully.
Update through Steam Library Tools
Steam Library Tools is suitable when the dedicated server is installed and maintained from the Steam desktop client. The exact button text can vary slightly between Steam updates, but the workflow remains the same.
- Stop the Valheim server and complete the backups described above.
- Open Steam and go to Library. Use the library filter that displays Tools, then select Valheim Dedicated Server.
- Open the server’s management page. If Steam shows an Update action, start it and wait for the download to finish before launching the server.
- If you need to repair a partial download, open the entry’s Properties, choose Installed Files, and select Verify integrity of game files. Let Steam complete the check; do not start the server during verification.
- Restore your saved copy of
start_headless_server.bator the shell launcher if Steam replaced it. Recheck its executable path, world name, ports and other custom arguments before starting. - Start the server with the preserved launcher and wait until it reports that the world is ready. Have a client using the intended compatible build connect before announcing that maintenance is complete.
Steam’s integrity check is a repair operation, not a branch selector. It validates the files in the installed public or selected build; it does not make a client on a different branch compatible.
Update with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is the usual method for headless Linux or Windows installations and for automated maintenance. Run it from the SteamCMD executable directory or from a script. Replace the example install path with the directory that your launcher actually uses.
Install or update the ordinary public build
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /path/to/valheim-server +app_update 896660 validate +quitThe application ID 896660 identifies Valheim Dedicated Server. The validate argument asks SteamCMD to check the downloaded files as part of the operation. Stop the server first, because replacing binaries while the process is running can leave a mixed or incomplete installation.
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Explicitly select the public branch
Normally the command without a branch selector obtains the ordinary public build. If you are troubleshooting a branch mismatch, explicitly request public:
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Switch to the previous stable branch
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /path/to/valheim-server +app_update 896660 -beta default_old validate +quitThis selects the previous stable branch shown in the cited instructions. Make a fresh world backup before switching. Only clients on a compatible build should connect, and the branch may not remain available indefinitely.
Switch to public-test
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /path/to/valheim-server +app_update 896660 -beta public-test -betapassword yesimadebackups validate +quitThe command above reflects the documented community instructions, including the password shown there. Public-test credentials and branch availability are volatile. Verify the current password and selector at the time of the change rather than assuming this value will continue to work. Tell every player to select the same test branch before they attempt to connect.
Preserve and restore the launcher correctly
The launcher is part of the server configuration, not just a convenience file. A customized start_headless_server.bat or shell script may specify the world, save directory, ports, server name, crossplay options or other arguments. An update or integrity check can restore default script contents, so keep the backup outside the installation directory.
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After Steam finishes, compare the live launcher with your saved copy. Restore only the settings you intentionally use; do not blindly overwrite a newer default if the update changed an argument. Confirm that the executable path in the launcher matches the directory passed to +force_install_dir. Then start the server through the same service manager or scheduled task used in normal operation, so testing reflects the real production path.
Verify the new version before reopening the world
- Watch the startup output for a normal initialization and a ready state. A process that exits immediately has not completed the change successfully.
- Confirm that the launcher loaded the intended world and save directory. An apparently empty world can indicate a path or configuration error rather than a version problem.
- Check the server’s reported build information where your installation exposes it. Record the branch you selected and the date of the change.
- Connect with one client that is deliberately on the same intended branch. Test joining, loading the world, interacting with an object and leaving cleanly.
- Review the server log for repeated file, authentication or startup errors before inviting the rest of the group.
Do not delete the pre-change backup immediately. Keep it until the new build has survived normal play and you are confident that a rollback is no longer necessary.
Fix “incompatible version” after an update
The client and server are on different branches
Ask the affected player which Valheim branch their client uses. A public server, a default_old server and a public-test server are not interchangeable simply because they use the same world name. Put both sides on the branch you selected, then restart the client and server if Steam has just downloaded new files.
SteamCMD updated the wrong directory
Compare the path in +force_install_dir with the executable path used by the launcher or service definition. If they differ, SteamCMD may have updated an unused copy. Stop the service, run the update against the directory actually launched, and start it again through the normal supervisor.
The server was never fully stopped
A running process can keep old files in memory while Steam replaces others. Stop it with Ctrl+C or the host’s service manager, confirm that no Valheim server process remains, run the update again with validate, and then perform a clean start.
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The update or verification was incomplete
Run the intended branch command again with validate. In Steam Library Tools, use Verify integrity of game files. Restore your customized launcher afterward because verification can reset it.
A client is still using cached or older files
Have the player allow Steam to finish pending downloads and restart the game. The server cannot make an older client compatible by itself; both ends must use compatible builds.
The launcher reverted to defaults
If the server starts with the wrong world, name or ports after verification, compare the live launcher with your saved copy. Reapply the intentional custom arguments, then restart and test locally before reopening access.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to roll back without losing the world
Rollback is a controlled branch change, not a replacement of the world directory. Stop the server, make another backup of the current state, and retain the original backup separately. Run the default_old command against the exact install directory used by the launcher, restore the required launcher settings, and start the server. Test with a client on the same older build.
If the older branch is unavailable or the world behaves unexpectedly, stop again and restore the backup rather than repeatedly switching branches against the same live files. A rollback plan is only reliable when you know which launcher, install directory and world copy belong together.
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Operating a server across future updates
- Subscribe to the game’s update announcements or your hosting provider’s maintenance notices so you can plan downtime.
- Keep a versioned copy of the launcher and configuration outside the Steam installation.
- Back up the world before every branch change and before major public updates.
- Use one documented update command for the production directory; avoid ad-hoc commands that point to similarly named folders.
- Do not put public-test players on the production world unless you accept the testing risk and have a restorable backup.
- After each change, record the selected branch, SteamCMD command, install path and first successful client test.
Quick maintenance checklist
- Server process stopped cleanly
- Complete world/save directory copied
- Customized
start_headless_server.bator shell launcher copied - Install directory confirmed from the real launcher or service
- Correct branch selected for the intended clients
app_update 896660 validaterun against that directory- Launcher restored and reviewed after the update
- Server started and reaches a ready state
- Client on the matching build connects successfully
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the branch while the Valheim server is running?
No. Stop the server first. Updating files while the process is active can leave old and new files loaded together and makes troubleshooting harder.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWill changing the server version delete my world?
The version command updates the server application files, not the world directory. A complete backup is still essential because branch changes and configuration mistakes can make a world appear unavailable or behave unexpectedly.
Do all players need to install the same branch?
Yes. Players must run a client build compatible with the server’s selected branch. A public-test server requires clients that intentionally use public-test, while a default_old server requires the corresponding older build.
Why did my custom startup settings disappear after verification?
Steam file updates and integrity checks can restore the default startup script. Keep a separate copy of your customized launcher and restore its intentional arguments after the operation.
What does SteamCMD validate do?
It asks SteamCMD to check the files it downloaded for the dedicated-server installation. It does not select a branch and does not update a different directory from the one supplied to +force_install_dir.
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