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If a Conan Exiles dedicated server reaches the ready state with mods disabled, the problem is almost certainly inside the mod configuration: an outdated package, missing dependency, incorrect load order, or a mod that no longer matches the installed game build. Preserve the world first, prove the failure boundary with a no-mod launch, then restore mods in small, reversible groups.
If the server still crashes with no mods loaded, stop hunting for a mod and check the installation, drivers, overlays, security software, runtime permissions, and overclock settings. The procedure below separates those cases without risking game.db.
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What a startup crash usually means
A modded server loads its listed .pak files during startup. The dedicated-server modding documentation requires the server to load the listed packages and requires connecting clients to use the same mods in the same order. A crash that disappears when the list is empty therefore points to one of four causes:
- A mod was built for an older Conan Exiles version.
- A required dependency is missing or appears after the mod that needs it.
- The order in
modlist.txtdoes not match the order expected by the mod authors. - A package or asset is damaged, duplicated, or no longer compatible with the current server build.
Do not assume the last line in a log identifies the culprit. The first package-mount, asset, dependency, or serialization error is usually the more useful lead.
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Protect the world before changing anything
Stop the server cleanly before editing files. Make a copy of the following to storage outside the server directory:
ConanSandbox/Saved/game.dbConanSandbox/Mods/modlist.txt, if present- Every current
.pakfile inConanSandbox/Mods - The relevant
.inifiles under the saved configuration area
Keep the original files together and label the copy with the date and game build. Never overwrite the only database while testing a mod change. Funcom specifically recommends that private-server owners back up the UE4 database before the Enhanced update; the same precaution applies to any migration or major patch.
A USB flash drive or external SSD is sufficient for a manual backup, provided it has enough free space for the database, packages, and configuration. Keep at least one copy that is not mounted as the live server directory. If a hosting panel provides automated backups, download an independent copy before a conversion or bulk mod update instead of relying only on the panel.
Prove whether mods are the failure boundary
- Stop the service or batch window. Do not edit a file while the server is writing it.
- Save the current mod state. Copy
modlist.txtand the completeModsdirectory to your backup location. - Temporarily remove the list. Rename
modlist.txtto a name such asmodlist.txt.disabled, or move it outside the server directory. Renaming is reversible and preserves the exact order. - Temporarily move packages. If the server still detects mods, move the
.pakfiles out ofConanSandbox/Modsinto a separate backup folder. Do not delete them. - Launch the documented server executable or
StartServer.bat. Funcom documents both as dedicated-server launch methods. The default game and pinger ports are UDP 7777 and UDP 7778. - Wait for a real ready state. A window that remains open for a few seconds is not proof. Confirm that startup completes and that the server accepts a local connection or reaches its normal ready message.
If the no-mod server starts, restore the backed-up files only after stopping it again. You have established a mod-set failure, not a damaged world. If it crashes identically with no packages present, continue to the vanilla-server checks later in this guide.
Read the log before changing several variables
Open the newest file in the server’s Saved/Logs directory and inspect the final section before the fatal error, stack trace, or clean exit. Record:
- The first named mod, package, asset, or class.
- Whether the message says a file is missing, duplicated, out of date, or unable to mount.
- Any dependency or load-order warning.
- The timestamp and server build shown near the start of the log.
Compare every entry in modlist.txt with an actual file in ConanSandbox/Mods. A name in the list with no matching package can stop startup; an unlisted package is normally ignored but should still be removed from the test folder to make the test unambiguous. Preserve the original log before clearing or restarting repeatedly.
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Rebuild the mod list methodically
Do not re-enable the entire list at once. Use a minimal known-good set and add one mod, or one tightly coupled dependency group, per restart.
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- Start with an empty
modlist.txtand verify the server reaches ready. - Add the base library or framework that other mods require. Start again.
- Add the next dependency group in the order specified by its author. Start again.
- Continue until the crash returns. The last addition is your primary suspect, but confirm it with a second start after removing only that addition.
- When a group contains several dependent packages, split the group in half and test each half. This binary-search approach finds a bad package with far fewer restarts than testing every combination.
Keep a dated copy of each working list. If a change fails, restore the previous list rather than editing several lines while troubleshooting.
For a large server, create a simple test matrix: list the active packages, their versions, the order, the result of each launch, and the relevant log filename. This prevents a successful test from being confused with a different build or a different database. Never test by changing the database, mod files, and executable at the same time; you will not know which change mattered.
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Funcom’s support guidance states that mods must be current for the game version and that some mods must load earlier because of dependencies. The order is not a cosmetic preference: a package can reference classes or assets that have not been loaded yet.
Use the author’s order, not alphabetical order
Follow the order shown by the mod author or the mod’s current documentation. Do not sort entries alphabetically, copy a client’s order blindly, or place a large content mod above a framework merely because it appears first in a launcher. The server’s modlist.txt is authoritative.
Check for missing prerequisites
Read the dependency section for the exact release of each suspect mod. Install every required prerequisite in the server’s Mods directory, then place it before the dependent package. Optional add-ons should remain disabled until the required base package starts successfully.
Remove stale duplicates
Two copies of a package with different filenames can expose duplicate assets or classes. Keep one current file, remove the duplicate from the active folder, and retain both originals in your backup until the server has been tested.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCheck compatibility after a game update
Every game update can change the interfaces, assets, or serialization format that a mod expects. Funcom advises using the latest available version of each mod and confirming compatibility with the latest game version. A server that worked yesterday can therefore fail before it reaches the ready state after a patch.
- Check the mod’s current Workshop or author page for a release supporting your installed Conan Exiles build.
- Check the publication date and changelog for an explicit post-update fix.
- Do not substitute a similarly named package or an older archive just to fill a missing dependency.
- If no compatible release exists, leave the mod disabled and wait for the author. A clean startup without that mod is safer than forcing an older package.
Clients must install the same active set and the same order. A server may start correctly while players are rejected or disconnected because their local list differs.
When one mod repeatedly causes the crash
Confirm the result rather than relying on correlation. Start with the suspect removed, stop the server, add only that package to the last known-good list, and start again. If the crash is repeatable, capture the relevant log lines and the exact mod version.
Before replacing the file, check whether the author requires a companion framework, a specific order, or a clean removal of an older version. If the author has not released a build for the current game version, keep the package out of the active directory. Do not edit a .pak internally; it is a compiled package, not a configuration file.
If the server crashes with zero mods
A no-mod crash moves the investigation away from a particular package. Work through these checks without changing the database.
Verify the installation
Use Steam’s file-integrity verification for the dedicated-server installation. In the Steam client, open the server entry’s properties, choose Installed Files, and run Verify integrity of game files. Allow the process to replace damaged or missing files, then retry the no-mod launch before restoring any packages.
Align the server and client builds
Confirm that the server branch and executable have finished updating and that the connecting client is on the same Conan Exiles build. A server that exits before it begins mod loading is more consistent with an installation, branch, runtime, or permissions problem than with a single mod.
Update graphics and system drivers
Install current graphics drivers and reboot. Although a dedicated server may not render a game window, Funcom includes driver updates among its launch and crash checks, and shared runtime components can affect startup.
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Close overlays and background tools
Temporarily disable game overlays, monitoring utilities, capture tools, injectors, and other background applications. Re-enable them one at a time only after a clean launch.
Check security software
Review antivirus and firewall quarantine events and create the required exception for the server executable and its network ports according to your security product’s instructions. Do not disable protection permanently; use a short, controlled test and restore normal rules afterward.
Undo overclocks
Return CPU, GPU, memory, and voltage settings to their stock values. An overclock that is stable in a short game session can still fail during server asset loading. Retest after a full reboot.
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Enhanced (UE5) migration precautions
Conan Exiles Enhanced supports mods, but Funcom warns that some mods may need upgrades after the version change and says it is working with selected hosting providers on the UE5 version. Treat an Enhanced migration as a new compatibility test, not as a routine patch.
- Stop the UE4 server and preserve the original
game.db, mod list, packages, and configuration files. - Launch the upgraded server with no mods and confirm that the migrated world opens.
- Add only mods that explicitly support Enhanced, one at a time or in documented dependency groups.
- Test world loading, saves, and player connections before declaring the migration complete.
- Make a second backup after the upgraded server has been tested successfully. Keep the UE4 copy until you are satisfied that rollback is no longer needed.
If a hosting control panel offers an Enhanced conversion, retain an independent copy of the database rather than relying only on the provider’s backup.
Choosing between competing fixes
When several explanations appear plausible, rank them by evidence and reversibility.
| Observation | What it supports | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Server starts with no mods | Mod compatibility, dependency, or order failure | Rebuild the list incrementally |
| Log names a package or asset | A specific mod or dependency is involved | Test that package alone against the last known-good list |
| One newly added mod reproduces the crash | Repeatable package incompatibility | Remove it and seek a current release |
| Server crashes with no packages present | Installation, runtime, permissions, security, driver, or system conflict | Verify files and perform the vanilla checks |
| Change would overwrite the database | High rollback risk | Stop and make an independent game.db copy first |
| Fix works only after several unrelated edits | Weak evidence because variables changed together | Reproduce from the backup and change one variable at a time |
A clean vanilla launch followed by a repeatable failure when one package is added is stronger evidence than a generic reinstall. Prefer changes that are reversible and leave the original database untouched.
Common mistakes that make the crash harder to diagnose
- Deleting the mod folder first: this removes the exact versions and order needed for comparison. Move files instead.
- Editing while the server is running: the process can rewrite the list or hold a stale package in memory. Stop it before every change.
- Updating every mod simultaneously: you lose the ability to identify which release introduced the failure.
- Using the client list as the server list: clients must match the server, but the server’s documented order remains the authority.
- Restoring the database as a first resort: a database restore can hide a mod problem and may discard legitimate progress. Diagnose the startup path first.
- Assuming a successful process launch means success: wait for the normal ready state and test a connection.
Hosting-panel checks
If the server runs through a hosting panel, use its stop and start controls rather than editing a live installation over FTP. Download the panel’s current log, confirm which branch or executable the service launches, and check whether an automatic mod installer has changed modlist.txt. Disable automatic mod synchronization during the isolation test so it does not silently restore a package you removed. Providers that expose logs, mod controls, automated backups, and Enhanced support can reduce administrative work, but you still need an independent database copy and a documented working list.
Rollback after a failed test
- Stop the server and wait for the process to exit.
- Move the test
modlist.txtand packages out of the active directory. - Restore the dated, known-good list and the exact package files from your backup.
- Start without changing
game.db; verify the world and player connections. - Keep the failed files and log in a separate folder for comparison or an author support request.
This rollback sequence restores configuration without discarding legitimate world progress. Only consider a database restore when the database itself is proven damaged and you have confirmed the backup’s date and integrity.
Preventing the next startup failure
- Keep a dated backup of
game.db,modlist.txt, packages, and configuration before game or mod updates. - Record the exact game build and mod versions in the backup folder.
- Apply updates in a maintenance window, starting the server with no mods before adding the active list.
- Maintain a small known-good mod list that can be restored immediately.
- Read the first meaningful error in
Saved/Logsbefore making a second change. - After a successful test, make a fresh backup rather than overwriting the pre-update copy.
The reliable pattern is simple: preserve the world, isolate mods, identify the first failing package or dependency, restore the documented order, and only then investigate system-level causes. If the server cannot start in a completely vanilla state, treat it as an installation or environment problem instead of repeatedly rearranging mods.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Conan Exiles server start when I disable mods?
That result usually indicates an outdated mod, missing dependency, incorrect load order, damaged package, or incompatibility with the current game build. Keep the no-mod launch as your baseline and add packages back one at a time.
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Stop the server, copy game.db, modlist.txt, packages, and configuration files, then rename the live list or move it aside. Resetting the list does not erase the database; never delete the only backup.
Which mod is breaking startup?
Use the first meaningful package or dependency error in Saved/Logs, then test the named package against the last known-good list. Confirm the result by removing and re-adding only that mod.
Do clients need the same mods as the server?
Yes. Clients must have the same active mods in the same order. A server can start successfully while players fail to connect because their local list differs.
What should I do after a Conan Exiles game update?
Verify that every active mod supports the new game build, launch once with no mods, and restore the list incrementally. If no compatible release exists, leave the affected mod disabled until its author updates it.
Can Enhanced or UE5 migration break existing mods?
Yes. Funcom says Enhanced supports mods but that some mods may need upgrades. Preserve the UE4 database, test the migrated world with zero mods, add only Enhanced-compatible packages, and make a second backup after testing.
The Bottom Line
Back up game.db and the complete mod state, prove the failure with a no-mod launch, then restore dependencies in the author’s order one at a time. If vanilla still crashes, verify files and check drivers, overlays, security software, permissions, and overclocks before changing the database.
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