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To host Palworld in 2026, install Pocketpair’s dedicated-server files on a separate 64-bit Windows or Linux machine, give the process the required CPU, memory and SSD capacity, forward its UDP listen port through your router, then launch it with either a private IP connection or community-server listing. The game client does not need to remain open. Pocketpair’s current Server Guide is version 0.5.0; platform and configuration behavior can change, so check that guide when you deploy.
What a Palworld dedicated server is
A dedicated server runs the Palworld world in a separate server process instead of inside a player’s game client. The host can therefore close the game client while the world remains available, provided the server machine and network stay online.
Pocketpair distinguishes two ways to expose that server:
- Private dedicated server: Players connect by entering the server’s IP address and port. It is suitable for a group that can exchange connection details and does not need an in-game listing.
- Community server: The same kind of dedicated process is registered in Palworld’s Community server list. This is the deployment path Pocketpair identifies for Xbox and PS5 users.
The current “About server” documentation describes cross-play among Steam, Xbox Series, Microsoft Store Windows PC and macOS, while stating that PS5 cross-play is currently unavailable. The community-server instructions still direct Xbox and PS5 users toward a community server. Treat PS5 support as unresolved in the current documentation rather than promising that a PS5 player will connect. The configuration reference also shows PS5 in the default CrossplayPlatforms value, but that default does not override the separate statement that PS5 cross-play is unavailable.
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Choose the deployment that fits your group
| Choice | Best for | What you must accept |
|---|---|---|
| Private dedicated server | A trusted group that can share an IP address and port | You must maintain the machine, configure the router and firewall, and tell players the connection details. |
| Community server | Players who need the in-game Community list, including the Xbox/PS5 path described by Pocketpair | You must start the server with community-listing options and wait for it to appear in the list. |
| Windows host | Administrators who prefer Steam or Windows tools | Windows Firewall and router forwarding are separate configuration tasks. |
| Linux host | Administrators comfortable with shell commands and service management | You may need Linux security-policy changes in addition to router configuration. |
Pocketpair documents installation through the Steam client, SteamCMD on Windows or Linux, and an official Docker image. Docker is aimed at advanced users and includes sample Compose files. The guide deprecates Docker Desktop deployment because storage I/O can increase the risk of save corruption and other malfunctions.
How much hardware does a Palworld server need?
The figures below are Pocketpair’s published operating guidance in Server Guide v0.5.0 (2026), not an independent benchmark or a guaranteed player-to-memory formula.
| Component | Pocketpair’s guidance | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Four CPU cores recommended | Use a modern host with four available cores; heavier worlds and larger groups benefit from additional headroom. |
| Memory | 16 GB | This is the published target for a normal deployment. |
| Memory floor | 8 GB can boot the server | Pocketpair warns that 8 GB increases the risk of out-of-memory crashes, so it is not a sensible target for a busy or long-running world. |
| Larger deployments | More than 32 GB recommended | This applies to larger deployments; Pocketpair does not publish a precise player-count-to-RAM chart. |
| Storage | Faster SSD recommended | Do not put the world on low-performance storage: Pocketpair warns that it can corrupt saved data. Choose capacity and interface to match the host machine rather than assuming a universal size. |
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows or 64-bit Linux | A 32-bit installation is outside the documented requirement. |
| Network | Router port forwarding required | Windows also needs a Windows Firewall rule; Linux may require changes to its security settings. |
Keep the server on a wired, stable connection when possible. Your internet upload capacity and latency determine how comfortably remote players can connect, but Pocketpair’s guide does not publish a minimum bandwidth number, so do not treat an invented speed threshold as official guidance.
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Prepare the host and network
- Select a machine: Use a 64-bit Windows or Linux system with at least the recommended four CPU cores and 16 GB of memory. Leave additional memory for the operating system and other services.
- Use suitable storage: Install the server and save data on a fast SSD. Avoid a slow or failing drive because the official guide links low-performance storage with save corruption.
- Reserve a local address: Give the host a predictable LAN address through your router’s DHCP reservation or an equivalent method. Router labels differ by manufacturer and ISP.
- Plan the external port: The documented default listen port is UDP 8211. You can change it with a launch argument, but the router rule and the player’s connection details must use the same selected port.
- Open the host firewall: On Windows, create an inbound rule for the server executable and selected UDP port. On Linux, allow the port in the firewall or security framework used by your distribution.
- Forward the port: In the router’s port-forwarding page, forward the selected UDP port to the host’s reserved LAN address. The exact menu and terminology vary, so use your router or ISP documentation for the interface-specific clicks.
Port forwarding exposes a service to the internet. Use a strong server password and admin password, keep the operating system and server files updated, and do not expose optional remote-administration interfaces unless you understand their authentication and network controls.
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Install the Palworld dedicated server
Windows through Steam
- Open the Steam client and switch the Library view to Tools.
- Find Palworld Dedicated Server and install it to the SSD selected for the server.
- Open the installation directory and start
PalServer.exeonce. The first run creates the save and configuration directories. - Stop the process cleanly before editing files.
Windows or Linux with SteamCMD
Install SteamCMD using the procedure for your operating system and distribution, then run Pocketpair’s documented anonymous download command:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quitAfter the update completes, change to the server installation directory. Windows starts the server with:
PalServer.exeLinux starts it with:
./PalServer.shRun it once, stop it, and only then edit the generated configuration. If SteamCMD reports a validation or permission error, confirm that the account running it can write to the installation directory and that the command is being executed from the SteamCMD environment you installed.
Docker for advanced administrators
Pocketpair provides an official Docker image and sample Compose files. Use this route only if you already manage containers, persistent volumes, updates and backups. Keep the world data on fast persistent storage. Pocketpair specifically deprecates Docker Desktop deployment because its storage I/O can increase save-corruption and malfunction risk.
Configure the world correctly
Palworld reads the active settings file, not the template. Start the server once, stop it, then copy the default file to the path for your operating system:
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| Host | Active file |
|---|---|
| Windows | Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini |
| Linux | Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini |
Copy DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini into that location and edit the copy. Editing the default template does not apply settings to the running world.
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Core settings
| Setting | Purpose | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
ServerName |
Name shown to players | Use a distinctive name if you publish a community server. |
ServerPassword |
Player access password | Set one for a private group; distribute it only to intended players. |
AdminPassword |
Credential for administrator commands | Use a different, strong value from the player password. |
ServerPlayerMaxNum |
Maximum players allowed by the world configuration | Choose a limit your hardware can support; the documentation does not provide a universal performance guarantee. |
CrossplayPlatforms |
Platforms permitted by the server configuration | The documented default is (Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac). Verify current platform support against Pocketpair’s “About server” page, especially for PS5. |
Pocketpair’s current reference marks AllowConnectPlatform as nonfunctional. Do not rely on older tutorials that tell you to use that setting; use the current CrossplayPlatforms reference and verify compatibility before inviting players from another platform.
Use launch arguments for ports, player limits and listing
Launch arguments are added to the executable or shell command. The documented options include:
| Argument | Effect |
|---|---|
-port=8211 |
Sets the server’s listening port. Replace 8211 with another value if you deliberately changed the network plan. |
-players=32 |
Sets the maximum participants to 32 in the documented example. |
-publiclobby |
Starts the process as a community-listed server. |
-publicip |
Manually supplies the public IP when automatic detection is wrong. |
-publicport |
Manually supplies the public-facing port for listing or discovery. It does not change the server’s listening port. |
For example, a Windows community-server launch can use:
PalServer.exe -publiclobbyThe Linux equivalent is:
./PalServer.sh -publiclobbyIf you change the listen port, include the matching -port value, update the router and firewall rules, and give players the new port. Use -publicip or -publicport only when automatic public-network detection fails; setting -publicport alone does not move the socket that the server listens on.
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Make the server private or list it publicly
Private dedicated server
Do not add the community-listing argument. Keep the server process running, complete forwarding and firewall configuration, and give trusted players the public IP address and selected port. A private server does not need to appear in the in-game list.
Community server
Start the process with -publiclobby. Pocketpair also documents a Steam launch option to open and start the server as a community server. Once registration succeeds, players use the Community server list rather than entering an IP manually. Listing depends on the server being reachable and correctly reporting its public network details; use -publicip and -publicport only if automatic detection is incorrect.
How players join
Joining a dedicated server by IP address
- Open Palworld and choose the multiplayer option that provides a server-address field.
- Enter the host’s public IP address and the configured UDP port in the address-and-port field.
- Enter the server password if one is configured, then connect.
Players on the same LAN may be able to use the host’s private address, while players outside the home network need the public address. Do not give players the router’s administrative address or an outdated address after an ISP change.
Joining a community server
- Open the in-game Community server list.
- Search for the exact
ServerName. - Select the entry and enter the password if required.
Cross-platform behavior follows Pocketpair’s current compatibility documentation, not merely the value shown in the configuration template. In particular, do not promise PS5 access while the “About server” page says PS5 cross-play is unavailable.
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Grant admin access and run basic commands
Set AdminPassword in PalWorldSettings.ini, restart the server, join the world, and enter:
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/AdminPassword <password>After authentication, Pocketpair’s documented command list includes:
/Shutdown— shuts down the server./Broadcast— sends a server-wide message./KickPlayer— removes a player./BanPlayer— bans a player./Save— saves the world.
Protect the admin password as you would any other privileged credential. Only grant it to people who need moderation or maintenance access.
Troubleshoot the problems that stop people joining
The server starts and then crashes with an out-of-memory error
Check that the host has the recommended 16 GB of memory and that other applications are not consuming it. Although 8 GB can boot the process, Pocketpair explicitly associates that amount with increased out-of-memory crash risk. Larger deployments may need more than 32 GB.
The world fails to save or saves become corrupted
Move the installation and save data to a faster SSD and avoid low-performance storage. Do not use Docker Desktop for this deployment; Pocketpair deprecates it because storage I/O may cause corruption or malfunction. Stop the server before copying save data for a backup.
Players cannot connect by IP
- Confirm the server process is running and listening on the same port you entered in the router rule.
- Check that the Windows Firewall or Linux firewall allows inbound UDP traffic.
- Verify that the router forwards to the host’s current LAN address, not an address that changed after a reboot.
- Have an external player test the public address; testing the public address from inside the same LAN can fail on routers without NAT loopback.
- If your internet service uses carrier-grade NAT, ordinary port forwarding may not provide a reachable public address; ask the ISP whether inbound forwarding is supported.
The configuration changes do nothing
Make sure you edited the copied PalWorldSettings.ini under the correct WindowsServer or LinuxServer path. Editing DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini does not apply changes. Stop the server before editing, save the file, and restart it.
The community server does not appear
Confirm that you launched with -publiclobby, that the selected UDP port is forwarded, and that the server can determine its public address. If automatic detection is wrong, supply -publicip and -publicport; remember that -publicport is listing metadata and does not alter the listening socket. Search using the exact server name and allow time for the listing to refresh.
A cross-platform player cannot join
Re-check the current “About server” page and the CrossplayPlatforms setting. Do not use AllowConnectPlatform, which Pocketpair marks as nonfunctional in the current version. Xbox and PS5 users follow the community-server path in the guide, but PS5 availability remains contradicted by the guide’s own current platform statement.
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- 64-bit Windows or Linux host with four recommended CPU cores.
- 16 GB memory target; more than 32 GB for larger deployments.
- Fast SSD for the server and save data.
- Server installed through Steam Tools, SteamCMD, or an appropriately managed official Docker deployment.
- First launch completed, then the default settings copied to the active OS-specific path.
- Distinct player and admin passwords configured.
- Selected UDP port forwarded to the host and allowed through the host firewall.
- Launch mode chosen: private IP connection or
-publiclobbycommunity listing. - Players given the current public IP and port, or the exact community-server name.
- Current Pocketpair platform documentation checked before advertising cross-play, especially for PS5.
A self-hosted Palworld server is practical when you can keep a suitably provisioned machine online and control its router and firewall. Use a private dedicated setup for a small trusted group; use community listing when your players need in-game discovery or the platform path requires it.
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