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The most reliable way to host a persistent Valheim world is the official Dedicated Server application. Install it from Steam’s Library > Tools, copy the supplied startup script, set a world, name, and password, then choose a backend before you troubleshoot networking. The default Steam backend requires UDP port forwarding; adding -crossplay routes external traffic through a relay and removes that port-forwarding requirement.
This guide follows Iron Gate Studio’s official dedicated-server guide (April 11, 2024) and Crossplay FAQ (republished February 7, 2025). The official material does not publish a separate 2026 hardware-sizing guide, so no CPU, RAM, storage, bandwidth, or player-count recommendation is invented here.
What a dedicated Valheim server does
A dedicated server runs the world independently of any player’s game session. Friends can return to the same world when the host is not actively playing, provided the server process and its machine remain available. Iron Gate describes the purpose this way: “Running a dedicated server is a great way to provide a persistent world in which you and your friends can play anytime.” The sentence appears in its official guide, published April 11, 2024.
The server is a separate application from the normal Valheim client. You configure it with launch arguments and text files, start it on a Windows or Linux machine, and have players connect using the backend you selected. The official support index remains the place to check when a future server build changes the supplied manual or scripts: Valheim Support.
Choose the networking backend before installing
There are two documented ways to expose a dedicated server. Steam is the default when you do not include -crossplay. Crossplay is enabled by adding that argument to the startup command. The choice changes the router work, joining methods, and local-network limitations.
| Backend | External networking | How players can join | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam (default) | Forward the selected UDP port and the next port; the defaults are 2456–2457. Allow the server through the host computer’s firewall. | Use the server browser or Join IP with the server’s reachable address and port. | Outside access depends on your router and internet provider permitting port forwarding. |
Crossplay (-crossplay) |
Uses a relay, so port forwarding is not required for outside access. | Use the server list, a public IP and port, or a join code. The code is shown in the pause menu and can be pasted through Join Game > Add server. | Local IP and loopback connections are not possible for this backend. Xbox can join when crossplay is enabled, but an Xbox console cannot host a dedicated server. |
Choose Steam if you control the router and want the default backend. Choose Crossplay if people outside your home need to connect but you cannot configure forwarding, or if Xbox players must join. Neither official source supplies latency, reliability, or performance figures that would justify a technical superiority claim for either option.
What you need, and what the official guidance does not specify
- A computer running Windows or Linux for the dedicated-server process.
- The Steam version of Valheim and its Valheim Dedicated Server tool, or the Microsoft Store server files described below.
- A stable network connection and permission to allow the server through the host firewall.
- Router access if you use the Steam backend and need players outside your network to connect.
Iron Gate’s published instructions do not state a minimum CPU, memory, disk, bandwidth, or player-count specification. Hardware demand will depend on the world, mods (if any), number of players, and the server build, but those variables are not quantified by the cited official material. Check the server’s included manual after an update rather than treating an unverified hardware table as an official requirement.
Install the official server program
Steam installation on Windows or Linux
- Open Steam and go to Library.
- Enable the Tools filter in the library.
- Find Valheim Dedicated Server and install it.
- Open the installed folder and read the manual supplied with the program before changing less-common arguments.
The package includes a Windows script named start_headless_server.bat and a Linux script named start_server.sh. Steam’s shortcut targets the original filename. Because a Steam update can replace that original script, make a copy and edit the copy. Launch the custom copy directly instead of changing the original and expecting Steam’s shortcut to follow it.
Microsoft Store installation
The Crossplay FAQ says the Microsoft Store installation creates the server files with the game. On Windows, the documented folder is C:XboxGamesValheimContentServer. Run StartHeadlessServer.bat from that folder and use the manual included there for available arguments. This path is distinct from the Steam tool, so do not assume a Steam script or directory exists in a Microsoft Store installation.
Copy and edit the startup script
Windows
- In the dedicated-server folder, copy
start_headless_server.batand give the copy a descriptive name, such asmy-valheim-server.bat. - Open the copy in a text editor.
- Keep the supplied executable and Steam settings intact, and edit the argument portion of the command.
- Set at least
-name,-world, and-password. Add-public 1or-public 0, a port, and-crossplayif those match your plan. - Save the copy and run it directly. When Windows Firewall asks whether the server may communicate, allow it on the networks where your players will connect.
start valheim_server -name "My Valheim World" -port 2456 -world "MyWorld" -password "use-your-password" -public 1The line above illustrates the documented argument style; preserve the executable and quoting used by the supplied script on your installation. To use the relay-backed backend, add -crossplay to the same command:
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start valheim_server -name "My Crossplay World" -port 2456 -world "MyWorld" -password "use-your-password" -public 1 -crossplayDo not copy a command blindly if the supplied script uses a different executable path or wrapper. The included manual is authoritative for the installed build.
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- Copy
start_server.shbefore editing it, for the same update-reset reason. - Set
-name,-world, and-password, then add the networking and save arguments you need. - Make the copied script executable if your distribution requires that, and run the copy directly from the server directory.
- Watch the terminal for the exact readiness message Game server connected.
Linux package and runtime requirements are covered in the Linux section below. They can change with later server builds, so compare your installed manual with the current support article after major updates.
Configure Steam-backend networking
Forward the two UDP ports
With the default Steam backend, forward the selected port and the immediately following port. The default range is UDP 2456–2457. If you change -port, forward that new port and its next port instead. The dedicated-server guide does not provide universal router screenshots or steps because control panels differ by router and internet provider; it directs you to your router manual or ISP.
- Identify the local machine running the server and the port value in your script.
- Open your router’s port-forwarding or virtual-server page.
- Create a UDP rule for the selected port and another for port+1, pointing both to the server machine.
- Save or apply the router rules.
- Ensure the host operating system firewall allows the server application and the same UDP traffic.
Do not forward ports when you are using -crossplay merely because a Steam tutorial says to do so. The relay design is specifically intended to avoid forwarding for external access.
When forwarding is impossible
Some networks do not give you router control or do not permit inbound forwarding. In that case, use -crossplay and have players connect through a join code, the server list, or a public IP and port. The official documentation does not promise that a particular ISP, carrier-grade NAT setup, or firewall policy will work; if the relay itself is unavailable, consult the installed manual and the support site.
Set the server name, world, visibility, and password
| Argument or setting | Purpose | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
-name |
Sets the name players see for the server. | Always set a recognizable name, especially when several worlds are online. |
-world |
Selects an existing world by name, or creates a world with that name if it does not yet exist. | Use the exact world name you intend to continue using. |
-password |
Sets the server password. | Choose a password you can share privately with the intended players. |
-public 1 |
Makes the server visible in the browser; this is the default documented visibility. | Use it when players should find the server in the list. |
-public 0 |
Hides the server from the browser. | Use it for a private server or a LAN-oriented setup; players join through Join IP. |
-crossplay |
Selects the relay-backed crossplay backend. | Use it for Xbox participation or when you do not want external port forwarding. |
-savedir |
Overrides the default save directory. | Use it when your world data must live on another volume or under a managed path. |
The Windows default save location is ../%USERPROFILE%/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim. The Linux default is ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim. If you use -savedir, place your access-control files and backup plan in the new location rather than continuing to look in the default directory.
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Control administrators, bans, and permitted players
The server save path contains three text files: adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt, and permittedlist.txt. Put one Platform User ID on each line. IDs can be found in the server log or by opening the in-game F2 panel. They are case-sensitive, so copy them exactly.
- adminlist.txt: gives listed IDs access to administrative commands.
- bannedlist.txt: blocks listed IDs.
- permittedlist.txt: switches the server to an allow-list model. Once it contains an entry, everyone else is excluded unless their ID is also listed.
The official guide lists administrative commands including kick, ban, unban, and banned. Stop the server before making file changes when possible, keep a backup of the files, and restart so the process reads the updated lists.
Choose a save location, interval, backups, and world modifiers
Save interval
The documented default save interval is 1,800 seconds (30 minutes). This is a configurable default, not a guarantee about how much progress can be recovered after a crash. Use the server arguments and included manual if you need a different interval.
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Automatic backups
The documented default backup configuration is four backups: one short backup from two hours earlier and three long backups spaced twelve hours apart. In the guide’s units, those intervals are 7,200 seconds (2 hours) and 43,200 seconds (12 hours). The settings are adjustable with -backupshort and -backuplong.
| Documented default | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Save interval | 1,800 seconds / 30 minutes | How often the server performs its normal save. |
| Short backup | 7,200 seconds / 2 hours | One short-interval backup in the default four-backup arrangement. |
| Long backups | 43,200 seconds / 12 hours | Three backups separated by the long interval in the default arrangement. |
Presets, modifiers, and world keys
The guide documents -preset, -modifier, and -setkey for world difficulty and other world settings. A preset overwrites other modifiers, so put explicit -modifier arguments after the preset in the command line when you need to override individual values. Read the installed manual for the accepted preset, modifier, and key names; do not guess their spelling.
Linux dependencies and the Docker option
The official Linux notes list three additional packages: libatomic1, libpulse-dev, and libpulse0. The dedicated server requires GLIBC_2.29 and GLIBCXX_3.4.26 according to the guide. These are runtime requirements for the server build described by that guide, not a promise that every future build will use the same versions.
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If a Linux system has older libraries, the package includes docker_start_server.sh. The guide describes running it with the normal startup script and configuring the Docker data volume. Follow the supplied script and manual for the exact volume path so saves, access lists, and backups persist outside a disposable container. Docker is an option for compatibility; it is not a substitute for configuring the server arguments or choosing Steam versus Crossplay.
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- Close any previous instance using the same world and save directory.
- Run your copied Windows batch file, Linux shell script, or the Microsoft Store
StartHeadlessServer.bat. - Wait for Game server connected in the server window or terminal. Treat that message as the documented ready indicator.
- Leave the process running while players connect. Closing the window stops the dedicated server.
- Share only the connection method that matches your backend: browser or Join IP for Steam, and browser, public IP/port, or join code for Crossplay.
Let Xbox and PC friends join
Xbox players can join a dedicated server when -crossplay is enabled on the server and the connecting setup supports crossplay. Give players the join code shown in the pause menu, or have them use Join Game > Add server to paste it. They can also use the server list or the public IP and port described by the Crossplay FAQ.
An Xbox console itself cannot host a dedicated server. The dedicated process must run on a supported Windows or Linux computer (or the Microsoft Store server installation described earlier), while the Xbox acts as a client.
Do not tell Crossplay players to use your home machine’s local IP or 127.0.0.1; the official FAQ states that local IP and loopback connections are not possible with this backend.
Troubleshoot by backend, not by guesswork
The Steam server is not visible outside your home
- Confirm that the script does not contain
-crossplayif you intend to use Steam networking. - Check that the router forwards UDP 2456 and 2457, or the selected port and port+1 if you changed
-port. - Confirm the host firewall allowed the server application and that the router rule points to the correct server machine.
- If you cannot administer the router or your ISP does not allow forwarding, switch to Crossplay instead of adding random ports.
The Crossplay server cannot be joined with a local address
This is expected behavior, not a missing port rule. Use the join code, server list, or public IP and port. Local IP and loopback addresses are unsupported for the relay-backed backend.
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Check the exact -world value and the active -savedir. A spelling change creates or selects a different world name, while changing the save directory makes the server look somewhere else. Stop the process before correcting the script and verify that the expected world files are in the directory the running command actually uses.
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Access files appear to do nothing
Verify that the files are in the active save directory, each ID occupies its own line, and capitalization matches the Platform User ID. A non-empty permittedlist.txt excludes everyone not listed, so an accidental entry can make a previously open server appear inaccessible.
The Linux process exits immediately
Check the listed packages and the required GLIBC_2.29 and GLIBCXX_3.4.26 versions. If the operating system is older, use the supplied Docker option and configure its data volume as described in the included manual.
Self-hosting versus a managed server
Self-hosting gives you direct control over the startup script, save directory, access files, backups, and world modifiers. It also makes you responsible for keeping the process running, applying updates, handling firewall or router rules, and protecting the save data.
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A category-level managed Valheim host can be appropriate when you do not want to operate a machine or troubleshoot home networking. Godlike.Host is one such option: it runs Valheim servers from its own game panel, with free DDoS protection, up to three free backups a day with restore, and 10 data-center locations (see the current plans). The official documents cited here do not compare providers, prices, uptime, hardware, or support quality, so select any managed service only after checking its current terms and whether it supports the backend, world-transfer method, and access controls you need. You do not need a new router merely because you are considering hosting; first determine whether your existing network already permits the Steam rules or whether Crossplay removes that requirement.
Update safely and keep a recovery path
- Before a Steam update, copy your customized startup script, access-control files, and important world data.
- After updating, compare the new supplied script and manual with your copy. Steam may reset the original script, and new builds can add or rename arguments.
- Confirm that
-name,-world,-password, visibility, port, backend, and save directory still match your intended setup. - Start the server and wait for Game server connected before inviting players.
- Check that your backup settings and the active save directory are still correct after any move, Docker change, or script edit.
Iron Gate’s official articles are dated guidance rather than a promise that every 2026 build is identical. Recheck the current manual shipped with the installed server whenever a major update changes the executable or startup arguments.
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