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To update a Conan Exiles dedicated server safely, stop the server, back up its installation and ConanSandboxSaved data, run SteamCMD against the existing folder with Conan’s dedicated-server app ID 443030, then restart and test the connection. If the ordinary update reports success but clients still see an incompatible-version error, run SteamCMD interactively with validate. Update the base server before updating Workshop mods.
What you need before updating
This procedure is written for a Windows dedicated server managed with SteamCMD. Funcom also distributes a “Conan Exiles Dedicated Server” tool through Steam Library > Tools, and a separate Funcom launcher can automate parts of the process. The exact launcher behavior and depot contents can change, so SteamCMD is the clearest recovery path when a launcher appears to succeed without actually bringing the server to the client’s build.
Identify the existing installation folder
You must update the folder that already contains the dedicated-server files. In the examples below it is C:Exiles. Substitute the real path used by your installation; changing the path accidentally can create a second installation and leave the active server untouched.
- Locate the folder containing
ConanSandboxServer.exe, or theStartServer.batfile that launches it. - Record the full path exactly, including any spaces. If the path contains spaces, use the quoting format supported by your SteamCMD setup.
- Keep the same path in your update command, scheduled task, launcher profile, and startup batch file.
Stop the process cleanly
Do not overwrite files while ConanSandboxServer.exe or a StartServer.bat process is running. Shut the server down through its normal console or administration procedure, wait for the process to exit, and check Task Manager if you are unsure. A clean stop reduces the chance of a partially written save or a file-lock error during the update.
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Back up the files that matter
Copy the complete server folder and the ConanSandboxSaved directory to a separate location before applying a build update. The saved directory contains the world and configuration data you will need if an update, mod change, or manual edit causes a rollback. Name the backup with the date and the build you were running, and do not store the only copy inside the installation folder that SteamCMD will modify.
If you maintain several worlds or server profiles, make sure the backup includes each profile’s saved data rather than only the executable directory. Do not delete the backup until players have connected successfully and you have confirmed that the expected world, settings, and administrator access remain available.
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Update with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is Valve’s distribution utility for Steam dedicated servers. Funcom’s dedicated-server instructions identify 443030 as the Conan Exiles dedicated-server app ID. The standard command logs in anonymously, selects the existing installation directory, downloads the current server files, and exits:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:Exiles +app_update 443030 +quitRun the command
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell with an account that can write to the server directory.
- Change to the directory containing
steamcmd.exe, or call it by its full path. - Run the command, replacing
C:Exileswith the active installation path. - Leave the window open until SteamCMD finishes downloading and returns to the command prompt. Do not start the game server while SteamCMD is still replacing files.
The +force_install_dir switch is important: it tells SteamCMD where the dedicated-server files belong. The +app_update 443030 switch requests the server application update, and +quit closes SteamCMD after the operation. The command does not update Workshop content automatically unless you add separate Workshop commands.
How to interpret the result
Read the final SteamCMD messages instead of relying on a launcher’s notification. A successful-looking download is not by itself proof that clients can connect: the process may have targeted a different folder, encountered a locked file, or left a depot needing validation. If the server later reports an incompatible version, use the interactive validation procedure below against the same path.
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Repair an update with interactive validation
When a launcher says the update succeeded but the running server remains out of date, run SteamCMD one command at a time. Funcom forum troubleshooting documents this validate fallback:
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →force_install_dir C:Exiles
login anonymous
app_update 443030 validate
quit- Start
steamcmd.exewithout the plus-prefixed one-line switches. - Enter
force_install_dirwith the exact active server path. - Enter
login anonymous. - Enter
app_update 443030 validateand wait for the file check and any required downloads to finish. - Enter
quit, then launch the server again from its normal executable or batch file.
Validation compares the installed files with the depot and replaces files that are missing or inconsistent. It does not replace your saved world with a new world, and it does not update Workshop mods; those are separate tasks. Because validation can take longer than a small incremental update, run it while the server is offline and allow SteamCMD to complete before restarting.
Restart and verify the updated server
After SteamCMD exits, start ConanSandboxServer.exe or run StartServer.bat exactly as you did before the update. Keep the server console or log visible during startup. A practical post-update check should cover the process, network bind, client build, settings, and mods.
- Confirm the process starts once. Make sure an old instance is not still running and that the new process remains active rather than exiting immediately.
- Read the startup log. Look for a clean bind to the configured ports and note any missing-file, permission, or mod-loading errors.
- Connect from an updated client. The client connection attempt is the useful compatibility test: it should no longer report that the server is running an incompatible version.
- Check identity and capacity. Confirm the expected server name and player limit, rather than assuming an accidentally different installation was started.
- Test a modded client when applicable. Join with the same mod set that regular players use and verify that the world loads before declaring the maintenance complete.
These checks also catch a common path error: SteamCMD may have updated one directory while the startup batch file points to another. If the binary appears current but the server name, player limit, or world is unexpectedly different, stop and compare the startup path with the path used by SteamCMD.
Update Conan Exiles Workshop mods
Update the base dedicated server first. Only after the server files are current should you download newer Workshop content and restart with the resulting mod list. Mixing a new client-side mod with an old server-side mod, or loading different mod sets on the two sides, can produce connection failures even when the base game build matches.
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The documented SteamCMD pattern uses Workshop app 440900 and the workshop_download_item command:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 443030 +workshop_download_item 440900 <workshopID> +quitReplace <workshopID> with the numeric Workshop ID for each required mod. Repeat the command or add additional workshop_download_item 440900 arguments according to the batch-file pattern you use. Keep a written list of the IDs and their intended load order; a title alone is not a reliable identifier when a mod has similarly named files.
Apply and check the mod set
- Stop the server before changing its mod files or configuration.
- Back up the current mod list and the saved data, especially before a major mod release.
- Run the Workshop download command for every required numeric ID.
- Confirm that the downloaded files are in the installation used by the server, not in a separate SteamCMD directory.
- Update the server’s mod configuration with the intended list and order.
- Restart the server and inspect the log for each mod loading successfully.
- Test with a client using the same versions and order. If only an unmodded client can join, treat the issue as a mod-set mismatch rather than repeating the base-server update.
The Funcom launcher discussion describes automatic SteamCMD and numerical mod-ID updates, but launcher releases and behavior are volatile. If you use that launcher, verify its configured install path, app ID, and mod IDs immediately before relying on an automated run; keep the manual SteamCMD command available for recovery.
Where configuration and network settings live
Funcom identifies the Windows server configuration directory as:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsConanSandboxSavedConfigWindowsServerThe official dedicated-server guidance identifies Engine.ini for server name and password settings and ServerSettings.ini for the in-game administrator password. Preserve these files in your backup, and edit them only while the server is stopped so the process does not overwrite your changes on shutdown.
Default UDP ports and firewall access
Funcom’s dedicated-server article and technical manual document UDP ports 27015 and 7777. Create or retain firewall exceptions for the ports your server is configured to use, and ensure that the router forwards the same ports to the machine running the server when players connect from outside your local network. A server that starts normally but does not appear in the Steam browser often needs a firewall or forwarding review rather than another file update.
Check the startup log for a successful bind after every restart. If a different application already owns a port, the server may fail to bind or may start in a way that is not reachable by players. Resolve the conflict, restart the server, and repeat the client connection test.
Fix common “incompatible version” and update failures
The client says the server is an incompatible version
- Stop the server and rerun SteamCMD with
+force_install_dirpointing to the folder actually launched by your startup file. - Use the interactive
app_update 443030 validateprocedure. - Restart only after SteamCMD has finished, then connect with a client that has also received the current game update.
- If mods are enabled, compare the server and client mod IDs and order after the base build matches.
Do not treat the error as proof that a world save is damaged. First establish that both sides are on the same server build and mod set.
The launcher reports success, but files did not change
Check the launcher’s installation path against the path passed to SteamCMD and the path in StartServer.bat. Then run SteamCMD manually so its output is visible. A launcher can report that a command completed while the command targeted a different directory or while a required file remained locked by a running process.
SteamCMD cannot replace files
Stop every Conan server process, close tools that may hold files open, and rerun SteamCMD with write access to the installation directory. If the ordinary update still leaves an inconsistent installation, use validation. Keep the pre-update backup until the server has passed the connection and world-load checks.
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The server starts but is missing settings or the expected world
Compare the active executable’s path with the saved-data path under ConanSandboxSaved. Starting a newly created or second installation can produce a healthy-looking process with default settings. Stop it, restore the correct path or backup, and launch the intended installation.
The server runs but does not appear in the browser
- Verify that the log shows successful binds for the configured UDP ports.
- Check Windows Firewall exceptions and any upstream router forwarding for UDP
27015and7777. - Confirm that the server is listening on the expected machine and that another process has not claimed the port.
- Try a direct connection or a known client connection after correcting the network rules.
A modded client still cannot join after the base update
Download the required Workshop items again using their numeric IDs, confirm the files are in the active installation, and compare the complete mod list and order on both sides. Test one known-good modded client before inviting the whole player group. If an individual mod is the only failing component, remove it from the test configuration and troubleshoot that mod separately rather than repeatedly validating the base server.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing an update method
There are four practical approaches. SteamCMD offers the most transparent recovery process; the Steam Library tool is convenient for users who prefer Steam’s graphical management; the Funcom launcher can automate commands but may change between releases; and managed hosting moves server maintenance to a provider. The right choice depends on how much control you need over paths, files, mods, and network access.
| Approach | Install-path control | File validation | Mod automation | Backups and restarts | Firewall and OS responsibility | Branch compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual SteamCMD | Explicit: set with force_install_dir |
Yes: app_update 443030 validate |
Manual Workshop commands using app 440900 |
You create backups and restart the process | You manage the operating system, ports, and firewall | Verify against the current Conan Exiles or Enhanced branch before updating |
| Steam Library > Tools | Managed by Steam; exact path control depends on the Steam library | Steam-managed; the available validation controls are not stated in the cited guidance | Not stated; plan to manage Workshop IDs separately | Backups and restart procedures remain your responsibility | You still manage firewall and host access | Confirm that the installed tool matches the branch your clients use |
| Funcom Dedicated Server Launcher | Configured in the launcher; verify the selected path | Behavior can vary by launcher version; keep SteamCMD validation available | Can automate SteamCMD and numeric mod-ID updates according to launcher discussions | May automate parts of startup, but keep independent backups | You remain responsible for host firewall and network reachability | Launcher versions and live depot state are volatile; verify before use |
| Managed hosting | Provider-controlled or provider-defined | Depends on the provider’s control panel and support process | Depends on the provider’s mod tools and policies | May offer scheduled restarts and backups; verify what is included | Provider generally handles host networking, but you must confirm access and limits | Ask how the service tracks the current Conan Exiles/Enhanced branch |
Managed hosting can be sensible if you do not want to maintain SteamCMD, backups, firewall rules, and restarts. No universal price, provider, or availability should be assumed: verify those details directly before committing. If you need complete control over the installation path or want to inspect and validate files yourself, retain SteamCMD access even when another tool performs routine updates.
A repeatable maintenance checklist
Use this order for future Conan Exiles updates so that a routine build change does not become a recovery exercise:
- Announce a maintenance window and stop new joins.
- Shut down
ConanSandboxServer.exeorStartServer.batcleanly. - Back up the server folder and
ConanSandboxSavedto separate storage. - Run
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:Exiles +app_update 443030 +quitwith your real path. - If the result is uncertain, repeat interactively with
app_update 443030 validate. - Update Workshop items through app
440900for every required numeric mod ID. - Start the server and inspect the log for a clean process and port bind.
- Connect with an updated client, then verify name, player limit, world, administrator access, and one modded client when relevant.
- Keep the dated backup until players have completed a normal session without errors.
SteamDB recorded activity for app 443030 on 14 October 2026 UTC, illustrating why the exact depot state can change close to the time you perform maintenance. Treat the command and app ID as stable identifiers, but always allow SteamCMD to finish downloading the current files before restarting the server.
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