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The Conan Exiles Dedicated Server Launcher is a Windows utility that installs and updates the dedicated server through SteamCMD, manages Steam Workshop mods, exposes the important server settings, tests reachability, and provides restart, backup, log, and configuration controls. The current Funcom guide identifies launcher version 1.10.0, released October 14, 2026; check the official launcher thread for a newer build before installing.
This guide takes you from a clean host computer to a server your friends can join, then covers ports, mods, automatic updates, scheduled restarts, backups, web administration, multiple servers, and recovery when something fails.
What the launcher does
Funcom describes the Dedicated Server Launcher as a small utility intended to make running a Conan Exiles dedicated server easier. Instead of manually maintaining SteamCMD commands, configuration files, mod downloads, and restart scripts, you select options in one interface and let the launcher perform the routine work.
- Installs or updates SteamCMD and the Conan Exiles dedicated-server files.
- Downloads and updates Steam Workshop mods selected by numeric Workshop ID.
- Exposes core game, network, player, and password settings.
- Provides router connection parameters, reachability checks, and server logs.
- Supports automatic update checks, delayed restarts, scheduled restarts, RCON and Discord notifications, web status controls, and timestamped backups.
The launcher is a convenience layer, not a replacement for the server executable. If you need complete control over custom scripts, you can use SteamCMD and ConanSandboxServer.exe directly.
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Hardware and prerequisites
Use a separate host
Run the dedicated server on a separate computer rather than starting it on the same machine used for playing whenever possible. The host must remain powered on and connected whenever players need access. A wired network connection is preferable for a home-hosted server because it avoids wireless roaming and signal interruptions.
Historical capacity examples
Funcom’s 2017 setup article gave these Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 64-bit examples. They are historical guidance, not a guaranteed requirement for the 2026 server build, and the article did not provide a newer official hardware table.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 10 players | 8 GB | 35 GB | Baseline historical example; leave additional space for updates, logs, and backups. |
| 35 players | 8 GB | 35 GB | Historical example only; actual performance depends on CPU load, world activity, mods, and the current build. |
| 70 players | 12 GB | 35 GB | Historical example only; monitor memory and CPU before allowing this many players. |
Choose a player limit the host can sustain rather than selecting the largest number in the menu. Large builds, active combat, many connected players, and mod scripts can all increase load. Keep free disk space beyond the historical 35 GB figure so SteamCMD can stage updates and the launcher can create timestamped backup folders.
Software preparation
- Use a 64-bit Windows installation supported by your current server build.
- Install SteamCMD, or allow the launcher to install it on first start.
- Run the launcher and server outside protected Windows locations.
- Do not run a Steam client during direct server startup. Funcom warns that Steam DLL error dialogs can appear when the client and dedicated server compete for the same files.
Install the launcher and download the server
- Download the current official Dedicated Server Launcher release from Funcom’s launcher thread. Verify the version because release information changes; version 1.10.0 was listed on October 14, 2026.
- Create a simple working folder such as
C:ExilesServer. Avoid Desktop and Downloads folders, protected locations, unusual characters, and deeply nested paths. - Place the launcher executable in that folder and run it. If Windows displays a security prompt, verify that you obtained the executable from the official Funcom release before allowing it.
- Open the settings, select the server branch, set the server name, choose the player limit, and enter passwords as described below. Save the settings before starting.
- Press the large start button. On the first run, the launcher installs or updates SteamCMD, downloads the Conan Exiles dedicated server, and downloads any selected numeric-ID mods.
- Watch the log pane for SteamCMD completion and server startup messages. Do not close the launcher while it is still downloading or validating files.
- For a host that should recover after a reboot, enable Start server if not running and Launch program on login.
The first download can take longer than later starts because the complete server files and selected mods must be retrieved. Keep the working folder in place; moving it after configuration can invalidate local mod paths and scripts.
Set the core server options
Branch and build
Set the branch to the same branch used by every player. A server and client on different branches or builds commonly produce a version-mismatch error. When Funcom releases a server update, let the launcher update the server and have players update their game before attempting to connect.
Name and player limit
Use a descriptive server name that tells friends which world they are joining. Set the player count to a level the host can handle; the value controls the connection ceiling but does not guarantee smooth performance at that population.
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Passwords and administrator access
- Server password: optional. If you leave it blank, anyone who can reach the server can attempt to connect.
- Admin password: set a separate, strong value. In game, an authorized player can use
MakeMeAdminto obtain administrator access.
Do not reuse the administrator password for the server password or another account. Store it in a password manager and share it only with trusted administrators.
Configure ports, the router, and the firewall
Default ports
Funcom’s current port table identifies these defaults:
| Purpose | Protocol | Default port |
|---|---|---|
| Game traffic | UDP | 7777 |
| Server pinger | UDP | 7778 (game port plus one) |
| Steam query | UDP | 27015 |
| RCON administration | TCP | 25575 |
The launcher can change the game and query ports and can bind the server to a selected network adapter with -MULTIHOME. If you change a port, use the new value consistently in the launcher, firewall rule, router forwarding, and any client instructions.
Find the host’s local address
Give the host a stable local address, preferably with a DHCP reservation in the router. Port forwarding breaks when the router sends traffic to an old address after a reboot. Record the host’s current local IPv4 address before creating rules.
Create router forwarding rules
- Open the router’s administration page and find Port Forwarding, NAT, or a similarly named section.
- Forward UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015 to the host’s local address. Forward TCP 25575 only if you will use RCON.
- If you selected custom ports, forward those values instead. The external port and internal port can differ, but friends must be given the external port and the launcher must be configured for the internal one.
- Save the rules and restart the router only if its interface requires it.
Allow the ports through Windows Firewall
Create inbound rules for the server executable or for the same UDP and TCP ports. Apply the rules to the network profile used by the host. A router rule alone is not sufficient: the operating system can still discard the incoming packets.
Give players the right address
Players outside your home network connect through the home’s external IP address. Players on the same LAN can use the host’s local IP address or find the server through Steam’s LAN server list. Never give an external player the private address beginning with ranges such as 192.168.x.x; it is not routable across the Internet.
Add and maintain mods
Enter Workshop IDs or local files
- Open Mod Manager in the launcher.
- Enter each Steam Workshop item’s numeric ID, or provide the full path to a local
.pakfile. - Save the mod list before starting or restarting the server.
- Leave Manage Mods enabled when you want the launcher to check and update numeric Workshop IDs. Disable it only when another process or script maintains the mod list.
At startup, the launcher checks numeric IDs and writes the resulting list to ConanSandboxModsmodlist.txt. Keep the order stable and give players the same mods in the same order when a mod requires it.
Verify that mods loaded
Open the beginning of the server log after startup and look for LogModManager mount messages. Those entries confirm that the server found and mounted the mod files. If the entries are absent, inspect modlist.txt, confirm that every numeric ID or .pak path is valid and reachable, then save the list and restart.
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Do not update a mod while players are actively changing the world unless you have confirmed that the mod author supports live updates. Schedule a restart, notify players, let the launcher finish downloading, and check the log before reopening the server.
Automatic updates, restarts, and recovery
Auto-check and delayed restart
Enable the launcher’s auto-check feature to watch for server or mod updates. It can notify players through RCON and Discord, then trigger a delayed restart so they have time to leave safely. Set a delay long enough for your community to see and act on the warning.
Scheduled auto-restart
Use scheduled auto-restart when the server should recycle at a predictable time. The launcher supports:
- A chosen start time.
- A minimum-uptime requirement that prevents an immediate second restart.
- Restart after an unexpected stop.
- More than one scheduled restart per day.
Choose a quiet period and coordinate it with update checks. A restart schedule cannot repair a machine that is powered off or a network that has lost connectivity, so also enable Launch program on login when the host reboots.
Backups after shutdown
The backup option copies the game database, the last log, and the game, engine, and server-settings INI files into timestamped folders after shutdown. Store those folders on a disk with enough free space and periodically copy them to a separate physical device. A backup on the same failed disk is not a complete recovery plan.
Use the web status page carefully
The launcher can expose a web status page that shows whether the server is running and lets an authorized user start, stop, or restart it. Enable the page, choose a web port, and set a password. Protect any Internet exposure with router and firewall controls; do not publish the page openly without access restrictions.
For a home server, the safer pattern is to keep the page reachable only from the LAN or through a private remote-access network. If you must expose it externally, use a non-default web port, a long unique password, and a forwarding rule limited to trusted source addresses when the router supports that option.
Manual SteamCMD fallback
If the launcher cannot start or you need a custom script, SteamCMD provides the manual route. The Conan Exiles dedicated-server app ID is 443030. After SteamCMD installs or updates the files, start the server executable with:
ConanSandboxServer.exe -logYou can append supported parameters, for example:
ConanSandboxServer.exe -log -MaxPlayers=16| Capability | Dedicated Server Launcher | SteamCMD plus executable |
|---|---|---|
| SteamCMD installation and updates | Automated through the interface | You write and maintain the commands |
| Logs and configuration visibility | Exposed in the launcher alongside the server files | You inspect files and console output yourself |
| Workshop mod management | Numeric IDs are checked and modlist.txt is written |
You create the download and ordering process |
| Restarts and recovery | Delayed, scheduled, and unexpected-stop options | Requires a batch file, service, or external scheduler |
| Backups | Copies database, last log, and INI files after shutdown | Requires your own copy script |
| Custom scripting | Less flexible than a script-first setup | Best when you need bespoke automation |
Use the launcher when convenience, mod handling, and built-in recovery matter most. Use the manual method when you already operate Windows services or scripts and need to control every command.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Run more than one server
Each server needs its own folder so that its database, logs, settings, and mods do not overlap. Assign distinct game, pinger, query, and RCON ports, then create matching firewall and router mappings. If the machine has several network interfaces, use -MULTIHOME to bind each instance to the intended adapter. Label folders and server names clearly so an update or restart is applied to the correct world.
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Troubleshooting checklist
The server is not visible
- Confirm that UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015—or your custom equivalents—are forwarded to the current local address.
- Confirm matching Windows Firewall rules.
- Check the external IP address being given to Internet players.
- Run the launcher’s reachability check after the server is running.
- Verify that the server is not bound to the wrong network adapter.
Friends cannot join, but LAN players can
LAN success proves that the server is running locally, not that Internet forwarding is correct. Check whether the router forwards to the wrong local address and whether the external port differs from the internal port. Give remote players the external IP and external port, not the private LAN address.
Version mismatch
Confirm that the launcher branch and server build match the branch installed by every player. Update the server, wait for SteamCMD to finish, and have players update their clients before reconnecting.
Mods fail to load
Use numeric Workshop IDs or reachable local .pak paths. Save the Mod Manager list, inspect ConanSandboxModsmodlist.txt, and search the top of the log for LogModManager mount messages. A missing path, mistyped ID, incomplete download, or incompatible client mod can prevent a successful join.
Steam DLL error dialogs appear
Close the Steam client before direct server startup. Start through the launcher or run the dedicated server executable or batch file instead of launching it from the Steam game client.
A second server interferes with the first
Move the instances into separate folders, assign distinct ports, update every router and firewall rule, and use -MULTIHOME when the host has multiple interfaces.
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Operational checklist
- Keep the host on a stable local address and powered on.
- Check the launcher version before installing or upgrading.
- Keep the branch and build aligned with players.
- Review logs after every update and mod change.
- Test external reachability after router, firewall, or ISP changes.
- Use a separate administrator password and restrict RCON and web access.
- Schedule backups and verify that timestamped folders are actually being created.
- Announce planned restarts before auto-check or scheduled maintenance runs.
The Bottom Line
For most Conan Exiles hosts, the Dedicated Server Launcher is the practical way to keep SteamCMD, ports, mods, restarts, logs, and backups in one workflow. Install it in a simple folder, forward the correct UDP ports to a stable local address, keep every client on the same branch, and use the logs and reachability checks to diagnose problems before changing multiple settings at once.
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