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The Forest dedicated server reads its main settings from a plain-text Server.cfg file. On Windows, the dedicated-server tutorial identifies the usual location as C:UsersUSERAppDataLocalLowSKSTheForestDedicatedServerdsServer.cfg; the file is generated when the server is launched for the first time. You can change networking, lobby access, world loading, gameplay rules, saves and server performance there. Startup command-line parameters take precedence over duplicate values in the file, so an apparently ignored edit is often being overridden at launch.
This guide explains where the file comes from, what each documented field does, how to keep an existing world safe, which ports to forward, and how to diagnose configuration and restart problems without losing a save.
What The Forest server configuration controls
A dedicated server combines two configuration layers:
Server.cfg: the persistent text file containing the normal server settings.- Startup parameters: options supplied by the server’s launch process. When a parameter and the file contain the same setting, the startup value wins. The Steam dedicated-server tutorial states this explicitly: command-line parameters overwrite matching entries defined in the config file.
That precedence explains why editing the correct file may appear to do nothing. Always inspect the launch shortcut, batch file, service definition or hosting-panel startup field before concluding that a setting is unsupported.
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Find or generate Server.cfg
For a Windows installation, check this path after starting the dedicated server at least once:
C:UsersUSERAppDataLocalLowSKSTheForestDedicatedServerdsServer.cfg
Replace USER with the Windows account that actually runs the server. If you cannot see the file:
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- Confirm that the dedicated-server application has completed an initial launch under the expected Windows account.
- Close the server cleanly, then check the
AppDatapath again.AppDatais hidden by default in File Explorer, so enable hidden items or paste the complete path into the address bar. - Search the machine for
Server.cfgif the server runs under a service account, a scheduled task or a different Windows user. - Check the startup configuration for
configfilepath. That option can select a different configuration file, meaning the file you opened may not be the one being read.
Make a copy of the working file before changing it. Keep the backup outside the server’s active configuration directory and label it with the date and the dedicated-server build. A plain-text editor is sufficient; avoid word processors that add formatting or smart quotation marks.
Network and lobby settings
These fields determine how players discover and reach the server. Use the values supplied by your current dedicated-server template or documentation rather than assuming a value from another installation.
| Field | Purpose | Operational note |
|---|---|---|
serverIP |
The address on which the server listens or identifies itself. | Use the address appropriate for the host machine and network layout. A private LAN address is not the same as the public address players use from the internet. |
serverSteamPort |
Steam-related server traffic. | The exact port is the value configured in your file or startup settings; forward that value when the host is behind a router. |
serverGamePort |
Gameplay connections from players. | Forward the configured port to the server’s local IP address. |
serverQueryPort |
Server queries, such as status or listing information. | Forward the configured query port as required by your network and hosting arrangement. |
serverName |
The name shown in the lobby or server list. | Choose a distinctive name so friends can identify the correct world. |
serverPlayers |
The maximum number of players allowed. | Keep the value within the limits accepted by the current dedicated-server build. |
When hosting at home, give the server computer a stable LAN address through a DHCP reservation or a static assignment. Create router forwarding rules for the configured Steam, game and query ports, pointing each rule to that address. Also allow the dedicated-server executable through the host firewall. If players on the same LAN can connect but internet players cannot, check forwarding, the firewall and whether the public address has changed before changing Server.cfg.
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Passwords, administration and anti-cheat
serverPasswordprotects the player connection. Anyone who does not know it should be unable to join.serverPasswordAdminprotects administrative access. Treat it as a separate credential, not as a second copy of the player password.enableVACtoggles Valve Anti-Cheat. Use the value supported by the current server build and make sure every administrator understands the effect before enabling or disabling it.
Steam authentication can use a Game Server Login Token in serverSteamAccount, or the equivalent startup parameter. A token grants server identity to the launch process: store it like a password, keep it out of screenshots and public logs, and replace it if it has been exposed. Do not paste a token into a public support post or commit it to a shared repository.
World loading, difficulty and saves
Four settings determine which world is loaded and how often it is protected by an automatic save:
| Field | Documented values or behavior | Use case |
|---|---|---|
difficulty |
Peaceful, Normal, Hard or HardSurvival. |
Select the challenge level for the server world. |
initType |
New or Continue. |
Use New for a fresh world; use Continue when loading an existing save. |
slot |
Save slots 1 through 5. | Choose the slot that contains the world you intend to load. |
serverAutoSaveInterval |
The documented minimum is 15 minutes; 30 minutes is the stated default or common value. | Shorter intervals reduce the amount of progress lost after a crash but create more frequent save activity. |
For an existing world, set initType Continue and select the matching slot. A mismatch can make the server appear to start successfully while loading a different world or behaving as if no progress exists. Before changing difficulty, initialization mode or slot, stop the server and copy the complete save directory.
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Custom save locations
saveFolderPath allows a custom save location. This is useful when the system drive is small, when backups run from a dedicated volume, or when a managed host exposes a specific persistent-data directory. Verify that the account running the server has read and write permission for the destination. After moving saves, test a controlled shutdown and restart; a path that exists for an administrator may still be inaccessible to a service account.
Gameplay switches
The documented switches let an administrator change the rules without replacing the world:
veganModeremoves enemies.vegetarianModeremoves enemies during daytime.resetHolesModeresets structure holes when the world loads.treeRegrowModeregrows 10% of cut trees when players sleep.allowBuildingDestructioncontrols whether structures can be destroyed.allowEnemiesCreativeModecontrols enemy behavior in Creative Mode.allowCheatscontrols cheat functionality.realisticPlayerDamagetoggles the realistic player-damage rule.
The file generated by your installed build is the authority for the accepted on/off or numeric syntax. Preserve the spelling and value style shown there; do not substitute values copied from a different game version. Make one gameplay change at a time and record it, especially on a shared world where players may expect established rules.
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Server performance and alternate configuration files
targetFpsIdle and targetFpsActive set frame-rate targets for idle and active server states. They are targets, not guarantees: CPU load, world activity and the rest of the host machine still determine actual performance. If you lower them, observe connection stability and simulation behavior after a restart rather than judging only by the process’s reported frame rate.
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configfilepath selects another configuration file. This is valuable for separate test and production worlds, but it also creates a common mistake: administrators edit the default Server.cfg while the launch command points elsewhere. Write down the full path used by each startup profile and keep each file backed up independently.
How to edit and apply settings safely
- Stop the server cleanly. Do not edit while the process is writing configuration or save data.
- Back up both configuration and saves. Copy
Server.cfgand the directory selected by the save configuration to dated backup locations. - Edit only the required entries. Preserve the existing key names, separators and value format. Avoid deleting unrelated lines.
- Check startup parameters. Remove or update duplicate launch arguments that would override the file.
- Verify networking. Confirm that
serverIP,serverSteamPort,serverGamePortandserverQueryPortmatch the router and firewall rules. - Start the server and watch its log. Look for configuration errors, authentication failures, save-loading messages and the final listening state.
- Test with a low-risk change. Check the lobby name or password first, then test world and gameplay settings separately.
- Record the working combination. Keep the exact file, launch parameters and server build together so an update can be rolled back if necessary.
Why a config edit appears to be ignored
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The old value returns after restart. | A startup parameter overrides it, or the process rewrites the file. | Inspect the launch command and compare the active file’s timestamp and contents after a clean stop. |
| The server starts a new world. | initType is still New, or the wrong slot is selected. |
Set Continue, choose the correct slot and verify the save path. |
| Players cannot connect from outside the house. | Port forwarding, firewall rules or the advertised IP is wrong. | Match all configured ports to the router’s destination address and host firewall. |
| The edited file has no effect at all. | configfilepath points to another file, or the server runs as another user. |
Identify the account and full path used by the actual launch process. |
| Authentication fails after publishing the server. | The Game Server Login Token is missing, invalid or exposed and revoked. | Check serverSteamAccount or its startup equivalent and issue a replacement token when necessary. |
| Progress is missing after a restart. | The server loaded another slot or save directory, or the previous shutdown interrupted a save. | Stop cleanly, verify slot and saveFolderPath, and restore the most recent known-good backup if needed. |
Restarting and preserving a world
Announce maintenance, let players leave, and use the server’s normal shutdown mechanism rather than terminating the process. Wait for the process to exit before copying saves. A scheduled restart is safe only when it gives the server enough time to finish saving and starts it with the same configuration path, account and working directory.
After a dedicated-server update, recheck the generated template and the update notes. The documented history includes additions for configfilepath, gameplay switches and FPS controls, so an older file may not contain options introduced by a newer build. Keep a known-good copy, but merge new settings carefully instead of blindly replacing the current file.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
A managed host can remove some operating-system and networking work, but it does not eliminate the need to understand the configuration. Use this comparison when deciding where to run the server:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Consideration | Self-hosted Windows server | Managed dedicated-server host |
|---|---|---|
| Config and file control | Direct access to Server.cfg, launch parameters, logs and save folders. |
Usually provided through a panel or file manager; access depends on the provider’s plan. |
| Ports and uptime | You handle router forwarding, firewall rules, power and internet availability. | The provider normally handles public networking and facility uptime, subject to its service terms. |
| Backups and saves | You choose backup frequency, destinations and restoration tests. | Backup tools may be included, but retention and restoration procedures must be verified. |
| Logs and restarts | Full access to process logs, scripts and scheduled tasks. | A control panel may simplify restarts while restricting low-level diagnostics. |
| Recurring cost | There is no hosting subscription, but electricity, hardware, bandwidth and administration are yours. | A recurring fee applies; current prices and included features vary by provider and should be checked directly. |
Whichever model you choose, retain an independent copy of the world and the final configuration. A hosting migration is straightforward when the save path, slot, initialization mode and passwords are documented.
Quick Recap
Pre-launch checklist
Server.cfgexists at the path used by the launch process.configfilepathis not redirecting the server to an unexpected file.- Startup parameters do not contradict the file.
serverIPand all three configured ports match firewall and router rules.serverName, player limit and both passwords are intentional.serverSteamAccountcontains a valid, private login token when required.initTypeandslotpoint to the intended world.saveFolderPathis writable and included in backups.- Autosave is at least the documented 15-minute minimum, with a value appropriate for the server’s activity.
- A clean stop and restart has been tested after the last configuration change.
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