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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted Valheim servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
The quickest way to play Valheim with friends is to start a local co-op world: one player selects Start Server and stays online while everyone else plays. For a world that should remain available when the host is away, install the free Valheim Dedicated Server, configure its world and password, and either forward the required ports or use the optional -crossplay relay. This guide walks through both choices, a first dedicated-server setup, world migration, joining, backups, and the networking details that still need confirmation from Iron Gate.
Choose between local co-op and a dedicated server
Decide how your group will play before changing router settings or installing server software. The choice determines who must be online, how much setup is required, and whether the world is available between sessions.
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| Option | Who must be online? | Setup effort | When it fits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local host-and-play | The player who created the session must remain in the game. | Almost none; create a world and invite friends. | Small groups that normally play at the same time. | Free. |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | The server computer runs independently of any player’s game session. | Install the server tool, edit a launch script, and handle firewall/router access. | Long-running worlds and groups whose schedules do not match. | Free, apart from the computer and internet connection. |
| Rented dedicated server | The provider keeps the server running. | The control panel generally handles port mapping; you configure the world and access settings. | Groups that want an always-on world without maintaining a home server. | Paid recurring hosting; the exact price depends on the provider and plan. |
Start with local co-op when you are learning
For a first evening, local co-op is the least risky route. The host launches Valheim, chooses the world, enables the server option, and shares the in-game invitation. Friends can join only while that session is running. If the host disconnects, the session ends for everyone, but the world remains saved for the next session.
Use a dedicated server for an always-available world
A dedicated server is a separate Valheim process. It can run on a spare Windows or Linux computer, a rented machine, or a cloud instance while players come and go. Self-hosting costs no server-software license, but you are responsible for updates, backups, firewall rules, and keeping the machine powered on. A rental panel usually removes the router configuration work, but it is a continuing service expense.
What you need before installing
- A copy of Valheim for each player. The dedicated-server host does not need a separate Valheim game license when it installs the standalone server tool, according to the setup guidance used for this process.
- A Windows or Linux computer that can stay on while friends need access.
- Administrator access to install SteamCMD or the Steam Tools entry and to edit firewall rules.
- A stable internet connection. Upload capacity matters because the server sends world updates to every connected player.
- A chosen server name, world name, and strong password. Do not reuse an important personal password.
- The same game version for every player. Version mismatches can prevent a connection, especially when crossplay is involved.
Install the free Valheim Dedicated Server
Windows: install it from the Steam Library
- Open Steam and switch the Library filter to Tools.
- Find Valheim Dedicated Server and install it. This is the standalone server package, not the normal Valheim client.
- Open the installation folder so you can make a safe, editable copy of the launcher before changing anything.
Steam may replace the original launcher during an update. Keep your customized copy separate and use that copy to start the server.
Windows or Linux: install with SteamCMD
SteamCMD can install the server without an interactive Steam account login. Use anonymous login and the dedicated-server App ID:
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Choose an installation directory you can back up, such as a dedicated folder on an SSD. On Linux, make sure the account that runs the service can read and write that folder and the world-save directory.
Configure the server launcher
Do not edit the vendor-supplied launcher in place. Copy it first, then edit the copy. Updates can restore the original file and remove your settings.
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Windows launcher
The supplied Windows launcher is named start_headless_server.bat. Make a copy with a name such as my-valheim-server.bat, then open the copy in a text editor. A typical launch line is:
valheim_server.exe -nographics -batchmode -name "Odin's Basement" -port 2456 -world "Midgard" -password "use-a-long-unique-password" -crossplayLinux launcher
The Linux launcher is named start_server.sh. Copy it before editing and preserve execute permission. The same arguments apply; the executable path and shell syntax in the installed script may differ.
What each argument controls
| Argument | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
-nographics |
Runs without a graphics window, which is appropriate for a headless server. | -nographics |
-batchmode |
Runs the process in non-interactive mode. | -batchmode |
-name |
The name players see in the server list. | -name "Odin's Basement" |
-port |
The base network port. The common default is 2456. | -port 2456 |
-world |
The save name to load or create. | -world "Midgard" |
-password |
The password required to join. | -password "use-a-long-unique-password" |
-crossplay |
Enables the crossplay backend and a join code for supported non-Steam players. | -crossplay |
Replace every example value with your own. Keep the password out of public posts and screenshots. When the log reports that the game server is connected, the process is ready for players.
Create a new world or move an existing one
Create a fresh shared world
Set a world name that does not already exist in the server’s save directory and start the launcher. Valheim creates the world on first launch. Stop the process cleanly before making changes so the save can finish writing.
Move a solo world to the server
- Stop Valheim and the dedicated server so neither process is writing to the save.
- Locate the world files on the computer where the solo world was played.
- Copy the matching
.dband.fwlfiles into the dedicated server’s world-save folder. - Set the launcher’s
-worldvalue to the save name, without changing the file-name spelling. - Start the server and confirm in the log that it loaded the intended world.
Keep the original files until you have joined successfully and verified your buildings, inventory, and map progress. A typo in -world creates a new world instead of loading the intended one.
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Ports, firewalls, and public visibility
The commonly cited default game port is UDP 2456, but published setup guides disagree about the additional ports and whether TCP is needed. One set of instructions calls for UDP 2456–2458; another describes 2456 for the game plus 2457 and 2458 for query or Steam traffic; a newer guide says the server uses the selected port and the next port only, 2456–2457, with no third port. Because these claims conflict, check Iron Gate’s current documentation at valheimgame.com before locking down a production server.
| Situation | Practical action | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Basic non-crossplay server | Allow UDP 2456 at minimum. | This is the consistent starting point, not a guarantee that every installation needs no additional port. |
| Router or firewall guidance is unclear | Temporarily forward and allow UDP 2456–2458, then verify the current official requirement. | This broader range is a cautious workaround drawn from conflicting secondary instructions. |
| Using a different base port | Apply the same documented relationship to the next required port numbers and update the launcher and forwarding rule together. | Do not assume that changing only the launcher is sufficient. |
Windows firewall checklist
- Allow the dedicated-server executable through the private network profile, or create an inbound rule for the documented UDP port range.
- Use a private network profile on a trusted home network; avoid exposing a machine on an untrusted public network.
- Confirm that the router forwards the same internal port and protocol to the computer running the server.
- Restart the server after changing rules and test from a different connection, such as a friend’s home network or a phone hotspot.
If the server appears locally but friends cannot connect, the usual causes are a wrong internal IP, a forwarding rule aimed at the wrong computer, a blocked firewall rule, carrier-grade NAT, or a port range that does not match the server version. Do not publish your home IP in an open forum.
Crossplay: when to use the flag
Add -crossplay to the launch command when players use supported console or Microsoft Store versions alongside Steam. The server can issue a join code, and everyone still needs to run the same Valheim version.
One recent setup guide reports that crossplay routes through a PlayFab relay and therefore does not require manual port forwarding, while a server without the flag uses the Steam backend and does require forwarding. Treat that relay behavior as a single-source implementation detail: if a crossplay server is unreachable, verify the current behavior in Iron Gate’s documentation and check the server log rather than assuming the relay is active.
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Confirm it is running
- Launch your copied Windows batch file or Linux shell script.
- Wait for the log message indicating that the game server has connected.
- Leave the process running. Closing the terminal or shutting down the host takes the dedicated world offline.
Join from the server browser
For a public server, friends can search for the value supplied to -name in Valheim’s server list. Public visibility is convenient but exposes the server name to everyone, so keep the password strong.
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Join directly by address
For a private or hidden listing, give trusted friends the public address and port in the form:
123.45.67.89:2456They enter that address through Valheim’s direct-join interface. The example address is illustrative; use the server’s actual public address and confirmed base port.
Hardware and bandwidth planning
Published secondary guidance does not agree on a single minimum. One estimate for two to five players calls for a dual-core CPU, 6 GB of RAM, an SSD with 15 GB free, and at least 15 Mbps upload. Another lists 4 GB of RAM as a minimum and 8 GB as a recommendation for larger worlds or more concurrent players. These are planning estimates rather than an official Iron Gate specification, so treat the higher memory figure as the safer target and verify current requirements at valheimgame.com.
| Resource | Published lower estimate | More conservative target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core for two to five players. | A newer, faster CPU if the machine also runs other services. | World simulation and concurrent activity compete for CPU time. |
| Memory | 4 GB in one guide; 6 GB in another. | 8 GB for larger worlds or more simultaneous players. | Extra headroom reduces contention as the world grows. |
| Storage | 15 GB free on an SSD. | More free space for updates and rotating backups. | The game, server files, logs, and saves all need room. |
| Upload | At least 15 Mbps for two to five players in one estimate. | Leave capacity for other household traffic. | Insufficient upload can cause lag or disconnects. |
Back up the world before you need it
Valheim worlds use two critical files: the database file (.db) and the world metadata file (.fwl). Back up both together on a schedule. A copy of only one file may not restore a usable world.
Windows save location
World files are stored under the user’s LocalLow data area in the IronGate/Valheim worlds folder. The exact user profile path can differ, so search for the IronGate directory if you do not see it immediately.
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Linux save location
Linux saves are under the user configuration tree, commonly in .config/unity3d beneath the IronGate/Valheim worlds folder.
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- Stop the server cleanly or use its supported save-and-stop procedure.
- Copy the matching
.dband.fwlfiles to a different disk or protected storage. - Keep several dated generations rather than overwriting one backup.
- Occasionally test a copy on a separate server so a silent corruption problem does not go unnoticed.
Common problems and precise fixes
The server makes a new world instead of loading mine
Check that the copied .db and .fwl files are in the server’s active worlds folder and that -world exactly matches the save name. Stop the process, correct the path or spelling, and start again. Do not delete the original until the correct world loads.
Friends cannot see the server
First check whether the server was intended to be public. If it is private, use direct join with the public address and port. Then confirm the server log shows a successful connection, the host’s local IP has not changed, and the router forwards traffic to that same machine. Test the firewall and the documented UDP range before changing unrelated settings.
Crossplay players cannot connect
Confirm the -crossplay flag is present, verify that every player is on the same game version, and use the server’s join code where supported. If it still fails, inspect the log and consult the current official guidance because relay behavior and platform support can change.
The server stops after an update
Run SteamCMD again with +app_update 896660 validate, then inspect your copied launcher. Steam updates can replace the original script, so never assume custom arguments survived an update.
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Players experience lag or frequent disconnects
Watch CPU, memory, disk, and upload use while everyone is online. Move the server to an SSD, stop competing workloads, and leave upload capacity for the game. If the machine meets only the lower published estimates, reduce background services before adding more players.
Quick Recap
A sensible first-session checklist
- Choose local co-op for a same-time trial or a dedicated server for an always-on world.
- Install the standalone tool with App ID 896660, not the client ID 892970.
- Copy the launcher before editing it.
- Set a unique server name, world name, and strong password.
- Decide whether
-crossplayis required by your group. - Allow UDP 2456 at minimum and verify the complete port requirement against Iron Gate’s current documentation.
- Confirm the log reports a connected game server before inviting anyone.
- Back up both
.dband.fwlfiles after the first successful session and regularly thereafter.
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