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A Valheim dedicated server that closes immediately is not necessarily suffering a game crash. The process may be rejecting an invalid argument, failing to open a save directory, stopping during network initialization, or throwing an exception from an outdated mod loader. Capture the final console line with -logFile, then test the launch command, save path, backend, and mods in that order. This approach identifies the failing layer without destroying a world or repeatedly overwriting the only useful log.
Identify which kind of startup failure you have
Watch the process from launch until it exits and classify the stopping point. A failure before world loading usually points to argument validation, permissions, missing files, or a mod-loader exception. A process that reaches world loading but cannot be joined is more often a firewall, port, backend, or relay problem. A server that starts with a new world but not the old one implicates the original world file or its save location.
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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| Observed behavior | Most useful first check | What it usually distinguishes |
|---|---|---|
| The window closes immediately and gives no visible error | Rerun with -logFile and preserve the final line |
Argument rejection versus an actual exception |
| The server reaches world loading, then exits | Try a temporary world while keeping a backup of the original | World corruption or an incorrect save path |
| The process stays running but nobody can connect | Check the selected port, the next port, firewall rules, and backend | Connectivity rather than startup |
| A clean installation starts but the normal installation does not | Remove BepInEx and third-party plugins, then restore them incrementally | Version drift or a mod exception |
| The problem appeared immediately after a Valheim update | Verify the server build and every mod’s supported game version | Update incompatibility |
A useful distinction is whether the operating-system window disappears or whether the server process remains alive in the background. A disappearing window is an exit that needs a command-line or log diagnosis. A running process with failed joins is not fixed by changing world files; first inspect the backend, firewall, and port pair. Likewise, a clean exit after a password change points toward argument validation, while an exception mentioning a plugin points toward the mod isolation procedure below.
Capture the exact error before changing anything
Do not rely on the brief text printed in a terminal window. Add -logFile to the command used by your copied launch script and direct it to a directory the server account can write. Keep the complete file, including the last line before exit. Use a new filename for each attempt so a later restart cannot erase the evidence.
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Windows batch example
valheim_server.exe -name "My Server" -world "My World" -password "aSecurePassword" -port 2456 -logFile "C:Valheimlogsstartup-2026-10-15.txt"Create the log directory first if it does not exist. Keep quotation marks around names containing spaces. If the batch file closes, run it from an already open Command Prompt so the exit text remains visible while you inspect the log.
Linux shell example
./valheim_server.x86_64 -name "My Server" -world "My World" -password "aSecurePassword" -port 2456 -logFile "/srv/valheim/logs/startup-2026-10-15.log"Ensure the account that launches the server can create and append to that path. Save the command line and the installed server build with the log; those details make a later comparison meaningful. If a service manager is involved, retain its own journal or service output in addition to the Valheim log, because a permission or working-directory failure can occur before Valheim writes anything.
Read the final line in context
Do not copy only a single error-looking line. Record the arguments used, the executable path, the timestamp, and the ten or twenty lines immediately preceding the exit. A warning about networking after successful world loading has a different meaning from a password-validation message at process start. Preserve one log per attempt, and label each attempt as clean, temporary-world, original-world, Steam backend, Crossplay, or modded. That small evidence trail prevents you from comparing unlike tests.
Validate every launch argument
Iron Gate’s dedicated-server documentation identifies valheim_server.exe for Windows and valheim_server.x86_64 for Linux, along with the -name, -world, -password, and -savedir options. A typo in the executable, an unquoted value, or a path that the service account cannot access can terminate the process before a world is opened.
Password validation is a common clean exit
Community troubleshooting reports that the start script commonly exits when -password is omitted, has fewer than five characters, or appears in the server name. Use a password of at least five characters and make it different from both the server name and the world name. Do not place the password in a name merely to make the command easier to remember. When testing, change only the password value and keep the executable, world, save directory, and backend constant so the result is interpretable.
Check names, paths, and spelling
- Quote
-nameand-worldvalues when they contain spaces or punctuation. - Confirm that
-savedirpoints to the directory you intended, not to a misspelled parent folder. - Use an absolute path while diagnosing; relative paths can resolve differently when a scheduler or service launches the script.
- Check that the account running the process has read, write, and create permission in the save and log directories.
- Compare the command in the copied script with the command you actually ran; editing one file while launching another is a frequent source of false fixes.
| Argument | Diagnostic requirement | Failure if it is wrong |
|---|---|---|
-name |
Quoted value; must not contain the password | Argument validation or an unexpectedly named server |
-world |
Quoted world identifier; verify its files exist under the selected save directory | World-load failure or startup against an unintended world |
-password |
Present, at least five characters, and distinct from names | The script can exit immediately |
-savedir |
Existing, writable directory with no spelling error | Save initialization failure |
-port |
Numeric port whose next port is also available for Steam backend use | Network initialization or connection failure |
-crossplay |
Include only when Crossplay is intentional | Different connection behavior and misleading LAN tests |
For a controlled test, simplify the command to the documented essentials: executable, quoted name, temporary world, valid password, an explicit port, and an absolute writable save directory. Add optional switches back only after that baseline launches. This avoids attributing a failure to a switch that was never needed for the initial test.
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Verify the save directory and world files
Valheim’s default save locations are under %USERPROFILE%/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim on Windows and ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim on Linux. The -savedir option overrides those defaults. Before replacing, moving, or deleting a world file, stop the server and make a complete copy of the save directory.
Use a temporary world as a controlled test
- Stop the server and copy the entire current save directory to a separate backup location.
- Leave the original
-savedirunchanged and edit only-worldto a new temporary name. - Start with the same executable and other arguments, recording a fresh log.
- If the temporary world starts, the original world identifier, files, or path is implicated. Restore a known-good backup instead of deleting the original.
- If the temporary world also fails, return to argument, permission, backend, and mod checks; the world itself is unlikely to be the first cause.
Do not “fix” a suspected corrupt world by deleting it before you have a backup. A successful temporary-world launch proves that the server binary can initialize; it does not repair the original save.
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Also check which account owns the files. On Windows, a service account can resolve %USERPROFILE% to a different profile than the one used for interactive testing. On Linux, a shell test as your login user can succeed while a service user cannot create files in the same location. An explicit -savedir and matching ownership make the test reproducible.
Separate startup from Steam and Crossplay connectivity
Networking can look like a crash when the terminal stops progressing, but a process that remains running is a different problem from one that exits. For the Steam backend, Valheim uses the configured port and the next port. Iron Gate states: “Valheim uses the specified Port AND specified Port+1.” The documented default range is 2456–2457.
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Steam backend checklist
- Allow the dedicated-server executable through the host firewall on the selected port and the next port.
- Check that another service is not already using either port.
- Use the same port value in the launch script and in any firewall or router rule.
- Test from the host itself before diagnosing internet routing; a local failure points back to the process, save path, or arguments.
Do not change ports while simultaneously changing worlds or mods. Keep the default pair for the first baseline unless another service already occupies it, then document the new value and make the adjacent port available as well. A server that remains alive with no joiners has passed the startup test even if its firewall configuration still needs correction.
Crossplay behavior
Crossplay uses a relay. Outside-LAN players therefore do not require router port forwarding in the way a Steam-backend server does. Include -crossplay only when that behavior is intended, and do not treat a failed local loopback or LAN assumption as proof that the relay is down. First establish that the process remains alive and reaches world loading. If the same command works without Crossplay but not with it, compare the backend choice deliberately rather than adding unrelated firewall changes.
Remove mods and version drift from the equation
The Valheim-Modding troubleshooting guide documents startup crashes caused by game updates that break BepInEx packs and by using a mod or loader version that does not match the installed Valheim build. A modded launch can fail before the base server prints a useful world-loading message.
Perform a clean-server test
- Stop the process and make a backup of the server directory, save directory, launch script, and current log.
- Move the BepInEx directory, doorstop files, and third-party plugins out of the server directory rather than deleting them.
- Start the unmodded executable with the same validated names, password, save path, and backend.
- If the clean server starts, record its installed Valheim build and compare every mod and BepInEx package with that build’s compatibility information.
- Restore the loader and plugins in small groups, restarting and retaining a log after each change. The first group that reproduces the failure identifies where to focus.
If the clean server still exits, mods are not the immediate cause. Continue with the saved launch line and the final log line instead of reinstalling plugins repeatedly. If a game update preceded the failure, retain the update date and build number with the log; that correlation helps distinguish update drift from a world or permission problem.
Use a safe recovery and backup routine
Steam updates can reset the original startup script. Keep a custom copy outside the installation directory and reapply changes after verifying an update. Record the executable build, launch arguments, save path, backend, and mod list beside each backup so you can reproduce a known-good state.
Stop cleanly when possible
Press Ctrl+C in the controlling terminal and wait for the process to finish saving before maintenance. Forced termination during a write can turn a startup investigation into a world-recovery problem. Never replace a world while another server process might still be using it.
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Know the documented automatic-backup intervals
Iron Gate’s defaults specify a save interval of 1,800 seconds (30 minutes), a short-backup interval of 7,200 seconds (2 hours), and a long-backup interval of 43,200 seconds (12 hours). These are defaults, not a substitute for an independent copy before troubleshooting. Retain several generations so a newly created bad save does not replace every usable version.
Before each destructive operation, copy the complete save directory, not just the file that appears newest. Keep at least one copy outside the server installation so an update or reinstall cannot remove both the executable and the backup. A known-good launch script and a known-good world backup should be treated as separate recovery assets.
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Windows
- Use the Windows executable name exactly and verify that the account running the batch file can write to both
-savedirand the-logFiledestination. - Check Windows Defender Firewall rules for the executable and both Steam-backend ports.
- Inspect the resolved path under
%USERPROFILE%if you omit-savedir; a service account can have a different profile from your interactive account. - Launch from Command Prompt during diagnosis so a closing batch window does not hide the final output.
- Keep the batch file in a separate location and compare it after Steam updates, which can restore the vendor copy.
Linux
- Use
valheim_server.x86_64and confirm it is executable by the service account. - Verify ownership and write permission for
~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheimor the directory supplied to-savedir. - Use an absolute log path and check that parent directories exist before starting.
- When a service manager launches the server, compare its user, working directory, environment, and command with the interactive shell test.
- Move mod-loader files aside rather than changing permissions on them; permission fixes should address the intended service account, not mask a version mismatch.
A reproducible decision path
Work through this sequence without changing several variables at once:
- Copy the launch script and save directory. Add
-logFileand preserve the complete output. - Validate the executable, quoted names, password rules, absolute save path, and directory permissions.
- Start a temporary world using the same command. Keep the original world untouched.
- If the process stays alive but connections fail, check the Steam port pair or the intentional Crossplay relay configuration and firewall.
- Run the clean, unmodded server. If it succeeds, restore only version-matched BepInEx and plugins incrementally.
- Once the server works, save the known-good script, build number, mod list, and backup location together. Re-test after each future game update.
This order distinguishes failures before world loading from failures after networking initializes, clean installations from modded ones, new worlds from existing worlds, and Steam backend behavior from Crossplay behavior. It also prevents a destructive world-file change from hiding the original cause.
Common mistakes that prolong the outage
- Restarting repeatedly with the same log filename, which destroys the only final error line.
- Deleting the original world before testing a temporary world and making a complete backup.
- Changing the port, password, world, and mod list in one attempt, leaving no way to identify the successful change.
- Testing as an interactive user while the scheduled service runs under another account.
- Assuming that a server nobody can join has crashed when the process is still running and waiting on firewall or relay configuration.
- Restoring every plugin at once after a clean launch, which hides the first incompatible package.
- Editing the vendor startup script and losing the change during the next Steam update.
When maintenance is the real problem
If you cannot consistently preserve launch scripts, permissions, updates, backups, and firewall settings, the technical cause may recur even after one successful repair. A managed Valheim server is a category-level alternative for people who do not want to maintain those tasks themselves, but evaluate its current backup controls, version-update policy, mod support, and log access before moving an existing world. Regardless of where the process runs, retain your own world backups and a copy of the working launch configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Valheim start script close immediately?
First capture the output with -logFile. An omitted password, a password shorter than five characters, or a password appearing in the server name can cause a clean exit. A bad executable name, unwritable save or log directory, and a mod-loader exception are other early-exit causes.
What password rules must a dedicated server meet?
Supply -password, use at least five characters, and keep it different from both the server name and world name. Quote the value when necessary and test it without changing other arguments.
Where are Valheim dedicated-server saves stored?
Without -savedir, Windows uses %USERPROFILE%/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim and Linux uses ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim. An explicit, writable absolute path is easier to diagnose, especially under a service account.
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How can I tell whether the world or server is broken?
Back up the save directory, then start a new temporary world with the same executable and arguments. If it starts, investigate the original world’s files or identifier and restore a known-good backup. If it also fails, continue with arguments, permissions, networking, and mods.
Do I need to forward ports for Crossplay?
Crossplay uses a relay, so outside-LAN access does not require router forwarding in the same way as the Steam backend. Confirm that -crossplay is intentional and first verify that the process remains alive and reaches world loading.
Which ports does the Steam backend use?
It uses the configured port and the next port. The documented default is 2456–2457, so allow both through the host firewall and check that another service is not using either one.
Can a Valheim update break a modded server?
Yes. A game update can make a BepInEx pack or plugin incompatible with the installed build. Move the loader and plugins aside, verify that the clean server starts, then restore only version-matched files in small groups while keeping a log for each attempt.
What should I back up before troubleshooting?
Copy the entire save directory, the startup script, the server directory, and the current logs. Keep the copy outside the installation directory, stop with Ctrl+C when possible, and record the build, arguments, save path, backend, and mod list beside it.
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The service may use a different user, working directory, environment, or profile. Compare its executable path, absolute -savedir, log destination, and permissions with the interactive command. A relative path or default profile can resolve somewhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Valheim dedicated server close immediately?
Capture the final output with -logFile. Check for a missing or short password, a password reused in the server name, an invalid executable or path, unwritable directories, and BepInEx or plugin exceptions.
What is the minimum Valheim server password length?
Use at least five characters, and make the password different from the server and world names.
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Where are Valheim server logs and saves?
Write logs to an explicit writable path with -logFile. Default saves are under %USERPROFILE%/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim on Windows and ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim on Linux unless -savedir overrides them.
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How do I test whether a world file causes startup failure?
Back up the complete save directory, change only -world to a new temporary name, and start again. A successful temporary world implicates the original world or path; restore a known-good backup rather than deleting it.
What ports does a Steam-backend Valheim server need?
The configured port and the next port are required; the documented default pair is 2456–2457. Allow both through the host firewall.
Does Crossplay require router port forwarding?
Crossplay uses a relay, so outside-LAN players generally do not need router forwarding as they would with the Steam backend. Verify the process reaches world loading before diagnosing connections.
How can I confirm a mod caused the crash?
Move BepInEx, doorstop files, and third-party plugins out of the server directory. If the clean server starts, compare versions with the installed Valheim build and restore files incrementally.
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The documented defaults are a 1,800-second save interval, a 7,200-second short-backup interval, and a 43,200-second long-backup interval. Keep independent copies before making changes.
The Bottom Line
Start with evidence, not guesses: add -logFile, preserve the final output, validate the password and paths, test a temporary world, separate startup from port and relay problems, then run clean before restoring version-matched mods. Keep independent world backups and a custom launch script so the next update does not erase your recovery path.
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