Valheim Server Settings: Parameters, World Settings, Config

Valheim server settings are start parameters, not a config file: -name, -port, -world, -password, -public and -crossplay set up the server, and -preset, -modifier and -setkey set the world settings such as combat difficulty, raids and portals. On your own PC they go on the start line in start_headless_server.bat (Windows) or start_server.sh (Linux), while the worlds and the admin, ban and permitted lists live in the save folder. A dedicated server runs 24/7 and gives your group a stable world that is accessible regardless of who is online. In this article we cover all server settings, explain how to manage worlds and give tips for backups and multiple worlds.

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Basic settings

The server settings are configured through the startup parameters of the server process. The most important parameters:

Enabling crossplay

Since Valheim 1.0 (9 September 2026), players on PC (Steam and Microsoft Store/Game Pass), Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 can play together. On a HostValues server crossplay is off by default. You switch it on in the game panel: open the Startup tab, set Crossplay to 1 and restart the server. The console then shows a line like Session ... registered with join code 123456. Players on every platform join with that six-digit join code (in game via Join game). The code can change after a restart.

Note: with crossplay on, BepInEx mods are not supported, and console players cannot use mods. If you run mods, keep Crossplay at 0. Without crossplay the server works as a classic Steam server: players join via the server browser or IP:port with the password, PC only.

World files

Since Valheim 1.0, each world is stored in its own folder containing multiple files. For a backup or move, stop the game and server and copy the complete world folder, including every file and subfolder. The following pair applies only to legacy worlds from before 1.0:

• WorldName.fwl: metadata about the world (seed, name)
• WorldName.db: the actual world data (terrain, buildings, enemies)

These files are located in the folder ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/ on Linux. On Windows the path is %UserProfile%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local\. If the server starts with -savedir, the worlds are stored under that path instead.

Making backups

Valheim creates automatic backups by default: a dedicated server keeps 4, one that is 2 hours old and three that are 12 hours apart, and you change that with -backups, -backupshort and -backuplong. These backups are limited, so for a reliable backup strategy:

1. Stop the server and close the game before copying the world.
2. Copy the complete world folder, including every file and subfolder, to a safe location. For a legacy world from before 1.0, keep both matching .fwl and .db files.
3. Give the backup a clear name with the date, for example MyWorld_backup_2026-10-22.

Schedule daily backups, preferably at a quiet time. Through the HostValues game panel you can set up automatic backups.

Restoring a world from backup

1. Stop the server.
2. Keep a separate copy of the complete current world folder so you can return to the previous state.
3. Restore the complete world folder from one backup under its original world name. Do not mix files from different saves. For a legacy world, restore the matching .fwl and .db pair.
4. Start the server.

Test after restoring whether everything loaded correctly before inviting players.

Multiple worlds

On a single server you can manage multiple worlds by changing the -world parameter. Each world gets its own set of files. To switch:

1. Stop the server.
2. Change the -world parameter to the name of the desired world.
3. Start the server again.

To truly run multiple worlds simultaneously, you need multiple server instances, each on a different port.

World seed and generation

The world in Valheim is procedurally generated based on a seed. The same seed always generates the same map. A dedicated server cannot take a seed: if the world named in -world does not exist yet, the server creates it with a random seed. To use a specific seed, create the world in the game with that seed, start it once and upload its complete world folder, including every file and subfolder, to the server. Only a legacy world from before 1.0 uses the matching .fwl and .db pair. Popular seeds with favorable spawns and boss locations are shared on community forums.

Server modifiers

Valheim has built-in world modifiers that make the game easier or harder:

• Combat: player and enemy damage and enemy speed and size (veryeasy, easy, hard, veryhard; default is normal).
• Death Penalty: which items you keep, drop or lose on death and how much skill you lose (casual, veryeasy, easy, hard, hardcore).
• Resources: how much enemies and lootable objects drop, from 0.5x to 3x (muchless, less, more, muchmore, most).
• Raids: how often enemies raid your base (none, muchless, less, more, muchmore).
• Portals: casual lets every item through portals, metal included; hard and veryhard make portals stricter than normal.
• Checkboxes: no build cost, player based raids, passive enemies and no map (-setkey with nobuildcost, playerevents, passivemobs or nomap).

Presets combine these settings: Normal, Casual, Easy, Hard, Hardcore, Immersive and Hammer. In the game you pick them with the World Modifiers button on the Start Game screen. On a dedicated server you set them with start parameters, for example -preset hard -modifier portals casual -setkey nomap; put -modifier and -setkey after -preset, because a preset overwrites earlier modifiers. This also works for an existing world: adjust the parameters and restart the server.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move a world from my own PC to the server?

Yes. Stop the game and server and copy the complete world folder, including every file and subfolder. Set -world to the name of that world. Only a legacy world from before 1.0 uses the matching .fwl and .db pair; preserve both for conversion and make a separate backup first.

How much RAM does a Valheim server need?

For 2 to 5 players, 2 to 3 GB of RAM is sufficient. With 6 to 10 players and extensive bases, 4 to 6 GB is the wiser choice. The Ashlands and Mistlands biomes are heavier than earlier biomes. Monitor memory usage through the game panel and upgrade when the server stutters.

Where is the Valheim server config file?

Valheim has no separate config file: the settings are the start parameters in start_headless_server.bat (Windows) or start_server.sh (Linux) in the server folder, and Iron Gate recommends editing a copy because Steam resets the original on every update. The worlds and adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt and permittedlist.txt are in the save folder: %UserProfile%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim on Windows, ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim on Linux, or the -savedir path.

Can you change world settings on an existing Valheim server?

Yes. Stop the server, change or add the -preset, -modifier or -setkey parameters and start it again; the world and its progress stay.

What are the best Valheim server settings?

There is no single best setup, but a good start for a private group is a password of at least 5 characters, -public 0 if only your friends need to find the server (they join via Join IP) and the default world modifiers. Only switch on crossplay when console players join: it runs through a relay, which can add lag, and it rules out BepInEx mods. Change one thing at a time, for example -modifier portals casual if your group wants to carry metal through portals.

Iron Gate: Valheim 1.0; 0.221.13 (Public Test).