How to switch your 7 Days to Die server to the experimental branch

Set Beta Branch to the branch name, for example latest_experimental, under Show advanced on the Game Settings page. The panel says a branch switch takes a reinstall, so then open a ticket and support switches it for you, after a backup. Download your serverconfig.xml first: a reinstall puts back the game's own copy.

Switch to a test build

1. Take a backup: How to back up and restore your 7 Days to Die world. A world played on a test build may not load on the current release later.
2. Download serverconfig.xml: in Files, open the menu on its row and choose Download file. A reinstall replaces it with the game's own copy, and your sandbox code and other lines with it.
3. In the panel, open the Settings tab, then Game Settings, and click Show advanced.
4. Type the branch name in Beta Branch, for example latest_experimental, and press Enter. Up to 20 characters.
5. Open a ticket and ask support to switch the server to that branch: How to open a support ticket.

Use the branch name exactly as The Fun Pimps announce it for each test.

With Auto Update on, the server may already take the branch at its next restart. Support checks it either way.

After the switch, put your own lines back into the new serverconfig.xml, such as the SandboxCode line. Copy single lines rather than uploading your old file over the new one: a test build can bring new lines.

What players need

Every player must be on the same branch. In Steam they right-click the game, choose Properties, open the Game Versions & Betas tab and choose the same branch. Players on the normal game cannot join an experimental server, and the other way round.

Mods made for the current release may not work on a test build.

Go back to the current release

1. Take a backup of the test world if you want to keep it, and download serverconfig.xml again.
2. Clear Beta Branch and press Enter.
3. Open a ticket and ask support to put the server back on the current release.

To start clean on the current release, change Save Name so the server starts a new world: How to start a new world on your 7 Days to Die server.

See How to update your 7 Days to Die server.