Your Project Zomboid settings keep changing back

At every start the panel writes some values into the game's files from its own pages. If you edited one of those lines by hand under Files, the next start puts the panel's value back. Change it in the panel instead and it stays.

Values the panel writes at every start

Everything else is yours

Other settings, such as the join password, safehouses and chat, are not overwritten. Change them in the Server Settings and Sandbox Settings editors, or under Files with the server stopped: How to change Project Zomboid server settings in the panel.

Other reasons a setting reverts

• You saved while the server was running. The game writes its settings files while it runs, so a change saved then can be lost. The editors keep their save buttons off until the server is stopped. If you edited a file under Files, stop the server first.
• You changed the rule in game. An admin who changes an option with the game's changeoption command, or in the game's admin screens, changes the running game. The panel's own values come back at the next start.
• You switched Server Name. Each world has its own settings files. A new name starts with fresh settings, and the old name brings the old settings back: How to switch between Project Zomboid worlds on your server.
• You restored a backup from before the change: How to restore your Project Zomboid world from a backup.
• You applied a preset, which replaces the sandbox values: How to choose a sandbox preset for your Project Zomboid server.

Check what is set

The Console prints the panel's values at each start: [playnhost] MaxPlayers=... and [playnhost] PVP=... ZombiePopulation=... ZombieRespawn=... LootRespawnHours=....