Valheim server FAQ

Short answers, each with a link to the full guide. If you cannot find yours, see Valheim server problems and fixes.

Joining

How do my friends join?

On PC they use the address and the password from the Play with friends card on your Overview page. Copy invite message sends them everything. See How to join your Valheim server.

How do friends on Xbox, PlayStation or Game Pass join?

With the six-digit join code, while Enable Crossplay is on. See How to join your Valheim server from Xbox or Game Pass.

Where is the join code?

On the Play with friends card, under the third join step, while the server runs. It can change at every restart. See How to find your Valheim join code.

How many players can join?

Valheim supports 1 to 10 players, and there is no slot setting in the panel. See How many players can join your Valheim server.

Does the server need to be public?

No. Public Server only decides whether it is listed in the in-game browser. A private server is joined by address or join code. See How to make your Valheim server public or private.

Do I need to open ports?

No. The ports are set up for you. See Valheim server ports and address explained.

Worlds

Can I use my existing world?

Yes, from your PC, from Xbox or Game Pass, or from another host. Zip the world folder and use Upload a world on the Worlds page. See How to upload your own Valheim world.

Can I keep several worlds?

Yes. The Worlds page lists every world, and Switch to this changes the one the server runs. See How to switch between Valheim worlds on your server.

How do I start a fresh world?

New world on the Worlds page keeps your old one. The Fresh World task replaces the running world and keeps the old one as a copy. See How to delete a Valheim world or start fresh.

Can I go back to an earlier state of my world?

Yes. The Rewind timeline on the Worlds page has the game's own copies and your server backups, and every rewind can be undone. See How to rewind your Valheim world to an earlier copy.

Can I download my world?

Yes, with Download in the world's menu on the Worlds page. See How to download your Valheim world to your PC.

Why did the server make a new world?

Files copied in by hand were loose, incomplete or under another name. Upload the zip on the Worlds page instead. See My uploaded Valheim world is gone and the server made a new one.

Will I lose progress when the server restarts?

Not with a normal Stop or Restart: the world is saved as the server stops. A killed or crashed server loses what happened since the last save. See Valheim progress was lost after a crash or a stop.

Settings

Is there a default password?

Your server starts with a long password made just for it. Change it before you invite anyone. See How to change your Valheim server name and password.

How do I change the difficulty?

On the World rules tab of the Worlds page. The world keeps the rules, and Normal resets them. See How to set Valheim world modifiers and difficulty.

What are PlayNHost Tools?

A small plugin that runs only on your server, on by default. It lets the panel name players, kick, ban, announce, warn before restarts and save before backups. Players install nothing. See How to turn on PlayNHost Tools on your Valheim server.

Why does the password stop my server?

While Public Server is on, the password may not appear inside the world name, and capitals count. See Valheim server stops at start with a password error.

Players and admin

How do I become admin?

Make admin on your row of the Active players card, or add your ID under Access. See How to become admin on your Valheim server.

Can I kick and ban from the panel?

Yes, from the ... menu on a player's row. Lift a ban under Access. See How to kick or ban a player on your Valheim server.

Can I make the server private to a list of players?

Yes, with the Allowed tab of Access. Add yourself first. See How to ban players or allow only some players on your Valheim server.

Can I type admin commands in the panel Console?

No. The Valheim server does not read them. Use the panel's buttons, or the in-game console opened with F5. See Valheim admin commands that work.

Can a friend help run the server without my password?

Yes. Invite them from Team & Roles. See How to invite friends and give them access to your server.

Mods

Does the server support mods?

Yes, on the Valheim BepINex and Valheim Plus Mod server types, with a Thunderstore mod manager on the Mods page. See How to add mods to your Valheim server.

Will I lose my world if I switch to a modded type?

Not if you untick Delete my existing files and start clean in the Change server type window. It is ticked by default, and ticked deletes your files. See How to switch your Valheim server to BepInEx or Valheim Plus.

Can I bring my r2modman mod list?

Yes. Export it as a profile code and import it under Profiles. See How to import an r2modman profile to your Valheim server.

How do my players get the same mods?

Share with players makes a code they import in r2modman. See How to share your Valheim mods with players.

Can console players join a modded server?

Yes, while every mod is marked Server only. See Console players cannot join your modded Valheim server.

Updates and backups

Does the server update itself?

It installs the newest version every time it starts, while Auto Update is on, and a Daily restart restarts it every morning. When an update is out, Settings offers a restart with a warning for players. See How to update your Valheim server and hold a version.

Can restarts wait until nobody is online?

Yes. See How to restart your Valheim server only when nobody is online.

What does a backup contain?

Your worlds, the admin, ban and allow lists and, on modded types, your mods. It leaves out the game's own files, which the server downloads again. See How to back up and restore your Valheim world.

How much RAM does it need?

About 1.3 GB idle on a 4096 MB plan, more with players, a big world and mods. See How much RAM does a Valheim server need?