Valheim Dedicated Server Settings and Commands
Valheim server settings use startup arguments for the server name, world, access, backups and game rules, while player permissions are managed through text files.
How Valheim dedicated server settings work
Valheim dedicated-server settings are configured through command-line arguments in the Windows or Linux startup script, rather than a conventional web-based game settings file. A rented host may show the same options as fields in its panel, but the underlying server uses the same arguments documented by Iron Gate.
Start with the server name, world name and password. Then configure the networking backend, save location and world rules. Finally, make a copy of your world before changing gameplay modifiers so the group can return to its previous state if needed.
Valheim startup arguments explained
The following options control a Valheim dedicated server’s identity, connectivity and storage. You can set them in a host’s startup panel or in a separate copy of the startup script on your own machine.
| Argument | Example | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
-name | -name "Midgard Friends" | Publicly displayed server name |
-world | -world "Midgard" | World to load or create |
-password | -password "change-this-password" | Joining password; do not expose it publicly |
-port | -port 2456 | Base UDP port; the next port is also used |
-public | -public 1 | Server-list visibility; 0 hides it |
-crossplay | -crossplay | Enables PlayFab-based cross-platform connections |
-savedir | -savedir "D:\ValheimSaves" | Custom world-save directory |
-saveinterval | -saveinterval 1800 | Time between world saves, in seconds |
-backups | -backups 4 | Automatic world-backup count |
The values above follow Iron Gate’s dedicated server guide. When using a rented host, changing a startup field may require a restart before it takes effect. Some panels use different labels, so inspect the supplied defaults rather than replacing every field unnecessarily.
Example Valheim dedicated-server launch command
A Valheim startup command identifies the world, network port and password while choosing the game’s networking backend. This example starts a private friends server using the PlayFab crossplay backend and the normal world preset.
valheim_server.exe -nographics -batchmode -name "Midgard Friends" -port 2456 -world "Midgard" -password "change-this-password" -public 0 -crossplay -preset normal -saveinterval 1800 -backups 4
Use the executable name and script syntax supplied by your operating system. On Linux, the server executable and launch wrapper differ; the settings themselves remain comparable. Replace the example password and world name. Never paste your real password into a public forum, screenshot or repository.
Important: -public 0 hides the server from the community browser; it does not replace your password. If you intend to share the server outside Steam, follow our Valheim crossplay guide to understand how join codes and the PlayFab backend interact.
World presets and individual modifiers
Valheim world modifiers change difficulty, resources, raids, portals and other world rules without requiring community mods. Iron Gate documents preset values including normal, casual, easy, hard, hardcore, immersive and hammer.
| Feature | Example | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | -preset hard | Applies the hard preset |
| Combat | -modifier Combat veryhard | Raises enemy combat difficulty |
| Resources | -modifier Resources more | Increases resource yield |
| Raids | -modifier Raids none | Disables raids |
| Portals | -modifier Portals casual | Changes portal restrictions |
| World key | -setkey nomap | Enables a no-map world |
Apply a preset before individual modifiers in the startup line. This is important because choosing a preset can replace modifiers set earlier. For example, -preset normal -modifier Raids none starts from normal rules and then disables raids. Do not assume a panel’s toggle exactly matches the command-line syntax; check what it passes to the executable.
World-rule changes can affect progression and achievements depending on the chosen options and current game build. For an established world, record the existing configuration and take a world backup before changing the rules.
Admin lists, bans and allowlists
Valheim dedicated servers manage player permissions using adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt and permittedlist.txt in the server’s save directory. Each entry identifies a player using the platform user ID format expected by the current server build.
| File | Purpose | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
adminlist.txt | Grants server admin permissions | For trusted moderators |
bannedlist.txt | Denies access | To block a specific account |
permittedlist.txt | Allows listed players only | For private invite-only communities |
Take care with permittedlist.txt: once it contains player IDs, anyone not listed may be unable to join. Admin permissions are not the same as unrestricted developer cheats. Restart or reload the server as required by your host after changes.
Save intervals and backup retention
Valheim’s default dedicated-server world-save interval is 1,800 seconds, with four automatic backups using short and long retention intervals. These internal rotating files are useful for ordinary recovery, but they cannot protect you from the loss of the entire server disk.
For an active group, pair in-game backups with an independent host backup or an occasional downloaded archive. See our Valheim backup and restore guide for safe copies and rollback steps, and the world transfer guide if you are moving between providers.
Which hosting features make configuration easier?
A Valheim host is easier to administer when it provides editable startup arguments, backups, file management and an accessible console. Those features matter more than a generic claim of one-click setup if you expect to use custom world rules or run a long-lived multiplayer world.
Before buying, check whether the provider exposes world presets and mods in its control panel, permits file uploads, and supports Steam or PlayFab networking as appropriate. Our Valheim server hosting comparison covers available plans, memory, regions and management features; this guide explains how the settings work once you have a server.
Common settings mistakes
The most common configuration mistakes are a world name that points to a different save, an invalid password, conflicting presets and modifiers, or permissions that prevent invited players from connecting. Work through the server console and saved configuration before changing ports or reinstalling the game.
If the server runs but nobody can join, use the connection troubleshooting guide. If the startup arguments are correct but the server fails to launch after adding plugins, check our Valheim mod installation guide instead.
Sources
The technical settings and procedures in this guide are based on the game developer documentation and named community tooling linked below.
