Complete Valheim Dedicated Server Guide

Everything you need to know about setting up and managing a Valheim dedicated server for Windows and Linux.

Guide Contents

Setup & Installation

Configuration

Management

Overview

A Valheim dedicated server handles Remote Procedure Call (RPC) communication and provides map data to connected players. Unlike many other games, Valheim servers are not authoritative — the game logic is handled by individual clients in their local areas.

Key Server Functions

  • RPC Relay: Routes communication between players
  • Map Data: Provides world generation and terrain data
  • Authentication: Validates Steam IDs and manages bans/permissions
  • Server Discovery: Lists server in Steam's server browser

Server Processes

Zonesystem & DungeonDB

Handles world generation and loading. Must be started before accepting players.

Game Server (Steam A2S)

Provides server information to Steam's server browser when enabled with -public 1.

World Save

Automatically saves world data every 20 minutes. Causes brief lag during memory cloning.

System Requirements

The dedicated server is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Install via Steam or SteamCMD.

ComponentMinimumRecommended
CPUQuad-Core 2.8 GHzHexa-Core 3.4+ GHz
RAM2 GB4+ GB
Storage2 GB4+ GB
OSWindows 7+, Linux 5+, macOS 10.15+Latest versions

Performance Notes

  • CPU-Heavy: World generation is CPU intensive
  • Memory-Heavy: Loaded areas consume 100-300 MB each
  • Exploration Impact: New areas cause CPU spikes
  • Modded Servers: Require significantly more resources

Manual Setup Guide

Step 1: Download Server Files

Windows Installation

  1. Create a folder for your Valheim server
  2. Download SteamCMD
  3. Create a batch file named InstallUpdate.bat
  4. Add this code to the batch file:
@echo off steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "C:\Your\Valheim\Folder" +login anonymous +app_update 896660 -beta public validate +quit

Linux Installation

  1. Create your server directory
  2. Install SteamCMD for your distribution
  3. Run the install command:
steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux +force_install_dir /path/to/server +login anonymous +app_update 896660 -beta public validate +quit
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y libpulse-dev libatomic1 libc6

Step 2: Configure Server Launch

Windows — StartServer.bat

@echo off set SteamAppId=892970 echo "Starting server PRESS CTRL-C to exit" valheim_server.exe -nographics -batchmode -name "YourWorldName" -port 2456 -world "YourWorldFilename" -password "YourPassword" -crossplay

Linux — valheim.sh

#!/bin/sh export templdpath=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=./linux64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH export SteamAppID=892970 ./valheim_server.x86_64 -name "YourServerName" -port 2456 -nographics -batchmode -world "YourWorldName" -password "YourPassword" -crossplay export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$templdpath

Server Parameters

  • -name — Server name (shown in browser)
  • -world — World file name
  • -password — Server password
  • -port — Game port (default 2456)
  • -crossplay — Enable crossplay mode
  • -public 1 — List in server browser

Network Configuration

Required Ports

PortProtocolPurpose
2456UDPGame traffic (or your -port value)
2457UDPSteam Query Port (+1 from game port)

Firewall Configuration

  1. Windows: Add inbound UDP rules for ports 2456-2457
  2. Linux: Configure iptables or ufw to allow UDP traffic
  3. Router: Forward ports 2456-2457 UDP to your server

Crossplay vs Direct Connection

Crossplay Mode

  • No port forwarding required
  • Works with all platforms
  • Higher latency through relay servers

Direct Connection

  • Lower latency
  • More stable connection
  • Requires port forwarding

Admin Configuration

Server admins are configured using text files in your Valheim data directory:

  • Windows: %UserProfile%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\
  • Linux: ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/

Admin Files

adminlist.txt

// List admin players ID ONE per line 76561198012345678 76561198087654321

bannedlist.txt

// List banned players ID ONE per line 76561198999999999

Finding Steam IDs

  • Press F2 in-game to see connected players
  • Use steamid.io to convert Steam profiles
  • Check server console logs for connection attempts

World & Seed Configuration

  1. Create the world in single-player with your desired name and seed
  2. Enter the world at least once to generate the files
  3. Copy the world files to your server
  4. Update your server launch script with the correct world name

World File Locations

  • Windows: %userprofile%/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local
  • Linux: ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local

Important Files

  • WorldName.fwl — World metadata (seed, name, ID)
  • WorldName.db — World progress data
  • Both files are required for proper world loading

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my server lag?

  • World saves: Server pauses briefly every 20 minutes
  • Chunk loading: Players exploring new areas cause CPU spikes
  • Hardware limits: Insufficient CPU/RAM for player count
  • Network issues: High packet loss or bandwidth limits

Can't connect to my server?

Troubleshooting checklist

  1. Verify server is running and accessible
  2. Check firewall settings (Windows/Linux)
  3. Confirm port forwarding (UDP 2456-2457)
  4. Try crossplay mode if direct connection fails
  5. Use server IP and port, not domain name
  6. Verify password and server version match client

My progress was reverted!

  • Always shutdown server gracefully (Ctrl+C, not kill)
  • Wait for "World saved" message before shutdown
  • Keep regular backups of world files
  • Use .old backup files if needed

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