A Conan Exiles dedicated server is your own copy of the Exiled Lands that runs around the clock, so bases, thralls and clan wars carry on whether or not you are online. You can host a Conan Exiles server for free on a Windows or Linux PC: install the Conan Exiles Dedicated Server (Steam app 443030) or Funcom’s Dedicated Server Launcher, give it 8–12 GB of RAM, open UDP ports 7777, 7778 and 27015, and set your rules in ServerSettings.ini. Since the free Enhanced update (Unreal Engine 5) on May 5, 2026, Steam players are on the Enhanced build by default and need a server on the same build; the old version lives on as Conan Exiles Legacy.
This guide covers every step, then admin access, mods, backups and the problems people actually hit. If you would rather skip all of it, Conan Exiles server hosting on GameTeam gives you a ready server with an AI copilot that does the file editing for you.
Dedicated server, co-op or official server?
Conan Exiles gives you three ways to play together. Co-op runs from the host’s own game, so friends are tethered to the host and the world stops when the host quits. Official servers are run by Funcom with Funcom’s rules. A private dedicated server is the only option where you set every rule, run mods and keep the world going without anyone logged in.
| Co-op (single-player host) | Private dedicated server | Official server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs when the host logs off | No | Yes | Yes |
| Players roam freely | No, tethered to the host (CoopTetheringLimit) |
Yes | Yes |
| Server settings and admin | The host | You (ServerSettings.ini, Make Me Admin) |
Funcom |
| Mods | The host’s modlist | Yes, through modlist.txt |
Not your call |
| Cost | Free | Free on your own PC, or a hosting plan | Free with the game |
For a clan that plays at different times, or anything bigger than a few friends, you want a dedicated server.
Conan Exiles dedicated server requirements
Plan on 8–12 GB of RAM for the server alone, a CPU with a high clock speed, an SSD and a 64-bit Windows or Linux system. Memory use is driven by structures and thralls more than by players, so a server that has run for months needs more than a fresh one. You also need to be able to open ports on your router.
| Server size | RAM | CPU (reference) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 players | 8 GB | 3.0 GHz dual core |
| 35 players | 8 GB | 3.1–3.4 GHz quad core |
| 50 players | 12 GB | 3.5–3.9 GHz |
| 70 players | 12 GB | 4.0–4.4 GHz |
That table comes from the Conan Exiles wiki and was written for the Unreal Engine 4 build. Enhanced loads the Exiled Lands and the Isle of Siptah on the same server, and Inflexion’s server docs note that switching a region off lowers RAM use, so if you keep both, plan from the 12 GB end. A long modlist pushes it up again.
Running it on the same PC you play on? It works for a small group, but the Enhanced client alone asks for 16 GB of system RAM, and the server wants its own 8 GB or more on top. The game and the server also both default to port 7777, so whichever starts first takes it; give the server a different port.
How to set up a Conan Exiles dedicated server
There are two ways to install it. Funcom’s free launcher does everything from one window and suits most people on Windows. SteamCMD gives you the bare server on Windows or Linux and suits anyone scripting it or running a Linux box. Either way, you then set a name and passwords, open the ports and pick which regions of the map to run.
Option A: the Conan Exiles Dedicated Server Launcher (easiest)
The Dedicated Server Launcher is Funcom’s free server manager, written by one of its tools programmers. It installs SteamCMD, downloads and updates the server and your Workshop mods, and gives you one window for the basic settings. Version 1.10.0 came out on October 14, 2026, and only versions from 1.9.0 on understand the Enhanced branch layout.
- Download the latest official version from the launcher thread on the Funcom forums.
- Put the executable in its own folder near the root of a drive, for example
C:\ExilesServer. Avoid the desktop, the downloads folder and paths with unusual characters. - Fill in the server name, server password (optional), admin password, region and player count, and press Save Changes. On a new install the launcher asks whether to deploy the UE5 (Enhanced) or UE4 (Legacy) server; pick the same branch your players are on.
- Press the big start button. The first run downloads SteamCMD, the server and any mods, so give it a while.
- Turn on “Start server if not running” and “Launch program on login” if you want the server back up after a reboot.
The launcher can also schedule restarts (6 AM by default), back up the database on every shutdown, send RCON and Discord messages before a restart, and test whether your ports are reachable.
Option B: install with SteamCMD (Windows or Linux)
- With SteamCMD installed, download the server files. Running the same command again later updates them:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\conan-server +login anonymous +app_update 443030 validate +quitOn Linux, use a path like
/home/steam/conan. To install the old Unreal Engine 4 build instead (Windows only; the Legacy branch has no Linux files), add-beta conan-exiles-legacyafter443030. - Start the server once so it writes its config files:
- Windows: run
ConanSandboxServer.exe -login the server folder. - Linux: run
ConanSandbox/Binaries/Linux/ConanSandboxServer. Enhanced ships a native Linux server, so you no longer need Wine. One catch from Inflexion’s docs: Linux is case-sensitive, so keep the database file name in lower case.
- Windows: run
- Stop it, configure it (next step), and start it again.
Configure the basics
The config files sit in ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ (LinuxServer/ on Linux). Edit them with the server stopped, or the server can write its own values back over yours.
- In
Engine.ini, set the name and join password:[OnlineSubsystem] ServerName=My Conan Server ServerPassword=friends-only - In
ServerSettings.ini, set the admin password:[ServerSettings] AdminPassword=something-long-and-private - Set the player cap with the
-MaxPlayers=launch argument, for exampleConanSandboxServer.exe -log -MaxPlayers=20. The launcher passes it for you. - Change ports only if you need to:
-Port=and-QueryPort=on the command line, orPort=under[URL]andGameServerQueryPort=under[OnlineSubsystemNull]inEngine.ini.
PvP, raid hours, harvest rates, thrall limits and the rest go in ServerSettings.ini. Every setting worth knowing, with recommended values, is in Conan Exiles server settings explained.
Change the map: Exiled Lands, Isle of Siptah or both
On Enhanced there is one map. The Exiled Lands and the Isle of Siptah are regions of the same world, a single server runs both, and players travel between them without a restart (Siptah still needs its DLC). To run the Exiled Lands only, add this to Engine.ini; it also lowers RAM use:
[Regions]
ExcludedRegions=IsleOfSiptahOn Legacy, the two maps are still separate servers with separate databases (game.db and dlc_siptah.db).
Conan Exiles dedicated server ports
Players need UDP 7777 (game), UDP 7778 (the pinger, always the game port plus one) and UDP 27015 (server query) to reach your server. Forward all three to the PC running it and allow them through its firewall. TCP 25575 is only for RCON, and only if you turn RCON on.
| Port | Protocol | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic. Change it with -Port= |
| 7778 | UDP | Pinger the server browser uses. Always game port + 1, can’t be changed separately |
| 27015 | UDP | Server query (the server list). Change it with -QueryPort= |
| 25575 | TCP | RCON remote admin, off unless enabled |
| Game port + offset | TCP | Mod downloads for Epic Games Store clients only; Steam players get mods from the Workshop |
Reserve a fixed local IP for the server PC in your router, forward the ports to it, then open the firewall. On Windows, in an administrator Command Prompt:
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Conan Exiles Server" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=7777-7778,27015On Linux with ufw: sudo ufw allow proto udp from any to any port 7777,7778,27015.
Two Conan servers on one box? Give each its own folder and its own set of ports. If you bind a server to one IP with -MULTIHOME=<ip>, Enhanced also needs -MULTIHOMEHTTP=<ip>, or the server never registers in the browser.
How to connect to your dedicated server
The quickest way in is Direct Connect with your public IP and game port, which skips the server list entirely. Players on your home network use the server’s local IP instead. Once you are in, favourite the server; and if friends can’t find it in the browser, the filters are usually why.
- Open the server browser in Conan Exiles and choose Direct Connect.
- Enter your public IP and game port, for example
203.0.113.25:7777, and the server password if you set one. - Favourite the server once you are in, so the next join is one click.
How to find your server in the list: search for its name, and if it runs mods, tick Show modded servers in the browser filters, or it stays hidden. Anyone at home on the server’s own network should use its local IP instead; Steam’s View > Servers > LAN tab shows a server on your home network. If friends can join but you can’t connect to your own server, that is the local-IP problem, not the server.
Admin password, commands and RCON
With AdminPassword set and the server restarted, join and use the Make Me Admin button under Settings > Server Settings, or open the console (Insert or ~) and type MakeMeAdmin yourpassword. “Admin Rights Granted” appears in the top right, and the admin panel opens with Ctrl+Shift+C.
The commands you will use most on a dedicated server:
ShowPlayerslists everyone online with Steam names and IDs.TeleportToPlayer <name>andSummonPlayer <name>move you to a player or a stuck player to you.BroadcastMessage <message>pops a message up for everyone.GetServerHealthshows server FPS, players, bases and total building pieces.GetAllServerSettingsandSetServerSetting "Setting" "Value"read and change settings without touching the file.
There is no restart in the admin command list. Restarts happen wherever the server runs: the launcher’s scheduled restart, your own script, or your host’s panel.
RCON lets you manage the server from outside the game. Add this to Game.ini and restart:
[RconPlugin]
RconEnabled=1
RconPassword=YourRconPassword
RconPort=25575Conan uses the same RCON protocol as Minecraft, so Minecraft RCON tools such as mcrcon work. Every RCON command is logged to RconCommandLog.log, and whitelistplayer <steamid> adds players to the whitelist.
How to add mods to a Conan Exiles dedicated server
Each Conan mod is a single .pak file. The server loads the paks listed in ConanSandbox/Mods/modlist.txt, in that order, and every player needs the same mods in the same order to join. The launcher builds the list for you from Workshop IDs; by hand it takes five minutes.
- Back up first. Copy the database from
ConanSandbox/Saved. Removing a mod later can leave junk in the database, which is why big mod changes often come with a wipe. - Get the mods. In the launcher, paste each Workshop ID (the number in the mod’s Workshop address) into the Mod List and save. By hand, subscribe in Steam and copy each
.pakfromsteamapps/workshop/content/440900/<id>/into the server’sConanSandbox/Modsfolder. - Write
modlist.txtwith one pak per line, top to bottom in load order. Order matters: when two mods change the same item, which of them loads last changes how that item behaves. - Restart and check the log. Each mod shows up as a
LogModManager: Mounting mod pak fileline near the top. - Tell your players. Anyone missing a mod is offered a download of everything they lack when they pick the server, followed by a game restart.
Three Enhanced-specific rules: pick Workshop mods with the Enhanced version tag, because UE4 mods may not load; never rename a mod’s pak file, because a renamed pak fails to load; and mods that need internet access only get it once you approve their addresses in ModHttp.ini (the server log tells you which ones asked).
Mod mismatch after an update: when a Workshop mod updates while the server is running, players get the new version and the server keeps the old one, so nobody can join. A restart makes the server download the new version as well, and the joins work again.
Updating, backups, wipes and transfers
Keep the server on the same version as your players, back up the database and the three ini files before every update or mod change, and wipe by moving the database out of the way. Enhanced renamed the database file, so old scripts need a look. Here is each job.
Update by stopping the server and running the same SteamCMD command, or let the launcher check for game and mod updates every few minutes and restart on its own. A player can only join a server on the same version, so an outdated server is the most common reason for “can’t connect” after a patch.
Conan Exiles server save location: the world lives in ConanSandbox/Saved. On Enhanced it is game_0.db; on first start the server copies an old game.db to game_0.db, so scripts and backups that look for game.db need updating. Legacy servers still use game.db.
Backup by copying the database plus ServerSettings.ini, Engine.ini and Game.ini with the server stopped. The launcher does this on every shutdown if you tick its backup option. To roll back, stop the server and put the backup copy in place of the live database.
Wipe by stopping the server and moving the database out of ConanSandbox/Saved. On Enhanced, move game.db too if it is still there, or the server copies it straight back into game_0.db and your old world returns.
From Legacy to Enhanced: an Exiled Lands database is readable by Enhanced and keeps characters and buildings. Siptah bases don’t survive, because the island moved when the maps merged. Once a database has been converted, it can’t go back to Legacy, so keep a copy if you might.
Character transfers use the in-game Server Transfer Tool, which your server must allow with ServerTransferEnabled. Characters can only move to a server that is as strict or less strict: single-player characters can’t be imported to any dedicated server, private-server characters can’t go to an official server, PvE characters can’t go to PvP, and there is a one-day cooldown between transfers. Official servers use a server merge to move characters from one server to another instead; that is how official Isle of Siptah characters reached Exiled Lands servers in May 2026.
Common Conan Exiles server problems and fixes
Most problems come down to four things: a version mismatch between server and players, a port that isn’t reachable, a mod that updated or broke, or a server short on RAM. Check the server log first; it usually names the cause. The table covers the errors people hit most, with the fix for each.
| Problem | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t connect after the Enhanced update (“incompatible version”) | Old bUseBuildIdOverride and BuildIdOverride lines in Engine.ini, or a Legacy server meeting an Enhanced client |
Delete the two lines; make sure server and players are on the same branch |
| Ping 9999 or ??? in the server browser | The browser gets no reply on the pinger port (game port + 1) | Forward and allow UDP 7778. If Direct Connect works, only the ping is broken |
| Server not showing up in the list | Mod filter, wrong branch, or -MULTIHOME without -MULTIHOMEHTTP |
Tick Show modded servers, match versions, add the HTTP flag, or use Direct Connect |
| Nobody can join after a mod update | Workshop update while the server ran | Restart so the server pulls the same version |
| Crashes when joining, or not loading into the server | A mod not updated for Enhanced, or a renamed pak | Read the LogModManager lines, test without mods, re-add one at a time |
| Server stops soon after starting | Ports already in use, or a typo in -MULTIHOME |
Free or change the ports; check the IP |
| Lag or “server not responding” | Too many building pieces and thralls for the RAM, slow disk, antivirus scanning the server | Check GetServerHealth, add RAM, exclude the folder from antivirus, consider UseMinionPopulationLimit |
| Kicked for high ping | MaxAllowedPing set low |
Raise it in ServerSettings.ini |
Can PS4 or Xbox players use a dedicated server?
No. Funcom only supports hosting your own server on PC. Xbox and PlayStation remain on the UE4 build and their own server network, and a client can only join a server on the same version, so console players can’t join a PC server. For a private console server, Funcom points you to G-Portal, its official server partner, via the rental links on the official site.
On PC, Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store players are on Conan Exiles Legacy too: they need a server on the conan-exiles-legacy branch, and Steam friends who want to play with them must switch to Legacy in Steam’s Game Versions & Betas tab.
Skip the setup: rent a Conan Exiles server
Hosting your own means a PC that never sleeps, three forwarded ports, and a modlist that breaks the morning after a Workshop update. Conan Exiles server hosting on GameTeam hands you a running server instead: you pay per GB of RAM (from $0.49/GB a week, slots unlimited), there is nothing to forward, and the built-in AI copilot takes over the ini edits, restarts and log reading.
Type “only allow raiding on Friday and Saturday from 6 to 10 pm” and it writes the raid window into ServerSettings.ini; ask “nobody can join since this morning, what happened?” and it reads the log, finds the mod that updated and restarts the server so everyone matches again.
FAQ
How much is a Conan Exiles server?
The dedicated server software is free (app 443030 in Steam, and the launcher), so self-hosting costs only the PC and its electricity. Hosted servers are priced by RAM or by slots; on GameTeam it is RAM only: $3.92 a week for 8 GB, $5.88 a week for 12 GB, with unlimited slots.
How many players can a Conan Exiles server hold?
Whatever you set with -MaxPlayers. Public servers usually run 20–40. The largest size in the wiki’s hardware table is 70 players, on 12 GB of RAM with a 4 GHz-class CPU.
Are the Conan Exiles servers down?
When official servers go down for maintenance, single player keeps working and a private server keeps running on its own machine. If the server list itself is slow to load, join your server with Direct Connect.
How do I set up a PvE or RP server?
Set PVPEnabled=False for PvE, or PVPEnabled=True with CombatModeModifier=1 for PvE-Conflict. For a roleplay server, set the server community to RolePlaying so it lists under that filter, and write your rules into the message of the day.
Which server is best for playing Conan Exiles?
It depends on what you want. Official servers have the biggest crowds and Funcom’s rules. A private dedicated server is best when you want your own rules, mods and admin. Co-op is enough for two or three friends who always play together.