{"id":3838,"date":"2026-10-27T17:12:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/valheim-server-settings\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T17:12:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:12:43","slug":"valheim-server-settings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/valheim-server-settings\/","title":{"rendered":"Valheim Server Settings Explained: Start Parameters, World Modifiers and Config Files"},"content":{"rendered":"

Valheim server settings don’t live in a config file. They’re start parameters on the server’s launch line<\/strong>: -name<\/code>, -world<\/code>, -password<\/code>, -public<\/code> and -port<\/code>, plus -preset<\/code>, -modifier<\/code> and -setkey<\/code> for world modifiers and -saveinterval<\/code> and -backups<\/code> for saving. The only real files are adminlist.txt<\/code>, bannedlist.txt<\/code> and permittedlist.txt<\/code>. Below is every setting, its default, and how to change it on Windows, Linux, Docker or a hosted server.<\/p>\n

Where is the Valheim server config file?<\/h2>\n

There isn’t a configuration file in the usual sense. A vanilla Valheim dedicated server reads its settings from the launch line in start_headless_server.bat<\/code> on Windows or start_server.sh<\/code> on Linux, both in the server’s install folder. Edit a copy of that script, because Steam overwrites the original on every update. Player permissions are the exception: they live in three text files in the save folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
File<\/th>\nWhat it holds<\/th>\nWhere it is<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
start_headless_server.bat<\/code> (Windows) \/ start_server.sh<\/code> (Linux)<\/td>\nThe launch line, with every server setting<\/td>\nServer install folder (in Steam: Manage \u2192 Browse local files<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
adminlist.txt<\/code>, bannedlist.txt<\/code>, permittedlist.txt<\/code><\/td>\nAdmins, bans, whitelist<\/td>\nSave folder: %USERPROFILE%\\AppData\\LocalLow\\IronGate\\Valheim<\/code> or ~\/.config\/unity3d\/IronGate\/Valheim<\/code>, unless -savedir<\/code> moves it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
worlds_local\/<\/code><\/td>\nYour worlds and their backups<\/td>\nInside the save folder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BepInEx\/config\/*.cfg<\/code><\/td>\nMod settings, on modded servers only<\/td>\nServer install folder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Docker environment variables<\/td>\nSERVER_NAME<\/code>, WORLD_NAME<\/code>, SERVER_PASS<\/code>, SERVER_PUBLIC<\/code>, CROSSPLAY<\/code>, and SERVER_ARGS<\/code> for anything else<\/td>\nYour docker run<\/code> line or compose file<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The install folder also holds Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf<\/em>, Iron Gate’s own copy of the reference below. New to running a server? Start with the Valheim dedicated server guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Every Valheim server setting (start parameters)<\/h2>\n

These are all the start parameters Iron Gate documents for the dedicated server, with their defaults. Add them to the launch line after valheim_server.exe<\/code> or .\/valheim_server.x86_64<\/code>, put quotes around anything with spaces, and restart the server for a change to apply. Leave -nographics -batchmode<\/code> in place: they’re part of Iron Gate’s example line for a server with no window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Parameter<\/th>\nDefault<\/th>\nWhat it does<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
-name \"My server\"<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nThe server name shown in the server list<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-world \"Dedicated\"<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nLoads the world with this name, or creates it if it doesn’t exist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-password \"Secret\"<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nJoin password: at least 5 characters, not part of the server name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-port 2456<\/code><\/td>\n2456<\/td>\nGame port. The server also uses the next port, so the default range is UDP 2456\u20132457<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-public 1<\/code><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/code> lists the server in the Community list; 0<\/code> hides it so players join with Join IP<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-crossplay<\/code><\/td>\noff<\/td>\nRuns on the Crossplay (PlayFab) backend so any platform can join; no port forwarding needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-savedir \"path\"<\/code><\/td>\nsee table above<\/td>\nMoves the folder where worlds and the three list files are stored<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-logFile \"path\"<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nWrites the server log to a file<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-saveinterval 1800<\/code><\/td>\n1800 (30 min)<\/td>\nSeconds between world saves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-backups 4<\/code><\/td>\n4<\/td>\nHow many automatic backups to keep<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-backupshort 7200<\/code><\/td>\n7200 (2 h)<\/td>\nInterval for the first, “short” backup<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-backuplong 43200<\/code><\/td>\n43200 (12 h)<\/td>\nInterval between the remaining backups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-preset hard<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nWorld modifier preset (values below). Overwrites any modifier set before it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-modifier raids none<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nSets one world modifier to a value<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-setkey nomap<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nTurns on a checkbox modifier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-resetmodifiers<\/code><\/td>\noff<\/td>\nResets the world modifiers (added in patch 0.217.22)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-instanceid \"1\"<\/code><\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nA unique value per server when you run several crossplay servers on the same port and machine, so each gets its own PlayFab ID<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Valheim server name and password rules<\/h2>\n

The name is what players see in the Community list; the password is what they type to get in. Valheim’s own start script spells out the rules: the password needs at least 5 characters and can’t be part of the server name. A shorter password stops the server from starting at all, so if a new server closes right after launch, check the password before anything else.<\/p>\n