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On a Steam Valheim dedicated server, change startup settings in a copy of start_headless_server.bat (Windows) or start_server.sh (Linux), then launch that copy. Steam updates may reset the original script, and a shortcut that targets the original will not automatically use your customized copy. The settings below are documented in Iron Gate’s April 11, 2024 guide; because Valheim 1.0 launched on September 9, 2026, check the Dedicated Server Manual bundled with your installed server for current syntax and behavior.
Change settings in the server startup script
- In Steam, open the Valheim Dedicated Server entry and choose Manage > Browse local files to find its installation folder.
- Make a copy of
start_headless_server.baton Windows orstart_server.shon Linux. Keep your custom settings in this copy: Steam may reset the original file during an update. - Open the copied file in a text editor. Edit the server launch command—the line beginning with the server launch command—and change only the options you need.
- Save the file, then launch the customized copy directly. A Steam shortcut that points to the original filename will not launch your copy.
- Wait for the command window to report
Game server connected; Iron Gate’s guide identifies this as the point when the server is ready to accept connections. To stop it, pressCTRL+Cin that window.
Before editing, note the current values and make sure you have a usable world backup. The guide does not establish that settings edited while a server is running take effect immediately, so stop the server before changing its startup script. For the documented settings and examples, see Iron Gate’s Guide to Dedicated Servers; confirm version-sensitive details in the manual installed with your server.
Which startup options can you change?
These names, examples, and defaults come from Iron Gate’s April 11, 2024 guide. They are useful references, not confirmation that every option is unchanged in the current release.
| Option | What it controls | Documented example or behavior |
|---|---|---|
-name |
Name shown in the server list | -name "My server" |
-port |
Communication port | -port 2456; the documented default range is 2456–2457. |
-world |
World to load or create | -world "Dedicated"; selects an existing world by name or creates one with that name. |
-password |
Server password | -password "Secret" |
-savedir |
Location for world and permission files | -savedir [PATH] overrides the default location. |
-public |
Visibility in the server browser | -public 1 makes the server visible; -public 0 hides it and allows joining through Join IP. The guide notes this may suit a local LAN server. |
-logFile |
Log-file location | -logFile "d:log.txt" |
-saveinterval |
World save interval, in seconds | -saveinterval 1800; the documented default is 1,800 seconds (30 minutes). |
-backups |
Number of automatic backups retained | -backups 4; the guide describes the defaults as one short backup from two hours earlier and three long backups spaced twelve hours apart. |
-backupshort |
Short-backup interval, in seconds | -backupshort 7200; the documented default is 7,200 seconds (2 hours). |
-backuplong |
Interval for later backups, in seconds | -backuplong 43200; the documented default is 43,200 seconds (12 hours). |
-crossplay |
Server backend | Runs the server on the Crossplay backend (PlayFab). Without it, the guide says the Steam backend is used. |
-instanceid |
Distinguishes multiple servers using the same port from the same MAC address | -instanceid "1" |
-preset |
World modifier preset | -preset hard. Documented presets are Normal, Casual, Easy, Hard, Hardcore, Immersive, and Hammer. Applying a preset overwrites previous modifiers. |
-modifier |
Individual world modifier | -modifier [name] [value]; the guide’s example is -modifier raids none. Listed groups are Combat, DeathPenalty, Resources, Raids, and Portals. |
-setkey |
World-modifier checkbox key | -setkey [key]; listed keys are nobuildcost, playerevents, passivemobs, and nomap. |
For the exact allowed values of individual modifiers, use the manual included with your installed server. The 2024 guide predates Valheim 1.0 and does not verify that every argument remains supported or behaves identically in that release. Iron Gate announced Valheim 1.0 on September 9, 2026.
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Choose Steam or Crossplay based on players and networking
| Consideration | Steam backend | Crossplay backend |
|---|---|---|
| Who can join | Iron Gate’s 2024 guide describes Steam users as the players who can see and join. | Allows players from any platform to join. |
| External access | The documented default ports are 2456–2457; internet port forwarding may be needed. | Uses a relay and does not require router port forwarding for access from outside the local network. |
| How players connect | The guide documents joining through the server browser or Join IP when hidden. | Players can use a join code, but cannot join through a local or loopback IP address. |
Choose Crossplay when your group spans platforms or you want the relay-based connection. A Steam-only group can use the Steam backend if direct networking and any necessary port forwarding work for your setup. Router and internet configurations vary; Iron Gate advises consulting your router manual or ISP for device-specific forwarding instructions. See the Crossplay FAQ for connection details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Find worlds and permission files
The -world option selects or creates a world by name. To change where worlds and permission files are stored, set -savedir. Iron Gate’s guide gives these default save locations:
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- Windows:
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~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim
The default save location also contains three permission files. Add one Platform User ID per line:
adminlist.txt— administratorsbannedlist.txt— banned playerspermittedlist.txt— players allowed to join
Adding a player to permittedlist.txt means everyone else is barred from the server. For the Microsoft Store server, Iron Gate’s Crossplay FAQ gives C:XboxGamesValheimContentServer as the server folder and recommends using the Dedicated Server Manual there. Xbox consoles can join dedicated servers, but cannot host one themselves.
Sources and version notes
- Iron Gate, “A Guide to Dedicated Servers”, April 11, 2024: startup script, arguments, ports, saves, permissions, and backups.
- Iron Gate, “Crossplay FAQ”, February 7, 2025: relay networking, join codes, Microsoft Store server location, and Xbox hosting.
- Iron Gate, “Valheim 1.0 Has Arrived!”, September 9, 2026: release announcement.
The 2024 guide is the available detailed public argument reference cited here; it predates Valheim 1.0, and the cited sources do not confirm each option’s 1.0 compatibility. Use the installed Dedicated Server Manual for the syntax and behavior of the build you are running.
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