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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf a Conan Exiles dedicated server reaches the ready state with its mods removed, the failure is almost certainly in mod compatibility, a missing dependency, or load order—not in the world database. Stop changing files at random: back up game.db and your configuration, prove whether a no-mod launch works, then add mods back in controlled groups. If the server also crashes with no mods, switch to installation, runtime, security, driver, and system checks.
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What a startup crash usually means
A modded Conan Exiles server has to load the dedicated-server executable, the game installation, every package listed in its mod list, and each package’s dependencies before it can accept connections. A failure during that sequence can look like a generic process exit, but the cause is usually identifiable if you preserve the original files and test one boundary at a time.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Funcom’s mod guidance says every mod should be current for the installed game version and that dependency order matters. A server can therefore crash after an ordinary game patch even when none of your configuration changed. A mod that worked on the previous build may need an author update, and a dependency loaded too late can fail before the server finishes starting.
The two most useful first tests are:
- No-mod launch succeeds: investigate
modlist.txt, the installed.pakfiles, dependencies, load order, and game-build compatibility. - No-mod launch still fails: investigate corrupted or mismatched files, drivers, overlays, security software, permissions, runtimes, or overclocking before blaming an individual mod.
Do not use the last line of a crash log as proof by itself. The first package mount, asset, or serialization error is generally a better lead than the final shutdown message.
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Protect the world before troubleshooting
Stop the server cleanly and make a copy outside the server directory before renaming a file, removing a package, migrating to Enhanced, or reinstalling anything. Funcom’s 2025 Enhanced migration guidance specifically recommends a private-server database backup before the UE4-to-Enhanced update.
Files to copy
ConanSandbox/Saved/game.db— the world and progression database.modlist.txt— the server’s authoritative mod order.- Relevant
.inifiles — gameplay, server, and engine settings that you may need to restore. - The current contents of
ConanSandbox/Mods, including every.pakfile.
Use a second disk, a separate server directory, or other storage that will not be overwritten by Steam verification or a reinstall. Label the copy with the date and game build. Keep the original mod order intact; it is evidence you can return to after an experiment. Never “fix” a database problem by deleting game.db unless you have deliberately decided to start a new world.
Prove whether mods are the failure boundary
Funcom documents launching a dedicated server with the server executable or StartServer.bat. The default game and pinger ports are UDP 7777 and UDP 7778; changing ports is unnecessary for this test unless your installation already uses different values.
- Stop any running server process and confirm that it is no longer writing to the save directory.
- Save a copy of
modlist.txt. Rename the working file, for example tomodlist.txt.disabled, or move the listed packages out ofConanSandbox/Modsinto a quarantine folder. Do not delete them. - Start the server with the documented executable or
StartServer.bat. - Wait long enough to see whether it reaches its normal ready state. A process that remains open but never completes initialization is not a successful test.
- Stop it, restore the original files if necessary, and record the result and the exact build number.
Moving the packages as well as disabling the list gives you a clean test when you are unsure how a particular installation discovers mods. Keep only one variable changed at a time so you know what the result means.
If the no-mod server starts
The world database and core installation can initialize without the mod set. The likely causes are an out-of-date package, an absent dependency, an incorrect order, or a mod that is incompatible with the current game build. That conclusion is stronger when the same server crashes every time a particular package is restored.
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If the no-mod server still crashes
A mod is not yet proven to be the cause. Leave the server in its no-mod state while you work through the installation and system checks later in this guide. Re-enabling every package before fixing the underlying launch failure makes the evidence harder to interpret.
Read the log before changing the list
Open the newest server log under ConanSandbox/Saved/Logs. Compare the timestamp with your latest launch and read upward from the fatal error or process exit until you find the first warning that names a package, asset, mount point, dependency, or serialization failure.
- Write down the first named mod or asset, not just the final “exited” line.
- Check whether the named
.pakactually exists inConanSandbox/Mods. - Compare every package in
modlist.txtwith the files present on disk, including spelling and capitalization. - Look for duplicate versions of the same mod. An old package left beside a newly downloaded one can create an order or load ambiguity.
- Note whether the error appears before any mod is mounted. An early executable, runtime, or permissions error points away from a particular package.
The first load or mount failure is a lead, not a verdict. A dependency can fail while another mod is the one named later in the log. Test the relationship by removing or updating the suspected package and reproducing the launch, rather than deleting files permanently.
Rebuild a known-good mod set
Do not restore the entire old list in one operation. Start with an empty list, verify that the server reaches ready state, and then add a single mod or a small group whose dependencies are known to belong together.
- Use the backed-up order as your reference, but create a working copy of
modlist.txt. - Confirm that each listed package is the current release for your exact Conan Exiles build. Check the mod author’s distribution or Workshop page for the supported game version.
- Add the first mod and its required dependencies in the order specified by the author.
- Launch with
StartServer.bator the documented server executable and wait for the ready state. - Stop the server, record the result, and add the next mod or dependency group.
- When a launch fails, remove only the last change and repeat the test to make the failure reproducible.
A binary-search approach can reduce the number of restarts for a very large collection: split the list into two groups, test each half, then keep subdividing the failing half. Do not split a dependency group if the mod author requires those packages to load together; test that group as one unit.
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Respect dependency order
Funcom explicitly notes that some mods must load earlier than others because of dependencies. The author’s stated order takes precedence over alphabetic sorting, installation date, or the order in which you subscribed. If two authors give incompatible instructions, leave the conflicting set disabled until one author publishes a version that supports the current game build; forcing an arbitrary order can corrupt the diagnosis.
Keep server and client lists identical
Dedicated servers load the .pak files listed by the server, and connecting clients need the same set in the same order. Once the server starts, a client with a missing, extra, or differently ordered package may fail to connect even though the server itself is healthy. Export or communicate the final list rather than asking players to guess which packages changed.
What to do when one mod consistently breaks startup
After a clean no-mod launch, a repeatable crash that returns when one package is added is strong evidence against the rest of the list. Check the package’s current release notes and compatibility statement for the installed Conan Exiles version, then take the least destructive action that restores a working server.
- Compatible update available: stop the server, back up the current package and list, install the supported release, and retest with the same dependency order.
- Dependency missing: install the exact required dependency and place it where the author specifies. A similarly named package is not an adequate substitute.
- No release for the current build: leave the mod disabled and run the known-good list. Funcom warns that every mod may need an update after a game update; waiting for a compatible release is safer than forcing an old package.
- Two mods conflict: test each alone, then together. If each works independently but the pair fails, keep the pair disabled or follow an author-provided compatibility patch.
Keep the disabled package and the failing list in quarantine. They let you retest after an author update without rebuilding the entire server from memory.
Fix a server that crashes with no mods
When the clean launch fails, use the platform’s standard installation and system checks before reintroducing any package.
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Verify the server installation
Use Steam’s file-integrity verification for the dedicated-server installation. Verification can replace corrupted or incomplete files, so make sure your database, mod list, packages, and configuration copies are stored elsewhere first. After verification completes, launch with no mods and compare the new log with the previous one.
Align branch, executable, and client build
Confirm that the server branch and executable match the Conan Exiles build your players are running. A server that exits before any mod is mounted can be using an outdated or mismatched installation. The documented launch files are the normal starting point; avoid mixing an old batch file or executable with a newly updated server directory.
Check drivers and background software
- Update graphics drivers on the machine that runs the server if Funcom’s launch checks identify a driver problem.
- Close overlays, recording tools, injectors, and other background applications that hook into games.
- Review antivirus and firewall logs. Add the server executable and its required network access as exceptions only when you trust the files and understand your security policy.
- Return CPU, memory, and GPU settings to stock if the machine is overclocked. A crash that disappears at stock settings is a stability problem, not evidence of a bad mod.
Restart after making one system change, then repeat the same no-mod launch. Changing drivers, security rules, and files simultaneously prevents you from knowing which action helped.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Enhanced (UE5) migration and mod compatibility
Conan Exiles Enhanced supports mods, but Funcom says some existing mods require upgrades after the version change and that it is working with select hosting providers on the UE5 version. Treat an Enhanced migration as a new compatibility baseline rather than assuming a working UE4 list will load unchanged.
- Before the update, stop the private server and copy the UE4
game.db,modlist.txt, configuration files, and package directory. - Update or migrate the server using the supported branch and launch method.
- Start Enhanced with no mods and confirm that the database loads and the server reaches ready state.
- Add only mods whose authors identify an Enhanced-compatible release, preserving dependency order.
- After the upgraded world has been tested, make a second backup before enabling additional packages or changing settings.
Keep the UE4 database backup until the Enhanced server has been stable and the second backup is complete. If the migrated server crashes only after a package is enabled, roll back to the no-mod list and investigate that package rather than repeatedly restoring the entire old collection.
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Choosing between competing fixes
When several suggestions are circulating, prefer the change that produces the clearest, reversible evidence. Use this order of questions:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Question | What a “yes” tells you | Preferred next action |
|---|---|---|
| Does the server start with zero mods? | The core installation can initialize; focus on packages, dependencies, and order. | Rebuild the list gradually. |
| Does the log name a package, asset, or mount failure? | There is a concrete lead to reproduce. | Check that package’s version and required dependencies. |
| Does the mod author support the current game build? | The package has a stated compatibility path. | Install the supported release and follow its order instructions. |
Is the original game.db untouched? |
The world can be restored if the experiment goes wrong. | Proceed; never test on your only database. |
| Can you undo the proposed change? | The test will not destroy useful evidence. | Prefer it over deletion or a blind reinstall. |
A clean vanilla launch followed by a repeatable failure when one mod is added is stronger evidence than a generic reinstall that changes many variables at once.
Recovery paths for common outcomes
The server starts, but players cannot join
Compare the client’s installed packages with the server’s final modlist.txt. The set and order must match. Have every player remove stale duplicates, install the exact releases used by the server, and restart the client before testing again.
The server starts after removing a package, but the world appears wrong
Stop immediately and restore the backed-up configuration and database only if you changed them during the test. Mod removal can affect objects or systems that a world used; do not overwrite the backup while experimenting. Re-enable the package only after confirming an updated, compatible release and making another backup.
No package is named in the log
Repeat the no-mod test with the packages physically out of ConanSandbox/Mods, verify installation files, and inspect the earliest log error. An absence of a package name is a reason to investigate runtime, permissions, security software, drivers, or a mismatched branch—not a reason to select a mod at random.
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The crash began immediately after a game update
Record the update date and build, keep the old list disabled, and check every mod for a release that supports the new build. If none exists, operate the server with the known-good subset while waiting for compatibility updates. Funcom’s guidance specifically warns that mods may need updating after a game update.
Prevent the next startup failure
- Keep dated copies of
game.db,modlist.txt, relevant.inifiles, and the package directory before game or mod updates. - Write down the exact server build and the mod order that last reached the ready state.
- Update one mod or one dependency group at a time, then launch-test before changing another.
- Keep a minimal known-good list available for emergency operation.
- After a major update or Enhanced migration, test with no mods before restoring any package.
- Give clients the final server list and order so their installations remain identical.
The practical fix is therefore diagnostic rather than destructive: preserve the world, establish a no-mod baseline, use the first meaningful log error, and reintroduce only compatible packages in the required order. If the baseline itself fails, leave the mods disabled and repair the installation or system conditions first.
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