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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo host a Palworld world for friends, install the separate Palworld Dedicated Server tool, not the ordinary game client. Pocketpair documents dedicated-server support for 64-bit Windows and Linux. Its recommended starting point is a four-core CPU, 16 GB of memory, and fast SSD storage. The default listening endpoint is UDP port 8211; internet play additionally requires an inbound firewall rule and router port forwarding.
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This guide covers the complete setup: checking the host PC, installing through Steam or SteamCMD, starting the server, changing documented launch settings, making it reachable, and diagnosing connection and crash problems. Pocketpair’s cited documentation pages are versioned 0.1.5.1 for requirements, 0.5.0 for deployment, and 0.6.8 for arguments, all identified in October 2026. Command names and arguments can change, so check the current Pocketpair documentation when you update the server.
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The Tool Desk
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A dedicated Palworld server is a separate program that runs the shared world independently of the normal Palworld game client. Players connect to that running process; they do not need to launch the host’s game session as the server. This separation lets the host machine keep the world available while the server process is running, but it also means the machine must remain powered, connected, and maintained.
Pocketpair distributes the server as the Palworld Dedicated Server tool. You can install it from Steam with the tools filter enabled or deploy the same application with SteamCMD. The dedicated-server application ID used by Pocketpair’s SteamCMD instructions is 2394010.
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Check the PC and network before installing
Hardware and operating-system requirements
Use a 64-bit Windows or Linux system. Pocketpair recommends a CPU with four cores and 16 GB of RAM. A machine with 8 GB can boot the server, but the requirements guidance warns that the possibility of out-of-memory crashes is higher at that capacity. Treat 16 GB as the practical baseline if several people will play or if the computer will run other services at the same time.
| Component | Pocketpair guidance | What it means for your setup |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows or Linux | Use a 64-bit installation rather than a 32-bit operating system. |
| Processor | Four CPU cores recommended | Reserve those cores for the server when possible; background applications compete for the same processing time. |
| Memory | 16 GB recommended | 8 GB may boot, but has a higher out-of-memory crash risk. |
| Storage | Faster SSD recommended | Prefer an SSD with good sustained performance for the installation and saved world. |
| Default network port | UDP 8211 | Use this value unless you deliberately select another port with a launch argument. |
Why storage performance matters
Pocketpair specifically warns that “Low-performance storage may corrupt saved data.” Put the server files and world saves on a faster SSD rather than a slow, heavily loaded drive. Leave sufficient free space for the operating system, updates, logs, and backups. The warning is about operational risk, not merely slower startup: a storage problem can damage the world you are trying to preserve.
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For people on the same local network, the host only needs to be reachable from that network and allowed through its operating-system firewall. For friends connecting over the internet, plan three separate items:
- A stable local address for the host PC, so the router’s forwarding rule does not point to a different device later.
- An operating-system firewall rule that permits the server executable and its UDP listening port.
- A router rule forwarding the chosen UDP port to the host PC’s local address.
Pocketpair’s requirements guidance explicitly calls out the ability to forward UDP 8211 and treats Windows firewall configuration and router forwarding as separate tasks. Passing one does not automatically complete the other. The official material establishes the need for forwarding, but it does not guarantee that every internet provider permits inbound connections; some connections may require provider support or a different hosting arrangement.
Install the dedicated-server tool through Steam
The graphical Steam route is the simplest option when the host PC already has Steam.
- Open Steam and select the Library view.
- Use the library’s filter to show Tools, then search for Palworld Dedicated Server.
- Select the dedicated-server tool, choose an installation location, and let Steam download it. Do not substitute the ordinary Palworld game entry; the server is a separate tool.
- Record the installation directory. You will need it when you start the executable and when you create firewall or shortcut rules.
Steam handles downloads and later updates for this installation. You still need to start the server process yourself and keep the host machine available when friends want to play.
Install with SteamCMD instead
SteamCMD is useful for a command-line Windows deployment or for a Linux machine without the Steam desktop client. Install SteamCMD using the package or download method appropriate to your operating system, then run Pocketpair’s documented anonymous-install command:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quitThe +app_update operation downloads or updates the dedicated-server application, while validate asks SteamCMD to verify the installed files before exiting. Run the command from the SteamCMD environment or provide the installation directory using your normal SteamCMD setup. Keep the resulting server directory somewhere with reliable storage and permissions.
If you update through SteamCMD later, use the same application ID and validation command, then restart the server. Stop the running process cleanly before replacing files so that an update does not race with active save operations.
Start the server once with the documented executable
After installation, change to the server’s installation directory. Pocketpair documents these platform-specific entry points:
Windows
PalServer.exeRun the executable from a Command Prompt, PowerShell window, or a shortcut whose working directory is the server folder. Leave the console visible for the first launch so you can see startup messages and errors.
Linux
./PalServer.shRun the shell script from the installation directory. If your shell reports that the file is not executable, correct the file permission using your distribution’s normal permission tools, then run the script again. Keep the terminal attached during the initial test so you can confirm that the process remains active.
A successful first start gives you a running server process. If it exits immediately, resolve that local startup problem before changing router settings; a port-forwarding rule cannot make a stopped process reachable.
Configure the server with launch arguments
Pocketpair’s argument guide documents settings for the listening port, player limit, public listing, manually supplied public-network values, and selected multithreading options. Arguments are appended to the executable or shell script on the startup line.
| Argument | Documented example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Port | -port=8211 |
Sets the server’s listening port. The example uses the documented default. |
| Player limit | -players=32 |
Sets the maximum number of participants to 32 in Pocketpair’s example. |
| Community listing | -publiclobby |
Publishes the server as a community server. |
| Public address | -publicip |
Supplies a public IP value when automatic detection does not work. |
| Public port | -publicport |
Supplies a public port value when automatic detection does not work. |
| Documented performance set | -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS |
Enables the multithreading options listed in Pocketpair’s argument documentation. |
| Worker-thread count | -NumberOfWorkerThreadsServer=X |
Allows an optional explicit worker-thread value in place of X. |
These are documented examples, not a promise that every combination is appropriate for every machine. Change one category at a time and keep a record of the startup line that produced a stable result. If you select a non-default listening port, the router rule and firewall rule must use that same port, and friends must connect using the corresponding public port.
Example Windows startup lines
A basic Windows launch that makes the documented player-cap example explicit is:
PalServer.exe -port=8211 -players=32To request community listing as well, append the documented listing switch:
PalServer.exe -port=8211 -players=32 -publiclobbyIf automatic public-network detection fails, use the public-address and public-port options with the values appropriate to your connection. The argument names are documented; the actual address and port are supplied by you:
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PalServer.exe -publicip=YOUR_PUBLIC_IP -publicport=YOUR_PUBLIC_PORTReplace those illustrative values with real values before launching. Do not leave placeholder text in a production shortcut.
Example Linux startup lines
The same options follow the Linux script name:
./PalServer.sh -port=8211 -players=32You can add the documented performance set when you have a reason to test those options:
./PalServer.sh -port=8211 -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDSKeep the original launch line somewhere safe. A simple text file or service definition makes it easier to reproduce the same configuration after an update or reboot.
Open the firewall and forward the port
Windows firewall
Create an inbound rule that allows the server executable, or allows UDP traffic on the port selected in your launch line. Apply the rule to the network profiles that describe the connection your host actually uses. If you later change the port argument, update the firewall rule as well. A rule for the game client does not necessarily allow the dedicated-server executable.
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Router forwarding
- Give the host PC a stable local address, preferably through your router’s address-reservation feature or an equivalent fixed configuration.
- Open the router’s port-forwarding section and create an entry for the selected UDP port.
- Set the destination to the host PC’s stable local address.
- Save or apply the router configuration, then verify that the server is running before testing from outside your home network.
Forward only the port you intend to use. If you choose a different value with -port, forward that value instead of UDP 8211. The public port supplied with -publicport, when used, must agree with the port that remote players are expected to reach.
Tell friends how to join
Start the server and wait until the process remains running. Give players the reachable address and configured port. People on the same local network generally use the host PC’s local address; people outside the network need the public address and the forwarded UDP port. If you enabled community listing, players may be able to locate the server through that listing, but direct connection details remain useful for testing.
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Do not give out a local address to an internet player and expect the router to translate it automatically. Conversely, testing a public address from inside the same network can be affected by router behavior unrelated to the server itself. Test local and remote access separately so you know whether a failure is inside the host or at the internet boundary.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot in the order that isolates the fault
The server window closes immediately
- Confirm that you installed Palworld Dedicated Server, not only the normal game client.
- Run the documented executable from its installation directory:
PalServer.exeon Windows or./PalServer.shon Linux. - Check the console output for a missing file, permission problem, or invalid argument.
- Remove optional launch arguments and start with the basic executable. Add settings back one at a time after the process stays running.
Local players cannot connect
- Verify that the server process is still running on the host PC.
- Check that the firewall rule allows the dedicated-server executable and UDP port selected in the launch line.
- Confirm that local players are using the host PC’s current local address and the configured port.
- Make sure another application has not taken the same port.
Remote players cannot connect, but local players can
- Confirm the router forwards UDP to the correct stable local address. Address changes are a common reason for a previously working rule to stop reaching the server.
- Check the Windows firewall separately from the router. Both must allow the traffic.
- Compare the forwarded port with the
-portvalue in the startup command. If you use a public-port setting, check that value too. - Test from a genuinely external connection rather than assuming an internal test proves internet reachability.
- Ask whether the internet provider permits inbound connections. The official guidance requires port forwarding but does not establish that every provider or connection type supports it.
The server crashes with an out-of-memory message
Compare the machine with Pocketpair’s recommendations. Eight gigabytes can boot the server but carries a higher out-of-memory crash risk; 16 GB is the recommended starting point. Close unrelated applications, reduce competing workloads, and watch whether the host is also running the game client or other services. If crashes continue, move to hardware with more memory rather than treating repeated restarts as a fix.
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The world behaves as though saves are damaged
Review the storage location and performance. Pocketpair warns that low-performance storage may corrupt saved data. Stop the server cleanly, preserve the existing save before experimenting, and move the installation or save location to a faster SSD if the current drive is slow or overloaded. Maintain separate backups before updates or configuration changes.
Operate the server safely after setup
Keep a known-good startup configuration
Save the exact Windows command or Linux script invocation you use. Include the selected port, player limit, listing option, and any performance switches. This avoids accidentally starting a second configuration after a reboot and gives you a reference when troubleshooting.
Update deliberately
Stop the running process before updating files. Steam installations can be updated through Steam; SteamCMD deployments can be refreshed with:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quitStart the server again with the same launch arguments and check that it remains active before inviting players back. Because Pocketpair’s pages are versioned and server arguments can change, recheck the current documentation whenever an update changes startup behavior.
Back up saves before risky changes
Copy the world data while the server is stopped or otherwise in a state that guarantees files are no longer being written. Keep at least one backup separate from the live server directory. Backups are especially important before moving storage, changing launch settings, or applying a server update.
Is running it on your own PC the right choice?
Self-hosting gives you direct control over the installation directory, launch arguments, firewall policy, and saved files. It also makes you responsible for keeping the computer powered, maintaining storage, applying updates, creating backups, and solving router or firewall problems. The server is unavailable whenever the host PC is off or the process has stopped.
A managed service can reduce the amount of local networking and hardware administration, but it moves control and operational responsibility to the provider. The important decision is not only monthly price: consider whether you need the host PC’s direct access to saves and configuration, whether the world must remain available while your computer is off, and whether you are comfortable maintaining port forwarding and updates yourself.
Quick Recap
Final pre-launch checklist
- 64-bit Windows or Linux is installed.
- The host has four CPU cores available and preferably 16 GB of RAM.
- The server and saves are on faster SSD storage.
- Palworld Dedicated Server is installed as a separate tool.
- The first launch succeeds with
PalServer.exeor./PalServer.sh. - Your startup line records the chosen port and player limit.
- The operating-system firewall allows the dedicated-server executable and UDP port.
- The router forwards that UDP port to the host PC’s stable local address.
- Friends receive the correct local or public address and port for their location.
- A save backup exists before updates or major configuration changes.
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