Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe most reliable way to host a persistent Valheim world is Iron Gate’s official Dedicated Server tool. Install it from Steam Library > Tools, copy the supplied launch script, set the server name, world and password, then choose the network backend before inviting anyone.
Leave out -crossplay for the default Steam backend, which requires UDP port forwarding (2456 and 2457 by default). Add -crossplay when Xbox or Microsoft Store players need to join, or when you cannot configure your router: the relay-backed backend does not need port forwarding and supports join codes. The current official documentation is a dedicated-server guide dated April 11, 2024 and a Crossplay FAQ republished February 7, 2025; neither publishes 2026 hardware-sizing recommendations.
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What you are setting up
A dedicated server is a separate Valheim server process that keeps a world available independently of a player’s game session. Iron Gate describes this as “a great way to provide a persistent world in which you and your friends can play anytime.” The server process must remain running for the world to be available, but players do not need the original host’s game client open.
This guide follows the official instructions rather than assuming a particular CPU, RAM, storage device or player count. The official material does not establish hardware or bandwidth figures, latency guarantees, uptime commitments or a distinct 2026 server specification. After a major server update, compare the installed program’s manual with the current instructions at Iron Gate’s dedicated-server guide.
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“Running a dedicated server is a great way to provide a persistent world in which you and your friends can play anytime.” — Iron Gate Studio, A Guide to Dedicated Servers, April 11, 2024
Choose the backend before you configure the network
The startup script determines how outside players reach the server. The Steam backend is selected by default. Adding -crossplay switches to the relay-backed crossplay backend.
| Choice | Best fit | Router requirement | How players can join |
|---|---|---|---|
Steam backend (no -crossplay) |
Steam players using the standard dedicated-server path | Forward the server port and the next port, normally UDP 2456–2457, and allow the process through the host firewall | Server browser or Join IP, depending on visibility and the address you give players |
Crossplay backend (-crossplay) |
Groups that include Xbox or Microsoft Store players, or hosts who cannot set up inbound router rules | No port forwarding for external access; traffic uses a relay | Public IP and port, join code, or server list. Local IP and loopback connections are not supported |
Use the Steam backend when everyone can reach a forwarded home connection and you want the conventional Steam setup. Use crossplay when platform mixing matters or router configuration is unavailable. The official sources do not quantify a latency or reliability difference, so do not choose between them on an assumed performance number.
Install the official dedicated-server tool
Steam installation
- Open the Steam client and go to Library.
- Enable the Tools filter in the library. Find Valheim Dedicated Server and install it.
- Open the installed server directory. The official manual is included with the server program; use it to check arguments available in your installed build.
The supplied files include a Windows script named start_headless_server.bat and a Linux script named start_server.sh. Steam updates can restore the original script, so preserve your changes before you edit anything.
Microsoft Store installation
The Crossplay FAQ says a Microsoft Store installation creates the server files with the game. On Windows, open C:XboxGamesValheimContentServer and run StartHeadlessServer.bat. The included manual is the authoritative reference for that installation.
An Xbox console can join a dedicated server when crossplay is enabled on both sides, but an Xbox console cannot host a dedicated server itself.
Copy and edit the startup script
Do not edit the Steam-provided file in place. Make a copy in the same server directory, give it a descriptive name such as start_my_world.bat or start_my_world.sh, and edit that copy. Steam’s shortcut targets only the original filename, so launch your custom copy directly rather than relying on the shortcut.
- Duplicate the supplied script.
- Open the copy in a plain-text editor.
- Keep the existing executable and headless options, then change the argument values for your server.
- Save the file and launch the copy directly.
- On Windows, accept the Windows Firewall prompt and allow the server process to communicate on the networks where your players will connect.
The essential identity settings are -name, -world and -password. A representative argument line looks like this; retain the rest of the command supplied in your installed script:
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name "Frostholm Cooperative" -port 2456 -world "Frostholm" -password "fjord-ember-27" -public 1The example password is for illustration only; create a private password for your group. Do not publish it in a public post.
Core launch arguments
| Argument | What it controls |
|---|---|
-name |
The name shown to players. |
-world |
Selects an existing world by name, or creates a new world with that name. |
-password |
Sets the password required to enter. |
-port |
Chooses the server’s port. With the Steam backend, the next port is used as part of the default two-port range; the normal starting value is 2456. |
-public 1 |
Publishes the server in the browser. |
-public 0 |
Hides it from the browser so players can connect with Join IP. Iron Gate notes this is suitable for a LAN server. |
-crossplay |
Uses the relay-backed crossplay backend instead of the default Steam backend. |
-savedir |
Overrides the directory in which worlds, logs and access-control files are stored. |
-saveinterval |
Changes how often the world saves; the documented default is 1800 seconds. |
-backups, -backupshort, -backuplong |
Controls the number and timing of automatic backups. |
-preset, -modifier, -setkey |
Sets world presets, individual modifiers and world keys. |
Argument names and behavior can change with a server build. The manual shipped with the installed program remains the definitive list for options not shown here.
Configure Steam-backend networking
For the default Steam backend, forward the selected server port and the following port from your router to the computer running the server. With the default port, that means UDP 2456 and UDP 2457. Also permit the server through the computer’s firewall.
- Give the server computer a stable address on your home network, using your router’s reservation feature if available.
- In the router’s port-forwarding section, create UDP rules for 2456 and 2457 (or your chosen port and the next port) pointing to that computer.
- Allow the server executable through the operating system firewall when prompted. If you use separate private and public network profiles, select the profile appropriate for your setup.
- Start the server and wait for the window to report Game server connected.
- Have an outside player test the connection. Testing only from inside the same home network can produce different results depending on the router.
Router interfaces and ISP policies differ. Iron Gate’s official guide does not provide universal router screens; it directs you to your router manual or internet provider for model-specific port-forwarding instructions. Some internet connections do not provide a directly reachable public address, in which case forwarding may not work even when the rules look correct. Crossplay is the documented alternative when you cannot obtain usable inbound access.
Use crossplay when you need relay access or Xbox players
Add -crossplay to the copied startup script. The crossplay backend sends traffic through a relay, so outside players do not require a port-forwarding rule on your router.
Players can find a crossplay server in the server list, connect with its public IP and port, or use a join code. The code is visible from the in-game pause menu. A player can paste it through Join Game > Add server. Xbox players can join when crossplay is enabled on both the server and the joining side.
Do not troubleshoot a crossplay server by trying the host’s private LAN address or 127.0.0.1. The official FAQ states that local IP and loopback connections are not possible with this backend; use the server list, the public address and port, or the join code instead.
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- Confirm the server script contains
-crossplay. - Confirm the Xbox or Microsoft Store player is using a version that supports crossplay and has crossplay enabled.
- Share the join code from the pause menu, or have the player use Join Game > Add server.
- Keep the server process running while the player joins.
- If the server is hidden with
-public 0, use the join code or direct address rather than expecting a browser listing.
Choose a world, visibility and save location
World selection
Set -world to the exact name of an existing world to continue it. If no world with that name exists, Valheim creates one. Renaming the argument creates or selects a different world; it does not rename the underlying world you were already playing.
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Visibility
-public 1 makes the server visible in the browser by default. Use -public 0 when you want an unlisted server. Hidden servers can still be reached through Join IP on the Steam backend, or through a join code or direct details on crossplay.
Save directory
Without -savedir, the documented Windows location is ../%USERPROFILE%/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim. On Linux, it is ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim. If you override the location, keep the directory backed up and remember that the access-control files move there as well.
Control administrators, bans and permitted players
The default save directory contains three text files: adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt and permittedlist.txt. Put one Platform User ID on each line. IDs are case-sensitive and can be found in the server log or in the in-game F2 panel.
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- adminlist.txt: grants administrative privileges to the listed IDs.
- bannedlist.txt: blocks the listed IDs.
- permittedlist.txt: creates an allow-list. Once it contains an entry, everyone else is excluded unless their ID is also listed.
Stop or safely reload the server as appropriate for your installed build before editing these files, then verify each ID’s capitalization. The official guide lists administrative commands including kick, ban, unban and banned. Treat the files as security controls: do not share them publicly because they expose platform identifiers.
Set saves, backups and world modifiers
Save interval
The documented default save interval is 1800 seconds, or 30 minutes. This is a configurable timer, not a guarantee about recovery or performance. Adjust it with -saveinterval when your operating needs call for a different interval.
Automatic backups
The documented default backup arrangement contains four backups: one short backup two hours old (7200 seconds) and three long backups spaced 12 hours (43,200 seconds) apart. Use -backupshort and -backuplong to change those intervals, and use the backup-count setting documented in the installed manual to change how many are retained. These are defaults and schedules, not assurances that every failure can be reversed.
Presets and modifiers
-preset applies a world-difficulty preset. -modifier changes an individual modifier, while -setkey sets a world key. A preset overwrites other modifiers, so place explicit -modifier arguments after the preset in the startup command when you need to override its values.
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On Linux, Iron Gate lists libatomic1, libpulse-dev and libpulse0 as additional packages. The dedicated server requires GLIBC_2.29 and GLIBCXX_3.4.26. These are requirements stated for the documented server build and may change in future releases.
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If the operating system provides older library versions, the guide offers Docker as an option. The server package includes docker_start_server.sh. The documented approach is to run it with the normal startup script and configure a Docker data volume so the world and configuration persist outside the container. Keep the volume mapped to a location you back up; otherwise replacing the container can hide or remove the files you need.
The official material does not publish a CPU, memory, storage-throughput or bandwidth recommendation by player count. Check the server log and operating-system resource use on your own machine rather than treating an invented specification as an official requirement.
Start the server and verify that it is ready
- Launch the copied Windows batch file, Linux shell script or Microsoft Store
StartHeadlessServer.bat, depending on your installation. - Watch the server window for Game server connected. That message is the official guide’s readiness indicator.
- Confirm the server name, world name and visibility settings match the arguments you edited.
- Give Steam-backend players the public address and port after forwarding is complete. Give crossplay players the join code, server-list name or public address and port.
- Join with one test account before distributing the details to everyone. A successful local test does not prove that a Steam-backend connection from the internet works; test from an outside connection as well.
Troubleshoot by symptom
The server window never says “Game server connected”
- Check that you launched the copied script, not an unedited shortcut targeting the original file.
- Read the first error in the server window and compare every argument with the installed manual.
- On Linux, install the three listed packages and verify the GLIBC and GLIBCXX versions.
- If you used Docker, verify that the data volume is configured and writable.
Steam players outside the house cannot connect
- Confirm the server is using the Steam backend, not an unintended
-crossplayswitch. - Forward UDP 2456 and 2457, or the selected port and its next port, to the correct internal address.
- Check the host firewall rule and retry from a genuinely external network.
- Ask the ISP whether the connection permits inbound connections. If it does not, switch to crossplay rather than repeatedly changing router rules.
Crossplay players cannot connect with a private address
This is expected: local IP and loopback connections are not supported by the relay-backed backend. Use the join code, server list, or public IP and port.
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The server is not visible in the browser
Check whether the script uses -public 0. A hidden server is intentionally omitted from the browser; share the appropriate direct-join details instead. Also confirm that the server process reached Game server connected.
A player is unexpectedly denied access
Inspect permittedlist.txt first. A non-empty permitted list excludes every ID not listed. Then check the case-sensitive Platform User ID in all three access files and review bannedlist.txt.
A world appears to have disappeared
Check whether the script now contains a different -savedir or -world value. Look in the documented default directory and any overridden directory, then inspect the automatic backups before creating a new world with the same name.
Self-hosting versus a managed server
Running the official tool at home gives you direct control over the scripts, world files, access lists, save schedule and backup location. It also leaves you responsible for keeping the process running, updating it, handling firewall or router changes and protecting the files.
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A managed Valheim host is a category option for people who do not want to maintain a Windows or Linux process and home-network rules. The official documents reviewed here do not establish provider prices, uptime, hardware, support quality or current availability, so evaluate those terms directly before purchasing. If you self-host, check your existing router and ISP first; the evidence does not support recommending a particular router model.
If you would rather skip router rules altogether, Godlike.Host’s Valheim server hosting runs the world for you on its own Pterodactyl-based game panel, with free DDoS protection, up to three free backups a day with restore, and 24/7 live chat or ticket support. See the current plans for what is available.
Quick Recap
Official references and publication dates
- A Guide to Dedicated Servers — Iron Gate Studio, published April 11, 2024. It covers Steam Tools installation, launch scripts, ports, relay behavior, permissions, Linux dependencies, Docker, arguments, saves and backups.
- Crossplay FAQ — Iron Gate Studio, republished February 7, 2025; the page notes the original item appeared in September 2022. It covers join codes, Microsoft Store server files and Xbox crossplay constraints.
- Valheim: Support — the official support index, accessed October 13, 2026.
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