If your Unturned settings revert after a restart, the most likely problem is that you edited the wrong server folder, changed the wrong configuration file, or stopped the process without saving. Unturned identifies each server by the name after +InternetServer/ or +LanServer/, and stores that instance under U3DS/Servers/<ServerID>. A change in another folder cannot affect the running server.
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Use the server’s exact ServerID, stop it with Shutdown before editing, place each setting in its documented file, then restart and inspect the console. Older installations add a further complication: Config.json is a legacy, three-difficulty file that is converted into difficulty-specific text files during startup.
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Do not begin by searching every Unturned directory for a file that looks familiar. Begin with the command that launches the server. Find either +InternetServer/<ServerID> or +LanServer/<ServerID> in the startup script or command line and copy the name exactly, including capitalization and spaces.
- Open the launch script, shortcut, service definition, or host-panel startup command.
- Record the text immediately following
+InternetServer/or+LanServer/. - Browse to
U3DS/Servers/<ServerID>using that exact text. - Check that the file you intend to edit is in this directory and that its modification time changes when you save it.
- Compare the file’s contents with the server console after the next startup.
A similarly named folder can be left over from an old test server, a renamed instance, or a different host-panel profile. It may contain perfectly valid settings and still have no effect because the process is reading another ServerID.
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Internet and LAN servers can also have separate launch entries. A setting changed for the LAN profile will not affect the Internet profile unless both commands point to the same ServerID. Treat the launch line as the authoritative map to the files, not the location where your file manager happens to open.
Which Unturned file controls the setting?
Unturned separates startup commands, gameplay rules, and Workshop downloads. Putting a value in the wrong file is one of the most common reasons a configuration appears not to save.
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|---|---|---|
| Startup and identity options | Server/Commands.dat |
Map, Name, Password, MaxPlayers, Owner, and Port. |
| Current gameplay and difficulty values | Config.txt |
Use the active server directory’s current gameplay configuration. Explicit non-empty values can take priority over map-level defaults. |
| Legacy gameplay configuration | Config.json |
Found in older server folders. It is converted at startup into a difficulty-specific text file. |
| Workshop maps and items | WorkshopDownloadConfig.json |
Contains Workshop download IDs; changing gameplay files will not add or remove downloads. |
The filename alone is not enough: it must be the file inside the active U3DS/Servers/<ServerID> directory. If your command-line map or player limit is unchanged, inspect Server/Commands.dat; if a zombie, loot, or difficulty rule is unchanged, inspect the active gameplay configuration instead.
Keep the scopes separate when troubleshooting. A map name is a startup instruction, a loot multiplier is gameplay configuration, and a Workshop item ID is a download instruction. Moving a valid line between these files does not make it more authoritative; it simply leaves the server unable to use that line for the intended purpose.
Stop and save the server correctly
Unturned’s official server guidance states that there is no built-in autosave. While the process is running, use Save to force a proper server-state save. To finish safely, use Shutdown, which saves and closes the server.
- In the server console or an administrator command interface, enter
Saveif you need to preserve the current live state before making changes. - Enter
Shutdownand wait for the process to close completely. Do not kill the terminal, service, or host-panel task while it is still writing files. - Edit the required configuration file only after the process has stopped.
- Start the server again using the same launch command and
ServerID.
Editing while the server is active can be misleading: the process may keep its in-memory values, write them back on exit, or never reread the file until the next startup. A text editor reporting that it saved the file only proves that the editor wrote bytes to disk; it does not prove that the running instance loaded them.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSeparate a world-state save from a configuration reload. Save protects current server state, but it is not a promise that every edited configuration line is reread immediately. For predictable testing, save the live state, shut down, edit while the process is absent, and then restart. Wait for the shutdown process to finish rather than relying on a panel that reports “stopping” while the executable is still running.
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The Config.json migration trap
Servers created before version 3.25.8.0 may contain Config.json. The documented startup behavior converts that legacy JSON into one of three text files: Config_EasyDifficulty.txt, Config_NormalDifficulty.txt, or Config_HardDifficulty.txt. Normal difficulty is normally active.
After conversion, later edits to the old JSON may appear to do nothing because the server is using the generated text file. Open the difficulty-specific file that corresponds to the active mode and make the change there. Treat the JSON as an import source unless you deliberately keep legacy behavior enabled.
Three ways legacy JSON causes confusion
- All difficulties share one document. Easy, Normal, and Hard values are stored together, so editing a block for the wrong difficulty has no visible effect on a Normal server.
- Level overrides can win. A map can provide a value that replaces an empty or default setting, making a valid JSON edit look ignored.
- JSON syntax is unforgiving. A missing comma after a value can break loading of the file. The document may look readable in an editor while still failing to parse.
If you must continue using the legacy format, launch the server with -UseLegacyJsonGameplayConfig. Otherwise, let startup perform the conversion and maintain the resulting difficulty text file.
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Do not edit both formats at once while diagnosing a problem. That creates two possible sources and makes a successful restart difficult to interpret. First establish whether the server is using the converted text file or the legacy path, then keep one format as the controlled source for your test.
Understand defaults and level overrides
An empty value in Config.txt means “use the default.” That default can come from the game or from the current level. Consequently, an empty line is not a durable override, even if it is present in the file.
The documented precedence rule is straightforward: a non-empty value in Config.txt takes priority, while level configuration can supply values when your file leaves them empty. If you want to prevent level configuration from replacing values altogether, add -NoLevelConfigOverrides to the launch arguments.
When to use each approach
- Use an explicit value in
Config.txtwhen you want one setting to apply while allowing other map defaults to remain available. - Use
-NoLevelConfigOverrideswhen the server must ignore map-provided replacements globally. - Do not use
ResetConfigas a diagnostic shortcut. That command resets the configuration file; run it only when returning to defaults is intentional.
Test one value at a time. If you change several rules and then see an unexpected result, you cannot tell whether the file was ignored, a level replaced one value, or a syntax error prevented another value from loading.
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The distinction between an empty field and an explicit value is especially important when comparing maps. A setting may appear to “work” on one level because that level supplies the desired default, then change on another level because the field was never explicitly set. A non-empty value in the active gameplay file removes that ambiguity.
A complete fix workflow
The following sequence covers the normal failure modes without deleting working data.
- Capture the launch identity. Write down the exact
ServerIDafter+InternetServer/or+LanServer/. Also note whether the server is Internet or LAN mode if your host has separate profiles. - Open the active directory. Go to
U3DS/Servers/<ServerID>. Confirm that the files you edit are located there, not in a template, backup, or second instance. - Check timestamps and contents. Make a small, identifiable change or compare the file’s last-modified time after saving. If the timestamp does not change, you are editing a read-only copy or the wrong path.
- Stop cleanly. Use
Shutdown, or stop the service through the host’s documented control panel and wait until the process exits. UseSavefirst when you need an intentional live save. - Move the setting to its proper file. Put map, name, password, player limit, owner, and port in
Server/Commands.dat; gameplay values in the activeConfig.txtor converted difficulty file; Workshop IDs inWorkshopDownloadConfig.json. - Validate legacy syntax. If editing
Config.json, verify every comma and confirm that the edited difficulty block is the one the server runs. A single missing comma can stop the file from loading. - Restart and read the console. Add
-LogGameplayConfigto the launch arguments. On startup it prints gameplay overrides, helping you see which values became effective rather than relying only on the text file. - Check precedence. If the console shows a value different from the one you expected, look for an empty field relying on a level default. Set an explicit value or add
-NoLevelConfigOverrides. - Test the result in game. Change one setting, connect, and verify that behavior. Keep the console output and file contents from the successful run as a reference.
For a safe rollback, copy the working file before each structural edit and keep the last known-good version outside the active file name. If a restart reports a parse problem, restore that copy, confirm the server starts, and then reapply one change. This is safer than repeatedly restarting against a malformed file or using ResetConfig, which intentionally returns configuration to defaults.
Symptom-by-symptom troubleshooting
Everything reverts after a restart
First verify that the restart uses the same ServerID. If it does, check whether the process was terminated instead of shut down. Unturned does not provide automatic saving, so a forced stop can leave server state unsaved. Repeat the test with Save followed by Shutdown, then inspect the active files after the process closes.
The map, name, password, or player limit never changes
These are startup commands, not gameplay values. Put each command in Server/Commands.dat, stop the server, and restart using the same launch profile. Editing Config.txt cannot change a command-line identity or a startup command stored in Commands.dat.
A gameplay value changes in the file but not in game
Determine whether the server has already migrated from Config.json. If it has, edit the generated Config_EasyDifficulty.txt, Config_NormalDifficulty.txt, or Config_HardDifficulty.txt that matches the active difficulty. Then run with -LogGameplayConfig and inspect the effective override. An empty value may also be allowing the level to provide a different default.
The server starts but ignores one value
This usually indicates precedence rather than a completely unreadable file. Give the value an explicit setting in Config.txt. If the map must never replace it, use -NoLevelConfigOverrides. Check the log output to distinguish an accepted value from one that was replaced.
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The server reports a configuration or JSON loading error
For legacy JSON, check commas, quotation marks, braces, and the exact spelling of the edited key. Restore the last known-good copy if necessary, then reapply one change at a time. Do not keep restarting a server against a malformed file; each restart can obscure which edit introduced the error.
Workshop content is missing
Workshop downloads are controlled by WorkshopDownloadConfig.json. Confirm that the item or map ID is in that file inside the active ServerID directory. A correct gameplay setting or map command does not itself download Workshop content.
Editing safely on a managed host
Self-managed files and managed hosting panels do not always have the same lifecycle. A panel may generate a startup script, copy a template into the server directory, or run a restart task that replaces files. The official Unturned documentation establishes the game’s file and command behavior, but it does not establish a universal rule for every provider’s synchronization system.
If all documented checks pass and values still revert, treat the remaining causes as operational hypotheses. Inspect the panel’s startup command, scheduled restart configuration, file manager path, permissions, and server logs. Ask support which directory is mounted as U3DS, whether a template is reapplied at boot, and whether the panel exposes the same ServerID you found in the launch command. Do not assume a host-side copy is the active game file until the startup path confirms it.
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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 problemsBefore contacting support, provide the exact launch line, active ServerID, file path, shutdown method, restart time, and relevant console output. This lets the provider distinguish a game-level precedence issue from a panel synchronization issue. If you use a managed service, follow its documented stop and start controls rather than terminating the process from a separate terminal, because the panel may track the process lifecycle independently.
Commands and flags at a glance
| Command or flag | Purpose | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
Save |
Forces a proper server-state save while the server is running. | Before a planned live change or shutdown when preserving current state. |
Shutdown |
Safely saves and closes the server. | Before editing configuration files or performing maintenance. |
ResetConfig |
Resets the configuration file. | Only when deliberately returning to defaults. |
-LogGameplayConfig |
Prints gameplay overrides during startup. | To identify which values are effective. |
-NoLevelConfigOverrides |
Disables level configuration overrides. | When map-provided values must not replace server settings. |
-UseLegacyJsonGameplayConfig |
Keeps the legacy JSON gameplay configuration path. | Only when legacy JSON operation is intentional. |
Prevent the problem from returning
- Keep the launch command and its
ServerIDdocumented beside your maintenance notes. - Change files while the server is stopped, then restart through the same control path that normally runs it.
- Make a copy of a working configuration before structural edits, especially legacy JSON edits.
- Change one setting per restart while troubleshooting so the console output has a clear cause.
- Leave a short comment in your operations notes identifying whether a value belongs to
Commands.dat,Config.txt, a difficulty file, orWorkshopDownloadConfig.json. - Keep
-LogGameplayConfigavailable in a diagnostic launch profile, rather than permanently adding flags you do not need. - Record whether the server is using converted text configuration or deliberate legacy JSON mode.
- After a successful change, note the effective console value and the file that supplied it.
The practical rule is simple: follow the active ServerID, use the file designed for the setting, save and shut down cleanly, and verify the effective value in the startup log. That sequence resolves wrong-folder edits, unsaved state, legacy conversion, syntax failures, and level precedence without resetting a working server.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Unturned server config not saving?
Usually the running instance is reading a different U3DS/Servers/<ServerID> folder, the setting is in the wrong file, or the server was stopped without Save or Shutdown. Confirm the launch command, stop cleanly, and verify the effective value with -LogGameplayConfig.
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Which file should I edit for the map, name, password, or player limit?
Put those startup commands in Server/Commands.dat inside the active ServerID directory. They are not gameplay values controlled by Config.txt.
Why does editing Config.json do nothing?
On servers created before version 3.25.8.0, startup converts Config.json into a difficulty-specific text file. Edit the active Config_EasyDifficulty.txt, Config_NormalDifficulty.txt, or Config_HardDifficulty.txt, unless you intentionally launch with -UseLegacyJsonGameplayConfig.
How do I know which ServerID is active?
Read the startup line and copy the name immediately after +InternetServer/ or +LanServer/. That exact name identifies the folder under U3DS/Servers/; similarly named folders may belong to another instance.
Why is one gameplay value ignored while the rest work?
The field may be empty, allowing a level configuration to supply a default or replacement. Set an explicit non-empty value in the active gameplay file, or add -NoLevelConfigOverrides to disable level replacements.
Should I use Save or Shutdown before editing?
Use Save to force a proper live server-state save. Use Shutdown to save and close safely, then edit files after the process has fully exited. For configuration changes, the stopped-server workflow is the most predictable.
What does a missing comma in Config.json do?
A missing comma can prevent the legacy JSON file from loading. Restore a known-good copy if needed, validate commas, braces, quotation marks, and key spelling, then reapply one change at a time.
Why are Workshop items or maps missing after I edit gameplay settings?
Workshop downloads are controlled by WorkshopDownloadConfig.json. Add or verify the Workshop IDs there, inside the active ServerID directory; gameplay and startup files do not download Workshop content.
Can ResetConfig fix a setting that will not stick?
ResetConfig resets the configuration file rather than diagnosing its source. Use it only when returning to defaults is intentional, and keep a backup before any reset.
The Bottom Line
Find the exact ServerID in the launch command, edit the correct file under U3DS/Servers/<ServerID>, save and shut down cleanly, then verify the effective setting in the startup log. For older servers, account for Config.json conversion; for stubborn values, check level overrides and managed-host synchronization before resetting anything.
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