Valheim server quickstart

Once your Valheim service is available in the game panel, check its settings before inviting players. Installation and world loading must complete first.

1. Set the world and joining options

Stop the server, then open Startup. Our Valheim setup provides Server Name, Server Password, World Name, Public Server, Enable Crossplay and Auto Update.

• Choose a recognizable server name and a private joining password. The current panel field accepts a password of 5 to 20 characters.
• World Name selects the world to load. Changing it can create or select a different world; keep it unchanged when you want to continue your existing save.
• Public Server controls whether the server is listed. It does not replace a password.
• Enable Crossplay selects the crossplay backend when enabled. Keep the client’s platform in mind before changing it.

Leave the assigned port unchanged. Additional network allocations are managed by the host.

2. Start and connect

Press Start and watch Console. Iron Gate identifies Game server connected as the connection-ready message. Join using the public address and game port from your panel, or the server list. Crossplay also supports a join code when one is provided; a private or loopback address is unsuitable for a remote crossplay connection. See Iron Gate’s dedicated server guide.

Make one successful connection yourself before sharing the server with everyone. If discovery fails, send support the platform, exact error and whether crossplay is enabled.

3. Keep the world’s files together

The configured startup does not override Valheim’s Linux save location. In Files, look under:

.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/

Stop the server before a world upload or download. Back up this directory and retain the matching files for your world together. If the hidden .config directory is not visible in your file browser, use SFTP or ask us to locate the active save before uploading.

4. Backups and administrators

Startup includes Backup Interval, Backup Count, Backup Shorttime and Backup Longtime. These control the game’s own saves and backup retention, which use the server’s storage. Keep a separate downloaded copy before updates or a world move.

For admin access, the save directory contains adminlist.txt. Iron Gate’s guide specifies one platform user ID per line and explains how to obtain that ID. Avoid editing the permitted-player list unless you intend to restrict access to that list.

Use the normal Stop action and wait for shutdown before editing files. Open a support ticket if settings, saves or joining do not behave as expected.