Stardew Valley Dedicated Server Setup (2026): 24/7 Co-op

Run a 24/7 Stardew Valley dedicated server in 2026: the headless mod (JunimoServer, SMAPI) explained, co-op and mods, RAM and hosting.

Published on 14 juin 2026

Want a Stardew Valley farm that stays online 24/7 so your friends can drop in whenever they like? Here's the catch most guides skip: Stardew Valley has no official dedicated server. Out of the box, co-op is host-based, so someone has to keep the game open on their PC for the farm to be reachable. This guide explains the real solution — a headless/dedicated-server mod — and the fastest way to get a always-online farm running.

The key nuance: Stardew Valley has no native dedicated server

In vanilla Stardew Valley, multiplayer works through a host. One player loads the save, and up to three others join their game. The moment the host closes Stardew (or shuts down their PC), the farm goes offline and nobody else can play. There is no "server build" you can download from Steam the way you can for Palworld or Rust.

That's the under-served reality behind every "Stardew Valley dedicated server" search: what people actually want is a way to keep the farm online without leaving a PC running. The answer is a headless server mod that loads the host save automatically and keeps it running with no one sitting at the keyboard.

What 'headless' means here

A headless server runs the game logic with no window, no graphics and no human host. It loads your farm save, acts as the permanent host, and lets players connect at any time — exactly what vanilla Stardew can't do on its own.

The two ways to run an always-online Stardew Valley server

There are two community-built routes to a 24/7 farm. Both rely on SMAPI, the Stardew Modding API that every Stardew mod is built on.

Option 1: JunimoServer (Docker-based, true headless)

JunimoServer is a Docker-based project that runs Stardew Valley as a genuine always-online, headless dedicated server. There is no host player — the server itself owns the save and stays up 24/7, even when no one is connected. It's the closest thing Stardew has to a real dedicated server, but it expects you to be comfortable with Docker and a Linux-style setup.

Option 2: SMAPI + an 'always on' / dedicated-server mod

The lighter route is to run the normal game with SMAPI and add a dedicated-server / 'Always On Server' style mod that auto-loads your save and keeps the host alive. It's simpler than Docker but still means a machine has to stay powered on and running the game the whole time.

Everyone needs the same SMAPI and mods

With either route, every player has to run the same SMAPI version and the same set of mods as the server. If a friend is missing a mod (or runs a different version), they won't be able to connect. Agree on a mod list with your group before you start.

A second thing to plan for: co-op slots in Stardew are cabins. Each extra player needs a cabin on the farm, so set the number of cabins when you create the farm (or use a mod to add more) to match how many people you want to host.

How to set up a Stardew Valley dedicated server (step by step)

Here's the full walkthrough, whether you self-host or use a managed host.

Install SMAPI

SMAPI is the foundation for everything. Download it from the official source (smapi.io), run the installer, and let it patch your Stardew Valley install. SMAPI is what loads mods and what every dedicated-server mod is built on. If you only ever do one modding step in Stardew, it's this one.

Add the dedicated-server mod (or deploy JunimoServer)

For the lighter route, drop a dedicated-server / 'Always On Server' style mod into your Mods folder so SMAPI auto-loads your save and keeps the host alive. For a true headless setup, deploy JunimoServer via Docker — it runs the game as a permanent, host-free server. JunimoServer is more work to stand up but gives you a genuine 24/7 farm that doesn't depend on anyone being logged in.

Configure cabins and your mod list

Open (or create) the host save and set the number of cabins to match your group — one cabin per extra player. Then lock in your mod list: install the exact same SMAPI mods on the server and have every player install the same ones on their side. Mismatched mods are the number-one reason co-op connections fail.

Port-forward — OR use a managed host

If you self-host, you'll need to open the right port on your router and share your public IP so friends outside your network can connect. This is fiddly, exposes your home IP, and breaks whenever your ISP rotates your dynamic IP. The shortcut is a managed Stardew host: the server runs 24/7 in a datacenter with ports and SMAPI already handled — no port-forwarding, no Docker, no always-on PC.

Connect via invite code or IP

Once the server is up, players join from the co-op menu using the invite code (Stardew's built-in invite system) or by connecting to the server's IP address. As long as they're running the matching SMAPI and mods, they'll drop straight onto the farm — whether or not you're online.

Managed hosting: skip the Docker / always-on-PC hassle

The self-hosting routes all share the same three pain points: a PC (or Docker host) that has to stay powered on, port-forwarding on your home router, and an IP that changes under you. A managed Stardew Valley host removes all three — the farm lives in a datacenter, stays online 24/7, and SMAPI is already set up for you.

On our comparison, Shockbyte is the one host that sells Stardew Valley, with three plans. Stardew is one of the lightest games to run, so even the entry plan is plenty for a vanilla co-op farm.

Plan	Max players	Mods (SMAPI)	Price / month
Parsnip	6 players	Yes	€5.15
Rhubarb	14 players	Yes	€11.16
Starfruit	28–80 players	Yes	€17.07

Shockbyte plans for Stardew Valley. SMAPI comes pre-installed on every plan, so you can drop SMAPI mods straight into the Mods folder via FTP. Prices shown are monthly.

The easy path to a 24/7 farm

A managed host loads your save, keeps it online round the clock, and ships with SMAPI ready to go. No Docker, no port-forwarding, no leaving your own PC on overnight — you just upload your mods and share the invite. See the full lineup on our [Stardew Valley hosting page](/en/games/stardew-valley).

How much RAM (and money) does a Stardew Valley server need?

Good news: Stardew Valley is very light. It sits firmly in the 1–2 GB RAM class for a normal co-op farm, and even big modded servers rarely need more than a few gigabytes. That's why it's one of the cheapest games on our comparison to host.

Setup	Players	RAM	Price / month
Standard co-op (vanilla)	2 to 6 players	1 to 2 GB	€5–8
Co-op with SMAPI and mods	6 to 14 players	2 GB	€8–12
Extended modded server	14 to 28 players	2 to 3 GB	€12–18
Large group / community server	28 to 80 players	3 to 4 GB	€17–25

Stardew Valley is one of the least demanding games to host. A vanilla 4-player farm runs comfortably in the 1–2 GB class.

A note on player counts

Vanilla Stardew co-op caps at 4 players (one host plus three guests, via cabins). The larger player counts above are only reachable with community SMAPI mods installed on both the server and every client.

Frequently asked questions

Does Stardew Valley have a dedicated server?

No. Stardew Valley has no official dedicated server. Multiplayer is host-based, so normally someone has to keep the game open for the farm to stay online. To run a true 24/7 farm you need a community headless mod — either JunimoServer (Docker) or a SMAPI dedicated-server / 'Always On Server' mod — or a managed host that handles this for you.

What are JunimoServer and SMAPI?

SMAPI is the Stardew Modding API that every Stardew mod is built on — it's what loads mods and lets dedicated-server mods work. JunimoServer is a Docker-based project that runs Stardew as a genuine always-online, headless dedicated server with no host player, keeping your farm up 24/7 even when no one is connected.

How do I play co-op 24/7 in Stardew Valley?

You need a server that owns the save and stays online without a human host. Either run JunimoServer via Docker, run SMAPI with a dedicated-server / 'Always On Server' mod on a machine that stays powered on, or rent a managed Stardew host so the farm runs 24/7 in a datacenter. Then friends join any time via invite code or IP.

Can you use mods on a Stardew Valley server?

Yes — that's exactly what SMAPI is for. You install SMAPI mods on the server (placed in the Mods folder, e.g. via FTP on a managed host). The one rule: every player must run the same SMAPI version and the same mod list as the server, or they won't be able to connect.

How much does a Stardew Valley server cost?

It's one of the cheapest games to host. On our comparison Shockbyte offers Parsnip (6 players) at €5.15/month, Rhubarb (14 players) at €11.16/month, and Starfruit (28–80 players) at €17.07/month, with SMAPI pre-installed on every plan. A vanilla co-op farm runs fine in the 1–2 GB class.

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