How to Make a Valheim Server in 2026
Create a dedicated Valheim server in 2026, hosted or on your own PC, explained step by step.
Want to explore Valheim with your crew on a persistent world that keeps running even when you're offline? A dedicated server is the answer. This guide walks through both ways to create one — renting from a host or running it yourself — and covers the flags, ports and mod setup you actually need.
Valheim is also about to get busier: version 1.0 launches on September 9, 2026 with the Deep North biome and native PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 releases, joining the crossplay that already links Steam and Xbox today. We flag the crossplay-specific steps below.
The two ways to create a Valheim server
Before touching any config file, you need to pick an approach. It shapes everything that follows.
Option 1: host with a provider
You rent a Valheim server from a gaming host. It runs 24/7 whether or not you're online, there's no PC to keep switched on, and setup happens from a web panel. Valheim is a light game to host, so this is affordable even for a small group — the recommended route for almost everyone.
Option 2: run the server on your own PC
You install the free dedicated server files via SteamCMD and run them at home. No monthly cost on the software side, but your PC has to stay on, your public IP gets exposed unless you use crossplay, and your upload bandwidth caps how smooth it feels for your friends.
Which option should you pick?
If you plan to play more than a few sessions, go with a host. Valheim is one of the cheapest games to rent a server for — plans start under €5/month for 8 GB — and you skip port forwarding, dynamic IP headaches and the 'someone has to leave their PC on' problem.
Creating a Valheim server with a host (recommended)
Here's the full procedure, from picking a plan to logging into your world.
1
Choose your hosting plan
Valheim is lightweight: 8 GB of RAM comfortably runs a vanilla world for up to 10 players (the game's practical player cap). If you plan to run BepInEx mods, step up to 12 GB; for a large modded community server, go for 24 GB. See our [Valheim server cost guide](/en/guides/valheim/valheim-server-cost) for exact prices at each tier.
2
Order and access the panel
After ordering, you'll get an email with your panel credentials — usually a Pterodactyl-style panel or a proprietary one. Log in and you'll see your Valheim server listed, in Stopped status.
3
Install Valheim Dedicated Server
From the panel, select the install or change-game option and pick Valheim. The host downloads the dedicated server files from Steam (app ID
896660) automatically — you don't run SteamCMD yourself.4
Start the server for the first time
Launch it once from the panel. On first boot, Valheim generates your world files and default settings. Let it run for a couple of minutes, then stop it to configure the startup parameters.
5
Configure the startup flags
Most panels expose a startup parameters or command line arguments field rather than a config file — Valheim's server is configured entirely through launch flags. Set at least the server name, world name and password.
-name "My Valheim Server" -world "Midgard" -password "myp4ssword" -public 16
Restart and get the IP
Restart from the panel. Once Online, the panel shows your connection address, e.g.
123.45.67.89:2456. That's what you share with friends joining by direct IP.7
Connect in-game
In Valheim, go to Join Game > Add Server and either enter the IP directly, or use the join code shown on the server console if
-crossplay is enabled. Enter the password if you set one. Direct IP entry doesn't work in crossplay mode — everyone, including PC players, must use the join code instead.Online in about 10 minutes
With one-click install, the whole setup takes 10-15 minutes. Server files are small (a few hundred MB), so most of that time is just clicking through the panel.
Creating a Valheim server on your own PC
If you'd rather not pay for hosting, here's how to run it yourself.
1
Install SteamCMD
Download SteamCMD from Valve and extract it anywhere. It's a command-line tool used to download dedicated server files — you don't need a Steam account for this, Valheim's server supports anonymous login.
2
Download the server files
Run SteamCMD with the Valheim dedicated server's app ID.
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ./valheim-server +app_update 896660 validate +quit3
Launch the server
On Windows, run
valheim_server.exe; on Linux, run ./valheim_server.x86_64. Add -nographics -batchmode so it runs headless without opening a game window../valheim_server.x86_64 -name "My Server" -port 2456 -world "Midgard" -password "myp4ssword" -public 1 -nographics -batchmode4
Open the network ports
For friends to connect over the internet (non-crossplay), forward UDP ports 2456 to 2458 on your router to your PC's local IP. All three ports matter — 2456-2457 handle the connection itself, 2458 is used by Steam's backend.
5
Share your connection info
Give friends your public IP and port (find your IP by searching "my ip" on Google), or — simpler — add
-crossplay to your launch command and share the join code shown in the server console instead. Watch out for dynamic IPs: most home connections change IP periodically, which breaks direct-IP connections until you update it.The trade-offs of self-hosting
Your world goes offline the moment your PC sleeps, crashes or reboots. Your home upload speed limits how many players can connect smoothly. And unless you use -crossplay, a dynamic public IP means re-sharing a new address after every router restart.
Essential startup flags
Valheim's dedicated server has no settings file for the basics — everything is set through command-line flags at launch, whether you're on a host's panel or running it locally.
| Flag | Example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| -name | -name "My Server" | Server name shown in the server browser |
| -world | -world "Midgard" | Name of the save file / world to load or create |
| -password | -password "myp4ssword" | Password required to join (5 characters minimum) |
| -public | -public 1 | 1 = listed in the public server browser, 0 = hidden (join by IP or code only) |
| -port | -port 2456 | Base UDP port the server listens on (default 2456) |
| -crossplay | -crossplay | Enables cross-platform play via join code instead of direct IP |
| -nographics -batchmode | -nographics -batchmode | Runs headless, without a game window (self-hosted only) |
| -savedir | -savedir /data/save | Custom folder for world saves and backups |
On a host's panel, these are usually exposed as a single 'startup parameters' text field rather than typed individually.
Modding your server with BepInEx
Vanilla Valheim is already solid, but most communities eventually add mods for quality-of-life tweaks, extra building pieces, or bigger difficulty curves. Almost all of them require BepInEx, the modding framework the entire Valheim mod scene is built on.
Install BepInEx on the server
Download the BepInEx pack for Valheim from Thunderstore (`valheim.thunderstore.io`) and extract it into your server's install folder, alongside `valheim_server.exe`. Most hosts also offer a one-click BepInEx installer in the panel — check before doing it manually. Then drop your mod `.dll` files into the `BepInEx/plugins` folder and restart.
Install matching mods on every client
This is the part people get wrong: the server and **every connecting player** need the same mods, at compatible versions, or the connection fails outright. Use **r2modman** or the **Thunderstore Mod Manager** to install BepInEx and your mod list on the client side — both apps resolve dependencies automatically and let you export a mod profile your friends can import in one click.
Keep versions in sync after updates
When Valheim patches, BepInEx and some mods can break until their authors update. Update your server's BepInEx pack and mods together, then have everyone update their client profile before the next session — a mismatched version is the most common cause of a rejected connection.
Server-side-only mods exist too
A handful of mods (server-side quality-of-life tweaks, anti-cheat, some admin tools) only need to run on the server — players connect with vanilla clients. Check each mod's Thunderstore page; it usually states whether it's server-only, client-only, or required on both.
Ready to launch your Valheim server?
Take the 2-minute quiz to get a host matched to your group size, or compare every Valheim plan side by side.
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM does a Valheim server need?
The official minimum is 2 GB, but in practice plan for at least 4 GB for a small vanilla group. 8 GB is the comfortable baseline most hosts sell and easily covers a full 10-player vanilla world. With BepInEx and several mods, go for 12 GB or more.
How much does a Valheim server cost?
Real plans run from about €4.99/month for 8 GB up to around €20/month for 24 GB with faster DDR5 memory. See our [full Valheim server cost breakdown](/en/guides/valheim/valheim-server-cost) for every tier.
Do I need BepInEx to mod a Valheim server?
For virtually all mods available today, yes — BepInEx is the near-universal modding framework for Valheim, distributed through Thunderstore. A handful of standalone tools exist outside it, but you'll rarely need them.
How many players can join a Valheim server?
The default and practical limit is 10 players — Valheim's networking model struggles noticeably beyond that regardless of server specs. Mods like MaxPlayerCount can raise the cap, but expect more desync and lag as you go past 10-15.
Which ports does a Valheim server use?
UDP ports 2456 to 2458 by default. If you self-host without crossplay, forward all three on your router. On a rented server, the host handles this for you.
Can I connect by direct IP, or do I need crossplay?
Both exist. Without
-crossplay, players join by typing your server's IP and port directly. With -crossplay enabled, direct IP no longer works — everyone joins using the server's join code instead, which is what lets Xbox players connect today and will let PS5 and Switch 2 players connect from the September 9, 2026 launch of version 1.0.Is my Valheim server online when I'm not playing?
Only if it's hosted with a provider — those run 24/7 independently of your connection. A self-hosted server on your PC goes offline the moment your machine sleeps, restarts or loses power.
Can I run a Valheim server for free?
Yes, the dedicated server software itself is free via SteamCMD (app ID 896660). You pay nothing but electricity if you self-host, at the cost of keeping a PC on and dealing with port forwarding and IP changes yourself.
Our recommendation
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