Valheim dedicated server
- SteamCMD app ID
- 896660
- Install
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 896660 validate +quit
- Anonymous login
- yes (Anonymous DepotDownloader 3.4.0 fetch of depot 896661 succeeded, checked 2026-09-25)
- OS support
- Linux, macOS, Windows (server depots in SteamCMD app info)
- Current build
- 25527701, public branch updated 2026-09-25 12:18 UTC
- Install directory
- Valheim dedicated server
Ports
| Port | Protocol | Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2456-2457 (manual) / 2456-2458 (start_server.sh) | not documented | Game traffic | Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf (shipped in depot) “Valheim uses the specified Port AND specified Port+1. Default Ports are 2456-2457.” start_server.sh comment (shipped in depot) “NOTE: You need to make sure the ports 2456-2458 is being forwarded to your server through your local router & firewall.” |
Config files
| What | Path | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Launch settings (server name, port, world, password …) | start_server.sh (Linux) / start_headless_server.bat (Windows), in the install directory | Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf (shipped in depot) |
| Worlds, adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt, permittedlist.txt (Linux default) | ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim | Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf (shipped in depot) |
Launch options (from SteamCMD app info)
| OS | Command |
|---|---|
| Linux | start_server_xterm.sh |
| Windows | start_headless_server.bat |
| macOS | start_server.command |
Settings
16 settings from Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf + start_server.sh (depot 896661). Descriptions are quoted exactly; blank where the game documents none.
| Setting | Value in shipped start_server.sh | Description |
|---|---|---|
| -name | My server | “Enter the name of your server that will be visible in the Server list.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf“NOTE: Minimum password length is 5 characters & Password cant be in the server name.” — start_server.sh |
| -port | 2456 | “Choose the Port which you want the server to communicate with. Please note that this has to correspond with the Port Forwarding settings on your Router. Valheim uses the specified Port AND specified Port+1. Default Ports are 2456-2457. If you’re using the Crossplay backend (enabled using the “-crossplay” argument), you do not need to do Port Forwarding on your Router. The Port number is still used to distinguish between multiple servers on the same public IP address.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -world | Dedicated | “A World with the name entered will be created. You may also choose an already existing World by entering its name.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -password | secret | “Set the password.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf“NOTE: Minimum password length is 5 characters & Password cant be in the server name.” — start_server.sh |
| -savedir | not set | “Overrides the default save path where Worlds and permission-files are stored. Default path WINDOWS: “../%USERPROFILE%/AppData/LocalLow/ IronGate/Valheim” LINUX: “~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim ”” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -public | not set | “Set the visibility of your server. 1 is default and will make the server visible in the browser. Set it to 0 to make the server invisible and only joinable via the ‘Join IP’-button. Setting public to 0 is a good option if you wish to run a local LAN server, where players can join via the local IP of the server.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -logFile | not set | “Sets the location to save the log file.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -saveinterval | not set | “Change how often the world will save in seconds. Default is 30 minutes (1800 seconds).” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -backups | not set | “Sets how many automatic backups will be kept. The first is the ‘short’ backup length, and the rest are the ‘long’ backup length. By default that means one backup that is 2 hours old, and 3 backups that are 12 hours apart.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -backupshort | not set | “Sets the interval between the first automatic backups. Default is 2 hours (7200 seconds).” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -backuplong | not set | “Sets the interval between the subsequent automatic backups. Default is 12 hours (43200 seconds).” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -crossplay | (flag set) | “Runs the Server on the Crossplay backend (PlayFab), which lets users from any platform join. If you do not include this argument, the Steam backend is used, which means only Steam users can see and join the Server.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -instanceid | not set | “If you’re hosting multiple servers with the same port from the same MAC address, write something unique here for each server to ensure that they get unique PlayFab IDs.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -preset | not set | “Sets world modifier preset. Setting a preset will overwrite any other previous modifiers. Valid values are: Normal, Casual, Easy, Hard, Hardcore, Immersive, Hammer.” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -modifier | not set | “Sets chosen world modifier with value. If combined with a preset should be set after. Valid modifiers and values are: Combat : veryeasy, easy, hard, veryhard DeathPenalty : casual, veryeasy, easy, hard, hardcore Resources : muchless, less, more, muchmore, most Raids : none, muchless, less, more, muchmore Portals : casual, hard, veryhard” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
| -setkey | not set | “Sets a world modifier checkbox key. Valid values are: nobuildcost, playerevents, passivemobs, nomap” — Valheim Dedicated Server Manual.pdf |
Changed in the last server update
Tracking began with build 25527701. No earlier build's files have been recorded yet, so there is nothing to compare.