FREE TOOL • CHECKED 4 OCTOBER 2026

Valheim Server Settings Generator

Choose your server name, password and world, turn on crossplay, and set the world presets and modifiers Valheim 1.0 supports. We write the start script for Windows or Linux, plus the launch options a host's control panel asks for.

Byte, the TopServer.Network robot mascot, holding a glowing setup checklist and giving a thumbs up

Your server

Server name -name Shown in the server browser.

Password -password At least 5 characters, and not part of the server name.

World name -world A new name creates a new world; an existing name loads that world.

Port -port Valheim uses this port and the one above it. Forward it and the next two, UDP.

List it in the server browser Off hides it; players then join with Join IP.

Crossplay Lets Xbox, PC Game Pass, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and Mac players join. No port forwarding needed.

World preset and modifiers

A preset sets several world modifiers at once. Any modifier you change here is written after the preset, so it overrides it.

World preset -preset Iron Gate's ready-made world settings. Hammer counts as a cheat and blocks some achievements.

Combat -modifier Combat How hard enemies hit and how much damage they take.

Death penalty -modifier DeathPenalty What you lose when you die.

Resources -modifier Resources How many resources you gather.

Raids -modifier Raids How often enemies raid your base.

Portals -modifier Portals Which items can travel through portals.

No build cost Building costs no materials.

Player-based raids Raids follow each player's own progress instead of the world's.

Passive enemies Enemies only fight back when attacked.

No map Turns off the map.

Saves and backups

Leave these at the defaults unless you need to.

Save every (seconds) -saveinterval How often the world saves. The default is 30 minutes.

Backups to keep -backups The first backup uses the short interval, the rest the long one.

First backup after (seconds) -backupshort The default is 2 hours.

Later backups every (seconds) -backuplong The default is 12 hours.

Save folder -savedir Where worlds and the admin, ban and permitted lists are kept. Optional. Letters, numbers, spaces, slashes, colons, dots, dashes and underscores only.

Log file -logFile Writes the server log to this file. Optional. Letters, numbers, spaces, slashes, colons, dots, dashes and underscores only.

Instance ID -instanceid Only for several crossplay servers on one machine: give each a different ID.

Windows start script

start_my_valheim_server.bat

Put it in the server folder, next to valheim_server.exe, and double-click it.

@echo off
REM Valheim dedicated server start script, written by the TopServer.Network Valheim Server Settings Generator.
REM Keep this copy outside the shipped start_headless_server.bat: a server update can overwrite that file.
set SteamAppId=892970

echo "Starting server PRESS CTRL-C to exit"

REM Forward UDP ports 2456-2458 on your router and firewall.
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name "My Valheim server" -port 2456 -world "Dedicated" -password "CHANGE-ME" -public 1

Linux start script

start_my_valheim_server.sh

Put it next to valheim_server.x86_64, make it executable (chmod +x), then run it.

#!/bin/bash
# Valheim dedicated server start script, written by the TopServer.Network Valheim Server Settings Generator.
# Keep this copy outside the shipped start_server.sh: a server update can overwrite that file.
export templdpath=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=./linux64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export SteamAppId=892970

echo "Starting server PRESS CTRL-C to exit"

# Forward UDP ports 2456-2458 on your router and firewall.
./valheim_server.x86_64 -nographics -batchmode -name "My Valheim server" -port 2456 -world "Dedicated" -password "CHANGE-ME" -public 1

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$templdpath

Launch options for a host's control panel

valheim_launch_options.txt

On a rented server, paste these into the startup parameters field.

-name "My Valheim server" -port 2456 -world "Dedicated" -password "CHANGE-ME" -public 1

Nothing you type here is stored. The file is built on our server for this page and sent straight back to you.

How to use the start script

Install the Valheim Dedicated Server: it is in the Tools section of your Steam library, or SteamCMD app 896660.
Download the script for your system and save it in the server folder. Use your own file name, because a server update can overwrite the start script that ships with the server.
Forward the UDP ports shown in the script on your router and firewall. Crossplay servers do not need this.
Run the script. The first start creates the world you named.
On a rented server, paste the launch options into your host's startup parameters field instead.

Valheim dedicated server settings reference

Every option this generator writes, with Valheim's default and the values it accepts. Options left at their default are not written into the script.

Setting	Launch option	Default	Values	What it does
Server name	`-name`	My Valheim server	Text	Shown in the server browser.
Password	`-password`	—	5 or more characters	At least 5 characters, and not part of the server name.
World name	`-world`	Dedicated	Text	A new name creates a new world; an existing name loads that world.
Port	`-port`	2456	1024 to 65533	Valheim uses this port and the one above it. Forward it and the next two, UDP.
List it in the server browser	`-public`	On	On or off	Off hides it; players then join with Join IP.
Crossplay	`-crossplay`	Off	On or off	Lets Xbox, PC Game Pass, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and Mac players join. No port forwarding needed.
World preset	`-preset`	None (default world)	None (default world), Normal, Casual, Easy, Hard, Hardcore, Immersive, Hammer	Iron Gate's ready-made world settings. Hammer counts as a cheat and blocks some achievements.
Combat	`-modifier Combat`	Normal (default)	Normal (default), Very easy, Easy, Hard, Very hard	How hard enemies hit and how much damage they take.
Death penalty	`-modifier DeathPenalty`	Normal (default)	Normal (default), Casual, Very easy, Easy, Hard, Hardcore	What you lose when you die.
Resources	`-modifier Resources`	Normal (default)	Normal (default), Much less, Less, More, Much more, Most	How many resources you gather.
Raids	`-modifier Raids`	Normal (default)	Normal (default), None, Much less, Less, More, Much more	How often enemies raid your base.
Portals	`-modifier Portals`	Normal (default)	Normal (default), Casual, Hard, Very hard	Which items can travel through portals.
No build cost	`-setkey nobuildcost`	Off	On or off	Building costs no materials.
Player-based raids	`-setkey playerevents`	Off	On or off	Raids follow each player's own progress instead of the world's.
Passive enemies	`-setkey passivemobs`	Off	On or off	Enemies only fight back when attacked.
No map	`-setkey nomap`	Off	On or off	Turns off the map.
Save every (seconds)	`-saveinterval`	1800	60 to 86400	How often the world saves. The default is 30 minutes.
Backups to keep	`-backups`	4	0 to 100	The first backup uses the short interval, the rest the long one.
First backup after (seconds)	`-backupshort`	7200	60 to 604800	The default is 2 hours.
Later backups every (seconds)	`-backuplong`	43200	60 to 604800	The default is 12 hours.
Save folder	`-savedir`	—	A folder path	Where worlds and the admin, ban and permitted lists are kept. Optional. Letters, numbers, spaces, slashes, colons, dots, dashes and underscores only.
Log file	`-logFile`	—	A file path	Writes the server log to this file. Optional. Letters, numbers, spaces, slashes, colons, dots, dashes and underscores only.
Instance ID	`-instanceid`	—	Text	Only for several crossplay servers on one machine: give each a different ID.

Checked against Iron Gate's guide to dedicated servers, Iron Gate's patch notes on 4 October 2026.

World presets and modifiers

A preset applies a set of world modifiers in one go. Valheim requires any -modifier options to come after the -preset option, so a modifier you choose here changes that part of the preset and leaves the rest. Iron Gate does not publish exactly which modifiers each preset sets, so we do not guess them here.

The keys at the end of the list are switches: No build cost, Player-based raids, Passive enemies and No map. Admins can also change these in game with the console commands setworldpreset, setworldmodifier and setkey.

Saves, backups and Valheim 1.0

By default the server saves every 30 minutes and keeps four backups: the first after two hours, the rest every twelve hours. Valheim 1.0 stores each world as a folder instead of a single file and makes a backup the first time it loads an older world.

Next steps

Rent a Valheim serverCompare hosts by price, location and the settings they let you change. Find a Valheim server to joinLive player counts, passwords and versions for public servers. Host one yourselfOur step-by-step Valheim dedicated server guide. More free toolsGenerators for other games.

Valheim server settings FAQ

Why won't my Valheim server start with my password?

The notes in the start script that ships with the server say the password needs at least 5 characters and must not appear anywhere in the server name. The generator checks both before it writes the script.

Which ports does a Valheim server need?

Iron Gate's manual says the server uses the port you choose and the one above it: 2456 and 2457 by default. The start scripts that ship with the server say to forward 2456-2458, so forward all three, UDP. Our test server opened UDP ports only. A crossplay server does not need port forwarding.

Can I change world modifiers on an existing world?

Yes. Change the options and restart the server with the new script. Admins can also use the console commands setworldpreset and setworldmodifier in game.

Does this work for a rented server?

Yes. Copy the launch options and paste them into your host's startup parameters field. Most hosts set the name, password and world in their own panel, so check which fields they already have.

Is there a setting for the number of players?

No. Valheim has no launch option for it: a server holds up to 10 players.

Did Valheim 1.0 change the server settings?

No. Iron Gate's 1.0 notes keep the same launch options. 1.0 changed how worlds are saved (as folders) and added more crossplay platforms.