How to Set Up a Valheim Dedicated Server (Step by Step)

Valheim's co-op survival loop is best experienced on a persistent world your friend group can drop into anytime — which means a dedicated server, not someone's gaming PC staying online.

Step 1: Pick the Right Plan Size

Valheim isn't especially resource-hungry for small groups. A 2–4 GB RAM plan comfortably handles up to about 10 players; larger, longer-running worlds with heavy building benefit from 4–6 GB.

Step 2: Deploy Valheim From the Panel

A good host lets you install the Valheim dedicated server binary in one click rather than manually pulling it via SteamCMD. Look for:

• One-click install/update for the base game
• Automatic handling of server dependencies
• No manual command-line setup required

Step 3: Configure Core World Settings

Before your first launch, decide on:

• World name and seed — determines your persistent map
• Password — keep the server private to your group
• Server name — what shows in the in-game server browser if public

Step 4: Set Up Mods (Optional)

If your group wants mods (BepInEx-based mods are common for Valheim), install a mod loader through the file manager and confirm all players are on matching mod versions — mismatches are the most common cause of "can't connect" errors.

Step 5: Enable Automated Backups

World corruption from an unexpected crash is one of the more common Valheim complaints. Automated, scheduled backups mean a crash costs you minutes, not weeks of progress — see our full breakdown in why automated backups matter.

Step 6: Invite Your Group

Share the server IP and password, or add players to a whitelist if you're using one. Valheim doesn't require complex permission setups for small private groups, which is part of why it's such an approachable first dedicated server.

Keeping It Running Smoothly

Restart on a schedule (Valheim, like many long-running game servers, benefits from a periodic clean restart) and keep an eye on memory usage as your base and explored map grow over time.

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