How to Install Palworld Server & Client Mods
Explore the different types of mods that Palworld offers and learn how to install them to your game server and client.
The 1.0 release added an official mod system with Steam Workshop support, which sounds like great news for servers. The honest picture is more limited: most Palworld mods are client-only and do nothing on a dedicated server, and the official server-side mod support runs only on the Windows dedicated server edition. Our servers run Palworld's Linux build, so server-side mods do not apply here.
What Works on Your Server
- Settings as your "mod": the most reliable way to reshape gameplay is
PalWorldSettings.ini, which controls rates, difficulty, PvP, and more. See Palworld Configuration Overview. - RCON automation: community tools built on RCON handle announcements, scheduled tasks, and moderation without touching game files.
- Client-side mods: players can run client-only mods on their own machines; nothing needs to change on the server.
Practical Advice
Running unmodded and shaping the game through settings also keeps crossplay intact, so Steam, Xbox, PS5, and Mac players all stay on one world. If you experiment with .pak files anyway, know that major game updates break mod loaders and pak mods until they are rebuilt, and Pocketpair recommends fully removing mods before updating rather than just disabling them. Always work on a backup-protected server.
What to Read Next
- Palworld Configuration Overview for the settings-based approach
- Managing Your World to back up before experimenting with Pak mods