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Configuring your Valheim server

Adjust startup variables, configure adminlist.txt, and manage your worlds_local .db and .fwl files for safe map swaps and uploads.

Updated July 24, 2026
Valheim

This guide covers the panel's Startup settings, setting up admins, and managing worlds. For modding, see Mods.

Core Settings (Startup Tab)

Valheim's core settings live in the panel's Startup tab, not in a config file. The important fields:

Field What it does
Server Name Shown in the Valheim community server list
World Name Name of the world file, used as the save file name on disk
Server Password Required. Must be at least 5 characters
Public True to list on the community server browser, false for hidden
Crossplay Enable Xbox and cross-platform play

Save and restart for changes to take effect.

World Modifiers

Valheim ships official difficulty modifiers, applied through extra launch arguments in the Startup tab alongside your existing variables. They only affect the world they launch with.

Presets bundle sensible combinations:

-preset casual

Options: casual, easy, normal, hard, hardcore, immersive, hammer.

Or tune individual modifiers:

-modifier resources muchmore -modifier raids muchless -modifier deathpenalty casual
Modifier Values
combat veryeasy, easy, hard, veryhard
deathpenalty casual, veryeasy, easy, hard, hardest
resources muchless, less, more, muchmore, most
raids none, muchless, less, more, muchmore
portals casual, hard, veryhard

There are also standalone keys: -setkey nobuildcost, -setkey passivemobs, -setkey playerevents, and -setkey nomap.

Admin Setup

Admins are configured in adminlist.txt at the server root. Edit it through the File Manager. Each line is one SteamID64:

76561197960287930

Add one SteamID64 per line for each additional admin.

Restart the server after editing.

In-game, admins press F5 to open the chat console:

help              Show all commands
ping              Ping the server
kick <name>       Kick a player
ban <name>        Ban a player
unban <name>      Remove a ban
save              Force save the world

Item spawning and teleporting require developer commands, which are restricted on dedicated servers by default. To unlock full admin capability, install the Server Devcommands mod (see Mods).

World Management

Worlds are stored in worlds_local/. Each world has two files:

  • MyWorld.db (the world data)
  • MyWorld.fwl (metadata)

To switch worlds, change the World Name in the Startup tab. If the world does not exist, Valheim generates a new one. If it does, Valheim loads it.

To wipe a world, stop the server, delete both files in worlds_local/, then start.

To upload an existing single-player world:

  1. Find your local files. On Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local\.
  2. Upload both the .db and .fwl files to worlds_local/ via SFTP.
  3. Set World Name in Startup to match (without the extension).
  4. Restart.

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