Valheim’s server has no single config file. You set it up with launch options (the settings it reads when it starts), and you manage players with three small text files. Your easy settings in Settings cover the common ones, and this page lists the rest.
Where the settings live
| What | Where |
|---|---|
| Server name, password, world, crossplay, world modifiers | Launch options, set in Settings |
| Admins | adminlist.txt in the save folder |
| Banned players | bannedlist.txt in the save folder |
| Allowed players (whitelist) | permittedlist.txt in the save folder |
| Worlds | worlds_local in the save folder |
On Wilderack, the save folder is /data/home/valheim. Open it in Files, or over SFTP (works with FileZilla) with the details on the SFTP card in Files.
How to change settings
- Easy settings: open Settings. Plain labels, with the right values filled in for you. This is the safest way.
- Advanced: under Settings > Advanced you see the real launch options. You can also add extra startup arguments there, such as
-setkey nomap. - Files: edit the list files in Files. The editor shows your changes before you save.
The panel reads your hand edits back, so it won’t overwrite them.
Launch options
| Option | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
-name |
Your server name | The name shown in the server list. |
-world |
Set at create | The world to load. If no world has that name, Valheim makes a new one. |
-password |
Set at create | The server password. At least 5 characters, and it can’t be part of the world name or seed. Don’t use part of the server name either. |
-public |
1 |
1 shows the server in the Community list. 0 hides it, and players join by address only. |
-crossplay |
Off | Turns on crossplay through Microsoft’s PlayFab relay, so every platform can join. Read the crossplay guide first. |
-preset |
normal |
A world modifier preset. See below. |
-modifier |
None | One world modifier and its value, like -modifier raids none. Put these after the preset. |
-setkey |
None | Turns on a world option such as nomap. See below. |
-saveinterval |
600 on Wilderack |
Seconds between world saves. Valheim’s own default is 1800 (30 minutes). We save every 10 minutes. |
-backups |
4 |
How many of Valheim’s own backups to keep. |
-backupshort |
7200 |
Seconds before the first of Valheim’s own backups (2 hours). |
-backuplong |
43200 |
Seconds between Valheim’s later backups (12 hours). |
-port |
Set by Wilderack | The port on your address card. Valheim also uses the next port up. Don’t change it, or players can’t reach you. |
-savedir |
Set by Wilderack | Where worlds and list files are saved. Don’t change it, or backups miss your world. |
World modifiers
World modifiers change the difficulty. You can pick a preset, then fine-tune single modifiers on top.
Presets
| Preset | What it does |
|---|---|
normal |
The game as Iron Gate balanced it. Best for a first playthrough. |
casual |
Much easier combat, enemies wait until provoked, no raids, more resources, and you keep items and skills when you die. |
easy |
Easier combat and fewer raids. |
hard |
Harder combat and more raids. |
hardcore |
Much harder combat, more raids, no map, no portals during boss fights, and you lose all items and skills when you die. |
immersive |
No map and no portals. Everything else is normal. |
hammer |
Build for free once you know a recipe. No raids, and enemies wait until provoked. |
Single modifiers
| Modifier | Values (besides normal) | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
combat |
veryeasy, easy, hard, veryhard |
Damage you deal and take, and how strong enemies are |
deathpenalty |
casual, veryeasy, easy, hard, hardcore |
What you lose when you die |
resources |
muchless, less, more, muchmore, most |
How many resources you get |
raids |
none, muchless, less, more, muchmore |
How often enemies raid your base |
portals |
casual, hard, veryhard |
casual lets every item through portals. hard blocks portals during boss fights. veryhard turns portals off |
Extra world options
Add these as extra startup arguments in Settings, one -setkey each:
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
nobuildcost |
Building needs no materials. You still unlock recipes as usual. |
playerevents |
Raids depend on each player’s progress instead of the bosses beaten on the server. |
passivemobs |
Enemies don’t attack until you provoke them. |
nomap |
No map or minimap. |
Admin, ban and allow lists
The three list files sit in the save folder, /data/home/valheim. Settings shows them as simple lists, and you can edit the files in Files too.
| File | What it does |
|---|---|
adminlist.txt |
Players who can use admin commands in game. |
bannedlist.txt |
Players who can’t join. In-game ban and unban change this file for you. |
permittedlist.txt |
The allow list. Once it has one ID, everyone else is turned away. |
Each file takes one player ID per line. IDs are case sensitive.
One ID in permittedlist.txt bans everyone who isn’t on it, you included. Add your own ID first.
Finding a player ID
A player ID is a platform prefix, an underscore and a number. Valheim 1.0 brought a new style, such as V_123456789. Older IDs, such as Steam_123456789, work again since patch 1.0.12.
The safest way is to copy what the game shows:
- The player joins your server and presses F2. Their ID is in that panel.
- Or, look in Console. The server log shows the ID when a player connects.
Players on Xbox, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and other stores have their own prefixes. Copy them exactly as shown.
Admin commands in game
Valheim’s server doesn’t accept typed commands. The Console tab shows its log, but there is no command box for Valheim. Admins use the game’s own console instead.
Press F5 in game to open it. On Steam, if nothing opens, add -console to Valheim’s launch options: right-click Valheim in your library, choose Properties and type it in Launch Options.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
kick <name> |
Kicks a player. They can join again. |
ban <name> |
Bans a player and adds them to bannedlist.txt. |
unban <name> |
Removes a ban. |
banned |
Lists banned players. |
save |
Saves the world now. |
setworldpreset <preset> |
Switches the world to a preset. |
setworldmodifier <modifier> <value> |
Changes one world modifier. |
The modifiers you set in Settings apply again every time the server starts. To keep a change, set it in Settings too.
Cheat commands such as devcommands don’t work on a dedicated server.
Which changes need a restart
Valheim reads its launch options when it starts, so every change in Settings needs a restart. The panel offers Restart when you save. Restart after editing a list file too, so the server reads it again.
If the server is asleep, there’s nothing to do: your changes apply the next time it wakes, and that start takes a little longer than usual.
Questions
Where is the Valheim server config file?
Valheim has no single config file. Its settings are launch options, which you change in Settings, plus three list files for admins, bans and allowed players in the save folder.
How do I change world modifiers on my Valheim server?
Pick a preset or set each modifier in Settings, then restart. Admins can also use setworldpreset and setworldmodifier in the F5 console, but the settings in the panel apply again at every start.
Why does permittedlist.txt lock everyone out?
As soon as one ID is in permittedlist.txt, Valheim turns away every player who isn't on it. Add yourself and all your friends, or leave the file empty to let anyone with the password in.
Can I type commands into the Valheim server console?
No. Valheim's dedicated server doesn't accept typed commands, so the Console tab only shows its log. Admins type commands in the game instead, in the F5 console.
Sources we checked
- A guide to dedicated serversIron Gate
- Hotfix 1.0.10 and 1.0.12Iron Gate on Steam
- Developer consoleValheim Wiki (community)
