# Valheim server: order, connect, settings and mods

> Set up your Valheim server at HyperDC: the order fields, what runs automatically, how players connect, the console, files, admin rights and common fixes.

Difficulty: Beginner

This guide covers the Valheim server you rent from HyperDC. You manage it on its service page in the client area, under **Services › My Services**. There is no separate game panel. For the basics that apply to every game, see [game servers: getting started](/guides/game-servers).

## Order your server

Choose a plan for Valheim and fill in the order form. These are the fields it asks for, under the names the form uses:

| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| **Location** | Pick the location closest to most of your players. Game servers are offered in 20 locations. |
| **Map** | The map the server starts on. You can change it later in the **Settings** tab. |
| **Server Name** | Shown in the game's server browser. 3 to 60 characters: letters, digits, spaces and `- _ . ! ( ) [ ] # : , + ' *`. |
| **Server Password** | Players need it to join. It must have at least 5 characters and must not be part of the server name. 8 to 32 characters: letters, digits and `. _ -`, not starting with `-`. |
| **Additional RAM (GB), Additional Disk (GB), Additional CPU Cores** | Optional extras on top of the plan. |

The plan is for 10 players, the most this game allows.

## What happens automatically

- The game files are installed for you with SteamCMD (Steam app 896660).
- The page shows the progress while the server is being set up. You can leave the page: the build carries on, and the controls appear when it is ready.
- Ports are assigned to your server and opened for you.
- Every start uses your server name and Server Password on the launch line, so a change in the **Settings** tab reaches the game at its next start.
- CPU, memory and disk follow the number of players you ordered.
- Mods install with one click from the **Mods** tab.

## Connect to your server

![The Valheim service page with the banner, the status, the power buttons and the performance cards](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/valheim-server/overview.webp "The service page of your game server in the client area.")

1. Open **Services › My Services** and choose your game server.
2. On the **Overview** tab, find the address under **Connect** and press the copy button.
3. Choose Join Game and Add server with the address, or enter the join code of a crossplay server.

The panel assigns the ports, so your port can differ from the game's usual 2456: always use the one under **Connect**. The same box lists the **Query port** and **RCON port**.

**Crossplay:** PC (Steam) · Xbox / PC Game Pass can play together on this server.

## Start, stop and update

The banner at the top of the service page has the **Start**, **Restart**, **Stop** and **Kill** buttons. **Stop** shuts the game down its own way and saves where the game can; use **Kill** only when the server no longer reacts.

**Update** stops the server if it is running, updates the game files with SteamCMD and starts it again. Players and server need the same version, so update after a game patch.

If your plan shows a **Reinstall** tab, it installs the game again from scratch. Every server file is deleted and this cannot be undone, so you must type `REINSTALL` to confirm.

## Use the console

The **Console** tab shows what the server prints while it runs. Type a command in the **Type a command…** box and press Enter or the send button. Commands are the game's own.

![The Console tab with live server output and the command box](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/valheim-server/console.webp "The Console tab shows the server's output as it runs.")

## Change the settings

The **Settings** tab lists what you can change for this game, starting with **Server name**, **Server Password**, **Player slots**, **Map**. The player slots are part of your plan: change them with Upgrade/Downgrade.

Press **Save changes**. Saving restarts a running server to apply the changes, and you are asked first. A stopped server stays stopped and uses the new values at its next start.

The **Server Password** is the join password, so there is no separate join password row.

![The Settings tab with the server name, the password fields and the player slots](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/valheim-server/settings.webp "The Settings tab of this game.")

## Edit the game's files

The **Files** tab shows the server folder. You can edit text files and save them, upload files of up to 100 MB each, make folders and files, and right-click anything to rename, delete, compress, extract or download it.

![The Files tab with the folders and files of the server](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/valheim-server/files.webp "The Files tab, opened at the main folder of the server.")

The game's own settings files:

- `saves/adminlist.txt`

To change a file by hand:

1. Press **Stop**. Many games rewrite their settings files when they shut down, so an edit made while the server runs can be lost.
2. Open the file in the **Files** tab, change it and save it.
3. Press **Start**.

> **Note**
>
> The panel writes the server name and the password before every start. Change those in the **Settings** tab, not in the file.

## Keep a copy of your world

Game servers have no automatic backups, so keep your own copy before big changes.

The world is in `saves`.

1. Press **Stop**, so the world is saved completely.
2. In the **Files** tab, right-click the folder and choose **Compress**.
3. Right-click the archive and choose **Download**.

To bring a world back, stop the server, upload the archive, right-click it, choose **Extract** and start the server. Uploads can be up to 100 MB per file.

## Become an admin

Admins are listed by player ID.

1. Find your ID. Join the server and press F2, then copy your ID with its prefix, for example `V_76561198012345678`.
2. Press **Stop**, then open `saves/adminlist.txt` in the **Files** tab.
3. Add a line like this, with your own ID, and save:

   ```text
   V_76561198012345678
   ```
4. Press **Start**.

The **Server Password** from your order: Players need it to join. It must have at least 5 characters and must not be part of the server name.

If your service page shows an **Admins** tab, you can add the player there instead: the panel keeps the list for you.

## Install mods

The **Mods** tab searches Thunderstore. Find a mod and press **Install**. On a running server you are asked first: the server saves, stops and starts again with the mod, and players are disconnected meanwhile. Remove a mod from the same tab. Check the mod's page to see whether players need it too.

![The Mods tab with a list of mods and their Install buttons](https://hyperdc.com/templates/hyperdc/img/docs/valheim-server/mods.webp "The Mods tab of this game.")

## Good to know

- A world is two files, `<World>.db` and `<World>.fwl`, in `saves/worlds_local`. You need both when you upload a world.
- With crossplay, players join with a join code instead of the address.
- Mods run on BepInEx, and players and server need the same mods.

## Upgrade or switch game

Open the service page and choose **Actions › Upgrade/Downgrade** for another plan or game, or **Upgrade/Downgrade Options** for players, RAM, disk and CPU. You pay or receive the prorated difference through the normal upgrade invoice.

- **Same game:** your files stay. A running server restarts once to apply the change.
- **Another game:** the new game is installed first. Then the old server and all its files are deleted and no copy is kept. The address stays, the ports change, and the server name and password move to the new server. You must tick the confirmation box before checkout, so download your world first.

See [upgrade or downgrade a service](/guides/upgrade-or-downgrade-service) for the steps.

## Common problems

**The server does not start or refuses the password.** The password must have at least 5 characters and must not be part of the server name. Change it in the **Settings** tab.

**Players cannot find the server in the list.** Check that the banner shows the server as running and give the list a few minutes. Where the game allows a direct connection, use the address from the **Overview** tab.

**Players are told the versions differ.** Press **Update** to bring the server to the current version, and ask players to update their game.

**A change in a settings file is gone after a restart.** Stop the server before you edit the file, because many games rewrite it when they shut down. The server name and password always come from the **Settings** tab.

**The server does not start after a change.** Read the last lines in the **Console** tab, then undo the last file or mod you changed.

**The server lags at busy times.** Look at the **CPU** and **Memory** cards under **Performance**. If they are full, add **Additional RAM (GB)** or **Additional CPU Cores** with **Upgrade/Downgrade Options**.

**The order form refuses the password.** Use 8 to 32 characters: letters, digits and `. _ -`, not starting with `-`.

## Next steps

- Basics for every game: [game servers: getting started](/guides/game-servers).
- Lower latency for your players: [choose a data center location](/guides/choose-a-data-center-location).

## Frequently asked questions

### What does the order form ask for a Valheim server?

Location, Server Name, Server Password, and the optional extras for players, RAM, disk and CPU. The fields use the names in this guide.

### How do players join my Valheim server?

Choose Join Game and Add server with the address, or enter the join code of a crossplay server. Use the address and port from the Overview tab.

### How do I become an admin on Valheim?

Admins are listed by player ID. Stop the server and add your ID to `saves/adminlist.txt` in the Files tab.

### Can I install mods on my Valheim server?

Yes. The Mods tab searches Thunderstore and installs with one click.

### Are there automatic backups?

No. To keep a copy, compress the folder in the Files tab and download it.

### Which platforms can play together on Valheim?

PC (Steam) · Xbox / PC Game Pass.

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Source: <https://hyperdc.com/guides/products/valheim-server>\
Updated: 2026-10-30