Valheim server hosting for your Viking crew
Keep your Valheim world online so your crew can sail, build and fight together, even when the host is offline. Run vanilla 1.0 with crossplay or a modded world for PC players.
- Valheim 1.0 dedicated server, up to 10 players
- Crossplay with Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Switch 2
- World presets, modifiers and automatic backups
- BepInEx mods for PC-only worlds
- PlayersValheim servers are limited to 10 players; there is no official setting to raise it.
- Up to 10 per server
- PortsThe game port (2456 by default) and the next port. With -crossplay, traffic goes through a relay and no port forwarding is needed.
- 2456–2457 UDP
- Version
- 1.0 (released September 2026)
- Crossplay
- All platforms with -crossplay
- World settings
- Presets and modifiers
- Mods
- BepInEx (community, PC only)
Options
- Crossplay
- World modifiers
- Backups
- BepInEx
- Thunderstore
Game facts from Iron Gate’s dedicated server guide and Valheim 1.0 FAQ, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
Valheim plans are being prepared
Tell us your crew size and whether you play with mods or crossplay, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How much RAM does a Valheim server need?
Valheim caps a server at 10 players, so explored world size and mods decide the load more than player count.
Find your size
| Feature |
Small crew
Up to 4 players
|
Recommended Full server
Up to 10 players
|
Modded
Up to 10 players with BepInEx mods
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore. | 4 GB | 6 GB | 8 GB+ |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 2 | 2–3 | 3–4 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 10 GB | 15 GB | 20 GB |
| Typical use | Friends on a fresh world | A full crew on a well-explored world | Mod packs from Thunderstore |
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Small crew
Up to 4 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 4 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 10 GB
- Typical use
- Friends on a fresh world
-
Recommended
Full server
Up to 10 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 6 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2–3
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 15 GB
- Typical use
- A full crew on a well-explored world
-
Modded
Up to 10 players with BepInEx mods
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 8 GB+
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 3–4
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 20 GB
- Typical use
- Mod packs from Thunderstore
Valheim has no official server hardware figures; these starting points follow common practice. Large bases and many explored areas raise memory use over time.
Crossplay, world settings and mods
Vanilla 1.0 servers can welcome every platform. Mods are a community project and work best on PC-only worlds.
Crossplay
Start the server with -crossplay and players on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and the Microsoft Store can join with the address or a join code.
Presets and modifiers
Choose a preset such as Casual, Hard or Hardcore, or fine-tune combat, death penalty, resources, raids and portals.
Automatic backups
The server keeps rolling world backups; set how many it keeps and how often it saves with the launch options.
BepInEx mods
Mods come from the community via BepInEx and Thunderstore. Many must be installed by every player, so console players cannot join those servers.
Passwords and access lists
Protect the world with a password, name admins in adminlist.txt and limit joining with permittedlist.txt.
Your world, always on
The world keeps running when the friend who started it logs off, so everyone can play on their own schedule.
Set up your Valheim server
Four steps from order to your first longship.
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Choose crossplay or mods
Crossplay welcomes console and Game Pass players; mods suit PC-only crews. Then pick a size from the table above.
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Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your crew from our 20 game server locations.
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Name your world and password
Set the server name, world name and a password of at least five characters that does not contain the server name.
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Join with the address or code
Choose Join Game and Add server with the address, or enter the join code of a crossplay server.
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Learn moreFrequently asked questions
How many players can join a Valheim server?
Up to 10. Valheim limits every server to 10 players, also in version 1.0, and has no official setting to raise it.
Can Xbox, PlayStation and Switch 2 players join?
Yes, when the server runs with the -crossplay option. Since version 1.0, crossplay covers Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and the Microsoft Store. Without -crossplay, only Steam players can see and join the server.
Why does my server not start with my password?
The password must have at least five characters and must not contain the server name. Change either one and start the server again.
Can I use mods on a Valheim server?
Yes, through community tools: BepInEx with mods from Thunderstore. Iron Gate has no official mod support and does not guarantee mods after updates. Many mods must be installed by every player, so console players cannot join those worlds.
What are world presets and modifiers?
Presets such as Normal, Casual, Easy, Hard, Hardcore, Immersive and Hammer change many rules at once. Modifiers tune combat, death penalty, resources, raids and portals one by one, and keys such as nobuildcost or passivemobs switch single rules.
Can I move my existing world to the server?
Yes. Copy your world from the worlds_local folder of your Valheim save directory to the server and start it with that world name. Version 1.0 introduced a new save format and converts older worlds on the first start, keeping a backup.
Should we start a new world for version 1.0?
Iron Gate recommends a fresh start for 1.0. New biome content only appears in areas nobody has explored yet, so long-running worlds miss parts of it.
How do I add admins or ban players?
Add one player ID per line to adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt or permittedlist.txt. Version 1.0 uses IDs such as V_ followed by numbers; older Steam_ IDs still work. A single name in permittedlist.txt blocks everyone else.
Why can my friends not find the server in the list?
A server started with -public 0 stays out of the list; join it with Add server and the address instead. Console players also need a server that runs with -crossplay.
Ready to sail with your crew?
Tell us your crew size and how you play, and we will help you pick the right Valheim server.