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Most installations use servertest.ini in the Zomboid Server folder. If you created a differently named server instance, the INI filename normally follows that instance name. Stop the server before editing, save a backup, make the changes, then start it again so it reads the updated configuration.
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Project Zomboid separates the server’s instance/configuration name from the public information shown in the in-game browser. For a listed server, edit these keys in the active INI file:
| INI key | What it controls | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
PublicName |
The server name displayed in the in-game server browser. | A short, recognizable name, such as Riverside Co-op. |
PublicDescription |
The tagline displayed underneath the public name. | A concise description of the server’s rules or play style. |
Public |
Whether the server is published in the public browser. | true for a listed server; false for direct-IP or invite-only play. |
The capitalization matters because these are INI key names. Do not substitute ServerName for PublicName when you are trying to change the browser listing. Guides that tell you to change only ServerName can leave the public listing unchanged.
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Find the active server INI file
Default installation
The default server configuration is usually a file named servertest.ini in the Zomboid Server folder. “servertest” is also the default server instance name. Open the file belonging to the instance you actually launch; editing a different copy will not change the running server.
Custom instance names
When the server was created or launched with a custom instance name, the configuration filename generally follows that name instead of remaining servertest.ini. For example, an instance called MyCommunity would normally use an INI file named MyCommunity.ini. The exact capitalization and spelling must match the generated filename.
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Hosted environments can expose names that reflect their default instance. One hosting-oriented example reports files such as Pterodactyl.ini and Pterodactyl_SandboxVars.lua. That naming is not universal and was not verified against a particular control panel, so use the file actually generated for your instance rather than assuming those names apply to every host.
How to identify the right copy
- Look for the INI file in the server directory used by your launch script or hosting service.
- Match the filename to the server instance name shown in the launch configuration.
- If several INI files exist, change one at a time and keep a backup so you can identify which file the running instance reads.
- Do not edit a sample, archived backup, or client-side file in a different Zomboid directory.
Change the name and description step by step
- Stop the server. Shut it down normally and wait until the server process has exited. Editing while it is still running can leave you unsure whether the process has already loaded the old values or may overwrite your edits while closing.
- Back up the INI file. Copy the active file and give the copy a clear name, such as
servertest.ini.backup. Keep the backup outside the folder if your host automatically regenerates configuration files. - Open the active INI as plain text. Use a text editor that preserves the file’s existing encoding and line structure. Do not convert it to a different format or save it with an extra extension such as
.txt. - Find
PublicName. Replace only the value after the equals sign. For example:
PublicName=Riverside Co-op- Find
PublicDescription. Replace its value with the text you want shown under the name:
Casual survival | New players welcome- Set the visibility flag. Use
Public=truewhen the server should be searchable in the public browser:
Public=trueFor a private server reached through a direct IP address or an invitation, leave the flag set to false. A private server can still be used without appearing in the public list.
- Save the file without changing its name. Confirm that the editor did not append another extension and that the edited file is still the one associated with the launched instance.
- Start the server again. A restart is the safe way to make the process reread the INI. Available documentation does not establish a universal hot-reload method or definitively state that every build requires a restart, so restarting avoids relying on an unverified live-reload behavior.
- Check the listing. If
Public=true, open the in-game server browser and look for the exactPublicName. ThePublicDescriptionshould appear beneath it.
Example configuration
A minimal set of relevant lines might look like this:
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Public=true
PublicName=Riverside Co-op
PublicDescription=Weekly vanilla survival for small groupsKeep the rest of the generated settings unchanged unless you are intentionally configuring another aspect of the server. The order of these lines in the file is not the important part; using the correct keys in the active file is.
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Why changing ServerName does not rename the browser listing
ServerName is frequently mentioned in copied configuration guides, but the documented browser label is PublicName. If you change ServerName and the listing still shows the old wording, that is expected when PublicName remains unchanged. Edit PublicName directly.
The filename is a separate issue again. A file called servertest.ini does not mean the public name must be “servertest”; it simply reflects the default instance name. You can keep that filename and set any PublicName you prefer, provided it is the file used by the server process.
Make the server visible or keep it private
Public browser listing
Use Public=true when players should find the server through the in-game browser. The browser name and description are then taken from PublicName and PublicDescription.
Direct-IP or invite-only play
Use Public=false when you do not want a public listing. In that mode, changing the public name or description does not make the server searchable; players need the connection details or an invitation used by your group.
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The common mismatch
If the name and description are correct in the file but nobody can find the server, check Public before changing the text again. A correctly written PublicName cannot create a browser listing while the visibility flag is false.
If the old name still appears
1. Confirm that you edited the running instance
Multiple instances can have similarly named files. Verify the launch script or host configuration and compare its instance name with the INI filename. The default instance uses servertest.ini; a custom instance normally uses a matching custom filename.
2. Check the exact key
Look for PublicName, not ServerName. Make sure there is only one active definition of the key in the file and that the new text is after the equals sign on that line.
3. Check the visibility setting
For browser publication, the file must contain Public=true. If it is false, the server is intentionally omitted from the public list.
4. Stop and restart cleanly
After saving, stop the process completely and start it again. This is the safest operational response because the available guides do not confirm a restart-free update path for every build.
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5. Reopen the file after shutdown
If your host or launch process rewrites configuration on shutdown, reopen the INI and confirm that PublicName, PublicDescription, and Public still contain your values. If they reverted, restore the backup, identify which service regenerates the file, and edit the generated configuration rather than a temporary copy.
6. Check spelling and capitalization
Use the key names exactly as written: PublicName, PublicDescription, and Public. Avoid replacing them with similar-looking names from another game or an older template.
Changing the description without changing the name
You can edit PublicDescription independently. Leave PublicName untouched, change only the description value, save the file, and restart the server. This is useful when the community’s identity is stable but its rules, schedule, or welcome message changes.
Keep the description concise enough to read in the browser. The available configuration guidance identifies the field and its position beneath the name, but does not specify a universal character limit or formatting syntax. Do not assume that markup, colors, or line breaks will render consistently.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Using the older -servername launch option
An older Steam guide for Build 41 describes renaming a server by adding a -servername argument to the end of the StartServer64.bat launch line. That method is several years old and is not a substitute for setting the current public fields when your goal is to change the browser text.
If you maintain a legacy Build 41 setup, inspect the launch line and the generated INI together: the argument may determine which instance/configuration name is created, while PublicName controls the label players see. Before using the argument on a current Build 42 installation, verify that the current build still supports it. Do not add it blindly to a production launch command simply because it appears in an older guide.
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Server instructions can change with the game build. A Build 42 wiki entry listed the default branch as version 42.20.3 on 17 August 2026 and advised updating server files when Steam updates that branch. Because the current date is 14 October 2026, that version may no longer be current.
- Check Steam’s current Project Zomboid branch and build before applying version-specific launch instructions.
- Prefer the configuration file generated by the current server build over a copied template from an older release.
- Recheck the launch script after an update, especially if you rely on older arguments such as
-servername. - Back up the working INI before updating so you can compare keys if the update regenerates the file.
The names PublicName, PublicDescription, and Public are the relevant settings for the browser listing described here, but the surrounding file and launch behavior can vary by build and hosting arrangement.
Do not copy unrelated defaults from conflicting guides
Different guides report different default values for MaxPlayers: one lists 32 and another lists 64, without enough context to determine which environment each value describes. That conflict is a reminder to inspect the INI generated for your own server instead of replacing the entire file with a pasted example.
For a name or description change, edit only the three relevant keys and preserve the server’s other generated settings. This reduces the chance of unintentionally changing player capacity, sandbox behavior, or another setting unrelated to the public listing.
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- Use the host’s stop or shutdown control before editing.
- Open the file associated with the instance name shown by the host. Do not assume it is
servertest.iniif the panel created a custom instance. - Download or copy the file as a backup.
- Edit
PublicName,PublicDescription, and, if appropriate,Public=true. - Save it in the same location and with the same filename.
- Start the instance through the host’s normal control, then verify the listing in-game.
If the panel offers separate fields for a display name or description, determine whether those fields write to the INI. The authoritative values for the browser are still the keys in the active server configuration. A panel may regenerate files when the instance starts, so check the file again after startup if the change does not appear.
Quick diagnostic checklist
- Browser shows the old name: confirm you changed
PublicName, notServerName, and that you edited the active instance file. - Description is unchanged: check
PublicDescription, save the file, and restart the server. - Server is missing from the browser: set
Public=trueif public discovery is intended. - There are several INI files: match the file to the launched instance name; keep backups while testing.
- Changes disappear after startup: identify whether the host or launch process regenerates the file, then edit the generated configuration.
- An old launch guide recommends
-servername: verify compatibility with your current Build 42 branch before using it. - A copied template changes unrelated settings: restore the generated file and alter only the public-name, description, and visibility keys.
What the final setup should look like
For a public server, the finished configuration contains the desired display values and an enabled visibility flag:
Public=true
PublicName=Your chosen browser name
PublicDescription=Your short server descriptionReplace the two text values with your own wording, retain the keys exactly, and restart the correct server instance. For a private server, use Public=false; the name and description can remain configured, but the instance will not be published in the public browser.
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