Stop the Sons of the Forest server, open its current JSON configuration file, change the value of "ServerName" while keeping the double quotes, save the file, and start the server again. On a managed host, make the same change through the provider’s configuration editor instead of editing a local Windows file.
This guide covers the current dedicatedserver.cfg format used by dedicated servers as of October 2026, including custom data paths, command-line overrides, hosting panels, validation, and recovery from the most common mistakes.
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What you need before changing the name
The server must be offline while you edit its configuration. Editing a file while the process is running can be overwritten when the server shuts down, and a partially written file can leave the server unable to load its settings.
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- Permission to stop and start the server process.
- A text editor that does not add rich-text formatting. Notepad or another plain-text editor is sufficient.
- The current configuration location. The default Windows location is different from a directory selected with
-userdatapath. - A recent backup of
dedicatedserver.cfg, especially if the server has many settings.
The current file is JSON even though its extension is .cfg. That distinction matters: JSON requires quoted property names, quoted string values, commas between properties, and balanced braces. Instructions written for an older plain-text Server.cfg file use different names and syntax and should not be combined with the current file.
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Change the name in a self-hosted Windows installation
1. Stop the dedicated server cleanly
Use the launcher, service manager, or console command you normally use to stop the server. Wait until the process has exited and the server window or service status shows that it is no longer running. If you manage the process through a script, stop that script’s restart loop as well; otherwise it may immediately reopen the file while you are editing it.
2. Locate dedicatedserver.cfg
For a default Windows installation, check:
C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDSdedicatedserver.cfg
Replace <user> with the Windows account that first ran the dedicated server. AppData is hidden by default, so paste the path into File Explorer’s address bar or enable hidden items.
If the server was launched with -userdatapath, do not use the default location. The configuration is generated under the directory supplied to that option. Check the shortcut, batch file, service definition, or startup script for an argument such as:
SonsOfTheForestDS.exe -userdatapath "D:SOTFServerData"In that example, look for D:SOTFServerDatadedicatedserver.cfg. When several server instances run on one machine, inspect each instance’s launch parameters so you edit the file belonging to the intended world.
3. Make a backup before editing
Copy the file to a safe location and give the copy a descriptive name, such as dedicatedserver.cfg.before-name-change. Keep the original extension on the working file. A backup lets you restore the previous configuration if a typo produces a JSON parse error or another setting is accidentally removed.
4. Find the ServerName property
Open the file as plain text and search for "ServerName". A newly generated sample normally contains:
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"ServerName": "Sons Of The Forest Server (dedicated)"The capitalization is significant for readability and compatibility. Change only the text after the colon unless you intentionally need to edit another setting.
5. Enter the new name inside the quotes
For example:
"ServerName": "Pine Ridge Co-op"Keep both double quotes. Do not delete the colon, the comma that separates this property from the next one, or the surrounding braces. Names containing spaces are valid, and Unicode characters are reported to work, so a name such as "Cavern Crew — EU" can be used if every player’s launcher and chat display it correctly.
JSON strings still follow normal escaping rules. If the name itself contains a double quote, escape it as "; an unescaped quote ends the string and makes the entire file invalid. Backslashes in a name also need escaping. A simple name made from letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and parentheses avoids those extra pitfalls.
6. Save without changing the file type
Save the file as plain UTF-8 text. In Notepad, use Save rather than “Save As” unless you need to correct an accidental extension. Confirm that the filename remains exactly dedicatedserver.cfg, not dedicatedserver.cfg.txt. Windows may hide known extensions, so turn on file-name extensions if you are unsure.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDo not let a word processor add smart quotes, rich-text markup, or an automatic heading. Those characters are not valid replacements for the straight quotes used by JSON.
7. Start the server and inspect the startup output
Start the server using the same shortcut, script, service, or SteamCMD workflow as before. Watch the startup console or log. A malformed file commonly produces a JSON parse error and prevents settings from loading. If the server starts normally, join the server or inspect its listing to confirm that the new name appears.
If the name is unchanged, stop the server again and verify that you edited the file used by the running instance. The most frequent causes are a second dedicatedserver.cfg under a custom -userdatapath, a second server instance, or a panel that regenerates the file from its own settings page.
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What the finished JSON should look like
The exact file contains many settings, so do not replace it with a shortened sample. The relevant section should follow the same pattern as this example:
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{
"ServerName": "Pine Ridge Co-op",
"OtherSetting": true
}OtherSetting is only illustrative; keep the properties that already exist in your file. If ServerName is near the end of the object, preserve the comma rules: every property except the final one normally ends with a comma. Never add a trailing comma after the final property unless the file already follows a parser that explicitly permits it; standard JSON does not.
Use a launch-time override instead of editing the file
The Steam installation guide documents a command-line override:
SonsOfTheForestDS.exe -dedicatedserver.ServerName "My Custom Server"This sets the name when the executable is launched. Add the argument to the same batch file, shortcut, or service definition that starts your server. Keep the value in quotes when it contains spaces.
A launch argument is useful when you manage several instances with separate startup scripts or when a deployment process recreates configuration files. It also makes the chosen name visible in the startup command. If you later remove the argument, the server can fall back to the value stored in dedicatedserver.cfg; check the command and the file together whenever the displayed name does not match your edit.
Do not paste the command into the JSON file. The executable argument belongs in the launch command, while "ServerName" belongs in the JSON object. Mixing the two formats will make the configuration invalid.
Change the name on a managed hosting panel
Panel hosts usually expose the same setting through a web form. Stop the server before saving a file-based configuration, and apply the panel’s restart action after saving. Labels can change as providers update their interfaces, but the relevant field is normally called Server Name.
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For a managed option, Godlike.Host provides Sons of the Forest servers through its own game panel with a configuration editor. Its Sons of the Forest plans list 4, 12 and 20 slots; the server’s MaxPlayers setting allows 1 to 8 players (Steam Community server guide, 11 Oct 2026).
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- Open the server in the control panel.
- Choose Config.
- Open Dedicated Server Settings.
- Enter the new value in the Server Name field.
- Save the configuration and restart the server from the panel.
The panel writes the underlying configuration for you, so do not create a second file through a file manager unless the host specifically instructs you to do so.
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- Stop the server first.
- Open Configuration Files.
- Locate and edit
dedicatedserver.cfg. - Change the value of
"ServerName", retaining valid JSON syntax. - Save the file and start the server again.
If a panel offers both a form field and a raw file editor, use one method consistently. A form may rewrite the file after you save it, while a manual edit may be overwritten by the next settings change. When the name reverts, check which interface is authoritative for that host.
Current JSON format versus older guides
Older community instructions describe a plain-text Server.cfg containing a line such as serverName. The current dedicated-server configuration is JSON in dedicatedserver.cfg, with the property written as "ServerName". These are not interchangeable.
| Current dedicated-server format | Older format described by legacy guides |
|---|---|
Filename: dedicatedserver.cfg |
Filename: Server.cfg |
| JSON object syntax with quoted keys and values | Plain-text lines and different parameter names |
Name property: "ServerName" |
Often written as serverName |
| Malformed JSON can stop settings from loading | Editing rules and parser behavior differ |
Following an old tutorial can appear to work because it edits a file that is no longer read, or it can leave the current JSON untouched. Identify the file generated by your current server build before changing anything.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the configuration file is missing
The default file is generated the first time the dedicated server runs. If you cannot find it:
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- Confirm that you are checking the Windows account used to launch the server.
- Inspect the startup command for
-userdatapathand search that directory. - Run the server once, allow initialization to complete, then stop it cleanly.
- Search the resulting data directory for
dedicatedserver.cfg.
Do not create a random file in the installation directory and assume it will be read. The data path, not necessarily the executable’s folder, determines where the generated configuration belongs.
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Troubleshoot a name that does not appear
The server will not start after the edit
- Restore the backup to determine whether the edit caused the failure.
- Check for a missing closing brace, missing comma, or an unescaped double quote in the name.
- Compare the edited line with the original JSON structure. The key and string value must both use straight double quotes.
- Read the startup console for a JSON parse error, then correct the indicated area and restart.
Do not delete unrelated settings to make the file shorter. Removing a setting can cause it to fall back to a default and makes it harder to identify the original mistake.
The server starts, but the old name remains
- Confirm that the new text is saved in the file actually used at launch.
- Check for a custom
-userdatapathor another instance with its own data directory. - Make sure the server was restarted after saving; an already-running process will not necessarily reread the file.
- Look for a launch argument such as
-dedicatedserver.ServerNamein the startup script. - If you use a hosting panel, verify whether its Server Name field rewrites the file on restart.
The name displays as boxes or appears truncated
Unicode is reported as acceptable in the configuration, but display depends on the game client, font support, and the panel or listing that renders it. Test the name with a short ASCII version first. If that works, add Unicode characters gradually and check both the server browser and in-game player list.
The file keeps reverting
Look for an automated deployment script, container startup routine, panel template, or scheduled backup that restores configuration files. Stop that process, change the setting in its source template or panel field, and restart only after the intended value is saved. Keeping a manual edit while an automation system owns the file will not be durable.
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You edited the wrong file
Search the machine for every file named dedicatedserver.cfg, then map each one to its startup command and server instance. The default path under AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS is only correct when no custom data path is supplied.
Naming practices that prevent avoidable errors
- Keep the name recognizable and reasonably short so it fits server-browser and panel fields.
- Use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and parentheses when you want the lowest parsing risk.
- Avoid unescaped double quotes and backslashes inside the value.
- Do not include passwords, administrative commands, or personal contact details in a public server name.
- Use a region or play-style label only when it is accurate; the name does not change the server’s actual rules, difficulty, or location.
- After changing the name, tell regular players to refresh their browser or reconnect if a cached listing still shows the previous value.
A repeatable change procedure for multiple servers
When you administer more than one dedicated server, use the same sequence for each instance so a name change cannot be applied to the wrong world:
- Record the instance name and its startup command.
- Stop only that instance and verify its process identifier or panel status.
- Resolve its data directory, including any
-userdatapath. - Back up that instance’s
dedicatedserver.cfg. - Edit only
"ServerName"and validate the JSON structure. - Save the file, start the same instance, and check its startup output.
- Confirm the name in the server browser before moving to the next instance.
This procedure separates identity, data path, and process state—three details that are easy to confuse when several servers share one Windows host.
Final verification checklist
- The server was stopped before the edit.
- The file is the current
dedicatedserver.cfg, not a legacyServer.cfg. - The correct data directory was used, including any custom
-userdatapath. "ServerName"remains in double quotes, and the new value is also quoted.- Commas, braces, and any other settings remain valid JSON.
- The file was saved as plain text with the original filename.
- The server was restarted after saving.
- The startup output contains no JSON parse error.
- The new name was confirmed from a client or server listing.
Once those checks pass, the name change is complete. Future edits should follow the same stop, back up, edit, save, restart, and verify sequence.
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