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Yes. To run two or more Valheim worlds at the same time, start one dedicated-server process for each world. Give every process its own -world name, a separate port pair, and an isolated save directory. Keep the processes running independently so players can join different worlds simultaneously.
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A single process can select only one world. Changing its -world argument switches what that process opens; it does not host several worlds concurrently. The safe design is therefore one instance per world, with clear names, separate networking settings, and backups for each save.
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What “multiple worlds on one server” actually means
Valheim’s dedicated server selects a world when it starts. The -world argument points that process to an existing world name or creates a new world if the name does not yet exist. Because one running process has one selected world, simultaneous worlds require simultaneous server processes.
Those processes can run on the same physical PC or virtual machine. They must not be treated as copies of one server sharing every setting: each instance needs its own identity, listening ports, save location, password and backup policy. You can then run a normal progression world, a challenge world, a role-play world or a temporary test world without stopping the others.
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Plan each instance before starting it
Make a small inventory for every world. Record the display name players will see, the internal world name, the base port, the save directory, the password and the instance identifier. Consistent naming prevents you from accidentally attaching a process to the wrong files.
| Instance | Server name | -world |
Base port | Second port | Save directory | -instanceid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midgard | Midgard | 2456 | 2457 | /srv/valheim/midgard |
midgard |
| 2 | Challenge | Challenge | 2460 | 2461 | /srv/valheim/challenge |
challenge |
The first instance uses Valheim’s documented default pair, 2456 and 2457. The second example moves to 2460 and 2461; any available, non-overlapping pair is acceptable. Keep a gap between pairs if another service on the machine uses nearby ports.
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Use a stable world name without spaces or punctuation that your operating system might interpret specially. The visible -name can be friendlier, while -world should remain an unmistakable save identity. If you later start a process with the same world name and save directory, it will open that existing world rather than create a separate one.
Estimate machine capacity
Each process consumes additional CPU time, memory and disk I/O. The exact capacity depends on the number of players, creatures, construction density, mods and backup activity. Start with the worlds you actually need, watch CPU and memory while several players are online, and leave headroom for saves and operating-system work. A second world is not free merely because both processes run on one machine.
Launch two worlds with separate processes
The following pattern uses the documented dedicated-server switches. Adapt the executable path and quoting to your operating system. The passwords below are examples; set a different long password for every public instance before allowing players to connect.
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name 'Midgard' -port 2456 -world 'Midgard' -savedir '/srv/valheim/midgard' -password 'NorseOak-2456-Example' -public 1 -saveinterval 1800 -backups 4 -instanceid 'midgard'
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name 'Challenge' -port 2460 -world 'Challenge' -savedir '/srv/valheim/challenge' -password 'AshStorm-2460-Example' -public 1 -saveinterval 1800 -backups 4 -instanceid 'challenge'Run the commands as two separate processes, not as one command with two -world options. On a Linux host, place each command in its own service definition or launch script so it can be started, stopped and restarted independently. On Windows, create one shortcut, batch file or service entry per world and verify that each entry points to the intended working directory.
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- Install the dedicated-server files once on the machine.
- Create the two save directories and grant the server account permission to write to them.
- Choose unused port pairs and allow them through the host firewall as required by your network design.
- Start the first command and wait for its “game server connected” or equivalent ready message.
- Start the second command and confirm that it reports the second world name and port.
- Join each server separately from the in-game server browser or by direct connection, using the matching password.
Use a service manager for reliability
A service manager is preferable to leaving terminal windows open. Create one service for midgard and another for challenge, each with its own command line, save directory and log file. Configure automatic restart only after you have confirmed that a clean stop works; an aggressive restart loop can repeatedly reopen a damaged save.
Keep logs separate. When a player reports a problem, the world name in the log filename immediately tells you which process generated the error. Do not run both commands from a script that hides exit codes or sends the same stop signal indiscriminately.
Keep world saves isolated
The -savedir switch overrides Valheim’s default location for worlds and permission files. Explicit directories are the simplest way to prevent a new instance from reading or overwriting another instance’s administrative files.
Official default locations are:
- Windows:
%USERPROFILE%/AppData/LocalLow/IronGate/Valheim - Linux:
~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim
The save reference identifies a world as a paired .db and .fwl file. Treat the pair as one unit: copy both files together when backing up, moving or restoring a world. A backup containing only one of the two files may not represent a usable world.
When to use one directory versus several
Separate -savedir directories are strongly recommended for concurrent instances because they make ownership obvious and simplify backup jobs. A single directory can still contain multiple world names, but it is easier to select the wrong file, mix permission data or restore a backup over the wrong instance. If you deliberately use one directory, document the exact world name and never reuse a service definition without checking its arguments.
Move an existing world safely
- Stop the old host cleanly and wait for its final save.
- Copy the matching
.dband.fwlfiles to the new save location. - Preserve the original files until the new process has loaded successfully and players have verified their characters and builds.
- Start the dedicated server with the original
-worldname and the new-savedir. - After verification, update your backup job and service definition to reference only the new location.
Assign ports and understand crossplay
Valheim uses the selected port and the next port. The documented default is 2456-2457, so a second instance must not also bind that pair. Give every simultaneous instance a non-overlapping pair, and check the machine for other applications before choosing numbers.
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With the Steam backend, forward the ports required by your router and firewall when players must reach the server from outside your local network. The -crossplay switch selects Valheim’s PlayFab crossplay backend for players on other platforms. The official guide states that crossplay does not require router port forwarding, although the port still distinguishes servers running on the same public IP.
When -instanceid matters
If several servers share a port and the same MAC address, Valheim’s documentation says to provide a unique -instanceid for each process so the crossplay backend can assign distinct PlayFab IDs. Using unique identifiers for every instance is a sensible defensive practice even when you normally assign different ports.
An identifier does not replace port separation. Two processes still need a way for local networking and players to distinguish them. Use both settings whenever the shared-port and MAC condition applies.
Crossplay launch example
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name 'Crossplay Midgard' -port 2456 -world 'Midgard' -savedir '/srv/valheim/midgard' -password 'NorseOak-Crossplay-Example' -public 1 -crossplay -instanceid 'midgard-crossplay'Do not assume that adding -crossplay makes two processes share a port safely. Keep the base ports distinct unless you have a specific, documented reason to share them and have assigned unique instance IDs.
Configure saves and backups per world
Dedicated servers support -saveinterval, -backups, -backupshort and -backuplong. These switches are per process, so configure them in every instance command rather than only in the first one.
| Setting | Documented default | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
-saveinterval |
1800 seconds (30 minutes) | How often the active world is saved. |
-backupshort |
7200 seconds (2 hours) | Short-backup interval. |
-backuplong |
43200 seconds (12 hours) | Long-backup interval. |
-backups |
Set the number you require; the example uses 4. | How many backup generations the server retains. |
These are configuration defaults, not guarantees about restore quality or hardware performance. Keep copies outside the live world directory when possible. A separate disk, host or scheduled copy protects against a full-disk failure, accidental deletion and a bad update that damages both the active save and its local backups.
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A practical backup routine
- Let the server perform its configured save before taking a file copy.
- Copy the world’s
.dband.fwlfiles together, along with any documented permission files you need. - Store copies under a directory named for the world and date, such as
midgard/2026-10-15-1800. - Retain several recent copies and at least one copy on different storage.
- Test a restore on a temporary instance before deleting the original files.
Give different worlds different rules
The dedicated-server manual supports -preset, -modifier and -setkey. This lets one instance remain a conventional progression world while another uses a harder, more relaxed or experimental configuration.
Apply a preset first, then add individual modifier arguments. Presets overwrite other modifiers, so placing a preset after custom settings can silently undo those settings. The documented preset names include Easy, Hard, Hardcore, Casual, Hammer and Immersive; use the exact spelling accepted by your installed server version.
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name 'Challenge' -port 2460 -world 'Challenge' -savedir '/srv/valheim/challenge' -password 'AshStorm-Challenge-Example' -public 1 -preset Hard -instanceid 'challenge'World modifiers are configuration choices, not a world-switching mechanism. The save, port and process isolation still determine which group joins which world.
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To change what a dedicated server hosts, stop its process cleanly and start it with a different -world name. The previous world remains available under its original name and files. Do not overwrite the old save directory merely to change the active world.
- Warn players and allow them to leave the current world.
- Issue the server’s normal clean-shutdown command or stop it through its service manager.
- Wait for the process to exit and confirm the final save timestamp.
- Back up the old world’s
.dband.fwlfiles. - Start a new process with the new world name, port pair and save directory.
- Keep the old service definition disabled, rather than deleting it, until the new world is verified.
Never run the same world simultaneously through the game’s built-in host and a dedicated server. The dedicated-server reference warns that opening one world in both hosts at once can cause critical errors. Stop one host completely before starting the other.
Troubleshoot the common failures
The second process exits immediately
- Check whether its base port or next port is already in use.
- Verify that the executable path and working directory are correct.
- Confirm that the process has write permission for its own
-savedir. - Review the second process’s log rather than the first instance’s log.
- Ensure the two commands do not accidentally use the same service name or lock file.
Both entries appear to open the same world
Compare the -world and -savedir arguments character by character. A reused world name intentionally opens the existing save. If the names differ but the content is identical, inspect whether both processes point to the same copied files or whether a launch script is ignoring an argument.
Players cannot see one instance
Confirm that the server is listening on the intended base port and its next port, then check the host firewall and router rules for the Steam backend. Verify that the server is public if you expect it in the public list. For crossplay, confirm that -crossplay is present and that the instance has a distinct identifier when the shared-port/MAC condition applies.
A restored world rolls back or will not load
Restore the matching .db and .fwl pair from the same backup timestamp. Do not combine a database from one backup with a world file from another unless you are deliberately recovering from corruption and have a tested procedure. Stop every host that could access the files before replacing them.
Backups consume unexpected disk space
Remember that every running instance has its own backup schedule and retention count. Four generations for two worlds can occupy substantially more space than four generations for one world, especially as builds grow. Move archival copies to separate storage and adjust retention only after deciding how much rollback history each group needs.
One PC versus rented Valheim hosting
Self-hosting is appropriate when you need control over launch arguments, save paths, backups and world-specific settings. It also means you are responsible for operating-system updates, firewall configuration, uptime, monitoring, storage and recovery.
| Consideration | Self-hosted machine | Rented dedicated-server hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Full control of -world, ports, -savedir, modifiers and backup commands. |
Depends on the provider’s panel and whether custom launch arguments are allowed. |
| Maintenance | You handle Valheim updates, OS patches, firewall rules, monitoring and restarts. | The host may simplify updates and uptime, but procedures and limits vary by plan. |
| Multiple worlds | Run one process per world if the machine has enough resources. | Check whether the plan permits multiple instances and separate ports. |
| Crossplay | You choose the Steam or PlayFab backend and configure each instance. | Verify that crossplay is supported for every instance you intend to run. |
| Backups | You set intervals, retention and off-machine copies. | Ask what is backed up, how often, where it is stored and how restoration works. |
| Recurring cost | Uses hardware, electricity and your time; no provider price is established here. | Requires a recurring rental fee that varies by resources and location. |
Whichever model you choose, insist on independent save access. A hosting panel that cannot export the paired world files makes migration and disaster recovery unnecessarily difficult.
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- One dedicated-server process exists for every concurrently active world.
- Every process has a unique
-worldname and a documented display name. - Port pairs do not overlap; the default pair is 2456-2457.
- Each instance has its own
-savedir, password and log. - Unique
-instanceidvalues are set when shared-port and MAC conditions could apply. - Crossplay is enabled only on instances that need the PlayFab backend.
- Backup intervals and retention are configured for every process.
- The paired
.dband.fwlfiles are copied together and stored off the live disk. - No world is opened by a dedicated server and the built-in host at the same time.
- Each service can be stopped, started and updated without affecting the other worlds.
Bottom line
Run multiple Valheim worlds by running multiple dedicated-server instances. Isolate each one with its own -world name, port pair, save directory, password, backup policy and (where relevant) -instanceid. That arrangement lets several groups play concurrently while preserving a clean path to switch, migrate or restore any world independently.
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