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Install the separate 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server Steam tool with App ID 294420—not the player client (App ID 251570)—then download it with SteamCMD, copy and edit serverconfig.xml, launch the supplied script, and forward the configured ports to the server computer. The same SteamCMD command updates the installation later.
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What you are installing
SteamCMD is Valve’s command-line installer and updater. For 7 Days to Die, the dedicated server is a separate Steam application:
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| Purpose | App ID | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server | 294420 | Downloading and updating the headless server files |
| 7 Days to Die player game | 251570 | Playing the game; do not use this ID for a dedicated server install |
SteamCMD can log in anonymously for the dedicated-server download. You do not need to install the graphical player client on the machine that will host the server.
Decide where the server will run
Self-hosting at home
A home server gives you direct control over files, configuration, mods, update timing and backups. You must, however, leave the machine available when people want to play, assign it a stable local address, configure the operating-system firewall and router, and handle updates and recovery yourself.
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A managed 7 Days to Die host is an alternative when you prefer a control panel and provider support. Before choosing one, compare the control panel’s access to serverconfig.xml, mod support, server location, player-slot limits, backup retention, update timing, restart controls and total recurring cost. Renting removes much of the network and operating-system work but gives the provider responsibility for the underlying machine.
Prepare the host
- Use a machine that can remain online for the intended play schedule and has enough free disk space for the server files, saves, logs and backups.
- Prefer a wired connection between the host and router. Wi-Fi can work, but a cable generally makes the server’s network path less variable.
- Give the host a fixed local IP address, either with a static address configured on the machine or a DHCP reservation in the router. Port forwarding must always point to that same address.
- Plan a separate backup location for saves, custom configuration, administrator permissions and mods.
- On Linux, create a dedicated non-login service account rather than running the server as root.
The exact hardware capacity depends on world size, player count, mods and the branch you run. Keep additional disk headroom because saves and logs grow over time.
Install the server with SteamCMD on Linux
1. Install SteamCMD and create a service directory
Install SteamCMD using your distribution’s current package instructions, then create a directory owned by the dedicated service user. The example below uses the account sdtd and installs into /home/sdtd/7dtd-server.
2. Download the dedicated-server app
From the directory containing steamcmd.sh, run:
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/sdtd/7dtd-server
+login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit+force_install_dir selects the installation directory. +login anonymous uses SteamCMD’s anonymous login, and +app_update 294420 validate downloads the dedicated-server app and checks the installed files. +quit closes SteamCMD when it finishes.
3. Copy the supplied configuration
Do not edit the shipped file in place. Make a server-specific copy:
cd /home/sdtd/7dtd-server
cp serverconfig.xml myserver.xmlKeeping your settings in myserver.xml protects them from changes to the default file when the Steam app is updated.
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./startserver.sh -configfile=myserver.xmlLeave the process running in a service manager or terminal session that will not close when you disconnect. For unattended operation, use a systemd unit or another restart wrapper under the non-login service account.
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Install the server with SteamCMD on Windows
1. Extract SteamCMD
Extract SteamCMD to a working directory such as C:steamcmd. Create a separate destination for the game server, for example C:7dtd-server.
2. Download App ID 294420
Open Command Prompt in the SteamCMD directory and run:
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:7dtd-server +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit3. Preserve the launch files and configuration
The installation includes startdedicated.bat and serverconfig.xml. Copy the batch file and configuration to names you control—for example, mystartserver.bat and myserver.xml—so an update does not replace your working files. Edit the copied batch file so it starts the server with the copied configuration:
startdedicated.bat -configfile=myserver.xmlIf the batch file changes directory before launching, keep the configuration path correct for that working directory; an absolute path is safer when the script is started by Task Scheduler or a service wrapper.
4. Start it
Run the copied batch file as the account that owns the server files. For automatic restarts, use Task Scheduler, a Windows service wrapper or a PowerShell-based supervisor, and schedule maintenance so players are warned before a restart.
Configure serverconfig.xml safely
Copy first, then edit
Keep one custom XML file per server instance. Updating the Steam app can refresh shipped defaults, while your custom file remains the source of the values you intentionally chose. Back up that file with the save data.
Set the identity and world deliberately
- Choose a unique server name so players can identify it in the browser.
- Select the intended world and game name before creating a long-running save. Changing these later can create a different save rather than modifying the existing one.
- Set a strong password if the server should be private or limited to an invited group.
- Choose a save location with sufficient capacity and include it in your backup plan.
Check the installed branch’s settings
Current V3 guidance warns that older tutorials contain legacy XML properties that no longer control every gameplay value. Treat the serverconfig.xml shipped with your installed build and the documentation for that branch as authoritative. Do not paste an old property list wholesale; verify that each element still exists and has the intended effect.
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Keep administration separate
Administrator permissions belong in serveradmin.xml, not in the general server identity settings. Add only trusted Steam IDs, and review the file whenever staff or community roles change.
Open the network ports
Common default player ports
| Protocol | Port | Typical purpose |
|---|---|---|
| TCP | 26900 | Player connectivity on the commonly documented default |
| UDP | 26900–26902 | Player connectivity on the commonly documented default range |
These are common defaults, not a guarantee for every branch or custom setup. Confirm the active port values in your configuration before creating rules. Additional services or branch changes can require different ports.
Forward the ports in the router
- Log in to the router’s administration page.
- Create a forwarding rule for TCP port 26900 to the host’s fixed local IP address.
- Create a forwarding rule covering UDP ports 26900 through 26902 to that same address.
- Save or apply the rules, then check that the router still shows the correct destination address.
Allow the same traffic through the host firewall
Create inbound firewall rules for the configured TCP and UDP ports on the server computer. A router rule without a matching host-firewall rule still leaves the service unreachable; conversely, a host rule cannot compensate for a router forwarding to the wrong machine.
Test from outside the LAN
Have a player join from a different internet connection, such as a mobile hotspot or another household. A test from the same local network may succeed through local routing even when internet forwarding is broken. Confirm that the server is running and listening before interpreting an external test failure.
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Normal startup
Use startserver.sh -configfile=myserver.xml on Linux or the copied Windows batch file with the same -configfile argument. Watch the console for a completed startup and the expected port values before inviting players.
Graceful shutdown
Use the server console’s normal shutdown command or your wrapper’s stop action instead of killing the process. A controlled stop gives the server an opportunity to write the current world state.
Update with SteamCMD
Stop the server, back up the save and custom files, then run the same update command:
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./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/sdtd/7dtd-server
+login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quitOn Windows, run:
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:7dtd-server +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quitRestart with your copied configuration after the update. If you intentionally use an experimental or pinned branch, specify that branch in SteamCMD and record the choice so later maintenance does not accidentally move the server to another build.
Keep clients compatible
Players must run a client build compatible with the server build. After an update, tell players which branch and build they should use. If a client refuses to join immediately after a server update, verify both sides are on the intended branch before changing configuration.
Automate reliable operation
- Run the Linux process under the dedicated service account; do not grant it unnecessary system privileges.
- Use systemd, Task Scheduler, PowerShell or an equivalent supervisor to start the process after a reboot and restart it after an unexpected exit.
- Schedule updates and restarts during a published maintenance window.
- Back up saves, the custom XML,
serveradmin.xmland the completeMods/directory before updates or major configuration changes. - Keep at least one backup separate from the server machine so a disk failure does not remove both the live save and its copies.
Install and maintain server-side mods
Server-side mods belong in the server’s Mods/ directory. Install only versions intended for the server’s current game branch, and keep client and server mod versions aligned when a mod also requires client files. Record the mod list with your backups so a restore reproduces the same environment.
When moving a world to another machine, copy the save directory, the relevant Mods/ directory and your custom configuration and administrator files. Recreate the firewall and router rules for the new host’s local IP, then test from outside the local network.
Troubleshoot players who cannot connect
The server is not listening
- Confirm the launch script points to the intended copied configuration.
- Check the server console for startup errors and verify the configured port values.
- Make sure another application is not already using those ports.
The operating-system firewall blocks traffic
Verify that inbound rules allow the configured protocol separately: TCP and UDP are different rules. Ensure the rules apply to the active network profile and to the server executable or ports you selected.
The router forwards to the wrong computer
Compare the forwarding destination with the host’s current fixed local IP. If the host obtained a new DHCP address, the router may still be sending traffic to the old machine.
The ISP uses carrier-grade NAT
Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) can prevent unsolicited inbound connections even when your own router rules are correct. Check whether the router’s internet-facing address matches the address visible from an external connection. If they differ because the ISP places another NAT layer in front of you, ask the ISP about a public address or use a managed hosting option.
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A local test works but internet players fail
Repeat the test from a different network. Same-LAN success confirms only that the service works locally; it does not prove that router forwarding, the public address or the ISP path is usable.
Players receive a version or mod mismatch
Confirm that the server and every affected client use compatible builds and that required mod files match. Do not troubleshoot port forwarding until the version and mod requirements are consistent.
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- Use a unique server name and a password when the community should be private.
- Keep trusted Steam IDs in
serveradmin.xml; remove former administrators promptly. - Back up the save before every update and before installing or removing mods.
- Back up the custom configuration and administrator files alongside the save.
- Document the active branch, port values, launch command and mod versions.
- Test restoring a copy of the save periodically rather than assuming a backup is usable.
- Announce maintenance windows and allow a graceful shutdown.
Self-hosting or renting: a practical decision
| Consideration | Self-hosted server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Full access to files, launch options, configuration and update timing | Depends on the provider’s panel and file access |
| Network work | You configure fixed IP addressing, firewall rules and router forwarding | Provider normally supplies the public endpoint and network setup |
| Maintenance | You perform updates, restarts, troubleshooting and operating-system maintenance | Provider handles much of the machine maintenance; you still manage game settings and content |
| Mods | Direct control of the Mods/ directory |
Check the provider’s supported mod workflow and restrictions |
| Backups | You choose the schedule, location and retention | Check whether backups are included, how often they run and how long they are retained |
| Location and capacity | Limited by your connection and hardware | Choose among the provider’s available regions and slot plans |
| Cost model | Uses your existing hardware, power and internet connection | Recurring hosting charge; compare the complete monthly total |
Choose self-hosting when you value file-level control and are comfortable operating the network. Choose managed hosting when uptime, a control panel or provider assistance is worth giving up some underlying-machine control.
Reference workflow
- Choose a host, fixed local IP and backup location.
- Install SteamCMD and download App ID 294420 with anonymous login.
- Copy
serverconfig.xmlto a server-specific filename. - Set the server name, world, game name, password and save location in the copied file.
- Launch with
-configfilethroughstartserver.shorstartdedicated.bat. - Configure TCP 26900 and UDP 26900–26902 only after confirming the active values in the file.
- Allow those protocols in the host firewall and forward them to the fixed local IP.
- Test a join from another network.
- Add trusted administrators in
serveradmin.xml, install compatible mods inMods/, and create backups. - For maintenance, stop gracefully, back up, rerun
app_update 294420 validate, and restart with the copied configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install the dedicated server with App ID 251570?
No. App ID 251570 is the player client. Use App ID 294420 for the 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server.
Why should I copy serverconfig.xml instead of editing the shipped file?
A custom copy keeps your chosen settings separate from shipped defaults that may change during SteamCMD updates.
Do TCP 26900 and UDP 26900-26902 always apply?
They are commonly documented defaults. Verify the active values in your installed configuration because branches or additional services can use different ports.
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What file controls administrator permissions?
Use serveradmin.xml and limit it to trusted Steam IDs.
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