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To update a Conan Exiles dedicated server safely, stop the running server, back up the installation and ConanSandboxSaved data, run SteamCMD against the existing folder with app ID 443030, then restart and test the server. The standard command is:
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steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:Exiles +app_update 443030 +quitIf the server still reports an old build, run the update interactively with validate, then update Workshop mods separately. The procedures below target a Windows installation using the Steam dedicated-server distribution.
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What the update changes
A Conan Exiles dedicated-server update replaces the server executable and other depot files in the installation directory. It does not replace the world data, settings, or administrator configuration stored under ConanSandboxSaved, but a failed update or an accidental install into a different folder can make it appear that your settings or saves have disappeared. Treat every update as a file change that needs a backup and a controlled restart.
The server and every connecting client must be on compatible builds. A client saying that the server has an incompatible version normally means one of three things: the server depot did not finish updating, SteamCMD updated a different directory, or the base server and its mods are not in a consistent state. Updating the base server first makes the cause much easier to isolate.
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Prepare the server before downloading anything
Schedule a short maintenance window
Warn players, record the intended stop time, and do not update while the world is being actively saved. Close the server cleanly through the method you normally use, then confirm that neither ConanSandboxServer.exe nor the StartServer.bat process is still running. SteamCMD can overwrite files while a process has them open, producing an incomplete or apparently successful update.
Back up both files and data
Copy the complete server installation folder to a separate location, not just the executable. Also copy the complete ConanSandboxSaved directory. That directory contains the world and the server’s persistent configuration. Label the backup with the date and the build or maintenance window so you can identify it if a rollback is necessary.
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- Back up the folder that contains
ConanSandboxServer.exeand your start script. - Back up
ConanSandboxSaved, including its configuration and save data. - Keep at least one backup outside the live server directory; otherwise a repair or reinstall can overwrite both copies.
- Write down the active mod IDs and the server’s current name, password, player limit, and port choices.
Confirm the target directory
Find the folder that the service or batch file actually starts. In the examples in this guide it is C:Exiles. If SteamCMD is pointed at a new or empty folder, it can download a complete second server while leaving the real server unchanged. The safest check is to open the folder and verify that it contains the existing server executable and your expected ConanSandboxSaved data before running the update.
Record the mod list
Make a plain-text list of every required Workshop ID and the order in which the server loads them. Do not troubleshoot a client/server build error by changing several mods at once. Update the base server, test it, and then update Workshop content one item at a time or in a documented batch.
Method 1: update with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is Valve’s command-line distribution utility for Steam dedicated servers. Funcom’s dedicated-server instructions identify 443030 as the Conan Exiles dedicated-server app ID. Open a Command Prompt or a script that can run SteamCMD, and use the existing installation path:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:Exiles +app_update 443030 +quitWhat each part of the command does
+login anonymoussigns in with the anonymous account used for this dedicated-server depot.+force_install_dir C:Exilesdirects SteamCMD to the live server folder. Replace the path with your actual location.+app_update 443030checks and downloads the current dedicated-server files.+quitcloses SteamCMD after the update operation completes.
Run the update in a controlled sequence
- Stop
ConanSandboxServer.exeor the process started byStartServer.bat. - Complete the backup described above.
- Run the command with the exact path used by your server service.
- Leave the window open until SteamCMD finishes and returns control. Do not interpret a quickly closed window or a launcher notification as proof that the depot reached the latest build.
- Read the final messages for an error, a connection failure, a permission problem, or a different install directory. If any of those appears, resolve it before restarting the server.
The command can download only what changed, so an update may be quick or may require a larger download when Funcom publishes a major server build. No universal completion time is published; available bandwidth, disk speed, and the size of the depot determine the duration.
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Use interactive validation when the normal command is not enough
If a launcher reports success but the server still appears out of date, run SteamCMD interactively. This makes the install path, login, update, and validation steps visible:
force_install_dir C:Exiles
login anonymous
app_update 443030 validate
quitWhy validation helps
The validate option compares local files with the depot and redownloads files that are missing or do not match. It is a recovery step, not a replacement for a backup. Validation can restore altered or corrupt binaries, but it does not make incompatible Workshop mods compatible and it does not repair a server that was updated in the wrong directory.
Interpret the result
- If validation downloads files, wait for it to finish, then restart and test again.
- If it completes without downloading anything, verify that
C:Exilesis the directory actually launched by your service or batch file. - If SteamCMD cannot write to the directory, check permissions, available disk space, and whether another process still has files open.
- If the server remains on an old build after a successful validation, compare the executable location used by the start command with the path supplied to SteamCMD.
Restart and verify the updated server
Start the same way you normally do
Launch ConanSandboxServer.exe directly or run StartServer.bat, depending on your setup. Do not create a second temporary server for testing unless you deliberately use a separate folder and configuration. Starting the wrong copy is one of the most common reasons an update appears not to work.
Check the log and network bind
Watch the server log as it starts. Look for a clean startup and successful binding to the configured ports. A crash, an immediate exit, or a bind error should be fixed before players connect. Preserve the log from a failed start so you can compare it with the previous successful run.
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- Connect from a client that has already received the current Conan Exiles update. An incompatible-version message indicates that the server and client builds still differ.
- Confirm that the expected server name and player limit are shown.
- Join with one client using the same mod set as the server, if mods are enabled.
- Check that the server is visible in the Steam browser or reachable through your normal direct-connection method.
These checks are more reliable than relying only on a launcher message because they test the executable, configuration, network bind, and mod load together.
Update Conan Exiles Workshop mods
Update the base server before downloading mods. A server can have the newest executable and still reject clients because a required mod is old, missing, loaded in a different order, or no longer compatible with the current game build.
Download a mod by Workshop ID
Funcom’s documented SteamCMD pattern uses Workshop app 440900:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 443030 +workshop_download_item 440900 <workshopID> +quitReplace <workshopID> with the numerical ID of the required mod. Run the command once for each mod, or place several +workshop_download_item 440900 ID operations in the same controlled script. Keep the server stopped while you change the mod files.
Verify the mod set before starting
- Compare the downloaded IDs with the server’s configured mod list.
- Check that every required mod is present and that no obsolete ID remains in the list.
- Preserve the intended load order; changing order can alter behavior even when every file is current.
- Have a test client use the same mod collection before reopening the server to everyone.
Automatic numerical-ID updates in a launcher can be convenient, but launcher behavior and available versions change. If its result conflicts with the files in the server directory, use the explicit SteamCMD commands so you can see which path and IDs were processed.
Alternative update methods
Steam Library Tools
Funcom also supports installing the “Conan Exiles Dedicated Server” tool from Steam Library > Tools. This is useful when you prefer Steam’s graphical library management. Select the dedicated-server tool, choose the library location, and let Steam complete its update before starting the server from that location.
The graphical method is easiest for a single administrator, but it can be less transparent when several server copies exist. Confirm the library path and the executable launched by your shortcut or service. Backups, mod downloads, firewall rules, and restart sequencing remain your responsibility.
Funcom Dedicated Server Launcher
The Funcom launcher can automate SteamCMD operations and numerical mod-ID updates. Use it only after confirming which installation directory it controls and which branch or build it is downloading. Launcher versions and their behavior are volatile; a success message is not a substitute for checking the actual server files and connecting with a current client.
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Managed hosting
A managed host can be appropriate when you do not want to maintain SteamCMD, backups, firewall rules, or restart procedures yourself. Before moving a world, ask the provider how it handles the exact Conan Exiles branch you use, Workshop mods, save transfers, validation, scheduled restarts, and recovery from a failed update. Confirm those details in writing because support and automation differ between providers.
Configuration paths and network ports
Windows server configuration
Funcom places Windows dedicated-server configuration under ConanSandboxSavedConfigWindowsServer. The official server guidance identifies:
Engine.inifor server name and password settings.ServerSettings.inifor the in-game administrator password.
Back up these files before an update and check them after the restart. If the server starts with a default name or missing password, stop it before making broad changes and restore the known-good configuration from your backup.
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The documented default UDP ports are 27015 and 7777. Allow the required ports through the host firewall and any upstream router or security group used by the machine. A server can be fully updated yet absent from the Steam browser if the firewall blocks its query or game traffic.
Do not change ports merely to solve a version mismatch. First establish that the updated process is running, then verify the configured ports and firewall exception match the values used by the server.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the common failure messages
“Incompatible version” after updating
- Stop the server and confirm the client has also completed its Conan Exiles update.
- Run the standard SteamCMD command against the server’s real installation path.
- Run the interactive
app_update 443030 validatefallback. - Restart and test with no mods, if your setup permits a temporary clean test.
- Update and verify each required Workshop item before restoring the full mod list.
If an unmodded client connects but the normal modded client does not, the remaining problem is the mod set rather than the base server build.
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The launcher says it updated, but the server is still old
Use interactive SteamCMD and inspect the path shown by your command. A launcher may be configured for a different library folder, while your service starts another copy. Validation cannot correct that path mismatch; it will faithfully validate whichever directory you specify.
SteamCMD exits with a permission or file error
Stop every server process, confirm that the account running SteamCMD can write to the install directory, and check free disk space. If the error persists, preserve the backup, move the live folder aside, and repair or redownload into a clean directory rather than deleting the only copy of your saves.
The server is updated but not visible
Check that the process stayed running, then inspect the startup log for a port-bind failure. Confirm UDP 27015 and 7777 are allowed through the Windows firewall and any router or cloud firewall. Also verify that the client is searching the correct server address and port.
A modded client is kicked or refuses to join
Compare the numerical IDs, downloaded versions, and load order on both sides. Remove one suspect mod for a controlled test rather than replacing the entire collection. Re-download the required Workshop item with app 440900, restart the server, and test again.
The update damaged the installation
Stop the server, preserve the failed directory for diagnosis, and restore the dated backup of the installation and ConanSandboxSaved. After confirming that the restored server starts, run SteamCMD with validate and repeat the update while monitoring the output. Never restore only the executable while leaving an unknown configuration or save directory in place.
Choosing an update approach
The right method depends on how much control and automation you need. The following comparison separates documented capabilities from items that depend on your setup.
| Approach | Install-path control | File validation | Mod automation | Backups and restarts | Firewall and OS work | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual SteamCMD | Explicit path with force_install_dir |
app_update 443030 validate |
Explicit Workshop commands using app 440900 |
Administrator responsibility | Administrator responsibility; examples here use Windows | Operators who want maximum visibility and repeatability |
| Steam Library > Tools | Controlled by the Steam library location | Steam’s graphical repair options; exact behavior depends on the installation | Not stated in Funcom’s dedicated-server installation guidance | Administrator responsibility | Administrator responsibility | Single servers managed through the Steam client |
| Funcom Dedicated Server Launcher | Depends on the launcher configuration | Use manual validation when the launcher result is uncertain | Can automate SteamCMD and numerical mod-ID updates; behavior can change by launcher version | Automation depends on the launcher setup | Administrator responsibility | Administrators who prefer a graphical workflow and verify its paths |
| Managed hosting | Provider-defined | Ask the provider to document its validation and rollback process | Provider-defined | May automate backups and restarts; confirm retention and recovery | Provider-managed in many setups; exact OS and branch support must be confirmed | Communities that want to outsource routine maintenance |
Compatibility with the current Conan Exiles or Enhanced branch is a live operational question for every method. Check the branch selected by the client, server tool, launcher, or host immediately before maintenance instead of assuming that an older installation path is still on the same branch.
A repeatable maintenance runbook
- Announce maintenance and record the current server name, player limit, ports, and mod IDs.
- Stop
ConanSandboxServer.exeorStartServer.batand confirm no process remains. - Copy the complete installation folder and
ConanSandboxSavedto dated backup storage. - Run
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:Exiles +app_update 443030 +quitagainst the real install path. - If the result is questionable, run the interactive
validatesequence. - Download each required Workshop item with app
440900, then verify IDs and order. - Start the server from the same executable or batch file used before maintenance.
- Read the startup log for a clean bind and check the configured UDP ports.
- Connect with a current client, confirm the name and player limit, and test one modded client.
- Keep the backup until players have connected successfully and the world has completed a normal save.
Document the date, command, target path, validation result, and any mod changes after each maintenance window. That short record makes the next incompatible-version report a path-and-build check instead of guesswork.
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