Short answer: A reliable Palworld 1.0 dedicated server needs a 64-bit Windows or Linux host, at least four recommended CPU cores, 16 GB of memory, fast SSD storage, and UDP port 8211 forwarded to the host. Install the Dedicated Server with Steam or SteamCMD app 2394010, launch it once, copy the default settings template into the generated saved-config directory, and edit that copy—not the template. Stop and back up the world before every update, then rerun the SteamCMD update command and verify both the server and clients are on compatible builds.
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What a Palworld 1.0 dedicated server does
A dedicated server runs the Palworld world continuously on a separate Windows or Linux machine instead of tying the world to one player’s game session. Players connect directly by IP address and port, or find the server in the Community server list when public listing is enabled. The server process owns the save, player limit, passwords, gameplay rules, backups, and administrative APIs, so those decisions should be made before inviting a large group.
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This guide covers Pocketpair’s 1.0 server workflow, including the 1.0.4 settings reference. Labels and behavior can change with later builds, so check the server log and the client version after each update rather than assuming an old installation is still compatible.
Hardware and network requirements
| Component | Recommended baseline | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows or 64-bit Linux | The dedicated-server builds target 64-bit operating systems. |
| CPU | 4 or more CPU cores | World simulation, Pal activity, saves, and network replication run concurrently. |
| Memory | 16 GB | Pocketpair lists 16 GB as the practical recommendation. |
| Memory floor | 8 GB can boot the server | An 8 GB machine has a higher risk of out-of-memory crashes as the world and player count grow. |
| Storage | Fast SSD | Use an SSD for Palworld server storage; slow storage can increase save delays and the risk of corrupted saved data. |
| Internet access | Ability to forward UDP 8211 | 8211 is the default listening port. The router and host firewall must allow it. |
Reserve a stable local address for the host in the router if possible, so a port-forward rule does not break when DHCP assigns a different address. You will also need the host’s public IP when friends connect from outside your home network. The public IP shown by a router or internet service can change; if it does, send players the new address.
Choose an installation method
| Method | Best for | Operational trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Steam client Dedicated Server tool | Owners who prefer a graphical install and manual maintenance | Simple initial setup, but updates are tied to the Steam interface and local administration. |
| SteamCMD on Windows | Scriptable or repeatable Windows deployments | Command-line installation and updates make maintenance easy to automate. |
| SteamCMD on Linux | Headless hosts, VPS machines, and administrators comfortable with Linux | Low desktop overhead, but you must manage the shell process, permissions, firewall, and service startup. |
| Official Docker image | Container-based operations where storage is configured carefully | Container management can simplify deployment. Docker Desktop is deprecated from a storage-I/O perspective for this use because it increases the risk of save corruption and malfunction. |
Pick one method and keep the installation, save directory, and update process consistent. Mixing a Steam-client install with a separate SteamCMD directory can make you update one copy while launching another.
Install the server with SteamCMD
SteamCMD downloads the dedicated-server files for app ID 2394010. Install SteamCMD first, open a terminal in its directory, and run the command below exactly:
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steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quitThe validate argument checks downloaded files and replaces damaged or incomplete ones. Run the same command during every planned maintenance window to obtain the current server build.
Windows SteamCMD launch
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell after SteamCMD finishes.
- Change to the server directory, normally
steamappscommonPalServerbeneath the SteamCMD library you selected. - Start the process with
PalServer.exe. - Leave the console open while testing. Its messages show startup errors, save activity, and connection events.
Linux SteamCMD launch
- Change to the downloaded directory, normally
~/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer. - Start the Linux launcher:
./PalServer.shIf the shell reports a permission problem, correct the executable permission for the launcher using your normal Linux administration procedure, then run it again. Keep the server account and its save directory separate from unrelated services.
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Install through the Steam client
- Open Steam and go to the Library.
- Change the library filter to show Tools, then install the Palworld Dedicated Server tool.
- Open the tool’s installation folder and start the server executable.
- Allow the executable through the host firewall when prompted, limiting the rule to the required network profiles.
The first launch creates the save and configuration directories. Do not start editing files before this first run; the directories needed for the live configuration do not exist until the server has initialized once.
Create and edit PalWorldSettings.ini correctly
Palworld has a default settings template and a live settings file. Only the live copy is read for your world. Stop the server before copying or editing it, and keep a known-good copy of the file before changing several values at once.
- Launch the server once, wait for initialization, and shut it down cleanly.
- Find
DefaultPalWorldSettings.iniin the server installation. - Copy that template into the saved-config directory, retaining the filename
PalWorldSettings.ini. - On Windows, the destination is
PalSavedConfigWindowsServerPalWorldSettings.ini. - On Linux, the destination is
Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini. - Edit the copied file with a plain-text editor, save it, and restart the server.
“Note that editing
DefaultPalWorldSettings.iniwill not affect the changes.” — Pocketpair, Palworld Server Guide configuration documentation, 2026.
Preserve the existing syntax when changing a value. A malformed line can cause a setting to be ignored or prevent the server from loading the file. Change a small group of related settings, restart, and inspect the log before making another group of changes.
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Launch arguments that control the server process
Launch arguments are separate from values in PalWorldSettings.ini. Add them to the command, shortcut, service definition, or container configuration that starts your server.
| Argument | Effect | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
-port=8211 |
Changes the listening port | Forward the new UDP port on the router and allow it through the host firewall. |
-players=32 |
Sets the maximum number of participants | Choose a cap your CPU, memory, and network can sustain; the value is independent of the router’s port. |
-publiclobby |
Enables Community server listing | Use this when players should find the server through the in-game community browser. |
-publicip=x.x.x.x |
Sets the public address advertised to the community listing | It is an advertising value, not a replacement for router forwarding. |
-publicport=xxxx |
Sets the port advertised to the community listing | It does not change the port on which the server listens. |
-logformat=text |
Writes text-formatted logs | Useful for ordinary console and file inspection. |
-logformat=Json |
Writes JSON-formatted logs | Useful when another tool parses events. |
-enable-gamedata-api |
Enables the game-data API | Expose and protect the API deliberately; do not open an administrative interface to the public internet without a reason. |
Pocketpair’s v1.0 note says leaving -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS unset may improve performance. Treat that as a setting to benchmark on your own hardware and workload, not as a universal optimization. Record the original launch command so you can revert if logs, latency, or stability worsen.
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Settings to decide in PalWorldSettings.ini
Access and identity
ServerNameandServerDescriptiontell players what they are joining. Make the region, rules, and reset policy clear in the description.ServerPasswordprotects ordinary entry. Use a different value from your administrator credential.AdminPasswordcontrols administrative actions. Store it in a password manager and do not publish it in the server description.ServerPlayerMaxNumshould match the capacity you can actually support. A larger cap increases simulation, save, and replication work.
Cross-platform access
The 1.0.4 reference defaults CrossplayPlatforms to Steam, Xbox, PS5, and Mac. Keep that broad default when your group uses multiple platforms. Restrict the list only when your community requires platform separation or when you are troubleshooting a platform-specific compatibility issue.
Administration and observability
- Enable
RCONEnabledand chooseRCONPortonly when you need remote console administration. Protect the port with firewall rules and a strong credential. - Use
RESTAPIEnabledandRESTAPIPortfor integrations that require the REST interface. Treat the API as an administrative surface, not a public web endpoint. - Set join and leave messages deliberately. They are useful on small cooperative servers but can become noisy on a public one.
- Select a log format that matches your monitoring workflow; the launch argument determines text or JSON output.
Safety and recovery
bIsUseBackupSaveData creates a backup directory for save data. It also increases disk activity, so monitor storage performance on a busy world. Pocketpair documents this cadence when backups are enabled: 5 save data per 30 seconds, 6 per 10 minutes, 12 per hour, and 7 per day. These are retained backup counts, not a promise that every possible historical state can be restored.
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Gameplay rules
Decide the rules before players invest time in the world. The available groups include PvP, death penalty, capture and experience rates, Pal spawn rate, egg hatching time, fast travel, hardcore mode, guild size, and building limits. Write the chosen rules in the server description so a player is not surprised by a high death penalty, slow hatching, or restricted travel.
Performance and world limits
Base limits, worker Pals per base, dropped-item physics, and Pal replication distance directly affect processing work. Raising base or worker limits can make a crowded settlement possible, but it also raises CPU and memory load. Increase one limit at a time, observe the server under normal activity, and keep a rollback copy of the configuration.
Router, firewall, and connection setup
- Choose the host’s stable local address.
- Create a router port-forward rule for UDP 8211 to that address, unless you deliberately changed
-port. - Allow the same UDP port through the Windows firewall or Linux firewall on the host.
- If you use
-publiclobby, set-publicipand-publicportto the address and advertised port players should use. Remember that-publicportdoes not alter the listening socket. - Restart the server after network changes, then test from a connection outside the host’s local network. A local test can succeed even when internet forwarding is wrong.
For a direct connection, a player opens the server-list connection field and enters the public IP address followed by the port. For a listed server, the player selects Community server, searches for the server name, and selects it. A password prompt appears when ServerPassword is set.
Updating a Palworld 1.0 server safely
Schedule maintenance while players are offline. Updates can change executable files and settings behavior, so protect both the world and the configuration before downloading a new build.
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- Announce a maintenance window and stop new players from joining.
- Stop the server cleanly and wait for the process to exit.
- Back up the complete save directory and the live configuration file. Keep a separate recovery copy on another disk or host.
- Record the current server folder and launch arguments so you can identify the known-good build.
- Run:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit- Start the server with
PalServer.exeon Windows or./PalServer.shon Linux. - Read the startup log for file, port, or configuration errors.
- Connect with a test account and confirm the world, player permissions, password, and important gameplay settings.
- Tell players to update their clients before reopening the server. A client and server on incompatible builds may fail to connect or behave unpredictably.
Pocketpair’s official documentation does not publish a complete version-pinning or rollback runbook. Do not rely on an in-place update as your only recovery plan: retain the pre-update save, configuration, and a known-good server copy until the new build has been tested.
Backups and recovery practice
Automatic backup data is useful for short-term recovery, but it is not a substitute for an independent copy. Before changing gameplay rules, installing a new build, or moving the server, stop the process and copy the save directory and PalWorldSettings.ini to storage that the server cannot overwrite.
- Use a dated directory name so you can identify the build and configuration together.
- Keep at least one copy away from the server machine.
- After a major change, verify that the backup contains recently modified save files rather than an empty directory.
- Test a restore on a separate copy before you need emergency recovery.
If an update fails, stop the server, preserve the failed directory for diagnosis, restore the known-good server files and matching save/configuration copy, and reconnect with a test account. Because there is no complete official rollback procedure, your independent backup is the recovery authority.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The server does not appear in the list
- Confirm the process is running and listening on the intended port.
- Check that UDP 8211—or the port specified by
-port—is forwarded to the correct local address. - Allow the port through the host firewall.
- For a community listing, verify
-publiclobby,-publicip, and-publicport; the advertised port is not automatically the listening port. - Test a direct IP-and-port connection and confirm the client and server builds match.
Players can connect locally but not from the internet
This pattern usually indicates router forwarding, a carrier-grade NAT limitation, or a host firewall rule rather than a Palworld setting. Recheck the forwarding protocol (UDP), destination address, and public address from a network outside the home LAN.
Settings appear unchanged
- Stop the server before editing.
- Confirm you edited
PalSavedConfigWindowsServerPalWorldSettings.iniorPal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini, notDefaultPalWorldSettings.ini. - Check that the filename and syntax are intact, then restart and inspect the log.
The server crashes or runs out of memory
An 8 GB host can start the process but has increased out-of-memory risk. Reduce the player cap and expensive world limits, especially base and worker-Pal limits, and move the save to fast SSD storage. If the problem follows a recent setting change, restore the last known-good configuration and reintroduce changes one at a time.
A new build will not load the world
Stop immediately rather than repeatedly launching against the same save. Preserve the current files, compare the client and server versions, and restore the pre-update copy if necessary. Keep the failed build available for diagnosis because the official pages do not provide a full rollback sequence.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
| Decision factor | Self-hosted server | Managed host |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Uses your existing hardware and connection; electricity and bandwidth remain your responsibility. | Recurring fee varies by provider and resource allocation; verify current Palworld 1.0 support before buying. |
| Latency | Depends on the host’s location and internet route. | Choose a data-center region close to most players, subject to provider availability. |
| Capacity | You control CPU, memory, storage, and player cap. | Capacity is limited by the selected plan; confirm actual CPU, memory, and storage terms. |
| Backups and restore | You design the backup schedule and keep independent copies. | Ask whether backups are automatic, downloadable, and restorable before committing. |
| Updates | You schedule SteamCMD updates and test each build. | Some hosts automate updates; verify whether you can delay a patch and retain a known-good copy. |
| Administration | Full access to files, launch arguments, RCON, and REST API controls. | Access depends on the provider’s panel and network policy; confirm RCON/REST support and port control. |
| Mods and custom tools | You control the filesystem and process, subject to compatibility and security. | Support varies; verify mod, file, and API policies in writing. |
Self-host when you need complete file and network control and can maintain backups. A managed service can reduce operating work, but its current price, region, update automation, backup behavior, and 1.0 compatibility must be verified directly with the provider.
Quick Recap
Pre-launch checklist
- 64-bit Windows or Linux host with four or more recommended CPU cores.
- 16 GB memory available; treat 8 GB as a high-risk minimum, not a target.
- Fast SSD selected for the server and save directory.
- Dedicated-server app 2394010 installed and the correct installation directory identified.
- First launch completed so the saved-config directories exist.
- Live
PalWorldSettings.inicopied from the template and edited in the correct Windows or Linux path. - Server name, description, passwords, player cap, crossplay, gameplay rules, and administrative interfaces reviewed.
- UDP port 8211 forwarded and allowed through the host firewall, or the replacement port configured consistently.
- Independent save and configuration backups created before opening the server.
- Direct connection and, when used, Community listing tested from outside the host network.
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