Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTo host a Palworld world that friends can join without keeping your game client open, run a dedicated server on a separate Windows or Linux host. For a first setup, Pocketpair documents the Steam library tool on Windows as the easiest route; SteamCMD is available on Windows and Linux. After installation, start the server, edit its active settings file, allow and forward its UDP port, then give friends the server’s public IP address and port.
Choose a hosting method and check the requirements
A dedicated server runs independently of the Palworld game client, so the host does not need to leave the game open. You do need a computer that stays on while friends want to play, plus a network path that lets them reach it.
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| Method | Best suited to | What Pocketpair documents |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Steam library tool | First-time hosts who prefer a graphical install | Pocketpair’s getting-started guide describes this as the easy route for Windows. |
| SteamCMD | Hosts comfortable with command-line installation and updates | Available for Windows and Linux, using the same app-update command. |
| Official Docker option | Advanced users who already manage containers | Pocketpair lists Docker as an option and provides a sample repository. Docker Desktop on Windows or macOS is discouraged in the official guidance because storage performance can increase the risk of malfunction or save corruption. |
Pocketpair’s version 0.5.0 requirements page lists Windows 64-bit or Linux 64-bit, recommends 4 CPU cores and 16 GB of memory, and recommends more than 32 GB for larger deployments. It says a server can boot with 8 GB but faces increased out-of-memory crash risk. These are Pocketpair’s published recommendations, not a guarantee for a particular player count or workload. The same page recommends faster SSD storage and warns that low-performance storage may corrupt saved data. See the requirements page.
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Install and start the dedicated server
Windows: install through Steam
- In Steam, open Library and make sure the library filter includes Tools.
- Search for Palworld Dedicated Server and download it.
- Launch the tool and choose the dedicated-server play option when prompted.
Windows or Linux: install with SteamCMD
Pocketpair’s guide provides this command for either operating system:
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steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit
When the download finishes, go to the server’s PalServer installation directory. Start it with PalServer.exe on Windows or ./PalServer.sh on Linux. The installation and startup instructions are in Pocketpair’s deployment guide.
Configure the server and world
Server startup options and world settings are separate. Startup arguments control items such as the listening port and player limit; the active INI file stores server and world options.
Set startup arguments when needed
Pocketpair’s version 0.6.8 server-arguments reference lists -port=8211 as the default listening port and -players=32 as the argument for changing the maximum number of participants. Optional performance flags shown in the guide are -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS; they are not required for a basic launch. If you change the port, use the same value in your network rules and in the address you give friends.
Edit the active settings file
- Start the server once so it creates its configuration directories.
- Copy
DefaultPalWorldSettings.iniinto the active configuration path for your operating system. - Edit
PalWorldSettings.iniin that active path, then restart the server for the settings to take effect.
The active paths are:
- Windows:
Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini - Linux:
Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini
Editing only DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini does not apply your changes. The version 0.6.8 configuration reference describes settings for the server name, server password, admin password, maximum players, and world balance.
Make the server reachable from outside your home
Pocketpair’s version 0.5.0 requirements page names UDP 8211 as the default, changeable game port and says router port forwarding is required. As Pocketpair puts it: “Separate Windows firewall settings and router settings are required.”
- Allow inbound traffic on the chosen UDP listening port in the host computer’s firewall.
- In your router’s port-forwarding settings, forward that UDP port to the local network address of the computer running the server.
- Use the same port in the server’s
-portstartup argument, router rule, firewall rule, and connection details if you selected a nondefault port.
The -publicport argument is for the externally advertised community-server port; it does not change the server’s listening port. Consult Pocketpair’s server arguments reference if you need to set it.
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Tell friends how to join
Private server: direct connection
Give friends the server’s public IP address and UDP port. In Palworld, they enter the address and port in the field below the server list. Pocketpair’s connection guide describes this direct-connect flow for a private dedicated server.
Public listing: community server
If you want the server to appear in the in-game community list, start it with -publiclobby. Friends then choose Community server and select the server from the list; they do not use the private direct-connect flow. Pocketpair’s community-server guide notes that routers without Hairpin NAT may prevent the host or other people on the same LAN from joining a listed server from inside that network.
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Check platform compatibility if a friend cannot join
The version 0.6.8 configuration reference lists the CrossplayPlatforms default as (Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac). This is newer documentation than Pocketpair’s version 0.5.0 compatibility page, which described PS5 cross-play as unavailable at that time. Because the older guidance is time-specific, do not apply it as a current blanket restriction. If someone on another platform cannot connect, check that the server is updated, that its active platform setting includes the friend’s platform, and that they are using the correct connection method.
Back up saves and handle updates carefully
Pocketpair’s configuration reference describes bIsUseBackupSaveData; enabling it creates a backup directory with periodic saves. For the official Docker setup, Pocketpair’s repository advises backing up data before an update, stopping the server, changing the image tag to match the game version, and restarting it. Its sample Compose workflow uses docker compose up -d to start, docker compose down to stop, and docker compose logs to inspect logs. The first startup generates save and configuration files under ./Saved.
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