To create a custom Valheim world, open Worlds > New, replace the random text in the Seed field with your own seed, choose the world version you will play, and create the world. Seeds are case-sensitive and become fixed when the world is generated; changing the seed later requires creating a different world.
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If you plan to use a dedicated server, generate the world locally first and upload both of its files: the .fwl metadata file and the .db progress database. Valheim does not provide a dedicated-server seed launch parameter.
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A Valheim seed is the text value used to generate a world’s procedural map. It determines the arrangement of terrain and discoverable locations produced when the world is created. The game fills the Seed field with a random value, but you can replace that value with a seed you choose or one shared by another player.
Seed text is case-sensitive. Uppercase and lowercase letters are not interchangeable, and an extra space or missing character creates a different input. A seed is also fixed at world creation. You cannot edit the seed of an existing world in the normal new-world dialog; to use a different seed, create another world.
Reproducibility also depends on the game build. Community reports indicate that world-generation parameters can change with major updates, so an old seed may not produce the same map after a major version change. Treat the seed and the world version as a pair.
Create a custom world in single-player or as a host
- Open the world list. From the main menu, select Worlds, then choose New.
- Name the world. Use a name that identifies the seed and version, such as
Coop-Mountains-1.0.17. The name helps you select the correct save later; it does not replace the seed. - Replace the random seed. Click the Seed field, select the prefilled random value, delete it, and type or paste the seed exactly. Check capitalization, punctuation and spaces before continuing.
- Select the world version. Choose the current version for a new world, or the same build used by the players and server that must reproduce an existing seed. Do not mix a seed preview made for one major version with a world created on another.
- Create the world. Confirm the settings and generate the world. Once generation finishes, the seed is fixed for that world.
Keep a written record of the exact seed string, the world name and the game version. A screenshot of the new-world dialog is useful when several people need to recreate the same setup.
What happens if you make a typo?
The game does not normalize seed text for you. If you create the world with a typo, the resulting map belongs to the mistyped seed. There is no setting that converts that world to the intended seed. Correct the text and generate a new world instead; leave the mistaken world untouched until you are certain it is not needed.
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Choose the version before you generate
Version selection matters because major updates can alter world-generation rules. A seed that was shared before a major update can therefore lead to different coastlines, biomes or points of interest when entered on the newer build. Community observations support this warning, although it is not an official guarantee that every update changes every seed.
| Situation | Version choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Starting a new world today | The current game version | It generates the map for the build you will actually play. |
| Recreating a friend’s map | The friend’s world-generation version | Matching the seed alone may not reproduce the same map after a major update. |
| Previewing a seed | The same version you intend to use in-game | A preview made for another build may show different terrain or locations. |
| Returning to an older save | The save’s established build, where possible | Changing versions can make map comparisons and location plans unreliable. |
Valheim’s official Steam announcements identify the 1.0 release as the update that brought the Deep North biome. The latest announcement listed in the supplied material is version 1.0.17, described as a bug-fix release dated October 6, 2026. Steam’s live announcement feed is the authority for the build you should select; do not rely on an older guide’s release date or version label.
Do not assume that a seed map made before 1.0 includes the Deep North correctly. Verify that a preview tool supports the build you are running, and regard any unverified placement information as provisional.
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Preview a seed before committing to a world
Third-party seed-map tools can display a generated map before you spend time exploring it in-game. Guides commonly name Valheim World Generator (valheim-map.world), Cake Hosting’s Valheim seed map and the Valheim Wiki seed guide. These are community tools, not official Valheim features, and their current-build accuracy is not established.
- Enter the exact seed, preserving capitalization and punctuation.
- Select the same world version you plan to play. If the tool does not offer that version, treat the result as an approximation rather than a plan.
- Inspect the large-scale layout first: starting-island size, sea crossings, major biome boundaries and likely travel routes.
- Check the locations you care about, such as boss altars, Haldor and crypts. Record the coordinates or screenshots supplied by the tool.
- Compare more than one promising seed and save the exact text and version for the candidate you choose.
- Create the game world with that same seed and version. If an in-game location does not match, stop relying on the preview until you confirm that the tool supports your build.
A map preview is not a substitute for the generated world. Tool databases can lag behind a major update, omit newly added content or interpret a seed differently. In particular, confirm whether the preview includes the Deep North when working with a 1.0 build.
What to evaluate in a preview
- Starting area: Decide whether the first island gives you practical access to nearby biomes and resources.
- Boss progression: Note the distance and travel direction to the altars you expect to use.
- Merchant access: Check whether Haldor appears in a location that fits your planned routes; treat the marker as tool-generated information, not an official guarantee.
- Dungeon distribution: Look for crypts and other locations required by your play style, then verify them in the game.
- Server travel: For a group, consider how many dangerous crossings and portal links the map will require.
Use a custom seed on a dedicated server
Valheim dedicated servers do not have a seed launch parameter. The reliable method is to generate the world in a local game first, then upload the generated world files to the server.
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- Generate locally. Follow the single-player procedure, entering the exact seed and selecting the build that matches the server and players.
- Let world creation finish. Start the world at least once so Valheim writes its save files. Exit cleanly before copying anything.
- Stop the server. Never replace world files while the server process is writing to them.
- Locate the world save. The world consists of two files with the same base name: a
.fwlfile and a.dbfile. - Upload both files together. Use the host’s file manager, SFTP or equivalent transfer method. Keep the matching names and extensions intact.
- Select the uploaded world in the server configuration. The exact control-panel label differs by host; choose the world name that corresponds to the uploaded files.
- Start the server and test. Join with one player first, confirm the spawn and a few known landmarks, then invite the rest of the group.
The .fwl file stores metadata such as the world name, seed and configuration. The .db file stores world progress. Neither file is useful by itself for a complete transfer, so back up and move them as a pair.
Host control panels
Some hosting control panels report a World Manager-style generator. A typical workflow is to stop the server, choose Generate New World, enter a world name and seed, and start the server again. Availability and labels depend on the host, so use the panel’s current documentation. If the panel does not expose a generator, local creation and a two-file upload remain the general fallback.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Back up and migrate a seeded world safely
Before changing a server version, replacing a world or testing a mod, make a copy of both matching save files. Give the backup a descriptive name that includes the world name, seed and date. Keep the original pair together; separating the metadata file from its database can leave the server unable to load the intended world or can make it appear that progress has disappeared.
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For a migration, stop the old server, copy the complete pair, install the target build, and start with the copied world selected. Test with a single player before deleting the old files. If the map appears different, verify the selected world name and game version before assuming the seed changed.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The map does not match a screenshot or friend’s map. | Different capitalization, a typo, a different major version or an outdated preview tool. | Compare the seed character by character, match the world-generation version, and regenerate only after confirming both. |
| The seed field keeps showing an unexpected value. | The random prefilled value was not fully selected before typing. | Click the field, select all existing text, delete it, then paste the complete seed. |
| You want to change the seed of an established world. | Seeds are fixed at generation. | Create a new world with the replacement seed; the existing world cannot be converted through the normal UI. |
| The dedicated server starts a different map. | The server is pointed at another world name, or only one save file was uploaded. | Stop the server, verify the selected world name, and upload the matching .fwl and .db files together. |
| Progress is missing after a transfer. | The database file was omitted, mismatched or overwritten. | Restore the original paired backup and restart with both files present. |
| A preview shows a location that is absent in-game. | The map tool may target another build or may be inaccurate. | Check its version support, compare the game build, and treat the in-game world as authoritative. |
Should you use a seed mod?
Guides mention third-party mods such as Cartographer’s Table, which reportedly exposes seed information on the in-game map, and Customizable Seeds, which reportedly changes biome rules at world creation. Their compatibility with Valheim 1.0 is unverified. Use a mod only after checking that its release supports your exact game build and server setup, and make a complete save backup first.
Mods are not required to create a custom seed. The built-in new-world dialog is the baseline method and is the least complicated route for an unmodded game or a shared server.
A practical seed-selection checklist
- Write the seed exactly as supplied, including capitalization.
- Record the game version beside the seed.
- Preview it only with a tool that claims support for that version.
- Check starting terrain, biome access, boss altars, Haldor and crypts.
- Decide whether the travel distances suit solo play or your group’s server schedule.
- Generate the world once you are satisfied; do not expect to edit the seed afterward.
- For a dedicated server, preserve and transfer both the
.fwland.dbfiles. - Back up the pair before updates, migrations or mod experiments.
Key takeaways
Use the in-game Seed field when creating the world, not a server launch argument. Enter the value exactly, select the matching world version, and remember that generation is permanent for that save. Third-party maps can help you shortlist locations but are not official and may lag behind major updates. For dedicated servers, create the world locally or use a host panel’s generator when available, then keep the matching .fwl and .db files together.
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