Valheim – Setting Up a Dedicated Server

This guide will help you setting up a dedicated server or you can click the link below to order your own game server!

Info

I’ve managed to download and run a server successfully with the steps below. I assume you have some basic knowledge of how servers and SteamCMD work, so the guide is very brief.

How to Host Your Own Server (Rental Service Provider)

You can host a server at game server hosting provider:

• Valheim Server!

Note: Every gaming server goes online immediately! A welcome email including your connection information (guide) will be sent to you when your gaming server is created.

SteamCMD and Installing Content

• Download SteamCMD from here. 

Extract it to any location. I keep my SteamCMD on my desktop.

Create a .bat file named “update.bat” and paste the following in it:

• C:UsersUSERNAMEDesktopSteamCMDsteamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:Valheim +app_update 896660 validate +exit

Change C:UsersUSERNAMEDesktopSteamCMDsteamcmd to where you extracted SteamCMD.

Change the +force_install_dir C:Valheim to where you want to install the server.

Save the .bat file and run it. When it has finished it should look like this in the folder you specified:

Move your “update.bat” to the installation folder to keep it organized and run it when you want to update the server.

Configure Server

Make a copy of the “start_headless_server.bat” in your server folder and rename it to “start.bat”. Open “start.bat” with any text editor.

I’ve marked the text you need to change with “CHANGEME” below, change them to what you want. When you’re done, save and exit.

@echo off
set SteamAppId=892970

REM Tip: Make a local copy of this script to avoid it being overwritten by steam.
REM NOTE: Minimum password length is 5 characters & Password cant be in the server name.
REM NOTE: You need to make sure the ports 2456-2458 is being forwarded to your server through your local router & firewall.
start valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name “CHANGEME” -port 2456 -world “CHANGEME” -password “CHANGEME” -public 1

echo Server started
echo.
echo Press ANY KEY to stop server
pause > nul
echo 1 > server_exit.drp

echo Server exit signal set
echo You can now close this terminal

Make sure ports 2456-2458 are open in your firewall on your router and PC. You can now start the server with the “start.bat” file. The server is ready when it says “Game server connected”. To close down the server properly, open the CMD prompt that is open (see picture below) and input any key.

Save Location

You can find your world in AppDataLocalLowIronGateValheim. You can move your Singleplayer saves over to the dedicated server if it’s on another PC, just make sure you name it the same in your “start.bat”.

Direct Connect

Go to Steam > View > Servers > Favorites > Add a server

Put your machines IP and then port 2457 (default port +1 if you changed it), example: 192.168.1.20:2457

You can now direct connect through the steam server browser. If you’re connecting from the outside, put your exterior IP.

It might show for a second and then disappear, make sure to double-click it instantly after refreshing. Not sure why this happens for me.