Here's how to connect to your Valheim server and adjust the most important settings.
Connecting
- Open the server page in the client area and click Start.
- Wait until the status shows “running”. You can follow the progress in the Console tab.
- Copy the address (IP:Port) at the top of the server page.
- In Valheim, choose Join Game → Join IP, enter the address and then the server password.
Important settings
In the Startup variables tab:
- Server name (
SERVER_NAME) – name in the server browser. - Server password (
PASSWORD) – password for joining. - World name (
WORLD) – which saved world is loaded. - Public server (
PUBLIC_SERVER) – when set to false, the server is hidden and only reachable via “Join IP”. - Crossplay (
ENABLE_CROSSPLAY) – enables crossplay.
Changes in the Startup variables tab take effect on the next restart.
Understanding automatic backups
Valheim creates backups of your world by itself. The startup variables control this:
- Save interval (default 1800 seconds): the world is saved every 30 minutes.
- Number of backups (default 4): this many backups are kept.
- Short backup interval (default 7200 seconds) and Long backup interval (default 43200 seconds): spacing between the kept backups – so you have both a fresh and an older backup at hand.
You can also create a Backup in the tab of the same name at any time.
Public or private
With Public server set to 1, your server appears in the community list in the game. With 0 it is only reachable via its direct address. Valheim needs a password in both cases (at least 5 characters, must not appear in the server name).
World name
The World name determines which world is loaded. A new name creates a new world; the old one is kept.
Good to know
- You can set how often the world is saved and backed up via
BACKUP_INTERVALandBACKUP_COUNT. - The first start takes longer because the server files are downloaded and set up.
- Bring your own world from your PC: Upload a Valheim world
- Playing with mods: Install Valheim mods (BepInEx and Thunderstore)