How to Host Dedicated Valheim Server

Welcome, Dev! If you’re interested in playing Valheim with your friends, you’ve come to the right place. We will guide you through the steps of hosting a dedicated Valheim server, which will allow you and your friends to play together without any connection issues or lag. Here are 20 consecutive headings about how to set up a dedicated Valheim server.

1. Understanding Dedicated Valheim Server

Before diving into the technical details, it’s important to understand what a dedicated Valheim server is. When a player hosts a game, their computer acts as the server, managing all the game’s connections and data. A dedicated server is a computer dedicated solely to hosting a Valheim game, which can significantly improve gameplay and avoid lag.

What are the Benefits of a Dedicated Server?

There are several benefits of using a dedicated server over hosting the game on your computer:

2. System Requirements for Hosting a Dedicated Valheim Server

Before you begin, it’s important to check if your system meets the minimum requirements for hosting a dedicated Valheim server. Here are the system requirements:

3. Setting Up a Steam Account

To host a dedicated Valheim server, you need to have a Steam account. Follow these steps to set up a Steam account:

Step 1: Go to the Steam Website

Open your web browser and go to the Steam website. Click on the ‘Join Steam’ button at the top-right corner of the page.

Step 2: Create an Account

Enter your email address and choose a strong password. You will also need to agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement and Privacy Policy.

Step 3: Verify Your Email Address

After creating your account, Steam will send a verification email to the email address you provided. Click on the verification link in the email to verify your email address.

4. Setting Up a Valheim Dedicated Server

Once you have a Steam account and your system meets the system requirements, you can start setting up your Valheim dedicated server. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the Valheim Server Files

Download the Valheim server files from SteamDB. Choose the version that matches your game version. You can check your game version by right-clicking on Valheim in your Steam Library, selecting Properties, then clicking on the ‘Local Files’ tab, and finally clicking on the ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’ button.

Step 2: Create a Folder for the Server Files

Create a folder on your computer where you want to store the Valheim server files. You can name the folder anything you want. Make sure there is enough space for the server files.

Step 3: Extract the Server Files

Right-click on the Valheim server file you downloaded and select ‘Extract All.’ Choose the folder you created in step 2 as the destination folder. The server files will be extracted to this folder.

Step 4: Configure the Server Settings

Open the folder where you extracted the server files. Open the file named ‘start_headless_server.bat’ in a text editor, such as Notepad. This is the file that will start the server when you run it.

You can configure the server settings in this file. Here are some of the server settings you can change:

• world=world-name: Specifies the name of your world. Replace ‘world-name’ with the name you want to give your world.
• password=your-password: Specifies the password required to join the server. Replace ‘your-password’ with the password you want to use.
• public=1: Makes your server public so other players can join. Set the value to 0 to make it private.
• port=2456: Specifies the port your server will use. The default port is 2456, but you can change it if you need to.
• maxplayers=10: Specifies the maximum number of players that can join your server. You can change this value to any number you want.

Step 5: Start the Server

Double-click on the ‘start_headless_server.bat’ file to start the server. The server window will open, and you will see the server logs in real-time. If everything is working correctly, the logs will show that the server is running and listening for connections.

5. Joining a Valheim Dedicated Server

Now that you have set up a Valheim dedicated server, you can join it from within the game. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch Valheim

Launch Valheim on your computer. Click on the ‘Join Game’ button on the main menu.

Step 2: Enter Server Details

Enter the server details in the ‘Server Name’ and ‘Server Password’ fields. The server name should be the same as the ‘world-name’ you specified in the server settings. The server password should be the password you specified.

Step 3: Connect to the Server

Click on the ‘Connect’ button to join the server. If everything is working correctly, you will be connected to the server, and you will see other players in the game.

6. Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter any issues while setting up or joining a Valheim dedicated server, here are some common troubleshooting steps:

1. Port Forwarding

If you cannot connect to the server, it could be because your router is blocking the ports used by Valheim. You can fix this by forwarding the ports on your router. Here is how:

• Log in to your router’s administration page.
• Find the port forwarding or virtual server settings.
• Add a new port forwarding rule for the port used by Valheim (by default, port 2456).
• Save the changes and restart your router.

2. Firewall

If you cannot connect to the server, it could be because your firewall is blocking the ports used by Valheim. You can fix this by adding an exception to your firewall. Here is how:

• Open the Windows Firewall settings.
• Click on ‘Advanced Settings.’
• Click on ‘Inbound Rules.’
• Click on ‘New Rule.’
• Choose ‘Port’ and click ‘Next.’
• Enter the port used by Valheim (by default, port 2456).
• Choose ‘Allow the connection’ and click ‘Next.’
• Choose when the rule applies (public, private, or domain) and click ‘Next.’
• Give the rule a name and click ‘Finish.’

3. Server Not Running

If you cannot connect to the server, it could be because the server is not running. Make sure you have started the server by double-clicking on the ‘start_headless_server.bat’ file.

4. Game Version Mismatch

If you cannot connect to the server, it could be because your game version does not match the server’s game version. Make sure you have downloaded the server files that match your game version.

5. Server Lag

If the server is laggy or slow, it could be because the server is overloaded. Try reducing the number of players or increasing the system resources available to the server.

7. Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully set up a dedicated Valheim server and joined it with your friends. We hope this guide has been helpful for you. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below.

FAQ

1. Can I Play Valheim Without a Dedicated Server?

Yes, you can. You can host a game on your computer and invite your friends to play with you. However, this can cause connection issues and lag, especially if your computer is not powerful enough to handle the game and manage the connections at the same time.

2. How Many Players Can Join a Valheim Dedicated Server?

You can specify the maximum number of players in the server settings. The default maximum number of players is 10, but you can change this value to any number you want.

3. Can I Customize the Server Settings?

Yes, you can customize the server settings in the ‘start_headless_server.bat’ file. You can change the world name, server password, server port, maximum number of players, and other settings.