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Generate a Valheim start_headless_server.bat

Looking for Valheim's config file? It does not exist. The server takes every option as a command-line flag in its launch script, so editing files will never change how it behaves.

Start from a preset

Visual Settings

batch args Format
Identity

Server name in the browser. Must not be the same as the password, or the server refuses to start.

Game port. Valheim also uses the port immediately above this one for queries, so forward both.

Gameplay

World modifier preset introduced with the difficulty sliders. Applies on top of the world itself.

World

Name of the world save to load. A typo silently starts a brand new world instead of loading yours.

Override for where worlds and characters are stored. Leave blank for the default location.

Seconds between automatic saves.

How many rolling backups to keep.

Players & Access

Minimum five characters, and it must not appear inside the server or world name. Breaking either rule stops the server booting with little explanation.

Network

1 lists the server publicly, 0 makes it joinable by address only.

Enables the PlayFab crossplay backend so console players can join. Changes how the server is discovered.

start_headless_server.bat

valheim_server.exe -nographics -batchmode -name "My Valheim" -port 2456 -world "Dedicated" -password "changeme" -public 1

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The start_headless_server.bat format

Options are flags on the server executable. Name, port, world and password each take a value after them, quoted if it has a space in it. Be careful with world: it refers to an existing save by name rather than seeding a new one, so misspell it and you silently get a fresh, empty world in place of the one you wanted.

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The mistake that wastes an evening

The password rules can stop the server from starting, and you will not be told why. It has to be five characters or longer, and it cannot contain either the server name or the world name. Name the server Valhalla, set the password valhalla123, and it simply will not launch. If the server quits straight after starting, check the password first.

How much RAM a Valheim server needsCheck a Valheim server’s statusValheim server hostingAll games

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