Valheim has no config file — every setting is passed to the server when it starts. On your Connect server they all live on the Server Settings tab, and every change takes effect on the next restart.
The settings
| Setting | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Server Name | The name players see in the Community list and on the join screen | Up to 60 characters |
| Server Password | What players type after connecting | At least 5 characters, and it must not appear anywhere in the World Name — the game refuses to start otherwise |
| World Name | Which world the server loads | Change it to start a fresh world, or match it to a world you uploaded (Backups & Saves) |
| Public Server | 1 = listed in the in-game Community tab, 0 = invite-only | Invite-only servers still work with Join IP and join codes |
| Enable Crossplay | 1 = PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2 players can join; 0 = Steam only | On by default. See Crossplay & Join Codes |
| Auto Update | 1 = the server updates itself from Steam on every restart | Set to 0 to hold a version until your group has patched |
Applying a change
- Edit the value on the Server Settings tab and save.
- Restart the server from the Overview tab.
- Wait for
registered with join codein the console — and remember the join code will be a new one.
Password rules that stop the server
The two mistakes that produce a server that "won't start" with no obvious error:
- A password with fewer than 5 characters.
- A password that is contained in the World Name — for example world
Midgardwith passwordgard.
Fix the value and restart. The console will show the game's own complaint near the bottom of the log if you want to confirm.
Admins, allowed players and bans
These aren't settings — they're text files in the saves/ folder, one ID per line:
adminlist.txt— who can use admin commands (F5 console in-game)permittedlist.txt— if it has any entry, only listed players may joinbannedlist.txt— who may not join
Steam players are identified by SteamID64. Console players use the platform ID shown in the in-game player list (F2). Edit the files on the Files tab; the server reads them on restart.
Things you can't change
- Player cap. Valheim allows 1–10 players per server on every plan. That's the game, not the plan.
- Ports. Your server's port is assigned at checkout and shown on the connection card. It doesn't change.
Restarts and saving
Restarting from the dashboard saves the world first. The automatic daily restart on the Schedules tab does the same. If you ever need to stop the server in a hurry, the Stop button is still a clean shutdown — only a crash skips the save.