How to create a Palworld server: guide for Windows and Linux

On your own Palworld server you play with friends in a persistent world – with your own rates, slots and rules, and without a host needing to be in-game. There are two ways to get one: a manual install with SteamCMD, or a ready-made game server. This guide covers the manual setup on Windows and Linux, plus configuration, RCON, backups and troubleshooting.

What you'll learn in this article

• Install the Palworld dedicated server with SteamCMD on Windows and Linux
• Configure the server through PalWorldSettings.ini (name, password, slots, rates)
• Open the correct port 8211/UDP in the firewall and router
• Connect to the server and set up RCON securely
• Create backups and update the server after patches

Quick version: a Palworld server in 7 steps

1. Choose a suitable PC, VPS or dedicated server with enough RAM.
2. Install SteamCMD.
3. Download the server files with App ID 2394010.
4. Launch PalServer once (creates config and world).
5. Adjust PalWorldSettings.ini (name, password, slots, rates).
6. Open 8211/UDP in the firewall and router.
7. In Palworld, use "Join Multiplayer (Dedicated Server)" with IP:8211.

Contents

• Requirements and hardware
• Installation
• Configure the server (PalWorldSettings.ini)
• Ports & firewall
• Connecting to the server
• Admin & RCON
• Mods & settings
• Backups
• Updates
• Troubleshooting
• FAQ

Requirements and hardware

Palworld is memory-hungry. Demand depends on player count, captured Pals and base size. The values are a guideline, not guaranteed minimums.

Strong single-core performance, an SSD and – for a home server – a public IPv4 address also matter. With DS-Lite/CGNAT, normal port forwarding is often impossible and the server won't be reachable from the internet.

Installation

On Windows

Download SteamCMD from Valve, extract it to C:\steamcmd and run steamcmd.exe once so it updates. Then download the server files:

steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit

App ID 2394010 is the Palworld dedicated server; the game's client ID is different and wrong for a server install. Then launch PalServer.exe. Pocketpair recommends extra flags for performance:

PalServer.exe -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS -port=8211 -players=32

The first start creates the config folder and world. Stop the server cleanly before editing the configuration.

On Linux

These steps target current Debian/Ubuntu. Create a dedicated user and install SteamCMD with its 32-bit libraries:

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" pal
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y steamcmd

As user pal, install the server:

sudo -iu pal
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /home/pal/palserver +app_update 2394010 validate +quit

For 24/7 operation, set up a systemd service. Create /etc/systemd/system/palworld.service:

[Unit]
Description=Palworld Dedicated Server
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=pal
WorkingDirectory=/home/pal/palserver
ExecStart=/home/pal/palserver/PalServer.sh -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS -port=8211 -players=32
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable it and check the logs:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now palworld
sudo journalctl -u palworld -f

Configure the server (PalWorldSettings.ini)

The configuration is not next to the server binary but here – and only appears after the first start:

• Windows: Pal\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\PalWorldSettings.ini
• Linux: Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini

Use the contents of the bundled DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini as a base, then adjust the values in the long OptionSettings line (don't break the parentheses). The most important ones:

Ports & firewall

Palworld communicates over UDP. Only 8211/UDP is required for a direct connection.

Windows (PowerShell as administrator):

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Palworld 8211 UDP" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 8211 -Action Allow

Linux (ufw):

sudo ufw allow 8211/udp

On a home network you also need to forward 8211/UDP in the router to the server's local IP. A port test is only meaningful while the server is running.

Connecting to the server

In Palworld, choose "Join Multiplayer (Dedicated Server)" and enter the address:

YOUR_IP:8211

On a home network use the local IP (192.168.x.x:8211); from outside, the public IP. Add the ServerPassword if you set one. If connecting via the public IP from the same network fails, it's usually missing NAT loopback in the router – test with the local IP instead.

Admin & RCON

If you enable RCONEnabled=True in PalWorldSettings.ini and set AdminPassword plus RCONPort (default 25575), you can manage the server remotely with an RCON client – list, kick or ban players, send messages or save.

Mods & settings

Palworld dedicated servers have no Steam Workshop mod system like some other games. Customisation runs entirely through PalWorldSettings.ini: there you control difficulty, XP, capture and gather rates, day/night length, base limits and many more values. Fine-tuning these options is usually enough for a noticeably different experience.

Backups

Back up the world folder under Pal/Saved/. Stop the server cleanly first so the saves are consistent, and don't keep backups only on the same drive. Create a backup before every update – saves aren't always compatible between versions.

Updates

There is no auto-update. After a Palworld update, pull the server files with the same SteamCMD command:

steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit

Then restart the server. On a systemd server, sudo systemctl restart palworld does it.

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions about the Palworld server

How much RAM does a Palworld server need? 8 GB is fine for small groups; for a full server with up to 32 players, plan for 16 GB or more.

Which port does a Palworld server need? 8211/UDP for the game; 25575/TCP only in addition if you use RCON.

Where is the configuration file? Under Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini (Windows) or Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini (Linux), after the first start.

How many players are possible? Up to 32 at once by default, adjustable via ServerPlayerMaxNum.

How do I update the server? With the same SteamCMD command using App ID 2394010 – create a backup first.

Related guides

• More survival with your own server: How to create a Valheim server
• Zombie survival as an alternative: How to create a Project Zomboid server
• More dedicated-server guides: How to create a Rust server and How to create an ARK: Survival Ascended server

Summary

A Palworld server is quick to set up on Windows and Linux with SteamCMD and App ID 2394010. The key points are the open 8211/UDP port, editing PalWorldSettings.ini while the server is stopped, and regular backups before updates. If you'd rather not manage the operating system, SteamCMD and firewall yourself, you can also rent a Palworld server and manage it through the web panel.