Introduction To Palworld Dedicated Server

Palworld drops you into this chaotic, wild open-world survival game where everything revolves around these weird little creatures called Pals. You collect them, fight alongside them, throw them into crafting, stick them on farms, and even make them run your machines. It is a full-on mix of survival mechanics, base building, and co-op chaos. And yeah, it gets pretty intense once you start playing with others.

But here’s the thing: if you care about multiplayer, you need to Set up a Palworld Dedicated Server. The game supports up to 32 players, but trying to host from someone’s PC? Laggy. Unstable. Once the host logs off, the world shuts down. That’s where dedicated servers come in. They keep the world running no matter what. No downtime, no host crashes, no random disconnects when things get busy.

If you want the Palworld multiplayer to actually matter, set up a dedicated server. Nothing else comes close.edicated server. Nothing else comes close.

What is Palworld and How Does Its Dedicated Server Work?

Palworld is a survival game built around creatures (called Pal) collecting, but it’s not soft. You’ve got weather systems, hunger, raids, factions, crafting, and a bunch of chaos happening all the time. It’s like someone mashed Pokémon with ARK: Survival Evolved, threw in factory automation, and flipped the online multiplayer switch.

The Pals aren’t just cute sidekicks. You assign them jobs. Some fight, some farm, and some just carry your equipment while you loot another outpost. The more you rely on them, the deeper the systems get.

A dedicated server in Palworld is exactly what it sounds like. It runs the game world on its own, without depending on anyone’s PC. That means the world stays online all the time. No host required, no random shutdowns. So instead of someone hosting from their own PC where everything stops the second they log off, the world keeps running. Players can join and leave whenever. Nothing resets or disappears.

This kind of setup isn’t just for convenience. It’s what makes Palworld feel more like a true personal.

Advantages over peer-to-peer (P2P) hosting

Peer-to-peer hosting makes players play from the machines of one another without a central server, and so, one player becomes the host and the others join his or her session. It is unlike a dedicated server, which is independent and is on regardless.

When you’re deciding between a dedicated server and just using peer-to-peer hosting in Palworld, a few things stand out fast. Dedicated servers offer a stronger, more flexible setup that actually holds up when things get busy. Here’s why they’re the better choice:

Stability and uptime

The server is independent of any PC, so it is always online regardless of the joined and the left participants. You don’t lose progress just because the host disconnected. The world keeps running and the Uptime and Reliability is great. That’s what makes it work for long-term play.

Higher player capacity

The number of players that can be served by dedicated servers is 32 without tanking. Large numbers can cooperate without lag spikes, connection drops, or slowdowns, which tend to manifest themselves in peer-to-peer games.

Full control over game settings

When you are running the server, you choose how it works. Change the player cap, enable or disable PvP, adjust the spawn rate of stuff, provide or deny mod permissions–whatever you consider appropriate to your group’s preferred play style. You make the rules.

Fast network performance and less lag

Everything goes through one central server and not between players, and you have less lag and more response times. It all is smoother and more trustworthy, especially when there is a quite a lot of action at the same time.

Enhanced security and protection

Dedicated Palworld servers usually usually come with real security features. We’re talking DDoS protection, firewalls, regular backups, and the works. These help block attacks and stop data from getting wiped. Hosting providers also throw in malware scanners and access controls so random people can’t mess with your server. Compared to running it from home or relying on peer-to-peer, it’s just way safer.

Scalability and easy upgrades

As your world gets busier, you’ll need more power. That is easy with dedicated servers. The majority of hosts support upgrading CPU, RAM, storage or bandwidth quickly, and sometimes immediately. No downtime, no stress. They should start small and increase when you get more players or when you begin to conduct bigger events. The performance remains stable, even in the hectic situations.

Convenient server management tools

You don’t have to be a server admin wizard to run one. In the majority of hosting solutions, you are provided with an easy-to-use control panel that has all of it. One-Click start or stop the server, log check, admin management with SteamID, performance monitoring, and automatic backups. It is time and trouble-saving and you can concentrate on playing the game.

Use cases:

Dedicated servers in Palworld make a huge difference for multiplayer.

• If you’re running a private world, a dedicated server keeps it locked down. No random players popping in. No connection dies when someone logs out. Just your group, your rules, always online.
• Clans and organized teams use them for a reason. When you’re running raids, PvP tournaments, or scheduled events, you can’t have a server flaking out mid-match. You need uptime that doesn’t quit and performance that holds steady when things get chaotic.
• Want to adjust how the game works? Dedicated servers let you mess with PvP settings, tweak resource spawn rates, or fine-tune how fast stuff respawns. That kind of control matters when you’re trying to keep things fair or push a certain playstyle.
• Modded servers are a whole other beast. You can add new items, creatures, building systems, or whatever your group wants to try. This is where Palworld starts to feel like something totally custom.
• And because the server’s not tied to someone’s personal PC, mods actually run well. Less crashing, fewer weird bugs, and  no one has to wait around for someone else to boot up the game.

Dedicated servers make multiplayer in Palworld feel solid. Doesn’t matter if it’s casual friends hanging out or a hardcore group chasing rankings. If you care about how the game runs, this is the way to do it.

Prerequisites and System Requirements for Setting Up a Palworld Dedicated Server

To run a Palworld dedicated server smoothly and reliably, the server has to meet a few basic requirements across the Operating System, hardware, and network.

Supported Platforms

You can host a Palworld server on either Windows or Linux, as long as it’s a 64-bit system. Windows 10 works. So does Ubuntu or AlmaLinux if you’re going the Linux route. You’ll need Steam or SteamCMD to install and manage it. You can run it through the regular Steam client, or get more hands-on with SteamCMD commands. There’s also a Docker image if you want to keep things tidy and scriptable.

Recommended Hardware Specs

• CPU: At minimum, you want a quad-core CPU. However in the real world, you need something more modern with good single core performance. Consider 4 cores or higher, preferably over 3.5GHz. That is useful when the players of the server and the Pals juggle simultaneously.
• RAM: 8GB might work if you’re just testing with a couple of friends. But don’t rely on it. You’ll run into crashes if things get busy. If you’re aiming for something stable for 10–30 players, go with 16GB. If you’re hosting a big world, 32GB is a safer bet.
• Storage: You need at least 40GB of SSD space. Not just for the game files, but to make sure the world loads fast and saves don’t lag. NVMe is even better. Just don’t run it off a spinning HDD unless you want pain.
• Network Setup: You need a solid connection with decent upload speed. Doesn’t have to be enterprise-level, but it has to hold steady. There is no compromise on port forwarding. Ensure on your router port 8211 TCP and UDP are open. Otherwise, when you do not do this anyone out of your LAN is not connecting.
• Use a static public IP. When your IP is continually changing, then players will not be able to connect with your server unless you update them with your new IP. Not worth the hassle.

Preparing Your Environment

The first thing you should do before you begin hosting a Palworld dedicated server is to determine how you will actually run it. It will be dependent on your comfort with the idea of administering servers, and the stability that you need the experience to be.

• Self-Hosting on Your Own PC: Running the server locally is the fastest and cheapest way to start. You control everything, no middleman. But your PC has to stay on 24/7. Your internet needs to be stable and you’ll probably need to open router ports. It’s fine for testing or small groups, but not great for uptime or big sessions. Weak hardware or flaky Wi-Fi will cause problems.

• Renting a VPS or Dedicated Game Server: This is better if you want something stable. A VPS gives you dedicated CPU, RAM, and bandwidth. It’s more reliable than your home setup. You still install and manage the server, but once it’s up, it stays up. Great for long-term Palworld hosting, especially with mods or active players.

• Using Game Hosting Providers with Game Panels: Don’t want to deal with setup? Use a provider. ARZ host, Hostinger Game Panel, Host Havoc, DatHost, GTXGaming, they offer Palworld hosting with browser-based controls. You get DDoS protection, auto-updates, backups, and mod support, all without touching code. Pay monthly, click a few buttons, and you’re live.

Installing Steam and SteamCMD

You’ll need one of two tools to install the Palworld server. Both are from Valve, and they’re used to pull the game server files from Steam’s backend. Which one you apply, is determined by your hosting.

• Steam Client: You can use Steam to download and manage the Palworld server using the standard interface in case you are on windows and have Steam installed. This is easier for beginners and works fine on personal PCs. It’s point-and-click. Just install it like any other Steam game.
• SteamCMD: This one’s for command line users. SteamCMD is a lightweight terminal tool that lets you install and update game servers without a GUI. You’ll want this if you’re running a headless Linux server, or if you’re automating anything. Most VPS setups use this. It’s fast and reliable, but you’ll need to type out some commands.

Set Up SteamCMD on Windows

• Download SteamCMD from Valve’s official page.
• Extract the folder and run steamcmd.exe. It’ll update itself for the first time.
• When it loads, type: login anonymous
• Set your install location:
  
  force_install_dir C:\Palworld-Server
  
• Download the server files:
  
  app_update 2394010 validate
  
• Type quit when it’s done.

Set Up SteamCMD on Linux

• Update everything first:
  
  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade –
  
• Add 32-bit support and install SteamCMD:
  
  sudo dpkg –add-architecture i386  
  

sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 software-properties-common steamcmd -y  

• Start SteamCMD by just typing steamcmd
• Log in anonymously
• Set your install dir and pull the server files (same commands as above)
• Use screen or tmux if you want to keep the server running after closing your SSH session.

Running on macOS

Palworld doesn’t support macOS for server hosting. On Mac, you have the best chance of using virtualization software or CrossOver to make a windows-like environment.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide of Palworld Dedicated Server

Setting up your Palworld dedicated server isn’t complicated, but it does require a few technical steps done in the right order. This section guides you through the process of installing game files all the way to setting up your network, and starting the server. Pay attention to every step to ensure that your server is stable, secure, and players can connect.

Installing Palworld and the Dedicated Server

Start by launching Palworld once: Before doing anything with the server, go ahead and open the game through your Steam account and let it run. You don’t need to actually play; just launching it once is enough. This makes sure all the required game files are in place.

Now install the dedicated server: There are two ways to do this, depending on what you’re using.

• If you are On Windows, this is the path:
  • Open Steam and log in
  • In your Library, set the filter to show Tools
  • Search for Palworld Dedicated Server
  • Click Install
  • That’ll download everything you need for hosting on Windows.
• If you’re using SteamCMD (Linux or a server without a GUI):
  • Open up SteamCMD
  • At the prompt, run:
  • steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit 
  • That downloads the recent update of the dedicated server with an anonymous login and spins SteamCMD off afterwards.

Where the files land:

By default, here’s where you’ll find your Palworld server files after install:

• On Windows:
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\PalServer
• On Linux:
  • ~/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer

Starting the server:

Open up your terminal or maybe command line and write the folder in which the server is installed:

• Windows:
  • cd “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\PalServer”
• Linux:
  • cd ~/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer

Then launch it:

• Windows: PalServer.exe
• Linux: ./PalServer.sh

This boots up the console and starts your Palworld dedicated server. Give it a moment, it’ll get everything ready for hosting your world.

2. Generating Initial Server Configuration

Your server will require you to have default configuration files before you begin to tweak settings. All you have to do is start up the server and run it for a few minutes. 

Where the configuration files live:

Inside your server’s install directory, you’ll see two key files pop up:

• DefaultPalworldSettings.ini: This one’s just a template. It holds the standard default settings the game comes with.
  
• PalworldSettings.ini: This is the actual config file the server uses when it runs. At first, it’ll be mostly empty or very basic, so you’ll need to edit this one to set up your preferred rules, options, and tweaks.
  

3.  Configuring Server Settings

Get your config file ready:

In order to install your Palworld server safely, open DefaultPalworldSettings.ini and Palworld Settings.ini in a text editor. Something basic, such as the Notepad on Windows.

Copy over the default settings:

Look at the DefaultPalworldSettings.ini file and scroll down to line 4. Copy everything from there and paste it into PalworldSettings.ini. This gives you a clean, complete set of settings to start from, so you’re not building the configuration from scratch.

Key configurable parameters in PalworldSettings.ini:

Parameter	Description	Example/Default
ServerName	Name players will see for your server	My Palworld Server
MaxPlayers	How many people can connect at once	32
PVP enabled/disabled	Toggle PvP mode on or off	True or False
ServerPort	Port your server listens on	8211
AdminPassword	Password for admin access	YourSecurePassword
MaxWorkers	Sets number of AI workers or background threads	16
ResourceSpawnRates	Adjust how often stuff like trees, ores, etc. spawn	Custom numeric values

4. Editing tips:

• On windows, open the file in any plain document such as notepad. Make sure not to open Word (or any other rich-text editor) as it will resize the formatting of the whole file.
• You can stay on terminals in Linux like nano or vim. For example:
  
  nano PalworldSettings.ini
• Always keep a backup, then you begin working. Should something go wrong, you will be able to simply roll back to the original without getting into trouble.

5. Save changes and restart the server:

After making changes:

• Save the file
• Stop your server if it’s already running
• Then restart it using either PalServer.exe or ./PalServer.sh, depending on your Operating System

Your new settings will load when the server boots up again. That’s all you need to start tweaking your Palworld experience.

Network Configuration for Accessibility

In case you wish your Palworld server to be accessible outside your home network, your configuration must be airtight. It is setting up the correct ports forward, configuring the firewall and ensuring that your server is available to the outside world. This stuff is not really difficult though you have to get it right or no one is going to get in.

1. Port Forwarding on your Router.

If you want people outside your network to join your Palworld server, you’ll need to forward port 8211 (both TCP and UDP) to the cTo allow other people (not in your network) to be included in your Palworld Server, port 8211 (TCP and UDP) will have to be forwarded into the computer that is running the server. Here’s how to do that:

• In the first step, locate the IP address of your router. You can find it normally printed on the router somewhere, or you can look at your network settings.
• Open a browser and enter that IP into the address bar to get the router into the administration page.
• Enter your router user name and password (this is normally printed on the router or in the manual).
• Search port forwarding or virtual Servers.

Now set up a new forwarding rule:

• Service Name: Call it something like “Palworld Server” or whatever you want
• Protocol: Choose TCP/UDP (or just “All” if that’s an option)
• External Port: 8211
• Internal Port: 8211
• Internal IP: This is your server’s local IP address. In windows, ipconfig is what you run in the Command Prompt. The command ifconfig or ip a will work on Linux.

After doing that, you must certainly save the changes. Some routers might just need a reboot to apply the new settings.

2. Set Up Your Firewall to Let Players In

On Windows:

• Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
• Add two new inbound rules—one for TCP and one for UDP—both on port 8211
• Also, make sure the Palworld server app (like PalServer.exe) is allowed through the firewall

On Linux (using UFW):

• Open your terminal and run:

sudo ufw allow 8211/tcp  

sudo ufw allow 8211/udp  

• Then double-check that UFW is active:

sudo ufw enable

3. Precautions When Configuring Firewalls

Do not block SSH:

If you’re managing your Palworld server on a Linux machine over SSH, do not touch port 22. That is the default port that the SSH uses. And if you block that, you will end up locking yourself out. Make sure to always double-check that port 22 is still open before enabling or even updating firewall rules.

Avoid opening unnecessary ports:

Only open the ports the server actually needs. In Palworld’s case, that’s 8211 for both TCP and UDP. No reason to leave extra ports exposed, it just increases the chances of someone messing with your server.

4. Testing Connectivity

Local check:

• First, test from the machine itself or another one on your local network. Use either the loopback address:

127.0.0.1:8211

• Or your server’s internal IP, like:

192.168.x.x:8211

Remote check:

• Now test from a completely different network using your public IP address. Just search “what’s my IP” in a browser from the server, and plug that into:

<Your Public IP>:8211

To find out whether 8211 is open, you may do something like Telnet or an online port checker. In case all the preparations have been made, you can test your server to make sure that it is accessible to the outside world. When this is effective, then the players are supposed to be able to connect anywhere without any problems.

Launching and Managing Your Palworld Server

It doesn’t matter whether you are playing with friends or providing a public server, this section will be all about installing Palworld with as little trouble as possible. You’ll boot the server, adjust settings if necessary, check the performance, and know how to boot and shut stuff down without causing any loss.

1. Starting the Server

To get your server running, go to the Palworld install directory.

• On Windows, just double-click PalServer.exe or run it from a terminal.
• On Linux, open a terminal in the server directory and run: ./PalServer.sh

Once it starts, you’ll see a live log feed showing what the server is doing—player joins, world activity, errors, etc.

2. Optional Command-Line Flags

To configure the server running you can add flags to it when starting. These allow you to alter settings dynamically, without writing to configuration files.

• -port 8300 sets a custom port.
• -players 24 changes the max number of players allowed.
• -useperfthreads improves performance by using multiple threads (useful for larger servers or better hardware).

Example:

PalServer.exe -port 8300 -players 24 -useperfthreads

The same thing works on Linux:

./PalServer.sh -port 8300 -players 24 -useperfthreads

3. Watching Server Logs

When the server is running make sure that the terminal or console remains open. You will find updates in real-time of what is happening there. It helps you detect issues in the initial phases such as connection issues, errors and performance warnings.

When you plan to operate the server on a long-term basis, it is possible to automate this process by checking the logs and raising alerts.

4. Restarting and Shutting Down Safely

To restart, do this:

• Press Ctrl + C in the terminal (or use an in-game admin shutdown command, if available).
• Wait for the server to close and save.
• Relaunch it with your usual command or flags.

To shut down:

Same thing, use Ctrl + C or the in-game command if supported. Avoid killing the process through Task Manager or kill -9 unless it’s absolutely stuck. Forced shutdowns can corrupt data or lose player progress.

If you’re using screen or tmux on Linux to keep the server running in the background:

• Use Ctrl + A + D to detach safely.
• Reattach later to check on the server.
• Always shut it down properly from inside the session.

How to connect to Your Dedicated Server

In order to enter your Palworld Dedicated Server, players simply start Palworld, then open the main menu and press Join Multiplayer Game. In that they will enter the server details in the following format:

Port: IP address e.g. 123.45.67.89:8211 in an online server, or 127.0.0.0.1:8211 in cases where they reside on a single machine (LAN/local).

They will have the IP local as yours in case they are on the same Wi-Fi as you. They will require your public IP in the event that they are connecting online. The port stays the same; 8211 is the default for Palworld.

How Players Join:

1. Open Palworld
2. Click Join Multiplayer Game
3. Type the IP and port at the bottom
4. Click Connect
5. Pick or create a character and hop in

Troubleshooting Common Connection Issues

• Wrong IP or Port: Make sure the players are not using the wrong address. It can happen that your IP has changed lately or someone typed it in incorrectly.
• Firewall Settings: The server should have port 8211 open both TCP and UDP. On Windows, check Defender. On Linux, look at UFW or whatever firewall you’re using. And make sure your router is forwarding that port to the server’s local IP.
• Server Might Be Down: Double-check the server’s running. Might sound obvious, but it happens. Make sure PalServer.exe (Windows) or PalServer.sh (Linux) didn’t crash or freeze. Restart it if needed.
• Test it yourself first. On the host computer, attempt to connect with 127.0.0.1:8211. Then grab another device on your network and connect using your local IP. That helps you rule out most of the common issues fast. When it works in the local area but fails to people elsewhere then it would be almost a matter of firewall or port forwarding.

With these things sorted the right way will allow your friends (or any other person you invite to play with) to get acquainted and you can simply get down to playing.

Conclusion

Installation of Palworld server onto your own server is under your control. It’s your choice what the game experiences are like, be it a relaxed co-op, a cut-throat battle, or a game of your own. You are allowed to customize the rules, play around with mods and adjust everything to suit how your group plays.

When it is all clean it just works. No lag, no weird glitches. Just smooth gameplay and way more time actually playing with your friends. It is also easier to build a real community by having your own space. You are able to plan events, introduce fresh players and establish memorable moments.

When you figure something out, or have a setup that works well, you can share it. No matter it is on Discord, on Reddit, or on whatever platform the Palworld crowd is chatting, your advice can truly serve a person just beginning.

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FAQs

Can I run a Palworld server on Linux?

Yes. Palworld dedicated servers work fine on 64-bit Linux setups like Ubuntu or AlmaLinux. Most people use SteamCMD to install and manage it, which is solid if you’re running a headless VPS or something without a desktop. Easy to script, easy to automate. Just make sure the machine meets the basic hardware requirements, or the server’s gonna choke.

What is the max number of players on a dedicated server?

Palworld caps out at 32 players per server right now. That’s the limit. If you’re going to push it that far, you’ll want at least 16 GB of RAM and a decent CPU. Especially if the world’s got a lot going on like Pals, bases, PvP, all that. Multiplayer chaos stacks up quickly.

Do I need a separate game copy for the dedicated server?

Yes. You’re not running the game itself; you’re running the server version that comes through Steam’s tools. Either grab it through the Steam client on Windows or use SteamCMD if you’re on Linux. 

How

Start by setting an AdminPassword in your PalworldSettings.ini file. That stops random people from taking admin control. Also, make sure your firewall only allows traffic on port 8211 (TCP and UDP). Don’t open anything else unless you need to. If you’re on Linux, use UFW. If you’re on Windows, lock it down through Defender. And please don’t run your server as root. You already know better. Keep your server software up to date, and if it’s exposed to the internet, maybe use IP whitelisting or just don’t advertise it.

How often should I update the server software?

Check for updates anytime Palworld pushes a new patch. This is normally when bugs are resolved or new features are introduced. It prevents your multiplayer server from crashing. How you install it decides on whether to use SteamCMD or the Steam client to update. It is better to update off-hours when no one’s online. Save the world first. Always. Don’t be the guy who loses everyone’s progress because you restarted without a backup.

Read More:

• What Is The Difference Between Managed And Unmanaged VPS?
• What Can I Host on a VPS?
• Who Needs VPS Hosting?
• What are the Advantages of using VPS Hosting?
• Why Should I Choose VPS Hosting Over Dedicated Hosting?