Palworld server hosting settings live in one file, PalWorldSettings.ini, inside PalServerPalSavedConfigWindowsServer (or LinuxServer on Linux). Copy DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini there first, stop the server, edit values such as ServerName, ServerPassword, ExpRate or DeathPenalty, then start it again. Players connect on UDP port 8211 by default, a dedicated server takes up to 32 players, and if you uploaded an existing co-op world, delete its WorldOption.sav or the server will ignore most of your edits.
“I changed the settings and nothing happened”: what server owners ran into
Almost every Steam thread about Palworld server settings comes back to the same few mistakes. Here’s what people asked and what fixed it.
“My edits to the ini file do nothing”
In a Steam discussion titled “Dedicated Server Settings Not Applying”, the server’s PalWorldSettings.ini was empty, so typing a few values into it didn’t work. Copying the entire contents of DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini into it, then editing that copy, fixed it, and two other players confirmed the same result. This matches Pocketpair’s official configuration page, which says to copy the default file into the config folder and notes that editing the Default file itself has no effect.
“I moved our co-op world to a dedicated server and the settings are stuck”
One player who copied a four-player co-op save to a server found the answer in their own Steam thread: deleting WorldOption.sav from the world’s save folder let the ini take over. A host knowledge base article from LOW.MS explains why: co-op and single-player worlds always carry that file, and when it exists, rates, timers and toggles come from it instead of the ini. Server name, passwords and ports still come from the ini. Back up the save folder before deleting anything.
“I lowered the egg timer but my eggs still take hours”
Players in another settings thread found that eggs already in an incubator keep the old timer. Take the egg out and put it back to pick up the new value. The same thread recommends shutting the server down before editing and keeping all settings on the single OptionSettings line.
“Can I turn off fast travel for everyone?”
Yes, on a dedicated server. A Steam reply pointed to bEnableFastTravel, and it’s listed in the official parameter list. Set it to False. There’s also bEnableFastTravelOnlyBaseCamp if you’d rather allow travel only between bases.
“Which of the two ini files do I edit?”
The one without “Default” in its name. A reply in a thread about Drop on death not changing spells out the trap: DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini sits near the top of the server folder and is only the template, while the live PalWorldSettings.ini sits deeper, under PalSavedConfig.
How to set up the Palworld settings file
You create the real settings file yourself from the template. Pocketpair’s configuration docs (version 1.0.4 as of October 2026) give these locations:
- Windows: steamappscommonPalServerPalSavedConfigWindowsServerPalWorldSettings.ini
- Linux: steamapps/common/PalServer/Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini
- Start the server once and close it. The Config folders only appear after the first launch.
- Copy DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini from the main PalServer folder into the WindowsServer or LinuxServer folder, naming the copy PalWorldSettings.ini.
- Open it in a plain text editor. Change only the values you need inside the OptionSettings=(…) line, keeping commas and brackets intact.
- Save, then start the server again.
Running the server from Steam? Pocketpair’s install guide has you find Palworld Dedicated Server in your Steam library (check the Tools filter if it’s hidden) and press Play. From a terminal, it’s PalServer.exe on Windows or ./PalServer.sh on Linux.
Which Palworld server settings should you change first?
Start with access and the handful of rates that shape how grindy the world feels. All names below come from the official parameter list. Rate settings are multipliers, so 2.0 doubles the normal value and 0.5 halves it.
| Setting | What it changes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ServerName, ServerDescription | What players see | Matters most on a community server |
| ServerPassword | Password to join | Leave blank for an open server |
| AdminPassword | Password for admin commands | Must be set before you start the server |
| ServerPlayerMaxNum | Player cap | Steam lists up to 32 players for dedicated servers |
| ExpRate | XP gain | Raise it for a casual group |
| PalCaptureRate | Catch chance | Multiplier |
| PalEggDefaultHatchingTime | Huge Egg hatch time, in hours | Other eggs also need incubation time |
| DeathPenalty | What drops on death | None, Item, ItemAndEquipment or All |
| bEnableFastTravel | Fast travel on or off | Pair with bEnableFastTravelOnlyBaseCamp for base-only travel |
| BaseCampWorkerMaxNum | Pals working per base | Max 50; higher means more server load |
| BaseCampMaxNumInGuild | Bases per guild | Default 4, max 10 |
| bIsUseBackupSaveData | Automatic world backups | Adds disk load, but worth it |
| CrossplayPlatforms | Which platforms can join | Default (Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac) |
| bAllowGlobalPalboxImport / Export | Global Palbox transfers | Turn off if you want a fresh-start server |
Want a harder, more chaotic world? RandomizerType (None, Region or All) shuffles Pal spawns, and bHardcore removes respawns entirely.
Launch options and ports for hosting
Ports and player limits can also be set when the server starts. Pocketpair’s launch argument page lists the main ones:
- -port=8211 changes the listening port.
- -players=32 sets the maximum number of players.
- -publiclobby lists the server as a community server.
- -publicip and -publicport set the address shown to community players (useful behind NAT; they don’t change the listening port).
Older guides tell you to add -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS. Pocketpair’s current page says that from v1.0 onward, leaving these unset may give better performance, so skip them on an up-to-date server. In Steam, you enter launch options in the Palworld Dedicated Server properties.
The requirements page sets UDP port 8211 as the default and says you’ll need to forward it on your router and allow it through Windows Firewall or your Linux firewall.
How do Xbox and PS5 players join your server?
They can only join a community server. According to Pocketpair’s server overview, crossplay is on by default for the Steam, Xbox Series, Microsoft Store PC, Mac and PS5 versions, but Xbox and PS5 players need the server listed publicly. Start it with -publiclobby, or pick Open and start as a community server when launching through Steam, as the community server page explains. Add a ServerPassword if you only want friends.
PC players can also join by typing the IP address and port under the server list, per the connection guide. One catch: if your router doesn’t support Hairpin NAT, you can’t join a community server hosted on your own network from that same network.
How much RAM does a Palworld server need?
Plan on 16 GB. Pocketpair’s requirements recommend a 4-core CPU and 16 GB of RAM on 64-bit Windows or Linux. The server can start with 8 GB, but the docs warn this raises the chance of out-of-memory crashes. Use an SSD too, because slow storage can corrupt save data. If you’re renting, those numbers are a good yardstick for picking a plan.
Hosting through a rental company
Rented servers use the same parameter names; the panel just puts them in a web form. Two things to watch. First, some hosts have an option that generates WorldOption.sav from your settings. LOW.MS labels its version as legacy and says files made this way predate Palworld 1.0, so newer options such as Global Palbox import are missing. Second, if the panel and the file disagree, the WorldOption.sav rule above still applies. Stop the server, back up, remove the file, restart.
Admin commands and remote control
Once AdminPassword is set, press Enter in game and type /AdminPassword yourpassword. The commands page lists what you can do next, including /Save, /Shutdown with a countdown and message, /KickPlayer, /BanPlayer and /ShowPlayers.
For tools and dashboards, the server has RCON and a REST API, switched on with RCONEnabled and RESTAPIEnabled. Keep them inside your network. The REST API docs say outright the API is “not designed to be exposed directly to the Internet.”
Turning on PvP
PvP needs three settings set to True: bIsPvP, bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage and bEnableDefenseOtherGuildPlayer. Pocketpair’s PvP page calls it a trial feature not covered by support and suggests companion settings, such as base-only fast travel and keeping logged-out players in the world so nobody escapes a fight by quitting.
Frequently asked questions
How many players can join a Palworld dedicated server?
The Steam store page says a dedicated server can host up to 32 players, compared with up to 4 in online co-op. Set the cap with ServerPlayerMaxNum or the -players launch option.
What do I install to host a Palworld dedicated server?
Install Palworld Dedicated Server, which appears as a separate tool in your Steam library, or download it with SteamCMD on Windows or Linux. Players still need the game itself to join.
Do I need to restart the server after changing settings?
Yes. Make changes while the server is stopped, then start it again. Players in Steam threads found edits made while it was running didn’t stick.
Can I host a Palworld dedicated server on a PS5 or Xbox?
Pocketpair’s docs only cover 64-bit Windows and Linux for the server. Console players join servers hosted elsewhere, and they need a community server to do it.
Why can’t my friends find my server in the list?
Only community servers appear there, so the server needs -publiclobby. Also check that UDP port 8211 (or your custom port) is forwarded on the router.
Sources
- Palworld Server Guide: Configuration parameters
- Palworld Server Guide: Configure the server (arguments)
- Palworld Server Guide: Requirements
- Palworld Server Guide: About server
- Palworld Server Guide: Community server
- Palworld Server Guide: Commands
- Steam: Palworld store page
- Steam Community: Dedicated Server Settings Not Applying
- Steam Community: Cannot get dedicated server settings to change
- Steam Community: Anyone successfully changed server settings?
Featured image: Pocketpair / official Steam screenshots
