How to Set Up a Valheim Dedicated Server on a VPS

A Valheim dedicated server keeps your Viking world online around the clock, so friends can log in and build even when the host is offline. This guide sets up a proper Linux server with SteamCMD, enables crossplay, and runs everything as a systemd service.

What you need

• A Linux VPS: Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or Debian 12. Valheim is fairly light — 4 GB RAM handles a small group comfortably, 8 GB for larger worlds and player counts. Details in Valheim server requirements and best specs.
• Open ports: UDP 2456–2458. Valheim uses three consecutive ports.

Step 1: Create a user and install dependencies

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" valheim
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd

Step 2: Install the Valheim server

The Valheim dedicated server is App ID 896660 and installs anonymously:

sudo su - valheim
steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/valheim/server +login anonymous +app_update 896660 validate +quit

Step 3: Open the firewall

sudo ufw allow 2456:2458/udp
sudo ufw reload

Open the same UDP range on any provider-level firewall too.

Step 4: Write a start script

Valheim ships a start_server.sh template, but it's cleaner to write your own so your world name and password are explicit. Create /home/valheim/start.sh:

#!/bin/bash
export templdpath=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/home/valheim/server/linux64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export SteamAppId=892970
cd /home/valheim/server
./valheim_server.x86_64 \
  -name "My Nxeon Valheim Server" \
  -port 2456 \
  -world "Midgard" \
  -password "CHANGE_ME_MIN_5_CHARS" \
  -crossplay \
  -savedir /home/valheim/data
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$templdpath

Make it executable:

chmod +x /home/valheim/start.sh

Key flags:

• -crossplay — enables the crossplay backend so PC (Steam/Xbox Game Pass) and console players can join. Leave it off if you want a Steam-only server.
• -password — required, minimum 5 characters, and it must not contain your world or server name.
• -savedir — keeps your world files in a predictable place for backups.

Step 5: Run it as a systemd service

# /etc/systemd/system/valheim.service
[Unit]
Description=Valheim Dedicated Server
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=valheim
ExecStart=/home/valheim/start.sh
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

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

Give it a minute on first launch — Valheim generates the world before it accepts connections.

Step 6: Join the server

In Valheim, go to Join Game → Join IP and enter YOUR_IP:2456, then the password. If crossplay is enabled, players can also find it through the crossplay browser. Once you're settled in, the next thing most groups want is mods — see the approach in the best Valheim server mods (BepInEx-based).

Back up your world

Valheim writes your world to two files — Midgard.db and Midgard.fwl — in your save directory. A corrupted .db is the most common way people lose a world, so snapshot them regularly. A tiny nightly cron job is enough:

# crontab -e as the valheim user — daily 4am backup, keep 7 days
0 4 * * * tar -czf /home/valheim/backups/world-$(date +\%F).tar.gz /home/valheim/data && find /home/valheim/backups -name 'world-*' -mtime +7 -delete

Because Valheim saves periodically while running, it's safest to back up when the server is idle or briefly stopped. For a fuller strategy across games, see how to back up your game server automatically. Pair that with a scheduled restart from automating game server restarts with systemd and your world is both fresh and safe.

FAQ

What ports does a Valheim server use?

UDP 2456, 2457, and 2458 — three consecutive ports. Open the whole 2456–2458/udp range on both the OS and provider firewall.

How do I enable crossplay on a Valheim server?

Add the -crossplay flag to the server start command. This lets PC and Xbox/Game Pass players connect through the shared crossplay backend.

How much RAM does a Valheim server need?

4 GB is comfortable for a small group; 8 GB gives headroom for larger worlds and more players. See Valheim requirements and best specs for detail.

Do I need to own Valheim to run the server?

You need to own the game to play, but the dedicated server itself installs anonymously through SteamCMD (App ID 896660) — no login required on the server box.

Want a low-latency Viking world that's always online? Launch one on our game server hosting, or check VPS pricing for the right memory tier.