How to Set Up a Palworld Steam Dedicated Server: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey there, Pal Tamers! Ready to take your Palworld adventures to the next level? While playing Palworld in standard multiplayer mode is fun, it restricts your world to just four players and can feel a bit lonely. The solution? Creating your own Palworld Steam Dedicated Server! This unlocks a persistent, always-online world where you and a large group of friends can explore, build, and tame Pals together, without worrying about host limitations or random players disrupting your experience.

Setting up a dedicated server might sound daunting, but fear not! This comprehensive guide will walk you through each step, making the process straightforward and, yes, even enjoyable. Running a Palworld dedicated server from your home PC is absolutely achievable and free. Let’s dive in and transform your Palworld experience into a massive multiplayer adventure!

Palworld gameplay screenshot showcasing base building and Pals in action

Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Palworld Steam Dedicated Server

Follow these instructions carefully, step-by-step, to ensure a smooth server setup. Don’t skip ahead!

1. Access Your Steam Library Tools

• Begin by opening the Steam client and navigating to your “Library”.

2. Reveal the Tools Section

• In the top-left corner of the Steam Library, you’ll see a dropdown menu labeled “Games”. Click on this.
• From the dropdown menu, select “Tools”. This will display a list of Steam tools in your library.

3. Find and Install Palworld Dedicated Server

• Use the search bar within the Tools section (usually located in the top right) and type “Palworld”.
• Locate “Palworld Dedicated Server” in the search results. It should appear as a separate application from the base Palworld game.
• Click on “Palworld Dedicated Server” and then click “Install”. Wait for the installation process to complete.

4. Locate the Server Installation Files

• Once the installation is finished, you need to find the server files on your computer. The default installation path is typically: Local Disk > Program Files > Steam > SteamApps > Common > PalServer.
• Navigate to this folder using File Explorer.

5. Launch the Palworld Server Application

• Open the “PalServer” folder you just located.
• Inside this folder, you will find an application named “PalServer.exe” or simply “PalServer”.
• Double-click on this application to launch your Palworld dedicated server for the first time. A command prompt window will appear, indicating that the server is running. Leave this window open while you configure the server.

6. Customize Your Server Settings

• To customize your server, you need to edit the configuration files.
• First, navigate back to the “PalServer” folder and then go into the subfolder “Pal > Saved > Config > WindowsServer”.
• Inside this folder, you will find a file named “PalWorldSettings.ini”.
• Before editing this file directly, it’s recommended to copy the settings from the “DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini” file (located in the main “PalServer” folder) into “PalWorldSettings.ini”. This ensures you start with the default settings and can modify them as needed.
• Open “PalWorldSettings.ini” with a text editor like Notepad.
• Here, you can customize various server settings, including:
  • Server name: The name that will appear in the Palworld server list.
  • Server description: A description to further identify your server.
  • Password: Set a password to make your server private and accessible only to those you share it with.
  • Difficulty settings: Adjust game difficulty to your preference.
  • Player capacity: While dedicated servers can theoretically host more, consider your server hardware capabilities.
  • And many other gameplay parameters.
• Refer to online resources and Palworld server communities for detailed explanations of each setting option to tailor your Palworld dedicated server precisely.

7. Save Configuration and Restart Server

• After customizing your desired settings in “PalWorldSettings.ini”, save the file.
• To apply these changes, you need to restart the server. Close the command prompt window that appeared when you launched “PalServer.exe”.
• Then, double-click “PalServer.exe” again to relaunch the server with your new configurations.

8. Configure Port Forwarding on Your Router

• Port forwarding is crucial for allowing players outside your local network to connect to your Palworld dedicated server.
• Access your router’s settings: This usually involves typing your router’s IP address into a web browser. If you’re unsure of your router’s address, visit PortForward.com for instructions specific to your router model.
• Navigate to Port Forwarding Settings: The location of these settings varies depending on your router’s interface, but look for sections labeled “Port Forwarding,” “NAT Forwarding,” or similar.
• Create a New Port Forwarding Rule:
  • Service Name/Description: Enter “Palworld Server” or something similar to identify the rule.
  • Protocol: Set the protocol to UDP. Palworld uses UDP for server communication.
  • Port Range: Enter 8211 for both the external and internal port. Palworld’s default port is 8211.
  • Internal IP Address: This is the private IP address of your computer hosting the server. You can find this by searching “what is my IP address” on Google or using the ipconfig command in Command Prompt. Make sure to use the private IP address (usually starts with 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x), not your public IP address.
• Enable the rule and save your router settings.

Shadowbeak, a powerful Pal in Palworld, obtainable through breeding and dedicated server gameplay.

9. Disable UPnP (Optional but Recommended)

• Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) can sometimes interfere with port forwarding stability. Disabling UPnP in your router settings (if enabled) can lead to a more reliable connection for your Palworld dedicated server. This setting is usually found in the router’s advanced settings or firewall section.

10. Configure Windows Firewall

• Windows Firewall might block incoming connections to your server. You need to create an inbound rule to allow traffic on port 8211.
• Open Windows Defender Firewall: Search for “Windows Defender Firewall” in the Windows search bar and open it.
• Click on “Advanced settings” in the left-hand menu.
• Select “Inbound Rules” in the left-hand menu of the “Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security” window.
• Click “New Rule…” in the right-hand “Actions” pane.
• Choose “Port” as the rule type and click “Next”.
• Select “UDP” as the protocol.
• Enter “8211” in the “Specific local ports” field. Click “Next”.
• Choose “Allow the connection”. Click “Next”.
• Select the network types you want the rule to apply to (typically “Domain,” “Private,” and “Public”). Click “Next”.
• Name the rule “Palworld Server” and click “Finish”.

11. Connect to Your Palworld Server

• Launch Palworld.
• In the main menu, select “Join Multiplayer Game”.
• At the bottom, switch to the “Dedicated Server” tab.
• In the “Server IP” field, enter your public IP address followed by the port number: :8211 (e.g., your_public_ip:8211). You can find your public IP address by searching “what is my IP” on Google.
• Click “Connect”.

12. Verify Server Connection and Share with Friends

• If everything is configured correctly, you should now be able to connect to your Palworld dedicated server.
• Once you’ve confirmed you can connect, share your public IP address (followed by :8211) with your friends so they can join your Palworld world!

13. Final Checks and Troubleshooting

• Firewall Check: Double-check that the Windows Firewall rule you created is enabled and not blocking port 8211.
• Router Settings Review: Ensure your port forwarding rule in your router is correctly configured for UDP port 8211 and pointing to your computer’s private IP address.
• Server Application Running: Make sure the “PalServer.exe” application is running on your computer while you and your friends are playing.

Congratulations, Pal Tamers! You’ve successfully set up your own Palworld Steam dedicated server! Now you and your friends can enjoy a persistent, shared Palworld experience. Remember to keep your server application running and your computer online for your server to be accessible. Enjoy building, exploring, and taming Pals together in your very own Palworld universe!