How to Set Up a Palworld Dedicated Server

What is a Palworld Dedicated Server?

A Palworld dedicated server is a standalone server instance that runs 24/7, independent of any player's game client. Unlike the built-in co-op mode (limited to 4 players and tied to the host's session), a dedicated server:

• Supports up to 32 players simultaneously
• Runs independently — the world stays online even when the host disconnects
• Offers full configuration control — XP rates, catch rates, damage multipliers, and more
• Allows admin management — ban, kick, and moderate players remotely
• Provides better performance — dedicated hardware means no lag from the host's game

Server Requirements

Palworld's dedicated server is resource-intensive compared to most game servers. Here's what you need:

Resource	Minimum	Recommended	Large Server (16-32 players)
CPU	2 cores	4 cores	4+ cores
RAM	8 GB	16 GB	16-32 GB
Storage	10 GB	20 GB (SSD)	30+ GB (NVMe SSD)
Network	5 Mbps	10 Mbps	20+ Mbps
OS	Windows Server or Linux (Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended)

Important: Palworld uses significantly more RAM than games like Minecraft. A server with 4-8 players will typically use 8-12 GB of RAM, and this grows as players explore more of the map and capture more Pals. Plan for at least 16 GB if you expect more than 8 concurrent players.

Method 1: Game Hosting Panel (Easiest)

If you're using a game hosting service with Pterodactyl panel (like Azion Cloud), setup is straightforward:

Step 1: Create Your Server

Select the Palworld egg from your game hosting panel. This pre-configures everything — SteamCMD, the correct ports, and startup parameters. Set your RAM allocation to at least 8 GB (16 GB recommended).

Step 2: Initial Startup

Start the server. The first boot takes several minutes as it:

1. Downloads SteamCMD (Steam's command-line tool)
2. Downloads the Palworld Dedicated Server files (~5 GB)
3. Generates the world and configuration files

Wait until you see "Setting breakpad minidump AppID" or a similar ready message in the console.

Step 3: Configure Your Server

After the first startup, a configuration file is generated. Edit PalWorldSettings.ini in the file manager (location varies by setup, typically in Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ or WindowsServer/).

Method 2: Manual Setup on a VPS

For full control, set up on a Linux VPS manually.

Step 1: Install Dependencies

# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install required libraries (32-bit compatibility)
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt install lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6 -y

# Create a dedicated user (don't run game servers as root)
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash palworld
sudo su - palworld

Step 2: Install SteamCMD

mkdir ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar zxvf -

Step 3: Download Palworld Server

~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +login anonymous \
  +app_update 2394010 validate \
  +quit

The server files will be downloaded to ~/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer/.

Step 4: Start the Server

cd ~/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer

# Start the server
./PalServer.sh -port=8211 -players=16 -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS

The startup flags are important:

• -useperfthreads — Enables performance threading
• -NoAsyncLoadingThread — Improves stability on Linux
• -UseMultithreadForDS — Enables multithreading for the dedicated server

Step 5: Run as a Background Service

Create a systemd service so the server runs 24/7 and auto-restarts:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/palworld.service

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

[Service]
Type=simple
User=palworld
WorkingDirectory=/home/palworld/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer
ExecStart=/home/palworld/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer/PalServer.sh -port=8211 -players=16 -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS
Restart=always
RestartSec=15

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable palworld
sudo systemctl start palworld

Server Configuration (PalWorldSettings.ini)

The configuration file controls all gameplay settings. Here are the most important options:

Server Identity

ServerName="My Palworld Server"
ServerDescription="A fun Palworld server"
ServerPassword=""              # Leave empty for public, set for private
AdminPassword="YourAdminPass"  # Required for admin commands
MaxPlayers=16

Gameplay Multipliers

# XP and progression
ExpRate=1.000000               # XP multiplier (2.0 = double XP)
PalCaptureRate=1.000000        # Pal catch rate (higher = easier)
PalSpawnNumRate=1.000000       # How many Pals spawn (higher = more)

# Difficulty
PalDamageRateAttack=1.000000   # Pal damage dealt
PalDamageRateDefense=1.000000  # Pal damage taken (lower = tankier Pals)
PlayerDamageRateAttack=1.000000
PlayerDamageRateDefense=1.000000

# Survival
PlayerStomachDecreaseRate=1.000000  # Hunger rate (lower = less hunger)
PlayerStaminaDecreaseRate=1.000000  # Stamina drain
PlayerAutoHPRegeneRate=1.000000     # HP regen speed

World Settings

# Time and weather
DayTimeSpeedRate=1.000000      # Day length (lower = longer days)
NightTimeSpeedRate=1.000000    # Night length
DeathPenalty=1                 # 0=None, 1=Drop items, 2=Drop items+Pals

# Base building
BaseCampMaxNum=128             # Max base camps per guild
BaseCampWorkerMaxNum=15        # Max Pals working at a base
BuildObjectDamageRate=1.000000 # Structure damage taken

Recommended Settings for Different Playstyles

Setting	Casual/PvE	Standard	Hardcore PvP
ExpRate	2.0	1.0	0.5
PalCaptureRate	1.5	1.0	0.8
DeathPenalty	0 (None)	1 (Drop items)	2 (Drop all)
PlayerDamageRateDefense	0.5	1.0	1.5
DayTimeSpeedRate	0.5	1.0	1.0

Essential Admin Commands

To use admin commands, first open the chat and type /AdminPassword YourAdminPass to authenticate.

Command	What It Does
/Shutdown {seconds} {message}	Graceful shutdown with warning
/Save	Force save the world
/KickPlayer {steamid}	Kick a player
/BanPlayer {steamid}	Permanently ban a player
/Broadcast {message}	Send message to all players
/ShowPlayers	List all connected players
/Info	Show server information

Connecting to Your Server

1. Open Palworld and select Join Multiplayer Game
2. At the bottom of the server browser, find the "Connect" input field
3. Enter your server's IP address and port: your-ip:8211
4. If you set a server password, enter it when prompted
5. Click Connect

The default port is 8211 (UDP). Make sure this port is open in your firewall.

Firewall Configuration

# Open the game port
sudo ufw allow 8211/udp

# Open RCON port (optional, for remote administration)
sudo ufw allow 25575/tcp

# Open query port (for server browser listing)
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp

Performance Optimization Tips

• Use NVMe SSD storage — Palworld loads large world chunks; slow storage causes stuttering
• Allocate enough RAM — Memory usage grows over time as players explore. Monitor with htop and upgrade if usage consistently exceeds 80%
• Schedule daily restarts — Palworld servers benefit from periodic restarts to clear memory leaks. Schedule a restart during off-peak hours
• Set a player limit appropriate to your hardware — 32 players requires significantly more resources than 8
• Keep the server updated — Pocketpair releases frequent patches that fix performance issues and exploits

Automatic Updates

Create a simple update script:

#!/bin/bash
# update-palworld.sh
systemctl stop palworld
su - palworld -c '~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit'
systemctl start palworld
echo "Palworld server updated and restarted"

Run it whenever a new update drops, or schedule it with cron for automatic updates.

Ready to Host Your Palworld Server?

Setting up a Palworld server takes a bit more effort than Minecraft due to the higher resource requirements, but the result is a persistent world where you and your friends can catch Pals, build bases, and explore together on your own schedule. For the easiest experience, our game hosting provides one-click Palworld setup through Pterodactyl panel — no Linux knowledge needed. Or grab a VPS for full manual control.