Valheim

Valheim itself stops at 10, and offers no setting or launch argument to change it. Raising it needs the BepInEx mod loader plus the MaxPlayerCount plugin, which run on the server only — your players do not install anything. The plugin is not self-serve: open a support ticket to have GameGrid install it, then a Max Players field appears in Settings (up to 64; GameGrid supports up to 16). Note that Valheim was built around small groups: the further past 10 you go, the more you should expect the world to strain.

Yes. With crossplay enabled (the default on GameGrid), players on Steam, Xbox, Game Pass, Mac, and Linux can all join the same server. Console players connect using a 6-digit Join Code shown on your dashboard, while Steam players can use direct IP. PS5 and Nintendo Switch are not currently supported by Valheim.

No. The Valheim dedicated server software (Steam App 896660) is free and does not require a Valheim license on the host. However, every player who connects to your server must own Valheim on their platform.

Valheim uses two consecutive UDP ports: the game port (default 2456) and the query port (default 2457, always game port + 1). On GameGrid, ports are assigned and firewalled automatically - you do not need to configure port forwarding or Windows Firewall rules.

Yes. Valheim requires a password on all dedicated servers. It must be at least 5 characters and cannot be a substring of the server name. For example, if your server is named "Odin Server", the password cannot be "Odin" or "Server" - the server will silently refuse to start. On GameGrid, set the password from the Settings tab.

Yes. GameGrid supports BepInEx mod installation from the Mods tab. Browse and install mods from the built-in Thunderstore browser. Note that game-changing mods can cause desync for console (crossplay) players, so run a vanilla server if your group includes Xbox players. Always back up your world before installing or updating mods.

Add your Platform User ID to the admin list from the Player Management tab in the control panel. For Steam players, this is your SteamID64 (a 17-digit number). For crossplay players, it is the [Platform]_[UserID] format shown in the Console tab when you connect. Changes take effect immediately without a restart.

Yes. Stop your server, upload both the .db and .fwl files to the worlds_local directory using the File Manager, set the World Name in Settings to match the file name, and start the server. Both files must have the same base name. See our Import World guide for step-by-step instructions.

Stop the server, create a backup from the Backups tab, then delete the .db and .fwl files from the worlds_local directory using the File Manager. Restart the server and a fresh world with a new seed will be generated. Your admin and ban lists are preserved. Always back up first in case you want to restore the old world.

The most common cause is building piece count. A single base with 3000+ building pieces will cause lag for everyone who enters the area. Other causes include too many tamed animals, excessive terrain modification, and long-lived worlds with many tracked objects. For large groups (8+ players), the Better Networking BepInEx mod significantly reduces desync by raising the data rate cap.

Use World Modifiers in the Settings tab. Presets range from Casual (easy, no raids, more resources) to Hardcore (very hard, permadeath penalties). You can also set individual modifiers for combat, death penalty, resource rates, raid frequency, and portal rules. Changes require a server restart to take effect.

Meadows (Eikthyr) then Black Forest (The Elder) then Swamp (Bonemass) then Mountains (Moder) then Plains (Yagluth) then Mistlands (The Queen) then Ashlands (Fader). Each biome unlocks the gear needed for the next. See our Progression Guide for full details.

4 GB is recommended for most groups. Large, long-lived worlds with extensive building can use more. GameGrid allocates resources based on your plan automatically. If RAM is consistently above 80% in the Resource Monitor, consider upgrading to a plan with more memory.

GameGrid detects the update via SteamCMD and, by default, applies it for you. The control is on the Admin tab in the Game Updates card: a switch called "Automatically apply game updates" (on unless you turn it off), a badge when a newer build is available, and an "Update now" button. Updating is not something you trigger by restarting - it runs as a separate job that stages the new build, takes a pre-update backup, stops the server, applies the update, and starts it again. If you are running mods, wait until mod authors have updated their mods for the new version before updating. Always back up before updating.

No. The Valheim dedicated server software runs on PC, Linux, and Mac only. Console players (Xbox) can join a dedicated server but cannot host one. This is why a dedicated server like GameGrid is required for crossplay groups with console players.