Valheim: worlds, crossplay, and dedicated vs local servers

Dedicated vs hosting from your own PC

When you "Start" a world from the Valheim menu, your PC is the server. That works, but:

• The world is only up while you're playing.
• Your PC runs the game and the server, so you get the lag spikes.
• Everyone's connection runs through your home internet.

A dedicated server runs on its own machine. The world stays up whether or not you're online, your friends can play without you, and your PC just runs the game.

Your world is two files

A Valheim world is two files with the same name:

• YourWorld.fwl — the world's metadata (name, seed)
• YourWorld.db — everything else: terrain, buildings, items

Keep both together. One without the other is useless. You can upload a world you played locally and run it on your server; see How to switch hosts.

Your character is separate. It lives on each player's own device, not on the server.

Crossplay

With crossplay on, players on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Switch 2 can join the same world. On our Valheim plans it's on by default, and you can turn it off at checkout.

• With crossplay on, players usually join using the join code shown in the server console.
• Console players can't use mods. If you mod your server, it effectively becomes a PC-only server.

Players

There's no slot limit on our side. Valheim itself caps a world at 10 players.

Backups

You get panel backups (5 or 10 depending on plan) plus Valheim's own world backups. Before any game update or big change, make one by hand. See Backups.

Settings worth knowing

• Server name: what shows in the server list
• Password: at least 5 characters, and it can't contain the server name
• Public: whether the server shows in the public list (off by default)
• World modifiers: combat difficulty, death penalty, resources, and so on, set per world