Running your own Palworld server is the best way to play with a group of friends. The world keeps running even when nobody is logged in, so you don’t have to sort out who hosts and who has to join first. You can get one running for free through SteamCMD, and the whole thing comes down to one number, one config file and one port that trips up most people. This article covers the process and the pitfalls.
What you’ll need
| Players | Recommended minimum |
|---|---|
| 4 to 8 | 4-core CPU, 8 GB RAM, SSD |
| 16 or more | 6+ cores, 16 GB RAM, SSD |
An SSD is not a recommendation but a requirement; the game itself needs one too. The server runs on both 64-bit Windows and Linux.
Installing through SteamCMD
The Palworld server is a separate Steam application with App ID 2394010, and you download it with an anonymous login, so you don’t pay for it and you don’t need your own game account on the server.
There are three steps. Install SteamCMD (on Linux it also needs the 32-bit libraries, otherwise it won’t start). Use it to download app 2394010. Then start the server once and shut it down again; only this first run creates the config files and the world.
Configuration: watch which file you edit
After the first run, you’ll find the settings here:
Windows: Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini
Linux: Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini
Now the important part: the folder also contains a file called DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini, and editing it is pointless. It’s just a template that gets copied, and the server ignores it while running. Plenty of people spend an hour tweaking settings that are never used.
In PalWorldSettings.ini you set the server name, password, number of slots and gameplay rates: resource gathering speed, experience, Pal behavior. Changes take effect after you restart the server.
Port 8211 and the most common mistake
This is where most attempts fail. Palworld communicates over UDP, not TCP.
| Port | Used for |
|---|---|
| 8211/UDP | Game port; without it nobody can connect |
| 8212/UDP | Query port for the server list |
The most common reason nobody can see an otherwise healthy server is that only TCP is open. When you forward the port on your home router, forward it as UDP. On a VPS or dedicated machine, allow it in the provider’s firewall. You often need to set up both, the system firewall and the rule in the control panel.
Connecting to your server
In the game, choose connect to a dedicated server and enter the address in the format IP:8211, for example 123.45.67.89:8211. Inside your home network use the local address; from outside use the public one.
If the connection fails, check in this order: is the server actually running? Is the port open as UDP? Does everyone have the same game version? The last point is underrated. After a big update, such as version 1.0 released on 9 July 2026, both the server and all players have to update.
Your own machine or hosting?
Your own computer is free, but the server only runs while you leave it on, and it shares performance with whatever else you’re doing on it. Paid hosting costs money, but it runs nonstop, has a stable address and saves you from configuring your router.
A practical rule: for a group of four who play in the evenings, your own machine is enough. For a community server people should be able to join at any time, hosting is worth it.
FAQ
The server application is, yes. You download it anonymously through SteamCMD under App ID 2394010. You only pay for hardware or hosting if you use it.
8211/UDP as the game port and 8212/UDP as the query port. They must be open as UDP, not TCP.
In the u003ccodeu003ePalWorldSettings.iniu003c/codeu003e file in the u003ccodeu003ePal/Saved/Config/u003c/codeu003e folder. Not in u003ccodeu003eDefaultPalWorldSettings.iniu003c/codeu003e, which is ignored.
For four to eight players, at least 8 GB and 4 cores; for sixteen or more, plan on 16 GB and six cores. An SSD is required.
Most often because only the TCP port is open. Palworld runs over UDP.
Yes. The server and all players must be on the same version, otherwise they can’t connect.
This guide is compiled from publicly available tutorials and official game materials, not from running a server ourselves. Port numbers, the App ID and config paths match across sources, but double-check them for your specific setup.