If you're looking to move away from solo play in Palworld and embrace the multiplayer experience with your friends, setting up a dedicated server could be the ideal solution, especially if your group exceeds four members.
Should you find that playing Palworld and hosting the server on the same computer compromises the experience for both yourself and your server's players, it's advisable to transfer your server to a secondary computer. This guide will provide detailed instructions on setting up and relocating a Palworld server.
What Sets a Dedicated Server Apart?
Options for Multiplayer Gaming in Palworld:
Private Multiplayer Server: Ideal for groups of four or fewer friends who wish to play together exclusively. In this mode, one player acts as the host, inviting others to join their world.
Official Servers: Suited for larger groups or individuals without a set group of friends. Joining Pocketpair's Official servers requires no setup. However, issues like cheating or hackers may arise.
Dedicated Servers: Eliminating the need for the host to run the game client, dedicated servers accommodate a larger player base. Accessible via IP address and port number, they can be hosted by online services or individuals.
Community Servers: Similar to dedicated servers but listed within the game's server list. They offer the same functionality but are visible to all players.
In summary, dedicated servers stand out for their capacity to host a significantly larger number of players compared to regular servers, along with their flexibility and optimization options.
If you're committed to establishing a dedicated server, you face a crucial decision: setting it up on your own computer or utilizing a vendor's services to host it on a separate machine. Opting to set up the server on your computer entails tasks such as router port forwarding.
Setting Up a Dedicated Server in Palworld:
If you're a Windows user enjoying Palworld via Steam, establishing a dedicated server is a relatively straightforward process, even for those unfamiliar with the technical aspects involved.
However, before diving into setting up the dedicated server, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the necessary system specifications. Operating a server on hardware with inadequate specifications can lead to subpar gaming experiences for both yourself and the players on your server.
To kickstart the process, download the Palworld Dedicated Server from Steam. Navigate to the Library tab in Steam and enter 'Palworld Dedicated Server' into the search bar. If you don't spot any results, ensure that 'Tools' is chosen from the dropdown menu beneath the Home button within the Library tab.
After downloading the Palworld Dedicated Server, select the 'Launch' option. Select 'Play Palworld Dedicated Server' from the Steam window that appears and then press the 'Play' button.
Upon launching, a CMD window will appear displaying "Setting breakpad minidump AppID," with the unique number varying for each computer. If you've reached this stage, your startup is successful.
To have your installed Palworld server appear as a Community Server, ensure it's set up beforehand. When running the Palworld Dedicated Server, opt for the 'Open and start as a community server' option.
Subsequently, close the Palworld Dedicated Server tool screen and proceed to access your router's Port Forwarding settings. The process varies depending on your router type. Set Port Forwarding to 8211, Pocketpair's default port setting.
If you wish to utilize a different port, navigate to the Dedicated Server folder. Then, open the WorldSettings.ini file located within this folder. Adjust the port number by editing the "PublicPort=8211" line accordingly.
Once you've configured the Port Forwarding settings, reopen the Palworld Dedicated Server tool.
With the dedicated server setup complete, other players will need the public IP address and port number of your server to join. To find your public IP, simply search "What is my public IP?" in your search engine. Append ":8211" to your public IP to create the connection address, such as "11.111.111.11:8211" as an example.
Exercise caution and refrain from sharing your IP address with individuals you do not trust.
To join your server, players should select the 'Join Multiplayer Game' option from Palworld's main menu. They'll be prompted to enter your server's IP address and port number combination into the text box labeled 'Connect' at the bottom of the screen.
If you've designated your server as a Community Server, players can locate it by clicking the 'Community Servers' button on the left side of the screen. Your server will appear among other community servers, and players can connect to it by finding it there or searching for your server name in the search bar.
As the host, to connect to your server, use your local IP address followed by ':8211' at the end. To find your local IP, search for 'cmd' in your operating system's search box. Then, type 'ipconfig /all' in the black window. Your local IP address is displayed next to the IPv4 text.
If you're going to set up the server on an operating system other than Windows, you can obtain detailed information from Pocketpair's guide.
Moving a Dedicated Server in Palworld:
If you're contemplating relocating the server you've established on your computer to another machine or a server rented from a hosting company, you might be anxious about preserving your server's progress. However, by adhering to the steps outlined below, you can seamlessly transfer your server to a secondary computer.
This guide elucidates the process of moving the server using the Palworld Dedicated Server tool on the Windows operating system via Steam. If you're utilizing a different operating system, SteamCMD, or a third-party dedicated server service, you may need to employ alternative steps.
First, start by installing the Palworld Dedicated Server tool on the computer where you will transfer your server.
Once you've downloaded the Palworld Dedicated Server, proceed by selecting the 'Launch' option. From the Steam window that emerges, opt for 'Play Palworld Dedicated Server,' then press the 'Play' button. Following this, a CMD window will appear, displaying 'Setting breakpad minidump AppID.
Upon the appearance of the unique number assigned to your computer at the end of the text in the CMD window, you can safely close this window.
To initiate the relocation process, right-click on the Palworld Dedicated Server in Steam, then navigate to Manage → Browse Local Files to access the tool's location. Completely duplicate the folder labeled Palserver.
Next, focus on transferring two crucial files: the Server Configuration File and the World Save File. You can accomplish this by either duplicating the entire Palserver folder or selecting specific files.
The Configuration File resides in the directory:
steamapps\common\PalServer\Pal\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\PalWorldSettings.ini. Ensure to duplicate the PalWorldSettings.ini file from this location.
The World Save File is located in: Steamapps\common\PalServer\Pal\Saved\SaveGames\0. The filename may be lengthy, such as B5E673274E3AC83550294D89FEF04AB8. Completely duplicate this file.
Paste the contents of these files into the directory where the Palserver folder is located on the secondary computer. You can locate the Palserver folder on the secondary computer by right-clicking on Palworld Dedicated Server in Steam and selecting 'Browse Local Files.' Allow the existing files to be overwritten during the pasting process.
Finally, configure Port Forwarding from the router settings of the secondary computer. If the default port setting (8211) remains unchanged, ensure to set up Port Forwarding accordingly. Depending on the circumstances, you may also need to remove the port forwarding setting from the primary computer.
Subsequently, relaunch the Palworld Dedicated Server from the secondary computer. You can close the CMD window once a single line of text appears.
If both your primary and secondary computers are connected to the same network, players joining your server can connect using the same IP address and port number. However, if your secondary computer is connected to a different network, players will need to enter the public IP address and port number of the secondary computer to join.
If your primary and secondary computers are both connected to the same network, players joining your server can connect using the same IP address and port number. However, if your secondary computer is connected to a different network, players will need to enter the public IP address and port number of the secondary computer to join.
Palworld Guide: Location And Defeating Method of Relaxasaurus
Palworld Guide: All Palworld Bosses in Order And How to Beat Them
Palworld Guide: A Quick Way to Find Ore
Palworld Guide: Cake Crafting Methods For Breeding
Palworld Guide: All Diaries Locations
Locations of All Boss Towers in Palworld
Palworld Guide: Tips for accumulating wealth quickly in Palworld
Palworld Guide: Methods to Create Levels For Characters And Pals
Palworld Guide: Location of Palworld Anubis
Palworld Pal Guide: 10 Most Rare Pals
Palworld Guide: Capturing the Four Strongest Pals Without Taking Damage
Palworld Guide:Methods For Cultivating the Strongest Pal
Palworld Breeding Guide: Shadowbeak Breeding
Palworld Pal Guide: 8 Best Passive Skills
Palworld Guide: The 14 Best Dual-Type Pals Ranked
Palworld Guide:6 Best Pals To Put In Your Ranch In Palworld
Palworld Guide: All Types of Pal Eggs And Hatching Methods
Palworld Guide: Methods to Heat Eggs