Short answer
Which file holds the Palworld server settings?Pal\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\PalWorldSettings.ini. The DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini is only the template and is not read. The server has to be stopped while you edit, otherwise it overwrites your changes on shutdown.
What you need
A Palworld server runs as a program of its own, independent of the game. You do not need one player's PC to stay on so the others can keep playing. Three things are enough to start: a server, a name for the world and a decision about how hard you want it to be.
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Game port | 8211 (UDP) |
| Query port | 27015 |
| RCON port | 25575 |
| Player slots | 16, up to 32 |
On our panel the ports are assigned automatically and the finished address is shown to you — there is nothing to work out. The defaults above are only there to show what belongs where.
Starting the server
Create the server
Select Palworld in the panel and start the installation. The server downloads itself, which takes a few minutes.
Let it start once
The first start creates the configuration files. Before that there is nothing to edit — a file that does not exist yet cannot be changed.
Join and check
In the game, use "Join Multiplayer Game" and enter the address from the panel. If you get in, the foundation is there and you can start configuring.
Adjusting the settings
Everything that matters lives in a single file:
Pal\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\PalWorldSettings.ini
Two traps almost everyone falls into once. First: there is also a DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini — that is only the template and is not read. Second: the server has to be stopped while you edit, otherwise it overwrites your changes when it shuts down.
The file looks unwieldy because all values sit in one very long line behind OptionSettings=(, separated by commas. You only ever change individual values in it and leave the rest untouched. Do not insert line breaks.
| Value | What it does |
|---|---|
ServerName | Name in the server list |
ServerPassword | Password to join; leave empty for an open server |
AdminPassword | Password for admin commands in game |
ExpRate | Levelling speed, 1.0 is normal |
PalCaptureRate | How easily Pals can be caught |
DeathPenalty | What you lose on death |
bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage | PvP on or off |
bIsPvP | The server's PvP mode |
GuildPlayerMaxNum | Maximum guild size |
WorkSpeedRate | How fast Pals work at the base |
Change one thing, then test. Touch ten values at once and you will spend a long time looking for the one that broke something. After each change, start the server, look in briefly, carry on.
Savegame and backups
The savegame sits under Pal\Saved\SaveGames. Download it via FTP before larger changes, and above all before game updates. Palworld writes the save on a clean shutdown — a server that crashes can lose the last few minutes.
If you want to move an existing world from a player's PC onto the server, that save can be transferred. Allow time for it and work only with copies, never the original.
When something does not work
Server does not show up in the list: join via the direct address. The list often takes minutes; a direct connection works straight away.
Settings have no effect: almost always the wrong file was edited, or the server was running at the time. Check both, then change it again.
Nobody can get in but you: usually a ServerPassword that the others do not know.
Server crashes with many players: Palworld needs considerably more memory as the player count rises. Check the usage view in the panel before you go hunting through the settings.
If none of that helps, take a look at the log under Pal\Saved\Logs\Pal.log. It usually says exactly why the start failed.
Frequently asked questions
Which file holds the Palworld server settings?
Why do my Palworld settings have no effect?
How many players fit on a Palworld server?
Where is a Palworld server's savegame stored?
Personal support for our customers
Rent a Palworld server with us and you get real people, not a ticket system. Sebbo and Langnesi help you personally on Discord — with setup, mods and troubleshooting. We run these servers ourselves every day, so we know the pitfalls.
No Palworld server yet?
Get started now with DDoS protection and personal support.
Rent Palworld ServerLast updated: 2026-10-03 · Written by the Agrar Chaoten team