Valheim Server for More Than 10 Players

The 10 limit is the game's

The Valheim dedicated server lets 10 people in at once, in 1.0 too. There's no menu option or startup argument to change it, and it doesn't matter how much RAM the server has: the number is written into the game itself. Iron Gate left it that way because Valheim is designed for small groups.

The eleventh person who tries to join gets a server full message. If someone leaves, the next one gets in.

How to raise it: a BepInEx mod

The only way is a mod that changes that number. They run on BepInEx, Valheim's mod loader, and you find them on Thunderstore with words like “max players” or “player limit”. Some big mods, like the community-maintained versions of Valheim Plus, also include it among their many settings.

Usually the mod creates its config file in BepInEx/config the first time the server starts, with a value for the maximum number of players. You change it there, restart and the console says so at startup.

Before installing it, check three things

1. That it's up to date

   On the mod's Thunderstore page, check the date of the latest version and that it's for your version of Valheim. Several of these mods are no longer maintained; an old one can stop the server from starting or stop you from joining. After a big game patch, BepInEx and the mods take a few days to catch up.

2. Whether players need it

   The mod's page says whether the server is enough or every player needs it as well. If it's server-only, everyone else joins without installing anything. If it's needed on both sides, you all need the same mod and the same version.

3. Whether anyone is on Xbox

   There are no mods on console. A server-only mod doesn't affect them, but if players need the mod too, the Xbox players are left out. With crossplay in the group, look for a server-only one.

More players, more lag (and not from the server)

In Valheim, what happens in each zone (enemies, physics, animals) is calculated by the computer of the first player who reaches it, not by the server. With 15 or 20 people in the same base, that player has to send everything to many more people, and you notice it: enemies jumping around, doors that take a while. Spread across the map, on the other hand, it's much less noticeable.

That's why it's best to raise it a little at a time (from 10 to 14 or 16, for example) and see how it goes before going further. A network mod like BetterNetworking helps with the game's data rate limit. The Valheim lag guide covers everything that usually goes wrong and how to fix it.

The alternative: two worlds

If you're really two groups playing at different times or in different areas, two servers of 10 usually work better than one of 20: no mods, Xbox included and no fighting over lag at the base. Each group with its own world and password.

With NapNodes

1. Make a backup

   Before touching mods, create one in “Backups”. If something goes wrong, you go back to the world as it was.

2. Install the mod

   With the server's “Mods” button, search Thunderstore; “Install” downloads it with what it needs (and BepInEx the first time). It loads on restart.

3. Change the maximum

   After the first start with the mod, open the BepInEx/config folder in “Files”, find the mod's file and change the maximum players value. Save and restart.

4. If players need it

   The panel gives you an r2modman profile code (also in the “Installed” tab): each player imports it with “Import / Update” → “Import new profile” → “From code” and has the same mods.

5. If it won't start

   Remove the mod from “Installed” and restart; the console usually says what failed.

6. Keep an eye on memory

   On “Home” and in “Performance” you see memory and CPU live. Meadows (4 GB) is fine for the game's 10; with more people and mods, Mountain (6 GB). If it's still not enough, “Move to a plan with more RAM” in “My plan & invoices”, or “Buy RAM” in “My servers” and give it to the server with “Adjust”.

Frequently asked questions