Host a Valheim Dedicated Server

A brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players, set in a procedurally-generated purgatory inspired by viking culture. Battle, build, and conquer your way to a saga worthy of Odin’s patronage!

Skip the Setup — Deploy Now or read the full guide below

Requirements Setup Guide Installation

Hardware Requirements

Here's what you need to run a Valheim dedicated server.

Economy

Small server, 1-3 players

CPU2 cores

RAM4 GB

Storage5 GB

Standard

Medium server, 3-6 players with mods

CPU3 cores

RAM6 GB

Storage5 GB

Pro

Large server, 6-10 players, heavy mods

CPU3.5 cores

RAM8 GB

Storage5 GB

Start hosting from your own computer

Run a Valheim server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and Valheim configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.

Get Started FreeNo credit card required

Setup in 4 Steps

Skip the manual SteamCMD installation, port forwarding, and systemd configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.

Step 01

Create a GameCP Account

GameCP gives you a full control panel with Docker containerization, file management, automatic port forwarding, and automatic updates — all built in.

Step 02

Connect Your Hardware

Install GameCP on your own desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine. One-line install — no SSH expertise needed.

GameCP installs Docker, configures networking, and sets up automatic port forwarding so your friends can connect instantly. Start hosting from your own PC and scale to a VPS later. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Step 03

Deploy Valheim

Select "Valheim" from the template library and hit deploy. GameCP handles SteamCMD (App ID: 896660), ports, startup commands, and all configuration automatically.

Uses the games:valheim image. Everything is configured out of the box. ~5 GB storage.

Step 04

Start Playing

Hit start and share your server address. Automatic port forwarding handles the rest — no router config needed.

GameCP monitors your server health and provides live logs from your browser. Your friends connect using the address GameCP gives you.

The Manual Way vs. GameCP

Manual Setup

✗ Install SteamCMD manually
✗ Configure 2+ firewall ports and router settings
✗ Write systemd service files
✗ SSH into server to edit configs
✗ Requires a VPS or dedicated server
✗ 30-60 minutes if experienced

With GameCP

One-click SteamCMD install
Automatic port forwarding — no router config
Host from your own PC, VPS, or dedicated server
Docker container with auto-restart
Visual config editor in browser
Under 5 minutes total

Under the Hood

The full manual process to host a Valheim dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.

Step 1

Configure & Prepare

Set your server settings, then install Docker, SteamCMD, and pull the Valheim container image.

Server ConfigurationEdit values to update all commands

Server NameServer name displayed in the server browser

Public ServerList server in the public server browser. Disable ...

Enable CrossplayEnable crossplay support for Xbox/PC players.

World NameWorld save name. Changing this loads a different w...

Server PasswordServer password. Must be at least 5 characters or ...

Save IntervalWorld save interval in seconds. Default: 1800 (30 ...

Backup CountNumber of automatic backups to keep. Default: 4.

Short Backup IntervalInterval between the first automatic backup in sec...

Long Backup IntervalInterval between subsequent automatic backups in s...

Auto UpdateAutomatically update the server on startup.

Beta BranchSteam beta branch name. Leave blank for stable.

Beta PasswordPassword for beta branch access. Leave blank if no...

terminal

# Update system and install Docker
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo systemctl enable --now docker

# Create game server directory
sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver

# Install SteamCMD
sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd

# Server configuration
export PUBLIC_SERVER="1"
export ENABLE_CROSSPLAY="1"
export WORLD="Dedicated"
export BACKUP_INTERVAL="1800"
export BACKUP_COUNT="4"
export BACKUP_SHORTTIME="7200"
export BACKUP_LONGTIME="43200"
export AUTO_UPDATE="1"

# Pull the container image
docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:valheim

Step 2

Install Server Files via SteamCMD

Download the Valheim dedicated server using Steam App ID 896660.

terminal

# Download Valheim server files (App ID: 896660)
/opt/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir /opt/gameserver \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 896660 validate \
  +quit

Step 3

Open Firewall Ports

Valheim requires 2 ports to be open for game traffic and queries.

terminal

sudo ufw allow 2456/both
sudo ufw allow 2457/udp

2456/BOTH(PORT)2457/UDP(QUERY_PORT)

Step 4

Launch the Server

Start the Valheim server using the configuration from Step 1.

terminal

docker run -d \
  --name valheim-server \
  -p 2456:2456/both \
  -p 2457:2457/udp \
  -e PUBLIC_SERVER="1" \
  -e ENABLE_CROSSPLAY="1" \
  -e WORLD="Dedicated" \
  -e BACKUP_INTERVAL="1800" \
  -e BACKUP_COUNT="4" \
  -e BACKUP_SHORTTIME="7200" \
  -e BACKUP_LONGTIME="43200" \
  -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \
  -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \
  -w /opt/gameserver \
  ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:valheim \
  ./valheim_server.x86_64 -nographics -batchmode -name "" -port 2456 -world "Dedicated" -password "" -public 1 -saveinterval 1800 -backups 4 -backupshort 7200 -backuplong 43200 > >(sed -uE "") & trap "" 15; wait $!

Alternative startup profiles:

Crossplay Enabled — Forces crossplay on. Xbox and PC players can join. Uses PlayFab networking instead of Steam.
Steam Only (No Crossplay) — Steam-exclusive server. Lower latency for PC players. Uses Steam networking directly.

GameCP lets you switch between these profiles with one click.

Or skip all of this

GameCP automates every step above: Docker, SteamCMD, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a Valheim server in under 5 minutes.

Deploy with GameCP

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Explore Valheim on GameCP

Host Valheim from your own computer. Automatic port forwarding. Zero config.

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# Update system and install Docker sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io sudo systemctl enable --now docker # Create game server directory sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver # Install SteamCMD sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd # Server configuration export PUBLIC_SERVER="1" export ENABLE_CROSSPLAY="1" export WORLD="Dedicated" export BACKUP_INTERVAL="1800" export BACKUP_COUNT="4" export BACKUP_SHORTTIME="7200" export BACKUP_LONGTIME="43200" export AUTO_UPDATE="1" # Pull the container image docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:valheim

docker run -d \ --name valheim-server \ -p 2456:2456/both \ -p 2457:2457/udp \ -e PUBLIC_SERVER="1" \ -e ENABLE_CROSSPLAY="1" \ -e WORLD="Dedicated" \ -e BACKUP_INTERVAL="1800" \ -e BACKUP_COUNT="4" \ -e BACKUP_SHORTTIME="7200" \ -e BACKUP_LONGTIME="43200" \ -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \ -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \ -w /opt/gameserver \ ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/games:valheim \ ./valheim_server.x86_64 -nographics -batchmode -name "" -port 2456 -world "Dedicated" -password "" -public 1 -saveinterval 1800 -backups 4 -backupshort 7200 -backuplong 43200 > >(sed -uE "") & trap "" 15; wait $!