Rent and Set Up a Palworld Server – Guide 2026

Your own Palworld Server is worth it if you want to keep your world permanently available, control game rates, and manage admin access cleanly. At game-serverhosting, you rent a paid multi-game server for this with technical control, support, and transparent operating processes, instead of keeping the Dedicated Server running permanently on your own computer.

Requirements for your Palworld Server

Pocketpair specifies 16 GB RAM for operation. Its official documentation says 8 GB can boot but increases OOM/crash risk; larger setups are recommended to use more than 32 GB. There is no substantiated RAM-per-player mapping: bases, worker Pals, buildings, spawn rate, mods, settings and distributed active world areas also drive load.

You also need:

• a booked Palworld Server at game-serverhosting
• access to server management or the configuration files
• the server IP and the port being used
• your own server password if the world should not be publicly accessible
• a separate admin password for management commands

If you are comparing other survival servers, the Rent and Set Up a Valheim Server – Co-op Guide 2026 and the Rent and Set Up an ARK Server – Beginner Guide 2026 will also help you, because both cover similar questions about slots, world persistence, and server management.

Order and Prepare the Server

1. Select a Server

2. Wait for the First Start

Palworld only creates certain configuration files after the first server start. The official Palworld documentation points out that the configuration directories are only created after the server has been started once. The source also explains that you should not edit DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini, but the copied active configuration file: Configuration parameters | Palworld Server Guide.

3. Open the Configuration

The central file is called PalWorldSettings.ini. Depending on the environment, it is located in a WindowsServer or LinuxServer configuration directory. With rented hosting, you usually edit it via file manager, configuration editor, or support panel.

Important Settings in PalWorldSettings.ini

You can find the settings in PalWorldSettings.ini:

[/Script/Pal.PalGameWorldSettings]
OptionSettings=(
  Difficulty=None,
  DayTimeSpeedRate=1.0,
  NightTimeSpeedRate=1.0,
  ExpRate=1.5,
  PalCaptureRate=1.5,
  PalSpawnNumRate=1.0,
  PalDamageRateAttack=1.0,
  PalDamageRateDefense=1.0,
  PlayerDamageRateAttack=1.0,
  PlayerDamageRateDefense=1.0,
  bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage=False,
  DeathPenalty=Item,
  ServerName="My Palworld Server",
  ServerPassword="secret",
  AdminPassword="admin123",
  MaxPlayers=32
)

Pay particular attention to ServerName, ServerPassword, and AdminPassword. The server password protects joining. The admin password authorizes management commands and should not be identical to the normal server password. Do not use example values like secret or admin123 in production.

Recommended Adjustments for PvE

These values are not a universally valid best configuration, but a moderate PvE starting point. If players progress through content too quickly, lower ExpRate. If the world feels too crowded or the server load increases, reduce PalSpawnNumRate. For public servers, you should deliberately define PvP damage, password protection, and admin access.

Restart the Server and Check the Result

Save the file and restart the Palworld Server. Then check three things:

1. The server runs without a restart loop in the panel.
2. The server name appears as configured.
3. Joining via IP and port works.

If you changed game rates, do not test them only in the menu, but practically in the game: gain experience, try a capture, and check whether death and item loss match the ruleset you want.

Joining

1. Start Palworld → "Join Multiplayer"
2. At the bottom, "Join Dedicated Server"
3. Enter IP and port (default: 8211)

The documented Palworld default port is 8211; the panel assignment may differ. If you change the port in the configuration or hosting panel, you must use the new port when joining. Write down the IP and port for your teammates in a clear format, for example SERVER-IP:8211.

Admin Commands

/AdminPassword <password>    # Log in as admin
/Shutdown <seconds>          # Shut down the server
/Save                        # Save the world
/KickPlayer <steamid>        # Kick a player
/BanPlayer <steamid>         # Ban a player

First log in with /AdminPassword <password>. Use /Save before carrying out planned maintenance or configuration changes. For a controlled stop, /Shutdown <seconds> is better than an abrupt shutdown because players can still react and you deliberately initiate the process.

Troubleshooting

Server Does Not Appear or Joining Fails

First check the IP and port. If you have not changed the default port, joining should happen via 8211. Also check whether the server is actually running and whether the latest configuration change was applied with a restart.

Changes in PalWorldSettings.ini Do Not Apply

Edit the active PalWorldSettings.ini, not just a default file. According to the official Palworld documentation, changes to the default file do not automatically affect the running configuration. Also check the structure: the header [/Script/Pal.PalGameWorldSettings] and the OptionSettings line must remain intact.

Players Can Join, but Admin Commands Do Not Work

In that case, the wrong password was usually used or /AdminPassword <password> has not yet been run in chat. Set a clear admin password, restart the server after the change, and log in again.

The Server Feels Unstable or Sluggish

First reduce heavily increased values such as PalSpawnNumRate, check the active player count, and observe whether large bases or many simultaneously active Pals increase the load. Increase values step by step instead of changing several parameters heavily at the same time.

Checks, Limits, and a Safe Way Back

The guide “Rent and Set Up a Palworld Server – Guide 2026” applies to the server type described in the article and the version state visible at the time of review. Menu names, available versions, mod or plugin compatibility, and required resources may differ after updates. Therefore, do not transfer values to another game, loader, or server version without checking them.

Create a backup of the affected files before making changes to the world, savegame, configuration, or extensions. Then change only one related step and check it with the same client and server version you want to play with later.

A successful single test is not a performance or availability guarantee. World size, mods, plugins, player count, network route, and simultaneous load can change the result. Document the version, change, and test result so you can trace later differences.

FAQ

How Much RAM Should I Plan for a Palworld Server?

Pocketpair specifies 16 GB RAM for operation. Its official documentation says 8 GB can boot but increases OOM/crash risk; larger setups are recommended to use more than 32 GB. There is no substantiated RAM-per-player mapping: bases, worker Pals, buildings, spawn rate, mods, settings and distributed active world areas also drive load.

Where Do I Change XP, Capture Rate, and Pal Spawns?

You change these values in PalWorldSettings.ini, including via ExpRate, PalCaptureRate, and PalSpawnNumRate. After saving, you must restart the server.

Which Port Does Palworld Use by Default?

The documented Palworld default port is 8211. If you have not configured a different port, you join via the server IP and port 8211.

Should I Separate ServerPassword and AdminPassword?

Yes. The server password controls access to the world, while the admin password allows management commands. Both passwords should be different and not easy to guess.

Can I Use the Example Configuration Directly?

You can use it as a template, but you should adjust ServerName, ServerPassword, AdminPassword, and the game rates to your group. Example passwords do not belong on a production server.