Create a Palworld dedicated server on Linux/Ubuntu | ComputeBox
Game Servers
Create a Palworld dedicated server on Linux/Ubuntu
Your own Palworld server on a VPS: set up SteamCMD, download the server files, start with performance flags, open the port, and beat the memory leak with a scheduled restart.
Palworld is one of the most-hosted survival games, and your own server pays off as soon as you want to stay in one world with friends over time. This guide sets up the official dedicated server on Ubuntu with SteamCMD, including the performance flags and the scheduled restart that reliably beats the well-known memory leak.
25 minIntermediateTested on Ubuntu 24.04Updated 2026-07-10
In short
Install SteamCMD, download the Palworld server (App ID 2394010), start it with the flags -useperfthreads -NoAsyncLoadingThread -UseMultithreadForDS, open port 8211/UDP, and set up a scheduled restart every 6 hours so the server does not fill up.
Palworld is memory-hungry. The server runs most stably with plenty of RAM, and it benefits from fast cores for the simulation and NVMe SSD for the world. Our EPYC Turin cores (Zen 5) bring the single-core performance it needs, and the Bremen plans deliver plenty of traffic for busy servers.
A ComputeBox VPS gives you gives you powerful cores, full root access, and hosting in Germany with low pings for the DACH region. For Palworld, the Bremen Pro plan with 16 GB of RAM is the sweet spot, giving the server the headroom it really needs.
After the first start, the configuration lives at ~/palworld/Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini. There you set the server name, a password, and the maximum player count, among other things:
After each change, restart the server so the values take effect.
Step 6: Keep it running and restart on a schedule#
Palworld has had a memory leak since launch that is still only partly fixed. The proven solution is a scheduled restart every 6 to 12 hours that clears memory before it fills up. The cleanest way to run this is a systemd service plus a cron entry.
Create the service at /etc/systemd/system/palworld.service:
Enable and start the service:
Then add a scheduled restart every 6 hours to the crontab (sudo crontab -e):
That way the server comes up cleanly after every VPS reboot and clears memory regularly. A restart takes only seconds, and everyone reconnects to the same world afterwards.
The minimum is 8 GB, 16 GB is recommended. For large or modded servers, plan for 32 GB. RAM is the most important factor, a server that is too tight becomes unstable.
Why does the server slow down over time?
Palworld has a memory leak, so memory fills up slowly during operation. A scheduled restart every 6 to 12 hours solves this reliably, with no data loss.
Which port does Palworld use?
UDP port 8211 by default. You need to open this port in the firewall so players can connect.
Edit PalWorldSettings.ini in the LinuxServer folder, not the default file, and restart the server after each change.
How many players can a Palworld server have?
Up to 32 players are possible, and you set the exact number with ServerPlayerMaxNum. More players mean more RAM and CPU demand, so size the hardware accordingly.
How do I back up my world?
The saves live in the ~/palworld/Pal/Saved folder. Back it up regularly, ideally automated. See Set up VPS backups.
