Your Valheim server name is the name players see when identifying your server. Whether you want to rename a private world for your group, update the name of a community server, or simply replace the default name you started with, you can change it without creating a new world.
On a self-hosted Valheim server, the name is controlled through the -name launch argument inside your startup file. With Valheim hosting through Pine Hosting, the server name can be changed through the game panel instead.
The important thing is not to confuse your server name with your world name, as these are two separate settings.
Valheim Server Name vs World Name
Before changing anything, it is worth understanding the difference between the two.
Your server name is controlled by:
-name "My Valheim Server"
This is the name used to identify your server.
Your world is controlled separately by:
-world "MyWorld"
The -world setting determines which Valheim world save the server loads.
If you only want to rename your server, change -name and leave -world alone.
For example:
-name "Old Server" -world "MyWorld"
can safely become:
-name "New Server" -world "MyWorld"
The server name changes, but the same MyWorld save continues to load.
How To Change The Name Of A Self-Hosted Valheim Server
If your Valheim server is running from your own Windows PC, you need to edit the startup file used to launch it.
1. Stop The Valheim Server
Before changing the startup configuration, shut down the server properly.
Click the Command Prompt window running the server and press:
CTRL+C
Wait for the server process to close.
2. Open The Valheim Dedicated Server Folder
Open Steam and go to your Library.
Right-click Valheim Dedicated Server and select:
Manage > Browse Local Files
This opens the folder containing your Valheim server installation.
3. Open Your Custom Startup File
Find the .bat file you use to start the server.
The original file is:
start_headless_server.bat
However, it is better to use a separate copy, such as:
my_valheim_server.bat
Steam updates can overwrite the original startup file, which is why Valheim recommends keeping your own copy for custom server settings.
Right-click the file and open it using Notepad.
4. Find The -name Setting
Inside the startup command, find:
-name
For example:
start valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name "Old Server Name" -port 2456 -world "MyWorld" -password "MyPassword" -public 1 -crossplay
Change only the value inside the -name setting:
-name "New Server Name"
Be careful not to accidentally change:
-world "MyWorld"
unless you intentionally want the server to load a different world.
5. Save And Restart Your Server
Save the startup file after entering the new server name.
Start the server again using your custom .bat file.
The Valheim server will now run using the new name while continuing to load the same world.
How To Change Your Valheim Server Name With Pine Hosting
With Pine Hosting, you do not need to open your dedicated server installation or manually edit the -name launch argument.
To change your Valheim server name:
- Log into the Pine Hosting game panel and select your Valheim server.
- Stop the server.
- Open the Startup tab.
- Find SERVER NAME and enter the new name.
- Start the server again.
The server will now use the new name without changing your existing world.
Note: If you want your Valheim server name to appear in the public server list, your server must be set to public. On a self-hosted server, this is controlled through the -public startup setting. With Pine Hosting, you can enable or disable a public server directly from the Startup tab using the available toggle, without manually editing your server startup files.Why Is My Old Valheim Server Name Still Showing?
After changing the server name, make sure the server has been fully restarted.
If you are self-hosting, also check that you edited the same .bat file you actually use to launch the server. It is common to have both the original start_headless_server.bat and a custom copy in the same folder.
If you edited one file but started the server with another, the old name will still be used.
Server browsers can also take a short amount of time to refresh their listings, so the previous name may not disappear instantly everywhere.
Make Valheim Server Changes Without Editing Startup Files
With Valheim hosting, settings like changing your server's name can be managed directly through the hosting panel. Changing the server name through self-hosting means opening the dedicated server directory, finding the correct startup script, editing the -name argument, saving the file, and launching the server again.
Pine Hosting keeps server settings, files, backups, startup options, and controls accessible from one place, removing much of the manual configuration involved in running the dedicated server yourself.
For players looking for the best Valheim hosting, simple management tools are important because changing settings such as your server name or password should not require digging through installation folders every time you want to make an adjustment.
