A password controls who can connect to your Valheim server, making it one of the most important settings for a private multiplayer world. You may want to change it after inviting new players, removing someone from your group, or simply replacing an old password that too many people know.
When self-hosting, changing the password means opening the startup file used by your Valheim Dedicated Server and manually editing its launch arguments. With Valheim hosting through Pine Hosting, the password can instead be changed directly from the game panel.
This guide covers both methods, starting with a self-hosted Valheim server.
How To Change The Password On A Self-Hosted Valheim Server
If you host your Valheim server from your own Windows PC, the password is stored as part of the command used to start the dedicated server.
1. Stop Your Valheim Server
Before editing the startup configuration, shut the server down properly.
If the server is running through Command Prompt, click the server window and press:
CTRL+C
Wait for the process to finish closing before making changes.
2. Open The Valheim Dedicated Server Folder
Open Steam and go to your Library.
Find Valheim Dedicated Server, right-click it, and select:
Manage > Browse Local Files
This opens the folder containing the dedicated server files.
3. Find Your Server Startup File
Your Valheim server is normally started using:
start_headless_server.bat
If you followed the recommended setup process, you should already be using a separate copy of this file, such as:
my_valheim_server.bat
Using a copy is important because Steam can replace the original start_headless_server.bat when the dedicated server receives an update.
Open your custom .bat file with Notepad or another text editor.
4. Find The -password Setting
Inside the startup command, look for:
-password
A typical Valheim server startup command may look similar to:
start valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name "My Valheim Server" -port 2456 -world "MyWorld" -password "OldPassword" -public 1 -crossplay
The part you need to change is:
-password "OldPassword"
Replace the old password with the new one you want to use:
-password "NewPassword123"
Do not remove the -password argument itself.
Valheim dedicated server passwords should be at least five characters long. The default server script also warns that the password should not be contained within the server name.
5. Save The File And Restart Your Server
Save the .bat file after changing the password.
Start your Valheim Dedicated Server again using the same custom startup file.
Players connecting to the server will now need to enter the new password.
Remember to send the updated password only to the players who should still have access to your server.
How To Change Your Valheim Server Password With Pine Hosting
With Pine Hosting, there is no need to locate or edit start_headless_server.bat.
You can change Valheim server password directly from the game panel:
- Log into the Pine Hosting game panel and select your Valheim server.
- Open the Startup tab.
- Find SERVER PASSWORD and enter your new password.
- Restart the server.
That's it. The new password will be used when players connect after the restart.
What Happens After You Change The Password?
Changing your Valheim server password does not reset your world, characters, buildings, bosses, or other progress.
The password only controls access to the server.
Your existing world continues to load using the value configured under -world, while the visible server name continues to be controlled separately through -name.
Players who already have the server saved in their server list may still see it normally, but they will be asked to enter the new password when connecting.
What If Your Valheim Server Will Not Start After Changing The Password?
If a self-hosted server stops launching after you edit the password, go back through the startup command and check that you have not accidentally removed quotation marks, deleted another launch argument, or changed part of the command unintentionally.
For example:
-password "MyPassword123"
is valid formatting.
You should also make sure the password is at least five characters long and is not included in the server name.
With dedicated Valheim hosting, you do not need to manually troubleshoot the startup script for a basic password change because the panel handles the launch configuration for you.
Why Valheim Server Hosting Is Easier With Pine Hosting
Self-hosting means every server setting is ultimately your responsibility.
You need to know where the dedicated server is installed, which startup file is being used, which argument controls the setting you want, and how to safely restart the server after making the change.
With dedicated Valheim hosting, settings such as your server password can be managed through the game panel instead.
Pine Hosting gives you access to your Valheim server files, startup settings, backups, console, and other server controls without requiring you to maintain the dedicated server environment yourself.
If you are comparing the best Valheim hosting options, easy access to settings like passwords, names, worlds, backups, and startup controls can make regular server management considerably simpler.
