Valheim Valheim updates through Steam, and WinterNode handles this for you automatically through the [REQUIRED] Auto Update server option. In most cases, updating your server is as simple as restarting it.
This guide covers the update flow for vanilla, BepInEx, and Valheim Plus servers, plus what to expect for your world afterward. For the layout of the Game Control Panel itself, see Server Configuration and Start & Manage Your Server.
Update a Vanilla Server
- Open your server in the Game Control Panel and go to the Server Options tab
- Find the [REQUIRED] Auto Update field and set it to
1 - Restart your server from the console page
That’s it. On restart, the server checks Steam for the latest version and installs it before starting up. Updating does not delete or reset your world: the update only replaces the game files, and your world in worlds_local is loaded again as normal on the next start.
Updating a Server with BepInEx or Valheim Plus
The steps are identical to a vanilla server: set [REQUIRED] Auto Update to 1 on the Server Options page, then restart.
The difference is what can happen afterward. BepInEx and Valheim Plus are both maintained separately from Valheim itself, and a Valheim update can outpace them. If the mod framework or an individual plugin hasn’t been updated to support the new game version yet, you may see:
- Plugins failing to load, or the server hanging during the BepInEx loading phase
- Errors in the BepInEx log referencing a specific plugin
- The mod framework itself failing to initialize after a major game update
If you want to control exactly when your server updates, for example to confirm your mods are compatible first, set [REQUIRED] Auto Update to 0 and restart manually once you’ve verified everything works.
Do You Need a New World After Updating?
No. Starting a new world is never required to update your server, and your existing world will keep working normally.
Whether it’s worth starting a new world depends on what the update adds. Valheim only generates new terrain the first time an area is loaded, so a content update that changes existing biomes or adds new ones won’t retroactively apply to areas you’ve already explored. For most routine updates this doesn’t matter. For a major content update, see our blog post on whether to start a new world for Valheim 1.0 for a full breakdown.
Either way, back up your world before updating. See our backup guide for the manual and automatic options.
”Incompatible Version” After You Updated
Valheim shows Incompatible version (or, on some builds, “You’re running an older version of Valheim that is incompatible with this server”) whenever your game and the server are on different versions. Players often read it as the server being out of date, but in most support cases the server had already updated and the player’s own Steam client was still on the old build.
- Restart the server and read the version line near the top of the console output
- Compare it with the version in the latest Valheim patch notes. If the server is behind, check that [REQUIRED] Auto Update is
1and restart again - If the server is current, fully close Valheim, let Steam finish downloading the update, and open the game again
- Refresh the server list, or re-add the server by IP if the old entry still shows the wrong version
If your server runs BepInEx or Valheim Plus and a player is turned away with an incompatible version error instead, the framework on the server may not match what is installed on the player’s game. See the modding guide for what players need to install.
Still Having Trouble?
If your server won’t start after updating and removing recently added plugins doesn’t fix it, contact our support team.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not by default. The [REQUIRED] Auto Update server option is set to 1 already for new servers. Restarting your server checks for and installs the latest version automatically. You only need to change anything if you previously set Auto Update to 0.
It can. If the game updates before BepInEx or Valheim Plus has released a compatible version, plugins can fail to load or the server can behave unexpectedly. This is most common right after a major Valheim update. Check Thunderstore or Nexus for an updated mod loader version if your server has trouble starting after an update.
No, it's never required. Existing worlds keep working after an update. Starting a new world is only a recommendation, and mainly matters after a content update that adds new terrain, since areas you've already explored won't regenerate with new content. See our guide on whether to start a new world for the Valheim 1.0 update for more detail.
Usually your own game is behind, not the server. Valheim shows Incompatible version whenever your game and the server are on different builds, and in most support cases the server had already updated. Restart the server and read the version line near the top of the console output, then compare it with the version in the latest Valheim patch notes. If they match, fully close Valheim, let Steam finish downloading the update, open the game again, and refresh the server list or re-add the server by IP.
No. Updating only replaces the game files Steam ships. Your world lives in worlds_local, which the update does not touch, and the server loads it again on the next start. Back up before updating anyway, so you can roll back if a game update introduces a bug.
Yes. Set the [REQUIRED] Auto Update server option to 0 on the Server Options page and restart. This is useful if you want to control exactly when your server updates, for example to confirm your mods are compatible first.