How to Improve Valheim Server Performance

Learning how to improve Valheim server performance can help reduce lag, improve world synchronization, and create a smoother experience for everyone. A well-configured Valheim dedicated server can handle other players, dropped items, portals, and active areas more efficiently, while excessive mods or network issues can slow things down. Server owners should also consider the server system, world activity, and network performance when troubleshooting lag. For larger worlds or busier servers, performance-focused mods such as BetterNetworking can also help improve how data syncs between the server and each client.

Choosing the Right Valheim Server Plan

Choose the right plan for your needs. You can find our plans here.

Optimize Your Valheim Server Settings

Player Limit

If you are using ValheimPlus. Set the player limit to match the number of people who actually play on your server through the `BepInEx/config/valheim_plus.cfg` file.

Limit Unnecessary Exploration

Valheim's world has a fixed map size, so you cannot shrink the world through a configuration file. However, excessive exploration can increase the terrain and objects the server must track. Encourage players to avoid exploring unnecessarily far from the main areas, especially on heavily modded or high-player-count servers.

Manage Server Backups

Keep regular backups so you can restore your world if something goes wrong, but avoid excessively frequent backups that create unnecessary disk activity.

Remove Unnecessary Dropped Items

Dropped items can accumulate around bases and other frequently visited areas. Regularly cleaning up unnecessary items can help reduce the amount of objects the server has to manage. You can use a DropCleaner, but it requires ValheimPlus.

Avoid Excessive Base Complexity

Large bases with thousands of building pieces, decorations, lights, storage containers, and other objects can increase the server's workload. Keeping builds reasonably organized can help maintain better performance.

Review Resource-Heavy Server Settings

If you're running a heavily customized server, review settings that increase the number of creatures, items, or other entities in the world. Increasing everything to extreme values can put additional load on the server.

Don't Change Settings Without Testing

Make one change at a time, then monitor the server. This makes it much easier to figure out which setting helped—or caused a new performance problem.

Manage Mods Carefully

• Limit unnecessary mods — Install only the mods your server actually needs.
• Keep mods updated — Make sure your mods and their dependencies are compatible with your current Valheim version.
• Avoid resource-heavy mods — Mods that add large numbers of creatures, structures, or world-generation features can increase server load.

Use Performance Mods

• Use server optimization mods — Mods designed to improve networking or server performance can reduce lag and improve stability, such as BetterNetworking and ValheimPerformanceOverhaul.
• Choose lightweight mods — Install only mods that add useful features or improve performance. Removing unnecessary mods can reduce potential conflicts and resource usage.
• Check compatibility — Make sure performance mods are compatible with your Valheim version and other installed mods before adding them.

Reduce World and Base Clutter

• Remove unnecessary structures — Destroy unused buildings, workstations, chests, decorations, and other objects that players no longer need.
• Clean up abandoned areas — If players have abandoned a base, remove unnecessary objects instead of leaving the entire build in the world.
• Limit excessive decorations — Large bases with huge numbers of furniture pieces, lights, signs, and other decorative objects can increase the workload in busy areas.
• Keep storage organized — Avoid leaving hundreds of items scattered on the ground. Store items in containers or remove anything you don't need.

Schedule Backups

• Restart the server regularly — Scheduling restarts can help clear temporary issues and keep the server running smoothly, especially after long periods of uptime.
• Keep backups — Create regular backups of your world so you can restore your progress if the world becomes corrupted or a mod causes problems.

Updated on: 12/09/2026