Updated 16 June 2026. A 7 Days to Die dedicated server runs the game world as a standalone process - no host player has to be online, the world persists 24/7, and you get full control over settings, mods, and admin tools. This guide covers the whole job: installing the server with SteamCMD on Windows or Linux, the serverconfig.xml settings that actually matter, the ports you need to open, keeping it running, and adding mods. If you would rather skip the system administration, the managed-hosting route at the bottom does all of this for you.
The Steam app you need is 294420 - the "7 Days to Die Dedicated Server" tool, which is a separate download from the game (app 251570). You do not need to own the game on the machine that runs the server, and the server is free to download.
7 Days to Die has three ways to play with friends. Co-op / peer-to-peer hosts the world on your own game client - simple, but the world only exists while you are playing and your PC carries the whole load. A dedicated server runs the world as its own process, so it stays up when you log off, handles more players cleanly, and exposes admin and config files you cannot reach in co-op. You want a dedicated server the moment you have a regular group, want the world online around the clock, or want to run an overhaul like Darkness Falls that needs server-side files.
You can run it on the same PC you play on, on a spare PC on your LAN, or on a rented machine. Running it on a separate machine is the single biggest performance win - the server and your game client stop fighting over CPU and RAM.
| Resource | Minimum | Comfortable (modded / 4+ players) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 fast cores | 6+ high-clock cores (single-thread speed matters most) |
| RAM | 6 GB free for the server | 10-16 GB (overhauls and big worlds are memory-hungry) |
| Disk | 15 GB SSD | 25 GB+ SSD (worlds and saves grow over time) |
| OS | Windows 10/11 or Linux (Debian/Ubuntu) | A headless Linux box or a dedicated Windows machine |
| Network | Stable upload, ports forwardable | Wired connection, static LAN IP for the server |
7 Days to Die is heavily single-thread-bound, so raw clock speed and a few fast cores beat a high core count. See performance tuning and hardware for the detail.
SteamCMD is Valve's command-line installer and the standard way to download a dedicated server. Install it once, then pull the server files with app id 294420.
Run the server under its own non-login user, never root:
sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" sdtd
sudo su - sdtd
# install steamcmd into ~/steamcmd, then the server into ~/7dtd-server
mkdir -p ~/steamcmd ~/7dtd-server && cd ~/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar zxvf -
./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir /home/sdtd/7dtd-server \
+login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quitThen copy the launch script and config out of the install so updates never overwrite your settings:
cd ~/7dtd-server
cp serverconfig.xml myserver.xml
./startserver.sh -configfile=myserver.xmlC:\steamcmd, and run it once so it self-updates.force_install_dir C:\7dtd-server then login anonymous then app_update 294420 validate.serverconfig.xml to myserver.xml, edit it, then launch with startdedicated.bat (point it at your config file).The validate flag re-checks every file - use it on the first install and after any failed update.
serverconfig.xml is the heart of the server. Always edit a copy (e.g. myserver.xml) so a game update never wipes your changes. The settings people actually change:
| Property | What it does |
|---|---|
ServerName | The name shown in the public/LAN server browser. |
ServerPassword | Set this for a private server - leave blank for public. |
ServerMaxPlayerCount | Player slots. Each player adds CPU and RAM load. |
ServerPort | Game port, default 26900. Change it if you run more than one server. |
GameWorld / WorldGenSeed | Navezgane (handcrafted) or a Random Gen world from a seed. |
SaveGameFolder | Point this at fast storage with room to grow. |
TelnetEnabled / TelnetPassword | Remote admin console - set a strong password if enabled. |
WebDashboardEnabled | Built-in browser dashboard on port 8080 (optional). |
Add yourself as an admin in serveradmin.xml (your 64-bit SteamID), and keep that list to people you trust. Full reference: Server Settings XML and admin console commands.
Open these on the server's firewall, and forward them on your router if the server sits behind NAT:
| Port | Protocol | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 26900 | TCP + UDP | Main game port (peer connection + server list) |
| 26901-26902 | UDP | Game traffic (Steam networking) |
| 8080 | TCP | Web dashboard (only if enabled) |
| 8081 | TCP | Telnet/control (only if enabled) |
If you change ServerPort from 26900, shift the two UDP ports above it to match (e.g. a server on 26920 uses 26921-26922). Lock telnet and the dashboard down or keep them off entirely - see server security and DDoS hardening.
A bare launch script works, but a server that does not restart after a crash means downtime nobody is awake to fix. Wrap it:
systemd service with Restart=always, or inside a screen/tmux session you can re-attach to. systemd also starts it on boot.Server-side mods go in a Mods/ folder at the root of the server install (create it if it is missing). The golden rule: the server and every client must run the same mod versions and the same game version, or players get an "incompatible version" error and cannot connect.
Mods/. Server-side-only mods (like PROJECT Z) need nothing on the client; total overhauls must be installed on the server and matched on every client.Full walkthrough: mod installation guide and the complete 7 Days to Die mods directory.
To update, re-run the same SteamCMD app_update 294420 validate command. The tricky part is branches: the default branch is the current stable (the 2.6 line in mid-2026), but mods are often pinned to a specific game version. SteamCMD can install older or experimental builds with a beta branch flag, for example app_update 294420 -beta latest_experimental validate for the V3.0 "Dead Hot Summer" experimental line.
This is why version matters more than "newest": Darkness Falls runs on the 1.0 branch and Undead Legacy on the Alpha 20.7 branch, so you pin the matching game build before installing them. The Mod Status Tracker lists which branch each major mod needs.
Everything above is doable on your own hardware, but it is real system administration - SteamCMD, port forwarding, firewall rules, a restart wrapper, branch pinning, and update discipline. A managed 7 Days to Die server does all of it from a control panel: one-click install, the right game branch pinned automatically for modded servers, scheduled updates and backups, and a web console for admin commands. The larger plans carry the extra RAM that overhauls need. If you just want the world online for your group today, that is the fast path; if you enjoy running your own box, the steps above are the complete picture.
Is the 7 Days to Die dedicated server free? Yes. The dedicated server tool (Steam app 294420) is a free download through SteamCMD, separate from the game itself. You only pay if you rent hardware to run it on.
Do I need to own the game to run a server? No - the dedicated server is its own app and does not need a game licence on the server machine. Players connecting to it do need to own the game.
How much RAM does a 7 Days to Die server need? Plan for about 6 GB for a small vanilla server and 10-16 GB for an overhaul or a larger group. Big modded worlds are the main reason to size up.
What ports does a 7 Days to Die server use? 26900 (TCP + UDP) plus 26901-26902 (UDP) by default, with optional 8080 (web dashboard) and 8081 (telnet). Forward them on your router if the server is behind NAT.
Can I run a modded dedicated server? Yes. Install server-side mods into the Mods/ folder, match versions on every client, and pin the game branch the mod needs. Start with the Mod Status Tracker to confirm compatibility.
| Resource | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Server Settings XML | Every serverconfig.xml property explained | Server Settings |
| Admin Console Commands | Run-time admin and debugging commands | Console Commands |
| Performance Tuning | Hardware and settings for smooth servers | Performance Tuning |
| Security & DDoS | Lock down telnet, the dashboard, and ports | Security Hardening |
| Mods Directory | Every overhaul and modlet, with version status | 7D2D Mods |