Why is my server not showing in the multiplayer list?

Check that UDP ports 26900-26902 are properly forwarded in your router and allowed through your Windows/Linux firewall. Also ensure 'ServerVisibility' is set to 2 in your config.

How do I make myself an admin?

Find your Steam64 ID and add it to the `serveradmin.xml` file with permission level 0. Alternatively, log into the server via Telnet/RCON and type `admin add 0`.

How do I wipe the map but keep player profiles?

Navigate to your save directory (usually %appdata%/7DaysToDie/Saves on Windows), delete the generated world folder, but leave the 'Player' folder completely intact.

How do I install server-side mods?

Create a folder named 'Mods' in the root directory of your dedicated server installation. Extract your downloaded mods into this folder. If a mod contains custom UI or assets, players joining will also need it installed locally.

What is the recommended map size for a new RWG server?

6144 or 8192 are standard, stable sizes for most communities. Proceed with caution when generating 10240 maps, as they require significantly more server RAM and can take over 20 minutes to generate on the first boot.

How do I randomize the Blood Moon horde nights?

Set `BloodMoonFrequency` to your base interval (e.g., 7) and `BloodMoonRange` to the variance (e.g., 3). With these settings, the horde could happen anywhere from day 7 to day 10, keeping players guessing.

7 Days to Die Dedicated Server Configuration & Admin Commands

Data Verified: May 2026

The ultimate cheat sheet for 7 Days to Die serverconfig.xml parameters, admin console commands, map generation, and port forwarding.

Commands & configuration database

Server configuration parameters for 7 Days to Die
Command	Default Value	Description
`ServerName`	My Game Host	The public name of the server displayed in the server browser.
`ServerPassword`	(empty)	Password required to join the server. Leave blank for a public server.
`ServerMaxPlayerCount`	8	Maximum concurrent players allowed on the server.
`ServerDescription`	A 7 Days to Die server	The description shown when players click on your server in the browser.
`ServerVisibility`	2	Visibility status: 2 = Public, 1 = Only show to friends, 0 = Not listed.
`GameWorld`	Navezgane	The map the server will load. Can be Navezgane, RWG, or a custom map name.
`WorldGenSeed`	asdf	The randomization seed string used to generate the procedural RWG map.
`WorldGenSize`	6144	Size of the RWG map. Valid options are 4096, 6144, 8192, and 10240.
`GameDifficulty`	2	Scales from 0 (Scavenger) to 5 (Insane). Affects zombie health and damage.
`DayNightLength`	60	Real-time minutes it takes for one in-game day to pass.
`DayLightLength`	18	In-game hours the sun is up each day. Dictates when zombies start running.
`PlayerKillingMode`	3	PvP settings: 0 = No Killing, 1 = Kill Allies Only, 2 = Kill Strangers Only, 3 = Kill Everyone.
`DropOnDeath`	1	What players lose when they die: 0 = Nothing, 1 = Everything, 2 = Toolbelt only, 3 = Backpack only.
`DropOnQuit`	0	What players drop when they disconnect: 0 = Nothing, 1 = Everything, 2 = Toolbelt, 3 = Backpack.
`BloodMoonEnemyCount`	8	How many concurrent zombies spawn per player during the Blood Moon horde.
`BloodMoonFrequency`	7	How often (in days) the Blood Moon occurs. Set to 0 to disable hordes entirely.
`BloodMoonRange`	0	Adds a random variance (in days) to the Blood Moon frequency.
`BloodMoonWarning`	8	The time (in-game hour) the red warning number appears on the day of a Blood Moon.
`LootAbundance`	100	Percentage multiplier for the amount of loot found in containers.
`LootRespawnDays`	7	Days required for an untouched container to respawn new loot.
`BlockDamagePlayer`	100	Percentage multiplier for how much damage players deal to blocks.
`BlockDamageAI`	100	Percentage multiplier for how much damage zombies deal to blocks normally.
`BlockDamageAIBM`	100	Percentage multiplier for how much damage zombies deal to blocks during a Blood Moon.
`MaxSpawnedZombies`	64	Total maximum concurrent zombies allowed on the entire map.
`MaxSpawnedAnimals`	50	Total maximum concurrent animals allowed on the entire map.
`TerminalWindowEnabled`	true	Shows a visible terminal window when running the dedicated server locally.

Showing 26 of 26 configuration parameters.

Admin console commands for 7 Days to Die
Command	Default Value	Description
`admin add <steamID> <level>`	N/A	Grants a player admin privileges. Level 0 is highest.
`admin remove <steamID>`	N/A	Revokes admin privileges from a specific user.
`admin list`	N/A	Displays a list of all currently configured server administrators.
`whitelist add <steamID>`	N/A	Adds a user to the server whitelist, allowing them to bypass full server queues.
`kick <steamID> [reason]`	N/A	Disconnects a player from the server with an optional reason shown to them.
`ban add <steamID> <duration> [reason]`	N/A	Bans a player. Duration can be in minutes, hours, days, years (e.g., 10 years).
`ban remove <steamID>`	N/A	Removes a previously applied ban from a player's Steam ID.
`say <message>`	N/A	Broadcasts a global server message to all connected players.
`settime <day> <hour> <minute>`	N/A	Instantly changes the in-game world time.
`teleport <player1> <player2>`	N/A	Teleports player1 directly to the location of player2.
`teleport <player> <x> <y> <z>`	N/A	Teleports a player to specific map coordinates.
`give <steamID> <item> <count>`	N/A	Spawns specific items directly into a player's inventory.
`buff <steamID> <buff_name>`	N/A	Applies a specific status effect (like healing or a broken leg) to a player.
`debuff <steamID> <buff_name>`	N/A	Removes a specific status effect from a player.
`spawnentity <steamID> <entity_id>`	N/A	Spawns a specific zombie, animal, or vehicle near the targeted player.
`spawnsupplycrate`	N/A	Forces an immediate airdrop to spawn above a random player on the map.
`saveworld`	N/A	Forces the server to write all current chunk and player data to the disk immediately.
`shutdown`	N/A	Safely saves the world data and then shuts down the server application.

Showing 18 of 18 admin console commands.

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Hardware specifications

Sizing guidance for self-hosting a 7 Days to Die dedicated server.

Hardware requirements for 7 Days to Die
Tier	Specification	Use case
Minimum	`4 GB RAM · 2-core 3.0 GHz CPU`	Vanilla map, up to 4 concurrent players, default settings.
Recommended	`8 GB RAM · 4-core 3.5 GHz CPU`	Vanilla or light mods, 8 players, 8k map with default zombie counts.
Performance	`16 GB RAM · 6-core 4.0 GHz+ CPU · NVMe SSD`	Required for 10+ players, large modpacks (Darkness Falls, Undead Legacy) or increased MaxSpawnedZombies.

Default file locations

Default installation paths for 7 Days to Die dedicated servers installed via SteamCMD.

Windows

C:\steamcmd\steamapps\common\7 Days to Die Dedicated Server\

Linux

/home/steam/Steam/steamapps/common/7 Days to Die Dedicated Server/

Pro-Tip: Always stop the server completely before editing configuration files, or the server will overwrite your changes upon restart.

Default ports for port forwarding

Open these on your router and firewall before exposing the server to the internet.

Default ports for 7 Days to Die
Service	Protocol	Port
Game Port	UDP	`26900`
Query Port	UDP	`26901, 26902`
RCON / Telnet	TCP	`8081`

Quick start: launch your 7 Days to Die server

Copy-paste these two commands to install and start a 7 Days to Die dedicated server. Tested against SteamCMD on a fresh box.

Step 1, Install via SteamCMDSteam App ID 294420

steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/steam/7dtd +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit

Step 2, Launch the 7 Days to Die server

cd /home/steam/7dtd && ./startserver.sh -configfile=serverconfig.xml

Note: Run as the dedicated `steam` user, not as root.

Step 1, Install via SteamCMDSteam App ID 294420

steamcmd +force_install_dir "C:\steamcmd\7dtd" +login anonymous +app_update 294420 validate +quit

Step 2, Launch the 7 Days to Die server

"C:\steamcmd\7dtd\7DaysToDieServer.exe" -configfile=serverconfig.xml -logfile 7dtd.log

Note: Run from an elevated PowerShell or Command Prompt.

Starter `serverconfig.xml`

A working baseline config with sensible defaults for 7 Days to Die. Copy it, tweak the marked values, and drop it into your server directory.

serverconfig.xmlStarter config · 7 Days to Die

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ServerSettings>
  <property name="ServerName"             value="My 7DTD Server"/>
  <property name="ServerDescription"      value="A 7 Days to Die dedicated server"/>
  <property name="ServerPassword"         value=""/>
  <property name="ServerMaxPlayerCount"   value="8"/>
  <property name="ServerVisibility"       value="2"/>
  <property name="ServerPort"             value="26900"/>

  <property name="GameWorld"              value="Navezgane"/>
  <property name="WorldGenSeed"           value="asdf"/>
  <property name="WorldGenSize"           value="6144"/>
  <property name="GameDifficulty"         value="2"/>
  <property name="DayNightLength"         value="60"/>
  <property name="DayLightLength"         value="18"/>

  <property name="PlayerKillingMode"      value="3"/>
  <property name="DropOnDeath"            value="1"/>
  <property name="DropOnQuit"             value="0"/>

  <property name="BloodMoonEnemyCount"    value="8"/>
  <property name="BloodMoonFrequency"     value="7"/>
  <property name="BloodMoonRange"         value="0"/>
  <property name="BloodMoonWarning"       value="8"/>

  <property name="LootAbundance"          value="100"/>
  <property name="LootRespawnDays"        value="7"/>
  <property name="MaxSpawnedZombies"      value="64"/>
  <property name="MaxSpawnedAnimals"      value="50"/>

  <property name="TelnetEnabled"          value="true"/>
  <property name="TelnetPort"             value="8081"/>
  <property name="TelnetPassword"         value="CHANGE_ME"/>
</ServerSettings>

Frequently asked questions

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Host your own 7 Days to Die server

All hosting guides →

Step-by-step install and deploy walkthroughs (panels, ports, RAM sizing). Pair these with the command reference above.

Configuring 7 Days to Die Telnet and Alloc's Fixes via Pterodactyl
PterodactylUbuntu 24.04Unity
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Reference and hosting hub for 7 Days to Die

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Hosting hub
How to host a 7 Days to Die dedicated server
Pterodactyl walkthrough, serverconfig.xml reference, Alloc's Fixes.
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7 Days to Die Dedicated Server Configuration & Admin Commands

Commands & configuration database

Recommended hosting providers

Hardware specifications

Default file locations

Default ports for port forwarding

Quick start: launch your 7 Days to Die server

Starter `serverconfig.xml`

Frequently asked questions

DayZ

Killing Floor 2

Left 4 Dead 2

Project Zomboid

Unturned

ARK: Survival Evolved

Host your own 7 Days to Die server

Configuring 7 Days to Die Telnet and Alloc's Fixes via Pterodactyl

Reference and hosting hub for 7 Days to Die

How to host a 7 Days to Die dedicated server

7 Days to Die Dedicated Server Configuration & Admin Commands

Commands & configuration database

Recommended hosting providers

Hardware specifications

Default file locations

Default ports for port forwarding

Quick start: launch your 7 Days to Die server

Starter serverconfig.xml

Frequently asked questions

Why is my server not showing in the multiplayer list?

How do I make myself an admin?

How do I wipe the map but keep player profiles?

How do I install server-side mods?

What is the recommended map size for a new RWG server?

How do I randomize the Blood Moon horde nights?

Other dedicated servers you might run

DayZ

Killing Floor 2

Left 4 Dead 2

Project Zomboid

Unturned

ARK: Survival Evolved

Host your own 7 Days to Die server

Configuring 7 Days to Die Telnet and Alloc's Fixes via Pterodactyl

Reference and hosting hub for 7 Days to Die

How to host a 7 Days to Die dedicated server

Starter `serverconfig.xml`