The most direct way to make a Conan Exiles server is to install the Windows Dedicated Server from Steam’s Library → Tools, launch it once, stop it, edit the INI files, open the required ports on your firewall and router, then start it with StartServer.bat or ConanSandboxServer.exe. Players outside your home network must use your public (external) IP address, and every player must be on the same game branch and installed build as the server.
This guide covers a self-hosted PC server, SteamCMD installation, passwords, administrator access, port forwarding, mods, RCON, hardware planning, updates, and the fixes for servers that do not appear in the browser. Console hosting has different platform requirements and is normally handled through a managed host rather than this Windows procedure.
What do I need before creating a Conan Exiles server?
You need a Windows PC that can remain online, a stable network connection, permission to change Windows Firewall and router settings, and a Conan Exiles installation that matches the branch and version used by your players. The dedicated-server files are separate from the ordinary game client.
- Windows host: The official dedicated-server workflow described here is for Windows. Use a machine that can run continuously without entering sleep mode.
- Steam account or SteamCMD: Steam’s Tools library is the simplest installation route. SteamCMD is useful for a headless or scripted installation.
- Storage: Reserve more space than the historical 35 GB baseline so the server, updates, logs, backups, and Workshop mods have room to grow.
- Network access: You need the host’s private LAN address for router forwarding and its public IP address for friends connecting over the internet.
- Administrative access: You must be able to create firewall rules and forward ports on the router. Carrier-grade NAT or a provider that blocks inbound traffic can prevent public hosting even when Windows is configured correctly.
Decide first whether this is a private server for a few people or a public server with mods and a larger population. That decision affects CPU, memory, upload bandwidth, backup frequency, and whether a managed host is more practical than maintaining the machine yourself.
Should I self-host or rent a managed server?
Self-hosting gives you the most control and avoids a recurring rental bill, but you are responsible for networking, updates, restarts, backups, and hardware. A managed host costs more over time but usually supplies a control panel, public connectivity, scheduled restarts, and support.
| Consideration | Self-hosted Windows server | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Uses hardware you already own; new hardware, electricity, and storage are your responsibility. | Usually little or no hardware purchase, but the rental is recurring. |
| Recurring cost | Electricity, internet service, replacement hardware, and your time. | Monthly or longer-term hosting fee; verify current plan terms before buying. |
| INI and mod control | Full access to Engine.ini, ServerSettings.ini, Game.ini, Workshop files, and launch arguments. |
Often available through a panel, but the exact controls depend on the provider. |
| Networking work | You configure Windows Firewall, router forwarding, NAT, and a reachable public address. | The provider normally supplies the public endpoint; you still configure server settings. |
| Updates and restarts | You schedule SteamCMD or launcher updates, stop the process safely, and restart after patches. | Panels may automate updates and restarts, subject to the host’s tools and policy. |
| Performance | Depends on your CPU, RAM, disk, upload capacity, and what else runs on the machine. | Depends on the host’s hardware allocation and how heavily the node is shared. |
| Platform scope | This guide creates a Windows PC dedicated server. | Some commercial services advertise separate PC, PlayStation, and Xbox options; confirm the exact platform and cross-play behavior before ordering. |
Choose self-hosting when you want direct file access and are comfortable troubleshooting a router. Choose managed hosting when your internet connection cannot accept inbound traffic, the server must stay online while your home PC is off, or you do not want to maintain updates and backups.
How do I install the Conan Exiles Dedicated Server through Steam?
On Windows, install the dedicated server from Steam’s Tools section, run it once to create its folders, then stop it before changing configuration files.
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Use the library filter or search box to show Tools.
- Find Conan Exiles Dedicated Server and install it. Funcom also distributes a dedicated-server application from its current server documentation.
- Open the installed server directory and start
StartServer.batorConanSandboxServer.exe. - Allow the first startup to finish creating the
ConanSandboxSavedConfigWindowsServerfolders and initial files. - Stop the server cleanly before editing any INI file. Do not leave the process running while saving configuration changes.
Launching the ordinary Conan Exiles game through the normal Steam client can produce Steam DLL error dialogs. Use the batch file or the dedicated executable instead. If a DLL dialog appears during the documented startup flow, dismiss it as described by Funcom and continue using the dedicated-server launcher rather than the regular game client.
How do I set the server name and join password?
Put the public server name and the password players enter at the join screen in Engine.ini. The file is normally located at ConanSandboxSavedConfigWindowsServerEngine.ini.
[OnlineSubsystem]
ServerName=YOUR_SERVER_NAME_HERE
ServerPassword=YOUR_DESIRED_PASSWORD_HERE- Stop the dedicated-server process.
- Open
Engine.iniin a plain-text editor. - Add or edit the
[OnlineSubsystem]section exactly as shown. - Replace the example values with your name and join password.
- Save as a text INI file, start the server, and search for the name from a separate client.
The join password is optional. If you leave it out, anyone who can reach the server can attempt to connect, so a private community should set one and share it only with its players. Avoid putting sensitive personal information in the visible server name.
How do I create an administrator password?
The administrator password is separate from the password players use to join. Set it in ServerSettings.ini, not in Engine.ini.
[ServerSettings]
AdminPassword=YOUR_DESIRED_ADMIN_PASSWORD_HERE- With the server stopped, open
ConanSandboxSavedConfigWindowsServerServerSettings.ini. - Create or locate the
[ServerSettings]section. - Set
AdminPasswordto a different, strong value. - Save the file and restart the server.
- Join the server as a player, open the in-game administrative interface, choose Make Me Admin, and enter that administrator password.
Never reuse the join password for administration. Anyone who knows the administrator value can use server controls, so keep it out of public chat, screenshots, and shared configuration archives.
What ports does a Conan Exiles server use?
Allow the following traffic in Windows Firewall and, for internet play, forward it from the router to the host’s private IP address. The pinger port is fixed at the game port plus one.
| Port | Protocol | Purpose | When to expose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic | Always required for normal connections. |
| 7778 | UDP | Server browser pinger; hardcoded to game port + 1 | Required for browser visibility and discovery. |
| 27015 | UDP | Steam query | Required for server queries and browser information. |
| 7777 | TCP | On-demand mod download for PC | Open when clients should download server-hosted mod data on demand. |
| 25575 | TCP | RCON remote administration | Expose only when RCON is enabled and remote administration is genuinely needed. |
Forward each external port to the same local machine unless you deliberately changed the server’s ports. Creating a broad “allow all” rule is unnecessary and increases exposure; make narrowly scoped UDP and TCP rules for the listed services.
How do I configure Windows Firewall and router port forwarding?
First give the server PC a predictable private address, then permit the server executable and forward only the required ports to that address.
- Find the host’s private IPv4 address with Windows network settings or
ipconfig. It will usually look like192.168.x.xor10.x.x.x. - Create a DHCP reservation in the router, or configure a carefully managed static address, so the forwarding destination does not change after a reboot.
- In Windows Defender Firewall, allow
ConanSandboxServer.exeon the networks you actually use. Add explicit inbound UDP rules for 7777, 7778, and 27015. - Add an inbound TCP rule for 7777 when PC mod downloads are required. Add TCP 25575 only if you configure RCON.
- In the router’s port-forwarding page, map the same external ports to the host’s private address and matching protocols.
- Restart the server and test from a device outside your home network, such as a friend’s connection or a phone hotspot. Testing from inside the same LAN can be misleading because some routers do not support NAT loopback.
Players on the same network can use the local IP or LAN discovery and do not need internet forwarding. Players outside the network cannot use the private LAN address; give them the host’s external IP address instead. If the public address changes, provide the new address to players or use a reputable dynamic-DNS arrangement that you maintain yourself.
How do I install the server with SteamCMD?
SteamCMD is a fallback for a headless machine, automation, or an installation where Steam’s graphical Tools library is inconvenient. Funcom’s documented command installs app ID 443030 into C:Exiles.
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:Exiles +app_update 443030 +quit- Install SteamCMD and open a command prompt in its directory.
- Run the command, changing
C:Exilesif you want another installation folder. - Wait for SteamCMD to report that app update 443030 has completed.
- Open the installed server directory and launch
ConanSandboxServer.exe, preferably through a batch file that records your chosen arguments. - Let the server create its save and configuration folders, stop it, and then edit the INI files as described above.
Run the update command again whenever you need to patch the server. Stop the server first so SteamCMD does not replace files while they are in use. Keep a copy of your save folder before a major update or mod change.
Which launch arguments and advanced settings are useful?
Most small servers can run with the default executable, but the technical manual documents several arguments that help with logging, capacity, network binding, and query behavior.
-logopens a visible log window, useful while diagnosing startup, connection, and mod errors.-MaxPlayers=NUMBERsets the intended player ceiling. Choose a value your hardware and upload capacity can sustain rather than assuming a larger number is free.MULTIHOME=IP_ADDRESSbinds the server to a particular local interface when the machine has more than one network adapter or address.QueryPort=PORTchanges the query port when you need to avoid a conflict. If you change it, update the matching firewall and router rule and keep the pinger relationship in mind.
Put arguments in the batch file you use to launch the server so every restart applies the same configuration. Keep a dated copy of that file; it is often faster to compare a known-good command line than to guess which setting changed.
How do I add mods and keep clients in sync?
Every player must use the same branch and installed version as the server. A mismatch can prevent the server from appearing, reject a connection, or produce a failed load after joining.
Use the official Dedicated Server Launcher
Funcom’s Dedicated Server Launcher can call SteamCMD, update the game server, update Steam Workshop mods, and generate modlist.txt. It accepts numeric Workshop IDs or local PAK paths, allowing you to maintain a repeatable mod set instead of editing files by hand after every change.
- Install or open the launcher on the server machine.
- Select the same branch that your players use.
- Update the base server before updating Workshop content.
- Add each mod by its numeric Workshop ID or local PAK path.
- Generate or verify
modlist.txt, then restart the server. - Have every player update to the same branch, game build, and mod versions before connecting.
The launcher documentation listed official version 1.10.0 as released on 14 October 2026 at the time of the supplied information. Version numbers are volatile, so check the current launcher and game documentation before treating that number as the latest release.
Recover from a mod mismatch
Stop the server, compare the server’s mod list with each player’s enabled list, and remove or update the mod that differs. If the server begins crashing after a Workshop update, restore the last known-good mod files and save backup, then add changes one at a time.
How do I enable RCON safely?
RCON is optional remote administration. Configure it in Game.ini under the [RconPlugin] section, set an RCON port, and expose TCP 25575 only when you actually need remote control.
[RconPlugin]
RconPort=25575- Stop the server and open
ConanSandboxSavedConfigWindowsServerGame.ini. - Add or edit the
[RconPlugin]section and choose the RCON port. - Save, restart, and create a firewall and router rule for TCP 25575 only if remote access is required.
- Restrict access to trusted administration networks where your router supports source-address rules.
- Disable the port again when you no longer need it.
RCON expands the attack surface. Use a unique credential, do not publish the port, and prefer in-game administration through Make Me Admin when you are physically available to join the server.
What hardware should I use for a Conan Exiles server?
Funcom’s published hardware tiers date from 2017 and should be treated as historical planning baselines, not guaranteed requirements for the current Enhanced build. Actual performance depends on concurrent players, map activity, mods, save size, background applications, storage speed, and the current server build.
| Historical target | Operating system | CPU | Memory | Disk | Source context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 players | Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit | Intel Core2Duo 6850, 3.0 GHz | 8 GB RAM | 35 GB | Funcom, 2017 |
| 35 players | Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit | Intel Core i5 2400, 3.1/3.4 GHz Turbo | 8 GB RAM | 35 GB | Funcom, 2017 |
| 70 players | Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit | Intel Core i7 6700, 3.4/4.0 GHz Turbo | 12 GB RAM | 35 GB | Funcom, 2017 |
Use those figures only as a historical comparison. For a current installation, leave operating-system headroom, reserve memory for mods and the operating system, and monitor CPU utilization, RAM pressure, disk latency, and upload saturation while your real player count is online. A fast local SSD generally makes restarts and save operations less painful than a nearly full or heavily shared disk.
How do I test that the server works?
Test locally first, then test from outside the network. A successful local connection proves the process is running but does not prove that forwarding or the public address is correct.
- Start the server with your batch file or executable and wait for it to finish loading.
- On the host or another device on the same LAN, search for the server or connect using the private IP.
- Confirm that the server name and join password behave as expected.
- Use Make Me Admin with the separate administrator password and verify that administrative controls appear.
- Ask a player on a different internet connection to search for the server or connect using the public IP.
- Change one setting, restart cleanly, and verify that the change persists. This confirms that you edited the active WindowsServer configuration directory.
- If mods are enabled, test a fresh client with the exact branch, build, and mod list your community will use.
Why is my Conan Exiles server not visible?
Browser visibility depends on more than the process running. Check version parity, firewall rules, forwarding, and the address you gave players.
Branch or build mismatch
Confirm that the server and every player use the same branch and installed version. Update both sides before changing network settings; an outdated client can make a healthy server appear broken.
Firewall or forwarding error
Recheck UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015 in both Windows Firewall and the router. Verify that the router forwards to the host’s current private IP, not an address that changed after a reboot.
Wrong address
Players outside your home network need the public external IP. A private address such as 192.168.1.20 works only inside the same LAN. If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, ask whether you can obtain a real inbound-capable address or use managed hosting.
Testing from the same network
Some routers cannot loop an external connection back into the LAN. Test with a genuinely external connection, or use the local address for same-network players.
How do I run two Conan Exiles servers on one machine?
Use separate installation or save folders and a distinct port set for each instance, then route every external port to the correct local service.
- Create a separate server directory or instance configuration for the second world.
- Give each instance its own
Saveddata so saves, logs, and settings do not overwrite each other. - Assign different game, query, and related ports to the second process.
- Update the second instance’s firewall and router rules to match those ports.
- Launch each process with a clearly named batch file and monitor CPU, RAM, disk, and upload usage.
Do not simply duplicate a shortcut while leaving both instances on the default ports. A port collision can prevent one process from starting or make players reach the wrong world.
What maintenance should I perform after setup?
A server is an ongoing service, not a one-time installation. Schedule maintenance before players depend on it.
- Stop the process cleanly before applying game or mod updates.
- Back up the save directory, configuration files, launch batch file, and mod list before major updates.
- Keep a written record of the branch, build, ports, and administrator contacts.
- Review firewall and RCON rules after router or Windows updates.
- Watch free disk space and remove obsolete logs only after preserving anything needed for troubleshooting.
- Announce restart windows so players can log out safely before maintenance.
- After every update, perform one local and one external connection test before declaring the server open.
If your household internet, power, or maintenance schedule cannot support those responsibilities, a managed service is a reasonable alternative even though it costs more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I host a Conan Exiles server on Linux?
The procedure documented here uses Funcom’s Windows dedicated-server application and WindowsServer configuration path. A Linux setup would require a different compatibility or hosting approach and is outside the supported steps in this guide.
Do players need to own the same DLC as the server host?
DLC ownership and mod requirements are separate from the network setup. Players should verify the specific map, DLC, and mod requirements for the world they are joining; matching the server’s branch and installed build is mandatory.
How can I find my public IP address without sharing it publicly?
Read the WAN or internet address shown by your router, or use a trusted IP-check service, then send it privately to your players. Do not post the address together with your administrator password or RCON details.
What should I do before changing the server’s map or major settings?
Stop the server and make a dated backup of the save and configuration folders first. Test the change with a copy or during an announced maintenance window so you can restore the previous state if the world fails to load.