How to Make a Conan Exiles Server

A step-by-step guide to running your own Conan Exiles dedicated server — install it with SteamCMD, set the name, password and rules, open the ports, add Workshop mods and make yourself admin.

Conan Exiles can be hosted two ways: self-host the free dedicated server on a Windows machine, or rent a managed server. Self-hosting costs nothing but needs a strong PC left on 24/7 — Conan is one of the heavier survival games, and memory use climbs as players build.

This guide covers the self-hosted route so you know where every setting lives. If you would rather skip the install, Conan Exiles server hosting gives you the same server with the ports open and mods in the panel.

What you'll need

• A Windows machine or server with at least 8 GB of RAM for a small private server (16 GB for a public one).
• SteamCMD to download the dedicated server — you do not need to own the game on the server.
• Access to your router or firewall to open UDP 7777, 7778 and 27015.
• Players need Conan Exiles on Steam and the same mods as the server.

Set up a Conan Exiles dedicated server, step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Install the server with SteamCMD

   The dedicated server is Steam app 443030 and installs anonymously. Choose an install folder with plenty of space — the game database grows as the map is built.

   steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\conan +login anonymous +app_update 443030 validate +quit

2. 2

   Step 2: Start it once to create the config files

   Run ConanSandboxServer.exe -log and let it finish loading, then stop it. The first start creates the config folder ConanSandbox\Saved\Config\WindowsServer.

3. 3

   Step 3: Set the name, password and player count

   The server name and password go in Engine.ini, the player limit in Game.ini. Conan caps a server at 70 players.

   ; Engine.ini
   [OnlineSubsystem]
   ServerName=My Conan Server
   ServerPassword=changeme
   
   ; Game.ini
   [/Script/Engine.GameSession]
   MaxPlayers=40

4. 4

   Step 4: Tune the rules in ServerSettings.ini

   PvP or PvE, raid hours, harvest and XP rates, thrall and building limits and the admin password all live in ServerSettings.ini. Edit it with the server stopped so your changes are not overwritten on shutdown.

   [ServerSettings]
   PVPEnabled=True
   AdminPassword=a-long-secret
   HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
   PlayerXPRateMultiplier=1.5

5. 5

   Step 5: Open the ports

   Forward UDP 7777 (game), UDP 7778 (the pinger the server browser uses) and UDP 27015 (Steam query) to the server, and allow them in Windows Firewall. On a hosted server these are already open.

6. 6

   Step 6: Add Workshop mods

   Subscribe to the mods, then list each mod's .pak file in ConanSandbox\Mods\modlist.txt, one per line, in load order. Players are offered the same mods when they join, so keep the order stable.

7. 7

   Step 7: Join and make yourself admin

   Find the server in the in-game browser, or use Direct Connect with ip:7777. Once in, open Settings → Server Settings, choose Make me admin and enter the admin password from step 4.

Keep a busy Conan server healthy

• 01

  Back up game.db

  Your whole world — bases, thralls, characters — is the database in ConanSandbox\Saved. Copy it before updates and big mod changes.

• 02

  Watch the building

  Memory and load grow with placeables, not players. Building limits in ServerSettings.ini keep a long-running map smooth.

• 03

  Restart on a schedule

  A daily restart clears memory that builds up over long sessions and is a good moment for automatic backups.

• 04

  Add mods slowly

  A few at a time, testing a join after each batch, so a broken mod is easy to find.

Common problems & fixes

Conan Exiles is a trademark of Funcom. ESAGAMES is an independent hosting provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Funcom. Players must own a legitimate copy of the game.