Configure ServerSettings.ini

Your Conan Exiles server's rules (PvP, raids, harvesting, XP, hunger, thirst, Purges…) live in ServerSettings.ini. The server name, its password and the player count are usually split across two other configuration files. This page covers the most useful settings.

Where are the configuration files?

The server's configuration files are created on first start, in this folder:

ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/
├── ServerSettings.ini   ← game rules: PvP, raids, harvest, XP…
├── Engine.ini           ← server name and password
└── Game.ini             ← maximum number of players

If they are missing, start the server once, wait until it is ready, then stop it.

Don't edit the Default files

The ConanSandbox/Config/ folder contains Default…ini files (for example DefaultServerSettings.ini). These are the game's default values and may be replaced on every update: only edit the files in ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/.

Editing the file safely

Stop the server before editing

Always stop the server from the panel Console before editing ServerSettings.ini. The file is only read at startup, and the server may rewrite its settings when it shuts down: a change made while the server is running is likely to be lost.

1. Log in to your Game Panel: game.yorkhost.fr
2. Select your server and stop it
3. Open the Files tab and edit ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ServerSettings.ini
4. Change the values you want under the [ServerSettings] section
5. Save, then start the server

Each setting uses the Key=Value format, one line per setting:

[ServerSettings]
PVPEnabled=True
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.000000

• Booleans are written True or False.
• Multipliers use a dot as the decimal separator (1.5).
• If a key isn't in your file, the game uses its default value: you can add it under [ServerSettings].

Keep a copy

Download a copy of ServerSettings.ini before any major update. Exact key names can change between versions, especially since the move to Conan Exiles Enhanced (Unreal Engine 5): when in doubt, rely on the keys found in the file generated by your server.

The in-game admin panel

Most of these settings can also be changed in game, from the server settings in the admin panel (see Become an admin). The server then writes the new values to ServerSettings.ini itself. It's often the safest way to find out a setting's name: change it in game, stop the server, then look at the modified line in the file.

Startup tab parameters

Some values can also be passed to the server through the startup command (Startup tab in the panel). A value passed at startup overrides the one in the .ini files. If a change seems to be ignored, check whether the same setting is defined in the Startup tab.

Name, password and player count

These three settings are usually not in ServerSettings.ini, but in Engine.ini and Game.ini (unless they are exposed in the Startup tab):

; Engine.ini
[OnlineSubsystem]
ServerName=My Conan Exiles server
ServerPassword=MyPassword

; Game.ini
[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=40

Setting	File	Purpose
ServerName	Engine.ini, [OnlineSubsystem] section	Name shown in the server list
ServerPassword	Engine.ini, [OnlineSubsystem] section	Password to join (empty = none)
MaxPlayers	Game.ini, [/Script/Engine.GameSession] section	Maximum number of players: 40 by default, up to 70

If the section or key doesn't exist yet, add it as shown. Depending on the game version, the password may also appear in ServerSettings.ini: make sure it isn't set in two places with different values.

Players and RAM

More players means more bases, thralls and pets loaded at the same time. Raise MaxPlayers in line with your plan: 1 to 10 players on Exile, 10 to 20 on Barbarian, 20 to 40 on Chieftain, 40 to 70 on Avatar.

PvE, PvP or PvE-Conflict

The game mode depends on two settings:

Mode	PVPEnabled	CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures
PvE: no player combat	False	False
PvE-Conflict: player combat, but buildings stay intact	True	False
PvP: clan fights and raids	True	True

Example for a PvE-Conflict server:

[ServerSettings]
PVPEnabled=True
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=False

PvP and raid hours

On a PvP server, you can restrict building damage (raids) to set time windows, for example in the evening, so clans can defend their base:

[ServerSettings]
PVPEnabled=True
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=True
RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTime=True
PVPBuildingDamageTimeWeekdayStart=1900
PVPBuildingDamageTimeWeekdayEnd=2300
PVPBuildingDamageTimeWeekendStart=1500
PVPBuildingDamageTimeWeekendEnd=2300

Setting	Purpose
RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTime	True: buildings can only be damaged during the set windows
PVPBuildingDamageTimeWeekdayStart / …WeekdayEnd	Start and end of the weekday raid window
PVPBuildingDamageTimeWeekendStart / …WeekendEnd	Start and end of the weekend raid window
RestrictPVPTime	True: player combat itself is limited to time windows
PVPTimeWeekdayStart / …End, PVPTimeWeekendStart / …End	Player combat time windows

Times are usually written in HHMM format (1900 for 7:00 pm). These settings follow the server's clock, which may differ from your local time: test your windows before announcing them to your players. The easiest way is to set these windows from the in-game admin panel, then check the values written to the file.

Harvesting and experience

Setting	Purpose	Default
HarvestAmountMultiplier	Amount of resources gathered	1.0
ResourceRespawnSpeedMultiplier	Resource respawn speed	1.0
PlayerXPRateMultiplier	Global XP multiplier	1.0
PlayerXPKillMultiplier	XP from kills	1.0
PlayerXPHarvestMultiplier	XP from harvesting	1.0
PlayerXPCraftMultiplier	XP from crafting	1.0
PlayerXPTimeMultiplier	XP over play time	1.0

Example for a "2x harvest, 1.5x XP" server:

[ServerSettings]
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.000000
PlayerXPRateMultiplier=1.500000

Keep it reasonable

Very high multipliers speed up the building of huge bases, which eventually increases the server load. 2x or 3x is usually plenty for a server among friends.

Other common settings

The names below are the ones commonly used by the game; check them in your file, as they may vary between versions.

Setting	Purpose
AdminPassword	Admin password, see Become an admin
ServerMessageOfTheDay	Message shown to players when they connect
MaxNudity	Allowed nudity level (0 none, 1 partial, 2 full)
DropEquipmentOnDeath	Do players drop their gear on death?
EverybodyCanLootCorpse	Can anyone loot a player's body?
LogoutCharactersRemainInTheWorld	Do logged-out characters stay in the world?
ItemSpoilRateScale	How fast food spoils
DayCycleSpeedScale	Day/night cycle speed
ClanMaxSize	Maximum number of members per clan

For Purges, abandoned building decay or thrall settings, use the in-game admin panel where possible: the options are described there, and the server writes the correct keys to the file itself.

See also

• Become an admin
• Install Steam Workshop mods
• Troubleshooting: if the server ignores your settings