Project Zomboid server.ini Settings Explained

ADMIN Last updated: May 2026

ON THIS PAGE

  1. Where to Find server.ini
  2. Basic Server Settings
  3. Gameplay Settings
  4. Mod Settings
  5. Backup and Save Settings
  6. Anti-Cheat Settings
  7. Admin and Whitelist

A breakdown of the most important settings in your Project Zomboid server.ini file and what each one actually does. This guide is for server owners managing their server through the Scourge Panel.

Where to Find server.ini

Your server config file is located at:

.cache/Server/{servername}.ini

Replace {servername} with your actual server name. You can edit this file directly through the Config page in the Scourge Panel without needing FTP or file manager access. Stop the server before making changes, then start it again for settings to take effect.

Basic Server Settings

  • PublicName: the name shown in the server browser

  • PublicDescription: description shown when players click your server

  • Public=true/false: whether the server appears in the public server list

  • Password: set a server password (leave blank for no password)

  • MaxPlayers: maximum number of players allowed (default: 32)

  • Port: main UDP port (default: 16261)

  • UDPPort: direct connection port (default: 16262)

Gameplay Settings

  • PVP=true/false: enable or disable player vs player combat

  • PauseEmpty=true/false: pause the game world when no players are online

  • GlobalChat=true/false: allow players to chat across the entire map

  • Open=true/false: allow players to join without an invite (true = open server)

  • ServerWelcomeMessage: message shown to players when they connect

Mod Settings

  • Mods: semicolon-separated list of mod IDs to load (e.g. ModA;ModB)

  • WorkshopItems: semicolon-separated Steam Workshop IDs matching the above mods

  • Map: map to load; use Muldraugh, KY for vanilla or add custom map names here

Backup and Save Settings

  • SaveWorldEveryMinutes: how often the world auto-saves (default: 0, meaning only on shutdown)

  • BackupsCount: number of rolling backups to keep

  • BackupsPeriod: how often backups are taken, in minutes

Anti-Cheat Settings

  • AntiCheatProtectionType1 through Type24: individual anti-cheat checks; set to true to enable

  • KickFastPlayers=true/false: kick players who appear to be moving too fast

Admin and Whitelist

  • Whitelist=true/false: restrict connections to whitelisted players only

  • AutoCreateUserInWhiteList=true/false: automatically add new players to the whitelist on first join

  • Open=true/false: when false, only whitelisted players can connect

Zombie count, loot rarity, day length, and other difficulty settings are in the sandbox file at .cache/Server/{servername}_SandboxVars.lua, editable from the Sandbox tab in the Config page. Safehouse permissions (SafehouseAllowTrepass, SafehouseAllowLoot, etc.) are in server.ini, not the sandbox file.