Host a Vintage Story dedicated server on your PC

This is for someone who has never run a game server. You will run the Vintage Story server that already comes with the game, on a Windows PC, so friends can play even when you are not in the world. The PC has to stay on while people play.

Vintage Story is not on Steam. Friends must be on the same game build as the server. If you update and they do not, they cannot join.

1. Get the game files

You need a copy of Vintage Story on this PC. Use the install you already play, or download it from your account.

1. If you already installed it: click Start, search Vintage Story, right-click it, Open file location. You want the folder that contains VintagestoryServer.exe. On a default install that folder is %AppData%\Vintagestory. Click the File Explorer address bar, paste that, press Enter.
2. If you need to download it: open account.vintagestory.at, log in, and use the Recommended Download. Forum login and game login are separate. Do not hunt random zips.

2. Make a separate data folder

If you start the server without this, it shares saves with your single-player worlds. Do not skip it if you also play on this PC.

1. Create a folder you will keep, for example C:\VintageStoryServerData.
2. Open that folder and click the File Explorer address bar. Copy the full path.

3. Make a shortcut that points at that folder

1. In the game folder from step 1, right-click VintagestoryServer.exe, Create shortcut.
2. Right-click the new shortcut, Properties.
3. Click the Target box. Go to the very end. Add a space, then paste this, using the path you copied:

--dataPath="C:\VintageStoryServerData"

The whole Target line should look like this (your game folder may differ):

"%AppData%\Vintagestory\VintagestoryServer.exe" --dataPath="C:\VintageStoryServerData"

Click Apply, then OK. Double-click that shortcut, not the original exe.

4. Start the server

1. Double-click the shortcut. A black window should open.
2. If Windows Firewall asks, allow it.
3. Wait until the window says the server is running on port 42420.
4. If the window closes immediately, you already have Vintage Story open. Close the game, then try the shortcut again.

Leave that window open while people play. To shut down, type /stop and press Enter.

Saves live in C:\VintageStoryServerData\Saves as .vcdbs files. Copy those if you want a backup.

5. Let your friends in

Dedicated servers use a whitelist. Friends cannot join until you add them, even if the port is open.

1. In the server window, type this, using their Vintage Story username exactly as it appears on the main menu, then press Enter:

/player TheirUsername whitelist on

Do that once per friend. You do not need to restart the server.

6. Open the port so friends can reach you

Friends outside your house need one hole in your router: send TCP and UDP port 42420 to this PC. Follow Port forwarding so friends can join for the Windows Firewall and router clicks. Use the Vintage Story row on that page.

7. Friends join

1. They open Vintage Story.
2. Choose Multiplayer, then Add new server.
3. They type a name they will recognise, then your public IP from the port-forwarding page. They usually do not need to type the port if it is still 42420.
4. They click the server name to join. They must be on the same build as this PC.

If you do not want the PC on

A hosted world does not need a shortcut or a router. omnipass.gg can run the dedicated server for you, so friends join without leaving a PC awake.