How to Set Up a 7 Days to Die Server: Complete Guide

Why Host Your Own 7 Days to Die Server?

7 Days to Die blends survival horror, crafting, and tower defense into one of the most intense multiplayer experiences out there. Every 7th night, a Blood Moon horde descends on your base—and defending it with friends is what makes this game legendary.

Running your own server gives you:

• Full control over difficulty, loot, and zombie settings
• 24/7 availability so your group can play anytime
• Persistent world that keeps running while you're offline
• Custom settings to tweak everything from zombie speed to loot abundance
• Mod support for overhaul mods like Darkness Falls or Undead Legacy

Choosing the Right Plan

7 Days to Die can be demanding, especially during Blood Moon hordes. Here's what we recommend:

Tip: Blood Moon hordes with many players generate a lot of zombies. If you're planning big horde nights with 8+ players, go one tier higher.

Step 1: Deploy Your Server

Getting started takes less than 2 minutes:

1. Go to HostedGG 7 Days to Die hosting
2. Choose your plan based on player count
3. Complete checkout
4. Your server is ready in 60 seconds

Once deployed, you'll receive an email with your server details.

Step 2: Access Your Control Panel

1. Log into the HostedGG panel
2. Click Manage on your 7 Days to Die server
3. You'll see your server dashboard with all controls

The server starts automatically with default settings on the latest stable version.

Step 3: Get Your Connection Details

On your server dashboard, you'll find:

• IP Address: Your server's connection address
• Game Port: The port to connect on
• Telnet Password: For remote admin commands (found in Startup settings)

Write these down—you'll need them to connect.

Step 4: Configure Server Settings

Before inviting friends, customize your server from the Startup tab:

Gameplay Settings

• Max Players: Up to 16 concurrent players
• Game Difficulty: 0 (Scavenger) to 5 (Insane)
• Auto Update: Keep your server on the latest version automatically

Advanced Settings

• Beta Branch: Switch to experimental builds (e.g. latest_experimental)
• Network Protocols: Fine-tune networking for best performance
• Telnet Password: Secure your admin console

Editing serverconfig.xml

For deeper customization, use the File Manager to edit serverconfig.xml:

• Blood Moon frequency and zombie count
• Day/night cycle length
• Loot abundance and respawn time
• Land claim settings
• XP and block damage multipliers
• Air drops and supply crate frequency

Step 5: Connect to Your Server

From the 7 Days to Die Main Menu

1. Launch 7 Days to Die
2. Click Join a Game
3. Click Connect to IP...
4. Enter your IP Address and Port
5. Click Connect

Using the Server Browser

1. Click Join a Game
2. Search for your server name
3. Click Connect
4. Enter the password if you've set one

Step 6: Admin Commands

As the server admin, you can manage everything through the telnet console or in-game console (press F1):

Essential Commands

Server Management

Step 7: Installing Mods

7 Days to Die has a massive modding community. To install mods:

1. Download the mod from 7daystodiemods.com or Nexus Mods
2. In your panel, go to File Manager
3. Upload the mod files to the Mods folder
4. Restart your server

Popular Overhaul Mods

• Darkness Falls - Complete overhaul with new classes, enemies, and progression
• Undead Legacy - Expanded crafting, vehicles, and survival mechanics
• War of the Walkers - New weapons, zombies, and quality of life improvements
• Ravenhearst - Hardcore survival with expanded cooking, farming, and building

Quality of Life Mods

• Server Tools - Admin utilities and automated tasks
• Better Vehicle Handling - Improved driving physics
• Bigger Backpack - Expanded inventory space

Blood Moon Survival Tips

The Blood Moon is what sets 7 Days to Die apart. Here's how to prepare:

1. Build strong - Reinforce your base with concrete and steel before day 7
2. Stock ammo - You'll burn through ammunition fast during hordes
3. Multiple defenses - Use spike traps, electric fences, and turrets in layers
4. Escape routes - Always have a backup plan if your main base gets overrun
5. Elevation advantage - Build upward; zombies have to path to reach you

Troubleshooting

Can't Connect to Server

• Verify IP and port are correct
• Check if server is online in your panel
• Ensure client and server versions match (check for updates)
• Make sure you're not running a different beta branch than the server

Server Performance Issues

• Reduce max zombie count in serverconfig.xml
• Lower the Blood Moon enemy count
• Reduce the view distance
• Consider upgrading your plan if running heavy mods

Mods Not Working

• Ensure mod version matches your game version (Alpha 21, etc.)
• Check mod load order if running multiple mods
• Review console output for error messages
• Some overhaul mods require a fresh world

World Reset / Corruption

• Always use the shutdown command before stopping the server
• Enable automatic backups in your panel
• Keep at least 3 backup copies

Tips for a Great Server

1. Set Blood Moon difficulty wisely - Start lower and increase as your group gets geared
2. Regular backups - Use our automatic backup system before risky experiments
3. Start vanilla - Get comfortable before adding overhaul mods
4. Build a community - Share your server on r/7daystodie and Steam discussions
5. Coordinate horde nights - The best memories come from surviving Blood Moons together

Ready to survive the apocalypse? Deploy your 7 Days to Die server now and be playing in 60 seconds.

Need help? Join our Discord for support and to find other survivors.