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How to set up a Project Zomboid server

3 min readUpdated Nov 5, 2026

Set up a Project Zomboid dedicated server: buy the Zomboid plan, let it install, set the name and admin password, join by IP:port, then add a password, sandbox settings and Workshop mods.

A Project Zomboid dedicated server keeps your world running while everyone is offline, so the base, the loot and the zombies are where you left them. ESN installs the dedicated server from Steam for you. You pick the name, set an admin password, and share the address.

The Zomboid plan #

PlanRAMCPUDiskPrice
Zomboid4 GB150%15 GB$4.99/month

Black Friday: $0.75 for the first month until December 1, 2026, then $4.99/month. See Black Friday hosting deals.

How much RAM a Project Zomboid server needs #

Zomboid's server is a Java program, so memory is the limit you hit first. What drives it:

  • Players spread out. Every player loads the map around them. Five players in one base use far less than five players in five towns.
  • Mods. A few quality-of-life mods add little. Big map mods and long mod lists add a lot.
  • Time. A world that has been explored for weeks keeps more of the map in play than a fresh one.

The Zomboid plan's 4 GB is a sensible start for a small group on a lightly modded game. If the Console shows out-of-memory errors or the server stutters as more players join, cut back on map mods first, then ask in the ESN Discord about more memory.

Set it up #

  1. Sign in to the panel's plans page, choose Buy on the Zomboid plan and pay on Stripe. The server is created automatically.
  2. Wait for the first install. Project Zomboid is a big SteamCMD download, so it can take several minutes; the Start button waits until it's done.
  3. Open the Startup tab. Set Server Name (it also names the config files), and note the Admin User and Admin Password. ESN sets a random admin password on every new server; change it to one you will remember.
  4. Start the server and watch the Console. The first start builds the world and writes the config files; it is ready when the Console says the server has started.
  5. Join from the game (below), then set a join password and the rest of the settings in the server's .ini file.

Join the server #

In Project Zomboid choose Join, then add a server. Enter the IP and port shown on your server's page in the panel (use that port, not Zomboid's default 16261), plus your username and the server password if you set one. Your server also gets a second port, right after the main one, for Steam; ESN sets it for you.

Change the server settings #

After the first start, open Files and find the Server folder inside .cache. The files are named after your Server Name, for example ESNZomboid.ini and ESNZomboid_SandboxVars.lua.

  • .ini: join password (Password=), public listing (Public=), player limit (MaxPlayers=), PvP and mods.
  • SandboxVars.lua: the world rules: zombie count and speed, loot, day length, water and power shut-off.

Stop the server before editing, save, and start it again. Some sandbox changes only apply to a new world; delete the save folder (keep a copy first) to start fresh with them.

Add Workshop mods #

Zomboid's server downloads Steam Workshop mods itself. In the .ini, add each mod's Workshop ID to WorkshopItems= and its Mod ID to Mods=, separated by semicolons, exactly as listed on the mod's Workshop page. Restart and watch the Console as they download. Every player gets the same mods when they join.

Admin and updates #

  • Log in with the Admin User and Admin Password from Startup to get admin rights. In chat, /setaccesslevel "name" admin makes another player an admin.
  • Auto Update is off by default. After a game update, turn it on in Startup or restart with it on, so the server matches your players' version.
  • To run a beta branch, put the branch name in the beta branch setting in Startup. Everyone must be on the same branch as the server.
  • Stop the server before downloading or replacing save files. See backups.

FAQ #

How much RAM does a Project Zomboid server need? #

ESN's Zomboid plan has 4 GB, a sensible start for a small group with a few mods. Players spread across the map, big map mods and long mod lists need more.

How many players can join my Zomboid server? #

You set the limit with MaxPlayers in the server's .ini file. In practice memory sets the real limit: more players spread out means more of the map loaded.

Can I use Steam Workshop mods? #

Yes. Add Workshop IDs to WorkshopItems= and Mod IDs to Mods= in the .ini and restart. The server downloads them, and players get them when they join.

Why can't I connect to my Zomboid server? #

Check the Console says the server started, that you used the port shown in the panel, that your game version or beta branch matches the server, and that the password is right.

Does the world stay online when I log off? #

Yes. The dedicated server keeps running until you stop it.

Still stuck? Use the live chat on the panel or ask in the ESN Systems Discord. Last updated November 5, 2026.