> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wasabihosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hytale Server Settings Guide

> Configure your Hytale server hosting: where server settings live, the options worth changing first, and how to edit them safely during early access.

Once your Hytale server is running, you'll want to make it yours — give it a proper name, decide how many players can join, and control who gets in. This guide explains where Hytale's server settings live and how to change them safely.

<Warning>
  Hytale is in **early access**, and configuration file names, formats, and available options can change between patches. This guide stays deliberately high-level — after each game update, check the console output and the official Hytale server documentation and announcements for the current specifics.
</Warning>

## Where Settings Live

Hytale's server settings are stored in configuration files inside your server's directory. You can view and edit them in two ways:

* **File Manager** — the built-in editor in the [Game Panel](https://panel.wasabihosting.com). Open your server, go to the **File Manager** tab, and browse the server directory. See [File Management](/server/file-management) for a full tour.
* **SFTP** — connect with any SFTP client using the credentials from the panel if you prefer a desktop editor.

Configuration files typically sit in the server's root directory or a dedicated config folder. If you're unsure which file controls what, the console output at startup usually names the configuration it loads — and our support team is happy to point you to the right file for the current build.

## Settings Worth Changing First

While exact option names vary by build, these are the settings virtually every server owner wants to adjust:

| Setting                      | Why it matters                                                                                     |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Server name**              | How your server identifies itself to players — make it recognizable.                               |
| **Max players**              | The player cap. Keep it in line with your plan's resources for smooth performance.                 |
| **Access control**           | A join password or whitelist-style allowlist to keep your world private to friends.                |
| **Gameplay / world options** | World and gameplay behavior — game mode and difficulty-style options where the build exposes them. |

<Tip>
  If you only change one thing, set up access control. An open early-access server will be found by strangers sooner than you'd expect.
</Tip>

## Editing Settings Safely

<Steps>
  <Step title="Stop the server">
    In the Game Panel, click **Stop** and wait for the console to confirm shutdown. Servers commonly read configuration only at startup — and some rewrite their config files on exit, which can silently discard edits made while running.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Back up first">
    Before bigger changes, take a quick [backup](/server/backups). It takes seconds and makes any mistake reversible.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit and save">
    Open the relevant config file in the **File Manager**, change the values you need, and save. Keep the file's existing format intact — a stray character can prevent the server from loading its settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start and verify">
    Start the server and watch the console. Confirm it boots cleanly and that your changes took effect (e.g., the new server name appears in startup output or in-game).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## After Every Game Update

Because Hytale patches frequently during early access:

* **Check the console** on the first boot after an update — new, renamed, or removed settings usually show up there first, sometimes as warnings about unrecognized options.
* **Re-verify your key settings** (name, player cap, access control) still apply.
* **Consult official sources** — Hytale's official server documentation and announcement channels are the authority on the current config format.

<Note>
  If an update changes a config format and your server won't start, don't panic: restore your pre-update [backup](/server/backups), or open a [support ticket](https://billing.wasabihosting.com/submitticket.php) and we'll help you migrate your settings.
</Note>

## Related Guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Getting Started" icon="play" href="/games/hytale/getting-started">
    First boot, account linking, and inviting friends.
  </Card>

  <Card title="File Management" icon="folder-open" href="/server/file-management">
    Master the File Manager and SFTP access.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Card title="Need a Hytale server?" icon="rocket" href="https://wasabihosting.com/game-servers/hytale">
  Get your own Hytale server from **€10.00/month** — deployed in about 2 minutes with DDoS protection included.
</Card>