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How to Host a Permafrost Dedicated Server (24/7 Co-op)?
19.10.2026 15:33
âī¸ Edited
So you want your Permafrost co-op world to stay online even when the host logs off. That's exactly what a dedicated server does. You rent it from a hosting provider, set it up once, and your friends can join whenever they want no need for anyone to keep their PC running.
This guide walks you through ordering, configuring, and joining a Permafrost server. It also covers the basics of managing it.
Quick note: Permafrost is made by SpaceRocket Games and published by Toplitz Productions. This guide isn't officially endorsed by them. I'm just a player who's set up a few servers and wants to save you the headache.
Hosting a Server (Rental Service Providers)
You can rent a Permafrost server from a game server hosting provider. The world stays up 24/7, even when nobody's in the game.
A rented server shows up in Permafrost's own Join list under whatever name you give it. Your friends just search for it and join. No extra installs, no extra accounts. Everyone just needs their own copy of Permafrost.
Server Requirements
Permafrost from Steam (Windows) every player needs their own copy.
Up to 4 players in one world. That's the game's co-op limit.
Nothing else to install no extra client, no extra account.
The server itself is managed through the hosting provider's control panel.
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Order the Server
Pick a location closest to your group. Every plan is 4 slots because that's all Permafrost supports for co-op.
Step 2: Name Your World
In the control panel, set the Server Title. This is the name that shows up in Permafrost's Join list. It can be up to 32 characters.
Step 3: Set a Password (Optional)
If you want a private world, fill in the Lock Password. Letters and numbers only. Permafrost will show a lock icon next to your world and ask each player for the password. Leave it empty if you want an open world.
Step 4: Pick the Difficulty
Choose Story, Survival, or Custom in the Launch Params. Do this before the first start the game locks in the difficulty when the world is created. Custom mode opens up nine more values, like food drain, rest drain, damage taken, and friendly fire.
Step 5: Start It
Press Start. If it's a fresh world, give it a minute or two before it appears in the Join list.
Step 6: Send Your Friends the Name
That's it. Just send them your world name and the password (if you set one). They'll find it in the Join list.
Managing Your Server
The control panel includes a tool called Snowline. It's basically your server dashboard. From there you can:
View the world map
Use a console
See your player list
Manage who gets in
Set up Discord alerts
From the console you can heal, feed, or warm a player, give items, move someone to a location or to another player, and broadcast a message to everyone's screen. Permafrost doesn't have its own admin commands; type help in the console for the full list.
Saving: The world saves every few minutes while you play and again on every stop. There's no manual save button. Restarts can be scheduled or set manually, and players get on-screen warnings at 15, 10, 5, and 2 minutes before.
Updates: Steam keeps Permafrost updated on every player's PC. The server has to be on the same version to accept joins. After a game update, restart the server from the control panel.
How to Join a Server
Start Permafrost.
Choose Play, then Join.
Type the world name into the search box.
Pick the world and enter the password if it asks.
Heads up: The Join list only loads a selection of online worlds each time it opens. Your world might not appear in every refresh. If you can't find it, hit refresh and search again. It can take a few tries.
A Few Extra Tips From Me
Location matters. Pick a server location close to your players. High ping ruins the co-op experience.
Password is worth it. Even if you're just playing with friends, a password keeps random people out.
Difficulty locks in. Don't start the world until you're sure. Changing it later isn't possible without starting over.
Custom mode is powerful. If you want a more relaxed experience, tweak food and rest drain. If you want hardcore, crank up damage.
Restart after updates. If your friends can't join after a game update, restart the server from the control panel. That usually fixes it.
Join list is finicky. Don't panic if your server doesn't show up immediately. Refresh a few times.
Snowline is your friend. Learn the console commands. Being able to heal or feed a stuck player saves a lot of frustration.
Costs add up. $11.65/month for 4 slots is reasonable, but if you only play occasionally, the 3-day option is a cheap way to test it.
Backup your world. Even though the server saves automatically, ask your host if they offer backups. If something goes wrong, you'll be glad you have one.
Conclusion
That's everything you need to run a Permafrost world your group can drop into anytime whether the original host is online or not. Once it's set up, it just runs in the background. You can focus on surviving the cold instead of worrying about who's hosting.
If you're a player trying to join a server, the steps above are all you need. If you're the one renting it, bookmark the control panel and learn a few console commands. It'll make your life a lot easier.
Good luck out there. Stay warm.
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