# How to Configure Your Hytale Server (config.json) (/docs/hytale/server-config)



import { File, Folder, Files } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/files';

Hytale uses JSON config files. The main config is `config.json` in the server root.

<Files>
  <Folder name="Hytale Server" defaultOpen>
    <File name="HytaleServer.jar" />

    <File name="Assets.zip" />

    <File name="config.json" />

    <File name="permissions.json" />

    <File name="whitelist.json" />

    <File name="bans.json" />

    <File name="auth.enc" />

    <Folder name="universe" defaultOpen>
      <Folder name="worlds" defaultOpen>
        <Folder name="default" defaultOpen>
          <File name="config.json" />
        </Folder>
      </Folder>

      <Folder name="players" />
    </Folder>

    <Folder name="mods" />

    <Folder name="logs" />
  </Folder>
</Files>

***

Server Config (config.json) [#server-config-configjson]

| Setting             | Default           | Description                                                             |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `ServerName`        | `"Hytale Server"` | Browser display name                                                    |
| `MOTD`              | `""`              | Message shown on login                                                  |
| `Password`          | `""`              | Join password (empty = public)                                          |
| `MaxPlayers`        | `100`             | Max concurrent players (1–1000)                                         |
| `MaxViewRadius`     | `32`              | Chunk render distance (**biggest RAM driver** — use 12 for performance) |
| `Defaults.World`    | `"default"`       | Default world folder name                                               |
| `Defaults.GameMode` | `"Adventure"`     | `"Adventure"` or `"Creative"`                                           |

Per-World Config (universe/worlds/<name>/config.json) [#per-world-config-universeworldsnameconfigjson]

| Setting               | Default | Description                |
| --------------------- | ------- | -------------------------- |
| `Seed`                | random  | World generation seed      |
| `IsPvpEnabled`        | `true`  | Player vs player combat    |
| `IsFallDamageEnabled` | `true`  | Fall damage                |
| `IsSpawningNPC`       | `true`  | Monster/animal spawning    |
| `IsAllNPCFrozen`      | `false` | Freeze all AI              |
| `IsGameTimePaused`    | `false` | Freeze day/night cycle     |
| `IsSavingPlayers`     | `true`  | Persist inventory/position |
| `IsUnloadingChunks`   | `true`  | RAM management (keep true) |

Death Penalty [#death-penalty]

```json
"Death": {
  "ItemsLossMode": "None",
  "ItemsAmountLossPercentage": 0,
  "ItemsDurabilityLossPercentage": 0,
  "RespawnController": {"Type": "HomeOrSpawnPoint"}
}
```

| ItemsLossMode | Effect                                  |
| :-----------: | --------------------------------------- |
|     `None`    | Keep everything                         |
|     `All`     | Drop everything                         |
|  `Configured` | Lose percentage based on settings above |

Ports [#ports]

| Port     | Protocol | Purpose              |
| -------- | -------- | -------------------- |
| **5520** | **UDP**  | Game (QUIC protocol) |

> 📝 **Note:** Hytale uses **QUIC over UDP**, not TCP. Only UDP needs to be forwarded.

Authentication [#authentication]

Servers must authenticate with Hytale's services on first start:

1. Run the server — a device code appears
2. Visit `https://accounts.hytale.com/device`
3. Enter the code and authorize with your Hytale account
4. Run `/auth persistence Encrypted` to persist across restarts

Auto-Updates [#auto-updates]

```json
"Update": {
  "Enabled": true,
  "CheckIntervalSeconds": 3600,
  "AutoApplyMode": "Disabled"
}
```

`AutoApplyMode`: `"Disabled"`, `"WhenEmpty"`, `"Scheduled"`

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Admin & Permissions](/docs/hytale/admin-setup)
* [World Settings](/docs/hytale/world-settings)
* [How to Install Mods](/docs/hytale/mod-setup)
* [How to Join](/docs/hytale/join-server)