Troubleshooting Your Project Zomboid Server

Here are some common Project Zomboid server issues and how to resolve them. If your problem is not listed here, join our Discord and we will help you out.

No Space Left on Device

This is a known bug in Project Zomboid that can occur regardless of how much disk space is actually available. The issue is typically caused by the game's built-in backup system creating too many files.

Stop Your Server

Open the Config File

In the sidebar, go to Files and navigate to .cache/Server/pzserver.ini.

Disable Backups on Start

Find BackupsOnStart and set it to false:

BackupsOnStart=false

Save and Start

Save the file and start your server.

💡 Tip: You can still create manual backups through the Backups page in the panel sidebar. Disabling BackupsOnStart only prevents the game from creating its own internal backups on every server start.

Incompatible or Conflicting Mods

Mod conflicts are one of the most common causes of server crashes and unexpected behavior. Here is how to diagnose and fix them:

Revert recent changes — If your server was working before, undo whatever you changed last, including any newly added mods.
Check version compatibility — Make sure all your mods are compatible with the version of Project Zomboid your server is running. Mods built for the public branch may not work on B42 and vice versa.
Verify dependencies — Check each mod's Workshop page for required dependencies. Missing dependencies will cause mods to fail or crash the server.
Isolate the problem — Remove all mods, then add them back one at a time, starting the server after each addition. This helps you identify exactly which mod is causing the issue.

📝 Note: When testing mods one at a time, remember to restart the server fully between each test — not just reload.

Out of Memory Crashing

The more mods you run and the more players connected, the more RAM your server needs. If your server crashes frequently, it may be running out of memory.

You can check your crash logs by going to Activity in the panel sidebar. If the logs report OutOfMemory True, your server needs more RAM.

How to resolve this:

Upgrade your plan — If your server consistently runs out of memory under normal usage, upgrading to a higher plan with more RAM is the most reliable fix.
Check for memory leaks — Some mods have memory leaks that cause RAM usage to grow over time until the server crashes. If the issue started after adding a specific mod, try removing it and monitoring whether the crashes stop.
Reduce player count — Fewer connected players means less resource usage. Consider lowering your max players if upgrading is not an option.

⚠️ Warning: Frequent out-of-memory crashes can corrupt your world save. Make sure you have regular backups enabled through the Backups page.