Transfer Character Data
Understand how Valheim character data works and how to transfer characters between devices and servers.
In Valheim, character data is stored on the player's device, not on the server. This means characters persist across any server they join.
How Character Data Works
| Data | Stored On |
|---|---|
| Character (skills, inventory, appearance) | Player's device |
| World (terrain, buildings, items on ground) | Server |
This means:
- Players keep their character when joining different servers
- Dying on one server affects your character on all servers
- Skills, inventory, and map exploration are tied to the character file
Character Save Location
Windows
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\characters_local\Or for cloud saves:
Managed by Steam CloudCharacter Files
Each character is stored as a .fch file:
characters_local/
├── Viking.fch
├── Viking.fch.old
└── AnotherCharacter.fchThe .fch.old file is a backup of the previous save.
Transfer a Character Between PCs
Find the character file
On the source PC, navigate to the characters folder and copy the .fch file.
Move the file
Transfer the file to the same location on the destination PC.
Launch Valheim
The character should appear in the character selection screen.
📝 Note: If using Steam Cloud saves, you may need to disable cloud sync first, copy the character, then re-enable it.
Cloud Saves vs Local Saves
Valheim offers two storage options in the game settings:
| Type | Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud | Steam Cloud | Auto-sync across devices | Harder to manually manage |
| Local | characters_local folder | Easy to copy/backup | Only on one device |
To switch a character from cloud to local: In the Valheim main menu, go to the character list, select the character, and use the move option.
Server-Side Characters (Mod)
By default, characters are client-side. For servers that want to prevent character importing (bringing overpowered characters from other servers):
Install the Server Characters mod from Thunderstore. This forces characters to be stored on the server instead of the player's device.
Benefits:
- Prevents importing high-level characters
- All players start equal on your server
- Characters can't be backed up/restored by players to cheat death
Drawbacks:
- Players lose their character if they leave the server
- More complex setup
- Client-side mod required
Related Guides
See also: Connect to Your Server | Upload Save | Recommended Mods
If you need help, join our Discord.
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