How to Fix Palworld Dedicated Server Loading a Blank / Empty World

# Why Palworld Dedicated Servers Ignore Uploaded Saves

Unlike typical dedicated server engines that load whatever save folder exists in the directory or load saves alphabetically, the Unreal Engine 5 Palworld binary (PalServer-Linux-Shipping or PalServer-Win64-Shipping) uses an explicit configuration pointer:

[/Script/Pal.PalGameUserSettings]
DedicatedServerName=8E4A1C7B9D2F0A558E4A1C7B9D2F0A55

When the server daemon initializes, it checks DedicatedServerName. If:

• The key is empty (DedicatedServerName=),
• It still contains an old randomly generated hash, OR
• There is a casing mismatch or typographical error,

the server daemon considers the server environment brand new. It ignores your uploaded save in SaveGames/0/, generates a new 32-character hexadecimal folder, and spawns an empty world.

Never edit server configuration files while the process is active:

# Linux systemd
sudo systemctl stop palworld-server

# Docker
docker compose down
# or: docker stop palworld-server

A common mistake when extracting or uploading save archives via FTP/SFTP is accidental folder nesting. Inspect Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/:

Make sure your 32-character GUID folder directly contains Level.sav, LevelMeta.sav, and the Players/ subfolder.

1. Note down your exact 32-character folder name inside SaveGames/0/ (e.g. 2E85FD38BAA792EB1D4C09386F3A3CDA).
2. Open the configuration file:
   • Linux: Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini
   • Windows: Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini
3. Locate the line starting with DedicatedServerName= and update it:

[/Script/Pal.PalGameUserSettings]
DedicatedServerName=2E85FD38BAA792EB1D4C09386F3A3CDA

If the section or line does not exist in GameUserSettings.ini, add the entire block above to the bottom of the file.

If you transferred this save from single-player or co-op, check whether WorldOption.sav is present in your world folder.

Restart your server. When you connect, the server will load your uploaded world map, bases, and technology progression properly!