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Server Configuration Guide • Updated September 2026

PalWorldSettings.ini Not Working? Fix WorldOption.sav Override

Did you customize your dedicated server XP rate, egg hatch speed, or death drop rules in PalWorldSettings.ini, but the game is still playing on default settings? Here is why WorldOption.sav overrides your configuration and how to fix it in 2 minutes.

⚙️ Check Your Save Folder for WorldOption.sav Conflicts

CheckMySave scans your world directory and instantly flags configuration override conflicts and unexpected singleplayer artifacts.

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# Why Does WorldOption.sav Override PalWorldSettings.ini?

In Palworld, world rules can be defined in two distinct places:

  • PalWorldSettings.ini: The human-readable text configuration file located under Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ (or LinuxServer/).
  • WorldOption.sav: The binary GVAS container generated by local singleplayer and co-op worlds that stores world settings directly inside the world save folder.
⚠️ Engine Priority Rule:

When a dedicated server launches, Unreal Engine queries the save directory. If WorldOption.sav exists in the world directory, the server engine treats it as the absolute authority, silently ignoring every setting in PalWorldSettings.ini!

# Which Settings Are Blocked?

❌ ExpRateMultipliers

XP gains remain hardlocked to 1.0x regardless of INI changes.

❌ AutoResetGuildNoPlayerTime

Inactive guild timeout and base wipe intervals are ignored.

❌ DeathPenalty

Item drop rules (ItemAndEquipment / None) fail to update.

❌ PalEggDefaultHatchingTime

Egg incubation speed settings are completely bypassed.

01

Step 1: Stop the Dedicated Server

Ensure the PalServer process or Docker container is stopped before modifying files to prevent file locking and memory overwrite issues. 

docker stop palworld-server
# or: sudo systemctl stop palserver
02

Step 2: Navigate to the World Save Directory

Open your server files and navigate along this path: 

PalServer/Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/<WorldID>/
03

Step 3: Delete or Rename WorldOption.sav

Rename WorldOption.sav to WorldOption.sav.bak.

Important Safety Note: Do NOT delete Level.sav, LevelMeta.sav, or any file in the Players/ folder! Only WorldOption.sav needs to be removed.
04

Step 4: Restart the Server

Start your dedicated server. With WorldOption.sav out of the way, Palworld will now read and enforce all custom multipliers directly from PalWorldSettings.ini!

? Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Palworld server settings not applying?

On dedicated servers, if WorldOption.sav exists in the world save folder (which commonly happens when importing a singleplayer or co-op save), Palworld prioritizes WorldOption.sav over PalWorldSettings.ini. Any changes you make to XP rate, egg timer, or death penalties in the INI file are completely ignored.

Is it safe to delete WorldOption.sav on a dedicated server?

Yes. Deleting WorldOption.sav is completely safe for dedicated servers. It only forces the server to read settings from PalWorldSettings.ini. Players might need to choose their respawn point upon logging in once, but no player levels, Pals, or base structures are affected.