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Project Zomboid sandbox settings are the world rules of your server: zombies, loot, day length, XP and more. On a FREAKHOSTING server, change them in Game settings under World rules (sandbox), Zombies and Loot amounts, then review, save and restart. Every other sandbox option is in .cache/Server/<Server Name>_SandboxVars.lua. Some options only apply to a world that has not started yet.

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How to change sandbox settings in the panel

1

Open Game settings

Open your server and click Game settings under GAME SETTINGS.
2

Pick a preset (optional)

Click Presets to fill in several settings at once: Peaceful co-op, PvP server, Hardcore (“More and faster zombies, scarce loot.”) or Relaxed (“Slow zombies and plenty of loot.”). Nothing is saved until you review and save.
3

Change the settings you want

Open World rules (sandbox), Zombies or Loot amounts, or type in Search settings. All | Changed shows only what you changed.
4

Review, save and restart

Click Review and save, check the changes and save. Restart the server to apply them.
Project Zomboid sandbox settings in the Game settings page of the FREAKHOSTING Game Panel

Game settings with presets and the setting groups

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Which sandbox settings are on the Game settings page?

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World rules (sandbox)

“These shape a new world; some only apply to a world that has not started yet.”

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Zombies

Speed, strength, toughness, infection, intelligence, memory, sight, hearing, the population multipliers, the population peak day and the zombie respawn time. See zombie population settings.

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Loot amounts

21 loot types, from Food and Guns to Skill books and Recipe resources, each from 0 (none) to 4. See loot respawn settings.

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How to change other sandbox options

Options such as erosion, temperature, water and power shut-off and vehicle settings are not on the page. Edit them in the file:
1

Stop the server

Click Stop and wait until the server is offline.
2

Open SandboxVars.lua

In Game settings, click SandboxVars.lua: open the raw file. The file is .cache/Server/<Server Name>_SandboxVars.lua, where <Server Name> is the Server Name startup variable.
3

Edit and save

Change the value, keep the comma at the end of the line, and click Save Content. History in the editor keeps the old version.
4

Start the server

Click Start.
Common options in the file:

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Frequently asked questions

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Why didn’t my sandbox change apply?

Restart the server after saving. Some options, such as Start month, only apply to a new world.

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Where is SandboxVars.lua on my server?

In .cache/Server, named after the Server Name startup variable, for example servertest_SandboxVars.lua.

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Can I change sandbox settings in game?

Admins can change server options with /changeoption, but sandbox options are easiest in Game settings. See admin commands.

Project Zomboid guide

Every Project Zomboid page in one place.

Server settings explained

The server sections of Game settings.

Zombie population

Zombie numbers and behaviour.

Loot respawn

Loot amounts and respawn.

Erosion speed

How fast nature takes over.
Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team on 30 October 2026 (Project Zomboid Build 42 on our Game Panel). Steps may differ slightly if the game or its mods change.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: October 2026