Sons of the Forest dedicatedserver.cfg Explained: Every Setting

dedicatedserver.cfg is the Sons of the Forest server’s settings file, written in JSON. On a FREAKHOSTING server it is at serverconfig/dedicatedserver.cfg, and you edit it in Files. The Game Panel sets the ports, password, player limit, game mode and save slot from the Startup page at every start, so change those there. Edit the file for autosave, idle time, GameSettings and CustomGameModeSettings.

Difficulty	Time	Works on	Panel pages
Intermediate	10 minutes	Every Sons of the Forest dedicated server on our Game Panel	Files, Startup

Where is dedicatedserver.cfg?

Open your server, click Files and open the serverconfig folder. It holds:

dedicatedserver.cfg: the server settings.
ownerswhitelist.txt: the SteamID64s of the server owners. See set up admins.
Saves: your worlds. See save slots.

The server creates the file on its first start. Any setting missing from the file uses its default.

How to edit dedicatedserver.cfg

Make a backup

Open Backups and click Create backup.

Open the file

Click Files, open serverconfig and click dedicatedserver.cfg. See how to use the File Manager.

Change the values

Edit the values you need. Text goes in quotes ("Continue"), numbers and true/false without. Every line except the last in a block ends with a comma.

Save and restart

Click Save Content and restart the server.

Which settings does the Game Panel control?

The panel starts the server with these values from Startup. They override the file, so change them on Startup:

Key in the file	Set on Startup by	Notes
`ServerName`	Server Name	The panel also writes it into the file at each start.
`Password`	Password	New servers show `none`, which means no password. Type a password to set one; clear the field or type `none` to remove it.
`GameMode`	Gamemode	`normal`, `hard`, `hardsurvival`, `peaceful`, `custom`. Used only for a new world.
`SaveSlot`	Save Slot	Default `0000000001`. The panel also writes it into the file.
`MaxPlayers`	Max Players	Read-only, set by your plan.
`SkipNetworkAccessibilityTest`	Skip network Test	`true` skips the start-up network check.
`GamePort`, `QueryPort`, `BlobSyncPort`	Your server’s ports	Fixed. `QueryPort` and `BlobSyncPort` are shown read-only on Startup.
`IpAddress`	Fixed	Always `0.0.0.0`.
`LogFilesEnabled`, `TimestampLogFilenames`	Fixed	Both `true`. Log files are written to `serverconfig/logs`.

Sons of the Forest Startup page in the Game Panel showing the Server Name, Password, Gamemode, Skip network Test and Save Slot variables — The Startup page with the Sons of the Forest variables

Settings you change in the file

Key	Default	What it does
`SaveMode`	`"Continue"`	`Continue` loads the world in the save slot, or creates one if the slot is empty. `New` creates a new world and overwrites the slot at every start.
`SaveInterval`	`600`	Autosave every this many seconds (600 = 10 minutes).
`IdleDayCycleSpeed`	`0.0`	How fast time runs while nobody is online, from `0.0` (time stops) to `1.0` (normal speed).
`IdleTargetFramerate`	`5`	Server frame rate while nobody is online.
`ActiveTargetFramerate`	`60`	Server frame rate while players are online. At least `10`.
`TimestampLogEntries`	`true`	Adds the time to every log line.
`LanOnly`	`false`	Leave it `false`, or nobody can join over the internet.

Only use "SaveMode": "New" if you want a fresh world at every restart. It overwrites the save slot each time the server starts.

GameSettings: settings for your current world

The server applies these to an existing world after a restart:

Key	Values	What it does
`Gameplay.TreeRegrowth`	`true` / `false`	Cut trees grow back while players sleep. See tree regrowth.
`Structure.Damage`	`true` / `false`	Whether buildings can be damaged.

"GameSettings": {
  "Gameplay.TreeRegrowth": true,
  "Structure.Damage": true
},

CustomGameModeSettings: settings for new custom worlds

The server reads these only when Gamemode is custom and it creates a new world. To use them, set Gamemode to custom and choose an unused Save Slot, as in change difficulty.

Key	Values
`GameSetting.Multiplayer.Cheats`	`true` / `false` (console commands, see console commands)
`GameSetting.Vail.EnemySpawn`	`true` / `false`
`GameSetting.Vail.EnemyHealth`	`Low`, `Normal`, `High`
`GameSetting.Vail.EnemyDamage`	`Low`, `Normal`, `High`
`GameSetting.Vail.EnemyArmour`	`Low`, `Normal`, `High`
`GameSetting.Vail.EnemyAggression`	`Low`, `Normal`, `High`
`GameSetting.Vail.EnemySearchParties`	`Low`, `Normal`, `High`
`GameSetting.Vail.AnimalSpawnRate`	`Low`, `Normal`, `High`
`GameSetting.Environment.StartingSeason`	`Spring`, `Summer`, `Autumn`, `Winter`
`GameSetting.Environment.SeasonLength`	`Short`, `Default`, `Long`, `Realistic`
`GameSetting.Environment.DayLength`	`Short`, `Default`, `Long`, `Realistic`
`GameSetting.Environment.PrecipitationFrequency`	`Low`, `Default`, `High`
`GameSetting.Survival.ConsumableEffects`	`Normal`, `Hard`
`GameSetting.Survival.PlayerStatsDamage`	`Off`, `Normal`, `Hard`
`GameSetting.Survival.ColdPenalties`	`Off`, `Normal`, `Hard`
`GameSetting.Survival.StatRegenerationPenalty`	`Off`, `Normal`, `Hard`
`GameSetting.Survival.ReducedFoodInContainers`	`true` / `false`
`GameSetting.Survival.SingleUseContainers`	`true` / `false` (opened containers don’t refill)
`GameSetting.Survival.BuildingResistance`	`Low`, `Normal`, `High`
`GameSetting.Survival.CreativeMode`	`true` / `false`
`GameSetting.Survival.PlayersImmortalMode`	`true` / `false` (players can’t die)
`GameSetting.Survival.OneHitToCutTrees`	`true` / `false`
`GameSetting.Construction.NoCuttingsSpawn`	`true` / `false` (no off-cuts when building)

Frequently asked questions

Why does my server name or password change back?

The panel sets them from Startup at every start. Change Server Name and Password on Startup instead of in the file.

Where are dedicatedservergameplay.json and AdminPassword?

They don’t exist in Sons of the Forest. All settings are in dedicatedserver.cfg, and admins are set in ownerswhitelist.txt.

Can I raise the player limit in dedicatedserver.cfg?

No. The panel sets MaxPlayers from the read-only Max Players variable. The game allows up to 8 players.

Why did my custom settings not change anything?

They only apply to a new world created with Gamemode set to custom. Start an unused Save Slot.

Sons of the Forest server guide

Every Sons of the Forest page in one place.

Change difficulty

Use the custom game mode.

Set up admins

ownerswhitelist.txt and the Players menu.

Save slots

New worlds and uploading your save.

Startup variables

How the Startup page works.

Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team on our Game Panel on 30 October 2026 (Sons of the Forest dedicated server on our Game Panel). Keys checked against the official dedicated server guide. Steps may differ slightly if the game changes.

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Last Updated: October 2026

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Sons of the Forest dedicatedserver.cfg Explained: Every Setting

Where is dedicatedserver.cfg?

How to edit dedicatedserver.cfg

Which settings does the Game Panel control?

Settings you change in the file

GameSettings: settings for your current world

CustomGameModeSettings: settings for new custom worlds

Frequently asked questions

Why does my server name or password change back?

Where are dedicatedservergameplay.json and AdminPassword?

Can I raise the player limit in dedicatedserver.cfg?

Why did my custom settings not change anything?

Sons of the Forest server guide

Change difficulty

Set up admins

Save slots

Startup variables

Need Extra Help?

Save on Your Hosting

​Where is dedicatedserver.cfg?

​How to edit dedicatedserver.cfg

​Which settings does the Game Panel control?

​Settings you change in the file

​GameSettings: settings for your current world

​CustomGameModeSettings: settings for new custom worlds

​Frequently asked questions

​Why does my server name or password change back?

​Where are dedicatedservergameplay.json and AdminPassword?

​Can I raise the player limit in dedicatedserver.cfg?

​Why did my custom settings not change anything?

​Related guides

Sons of the Forest server guide

Change difficulty

Set up admins

Save slots

Startup variables

​Need Extra Help?

​Save on Your Hosting

Where is dedicatedserver.cfg?

How to edit dedicatedserver.cfg

Which settings does the Game Panel control?

Settings you change in the file

GameSettings: settings for your current world

CustomGameModeSettings: settings for new custom worlds

Frequently asked questions

Why does my server name or password change back?

Where are dedicatedservergameplay.json and AdminPassword?

Can I raise the player limit in dedicatedserver.cfg?

Why did my custom settings not change anything?

Related guides

Need Extra Help?

Save on Your Hosting