Terraria

Initial Server Setup and Configuration

Sep 4, 2025 590 views Updated Nov 11, 2025

All servers will have a default startup/world configuration. This guide teaches you how to modify all available configurations

Config options

Note
You can see these options in the FPS panel menu (hover over the left menu options and click on Startup)
Generally, you will see the following options. These are the vanilla startup options
  1. Terraria version allows to change the terraria version
  2. World name sets a world name in files and on server list
  3. Max players set player number cap on servers
  4. World size 1 (small), 2 (medium), 3 (large).
  5. Difficulty 0 (normal), 1 (expert), 2 (master), 3 (journey) More info at Terraria difficulty docs
  6. MOTD Welcome message upon joining
  7. World seed allows to change the world generation
  8. Password allows to set a join password. Players need this for joining the server
  9. Npcstream is an optimization feature. Do not modify unless you know what it does
Note
If you wish to choose either Crimson or Corruption biomes, you must create the world in your computer and upload it, otherwise, the server chooses randomly.

In tModLoader, you will see the following differences to the vanilla startup:

  1. Docker image always use Dotnet 8 unless you use older tModLoader versions
  2. tModLoader version is seen instead of Terraria version. By default it fetches latest Terraria version)
  3. Difficulty only allows normal or expert. Only way to choose journey or master is by following the world uploading guide
  4. Password was compulsory on older tModLoader servers, now it is optional
  5. Language allows to change the tModLoader console language
In tShock, you will see far less world options than in the previous two servers. Therefore, you might need to either modify tShock configuration by yourself, or create and upload the world from your computer.
  1. tShock version is seen instead of Terraria version.

Danger
Avoid editing startup or world related configs directly from any config files. The Startup options window on the panel will always overwrite most of these configs, except if this configuration is not present in the Startup menu
Note
Note about future configuration changes: In Terraria, a few options cannot be changed after a world was created, unless you use third party tools. One of these options is difficulty, world type, seed; essentially all related to initial world generation. Most other options should be applied upon changing and restarting, these include number of players, server password, MOTD and many other

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