How to Use WorldOption.sav to Configure Your Palworld Server
Some Palworld server settings don't apply from PalWorldSettings.ini — they require WorldOption.sav instead. Here's what it is, which settings need it, and how to generate and upload one.
What WorldOption.sav Is
WorldOption.sav is a binary save file that stores a subset of server configuration values. For settings that exist in both places, WorldOption.sav takes precedence over PalWorldSettings.ini. If you've ever changed a setting in the INI file and had nothing happen, WorldOption.sav is likely the reason — it's overriding your INI value with whatever was set when the file was generated.
The Setting That Almost Always Requires This
The most commonly affected setting is:
BaseCampWorkerMaxNum
This controls how many Pals can be assigned to work at a single base. On many Palworld dedicated server versions, setting this in PalWorldSettings.ini has no effect. The value is silently ignored because the server reads it from WorldOption.sav instead.
If you've tried to raise the Pal worker count and your players report nothing changed, this is why. You need a WorldOption.sav that contains your desired value.
How to Generate WorldOption.sav
You cannot create this file by hand — it's a binary format. Use a community generator:
- Search for Palworld Server Settings Generator or check the Palworld Community Wiki for currently recommended tools
- Enter all your desired server settings, including your target
BaseCampWorkerMaxNumvalue - Download the generated
WorldOption.savfile
The default BaseCampWorkerMaxNum is 15. Common values to consider:
20— slightly more Pals per base, minimal performance impact25–30— noticeably more automation per base, higher CPU load- Above
30— possible performance issues on busy servers; test carefully
Uploading WorldOption.sav
Step 1 — Stop the server.
Step 2 — Navigate to your world save folder:
Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/{YourWorldName}/
This is the same folder that contains Level.sav. If you're not sure of the world folder name, check DedicatedServerName in Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini.
Step 3 — Upload WorldOption.sav to that folder. If a WorldOption.sav already exists there, overwrite it.
Step 4 — Start the server. The Pal worker count and any other settings in the file will now apply.
Verifying It Worked
Have a player try to assign more than the previous Pal count to a base. If the new limit is respected, the file is working. If nothing changed, double-check that you uploaded to the correct world folder — the file has no effect if it's in the wrong location (and won't cause a crash, it just does nothing).
If a Setting Doesn't Seem to Be Taking Effect
When any setting in PalWorldSettings.ini isn't applying after a restart, ask:
- Is there a
WorldOption.savin my world folder that could be overriding it? - Is the INI syntax correct (no missing commas, correct parentheses structure)?
Opening WorldOption.sav in a text editor won't help — it's binary. If you want to change a WorldOption.sav value, regenerate it with the correct settings and re-upload.