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Find World Seed

Valheim Guide • Updated Jan 6, 2026

How to Find Your Valheim World Seed

World seeds are the foundation of Valheim's procedurally generated worlds. Whether you want to share your amazing world with friends, recreate it after a crash, or simply explore what seed generated your current adventure, knowing how to find your world seed is essential. This guide covers five different methods to discover your world's seed, from the simplest in-game menu option to advanced file extraction techniques.

Each method works in different situations - singleplayer, multiplayer, dedicated servers, or when you only have access to world files. Choose the method that best fits your circumstances.

What Are World Seeds?

A world seed is a semi-random text string (1-10 characters) used to procedurally generate Valheim's terrain, biomes, resources, and boss locations. Think of it as a blueprint - the same seed always generates the same world layout.

Why Seeds Matter:

  • Reproducibility - Same seed = identical world every time
  • Sharing - Friends can generate the same world you're playing
  • Backups - Recreate worlds if files are corrupted
  • Challenge Runs - Community can compete on same seed
  • Exploration - Find your perfect world and keep the seed

Seed Format:

  • 1-10 characters long
  • Can contain letters and numbers
  • Case-sensitive (HJcB9i is different from hjcb9i)
  • Examples: HJcB9i, 12345, myworld, viking

Method 1: World Selection Menu (Easiest)

This is the quickest method if you're playing singleplayer or have access to the world selection screen.

Steps:

  1. Launch Valheim
  2. Select your character at the character selection screen
  3. On the "Select World" screen, look at the list of available worlds
  4. The seed appears in the right column, directly across from the world name
  5. Write down or screenshot the seed for future use

When to Use:

  • Singleplayer games
  • Local co-op hosts
  • When you have direct access to world selection

Limitations:

  • Doesn't work on dedicated servers (you can't access world selection)
  • Requires launching the game

Method 2: In-Game Console Command

Use Valheim's built-in console to print the world seed while playing.

Enable Console (One-Time Setup):

  1. Open Steam and go to your Library
  2. Right-click Valheim
  3. Select Properties
  4. In the Launch Options field, type: -console
  5. Close properties - console is now enabled

Get Your Seed:

  1. Launch Valheim and join your world/server
  2. Press F5 to open the console
  3. Type: printseed or printseeds
  4. Press Enter
  5. Your world seed will be displayed in the console

When to Use:

  • Quick seed lookup while playing
  • Works in singleplayer and multiplayer
  • Useful for streamers/content creators

Note: Some game versions use printseed (singular) while others use printseeds (plural). Try both if one doesn't work.

Method 3: Player.log File

Valheim's log file records the world seed when you join a world. This method works even if you've already quit the game.

Steps:

  1. Launch Valheim to the main menu (don't need to join world yet)
  2. At the bottom-left corner of the main menu, click "Show Player.log"
  3. This opens the log file in your default text editor
  4. Press Ctrl+F to search
  5. Search for: Initializing world generator seed:
  6. The seed appears immediately after this text
  7. Note the seed for your records

Alternative Manual Path:

If "Show Player.log" button doesn't work, navigate manually:

Operating System Player.log Location
Windows C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\Player.log
Linux ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/Player.log
macOS ~/Library/Logs/IronGate/Valheim/Player.log

When to Use:

  • After playing a world but can't remember seed
  • Works for both singleplayer and dedicated servers
  • Doesn't require being in-game

Method 4: Extract from .fwl File

World files contain the seed in their metadata. This method is perfect for server owners or when you have file access but can't run the game.

World File Locations

Windows (Local Worlds):

%appdata%\..\locallow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds\

Or navigate to:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds\

Windows (Steam Cloud Worlds):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your_steam_id>\892970\remote\worlds\

Linux:

~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds/

Dedicated Server:

/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/

Understanding World Files

Each world consists of two files:

  • .fwl file - World metadata (includes seed, world name)
  • .db file - World data (terrain, buildings, modifications)

Both files share the same name (e.g., MyWorld.fwl and MyWorld.db).

Option A: Read .fwl Directly

  1. Navigate to the world files location for your OS (see above)
  2. Find your world's .fwl file
  3. Right-click the file and open with Notepad++ or any text editor
  4. Line 1: World name
  5. Line 2: Your world seed (the character string you need)
  6. Copy the seed for use

Note: .fwl files are binary, so some characters may appear garbled. The seed on line 2 should be readable.

Option B: Use Online Seed Extractor (Easiest)

  1. Navigate to your world files location (see above)
  2. Right-click your world's .fwl file
  3. Download/save the file to a known location
  4. Visit Valheim Seed Extractor
  5. Upload your .fwl file
  6. The seed will be displayed at the bottom of the page
  7. Bonus: The site also shows a full map preview of your world!

When to Use:

  • Server owners without game access
  • Backup world files without running the game
  • When you want to see the full world map preview
  • For automated seed extraction

Method 5: For Dedicated Server Owners

If you run a dedicated server through a control panel or hosting provider:

  1. Access your server's File Manager
  2. Navigate to: /.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/
  3. Locate your world's .fwl file
  4. Download the file
  5. Use Method 4 (Option A or B) to extract the seed

Alternative: Some hosting control panels display the seed in server settings or world configuration. Check your panel's documentation.

Using Seeds to Create New Worlds

Once you have a seed, you can create identical worlds on any installation:

Singleplayer/Local

  1. At character selection, choose your character
  2. Click "New" at world selection
  3. Enter your desired World Name
  4. In the Seed field, enter the seed you want to use
  5. Click "Create"
  6. The world generates with the exact same layout as the original

Dedicated Server

Configure the seed in your server startup script or configuration:

./valheim_server.x86_64 -name "My Server" -world "MyWorld" -password "mypassword" -savedir "/path/to/saves" -world_seed "YourSeedHere"

Or in server configuration files (varies by hosting provider), add:

world_seed=YourSeedHere

Popular Community Seeds

The Valheim community has discovered and shared many excellent seeds:

Seed Notable Features Difficulty
HJcB9i Balanced starter island, all bosses accessible Beginner-friendly
lduTRpBHca Huge starting island, multiple biomes nearby Easy
maypoleplz Maypole spawn (rare decorative item) Easy
42069 Challenging layout, scattered resources Hard

Finding More Seeds:

  • Visit Valheim World Generator to preview seeds before playing
  • Check r/valheim and Valheim Discord for community seed sharing
  • Streaming communities often share challenge seeds

Troubleshooting

Can't Find Player.log

Problem: "Show Player.log" button doesn't work or file doesn't exist.

Solutions:

  1. Ensure you've launched Valheim at least once (file is created on first launch)
  2. Show hidden files in Windows Explorer (View → Hidden Items)
  3. Navigate manually using paths from Method 3
  4. On Linux, use: locate Player.log | grep Valheim

.fwl File Unreadable

Problem: Opening .fwl shows garbled text.

Solutions:

  1. Use an advanced text editor (Notepad++, VS Code)
  2. Look specifically at line 2 - seed should be readable even if other data isn't
  3. Use online seed extractor (Method 4B) instead of manual reading

Console Command Not Working

Problem: printseed or printseeds gives "unknown command" error.

Solutions:

  1. Verify you added -console to Steam launch options
  2. Restart Steam after adding launch options
  3. Try both printseed and printseeds (versions differ)
  4. Some mods may disable console - try without mods

World Seed Not in World Selection

Problem: Seed column is empty in world selection screen.

Solutions:

  1. This may indicate a corrupted .fwl file
  2. Use Method 4 to check .fwl file directly
  3. If .fwl is corrupted, you may need to regenerate the world (data will be lost)
  4. Check backups for intact .fwl file

Can't Access Dedicated Server Files

Problem: Hosting provider doesn't give file access.

Solutions:

  1. Check control panel for seed display in settings
  2. Contact support - most hosts can provide the seed
  3. Join server and use Method 2 (console command)
  4. Check Player.log after joining the server (Method 3)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does using the same seed guarantee identical worlds?

A: Yes, the same seed always generates the same terrain layout, biome placement, and boss locations. However, player-made modifications (buildings, terrain changes) are stored separately in the .db file.

Q: Can I change my world's seed after creation?

A: No, the seed is set at world creation and cannot be changed. You would need to create a new world with a different seed.

Q: Are seeds case-sensitive?

A: Yes! MyWorld and myworld generate completely different worlds.

Q: What's the best seed for beginners?

A: HJcB9i is widely recommended - it has a balanced starting island with good resource distribution and accessible boss locations. Try it at Valheim World Generator first!

Q: Can I preview a seed before creating a world?

A: Yes! Visit Valheim World Generator, enter any seed, and it will show the complete world map, biome distribution, and boss locations.

Q: Do mods affect world generation from seeds?

A: Generally no - seeds control vanilla world generation. However, mods that modify world generation or add biomes may change how seeds work.

Q: Can console players (Xbox, PlayStation) access seeds?

A: Console versions have more limited access to seeds. Check in-game world selection menu (Method 1) as it's the primary method for console players.

Q: If I lose my world files but have the seed, can I recover my base?

A: Unfortunately no. The seed recreates the terrain and biomes, but all player-made structures and modifications are stored in the .db file, not the seed. Always backup your world files!

Related Guides

Conclusion

Finding your Valheim world seed opens up possibilities for sharing worlds, creating backups, and exploring the infinite variety of procedurally generated Viking landscapes. Whether you use the simple world selection menu method or extract seeds from server files, you now have five reliable techniques to discover any world's seed.

Remember to save your favorite seeds - that perfect starting island or well-balanced world might be worth recreating in the future. And don't forget to explore community-shared seeds for unique challenges or beginner-friendly starting conditions.

The world of Valheim is vast and varied. With your seed in hand, you can return to your favorite landscapes again and again, or share your discoveries with the community. Happy exploring, Viking!

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