Conan Exiles Server Settings Not Saving: How to Fix It

If Conan Exiles server settings keep reverting, first check that you are changing the settings for the server you actually join, then save and restart that server so the configuration is reloaded. On a dedicated server, make sure the server can write to its configuration files; on a console or hosted server, use the platform’s or host’s settings controls rather than editing files you cannot access.

How server settings are stored

Conan Exiles can run in several ways: a local single-player or co-op session, a dedicated server you manage, or a rented server managed through a hosting control panel. The right fix depends on which kind you use. A setting changed in a game menu may apply only to the current session, while dedicated-server settings are generally kept in configuration files and loaded when the server starts.

For a dedicated server, the relevant configuration is commonly kept in the server’s configuration directory, including files such as ServerSettings.ini and Engine.ini. Exact paths can vary by operating system, installation method, and hosting provider. A rented server may expose the same options through a web panel instead of giving you direct access to the files.

Before troubleshooting, note the current value and the setting you want to change. Make one change at a time, save it, and check the result after a full server restart. This helps distinguish a setting that did not save from one that saved but is overridden elsewhere.

Fix settings that revert after a restart

1. Stop the server cleanly. Shut down the dedicated server or use the host’s stop control before editing its configuration. Avoid changing files while the server is running, because it may write its in-memory settings back to disk during shutdown or overwrite edits when it saves.
2. Locate the active server configuration. Check the server’s installation and configuration directories, or the hosting panel’s file manager and settings page. If you have multiple installations, confirm that you are editing the files used by the instance players join.
3. Back up the files, then edit carefully. Copy the configuration files before making changes. Use a plain-text editor, preserve the file’s formatting, and change only the relevant value. Avoid replacing the whole file with a configuration copied from an unrelated server or an older guide.
4. Save and check write access. Confirm that the editor saved to the intended location and that the server account has permission to modify the file. On a computer you administer, a read-only file or restrictive folder permissions can prevent updates. Do not change permissions broadly; adjust only the relevant file or folder if you have authority.
5. Start the server and verify the setting. Allow it to finish starting, join the server, and check the setting in the relevant game menu or server interface. Then stop it cleanly and inspect the file or panel again to see whether the value persisted.

If the file stays correct but the in-game value does not, the setting may be controlled by another file, a launch option, a server-management tool, or the host’s panel. Check those sources before repeatedly changing the same line.

Check the server type and the correct control panel

For a locally hosted co-op session, the host’s in-game settings may be applied when a session is created or loaded. Make changes through the appropriate game menus and fully close and reopen the session to test them. A client who merely joins another player’s world generally cannot make persistent changes to the host’s server configuration.

For a dedicated server you run yourself, use the configuration files associated with that server installation and run the server under an account that can read and write them. If you manage more than one server, verify its launch path, working directory, and instance name. Editing a second installation is a common reason a change appears to vanish.

For a rented server, check the provider’s panel for settings, scheduled restarts, and file editing. Some panels generate configuration files from form fields when the server starts, so a direct file edit can be overwritten by the panel’s saved values. In that case, change the value in the panel, save it, and restart using the panel’s controls. If the panel and file disagree, ask the provider which one is authoritative for that server.

Common causes and what to try next

• The server was not restarted: Some settings are read only at startup. Save the change and perform a complete stop and start, not just a client reconnect.
• The wrong file or instance was edited: Confirm the active installation and server identity, especially if there are duplicate folders or test servers.
• A hosting panel overwrote the file: Set the value in the panel itself, or follow the provider’s documented process for custom configuration.
• Formatting or value problems: Check the spelling of the setting, its section, and the expected value format. Do not assume every setting uses the same format or accepts the same range.
• A mod or management tool changed it: Temporarily review the server’s mod and administration configuration, changing one factor at a time. Back up first and avoid removing mods from an active save without understanding the consequences.
• The server cannot write to the file: Check whether the file is read-only and whether the server account has appropriate access. If the server is hosted, ask the provider rather than trying to alter system permissions yourself.

When a setting still will not persist, check the server startup and shutdown logs for file-access or configuration errors. Record the setting name, the expected value, the server type, and whether the file changes back after startup or shutdown. That information makes a hosting-provider support request much more useful.

Updates, backups, and safe troubleshooting

A game or server update can restore defaults, change configuration behavior, or make an old guide inaccurate. After updating, recheck the active configuration and consult current documentation for the server version you are running. Do not assume a setting has been removed just because it moved or its name differs in a guide.

Make a backup before editing configuration files, updating a server, changing mods, or restoring a save. Keep the backup outside the folder that an update or reinstall might replace. If you are unsure whether a value affects an existing world, test it on a separate server or copy of the save where practical. Avoid deleting configuration or save files as a first step: that can erase settings or progress without fixing the cause.

Also distinguish server settings from client settings. A display, audio, or control option on your computer may not be a server rule at all. Conversely, a server-wide rule may be visible to players but editable only by the server owner or administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Conan Exiles settings reset when I restart?
Common reasons include editing the wrong configuration, not stopping the server before editing, insufficient write access, or a hosting panel or tool replacing the file during startup. Check which source controls the server and verify the value after a clean restart.

Where is the Conan Exiles server settings file?
Dedicated-server settings are commonly stored in configuration files such as ServerSettings.ini, but the exact location depends on the installation and platform. A rented host may manage the same settings through its web panel. Confirm the active server’s paths rather than relying on a path from another setup.

Do I need to restart the server after changing settings?
Often, yes. Many server settings are read at startup, so reconnecting to the game is not enough. Stop and start the server through its normal controls, then check whether the value took effect.

Why does the settings file change back after I edit it?
A server process may save its current values when it stops, or a host panel, launch tool, or management program may regenerate the file. Stop the server before editing and use the panel or tool that controls the instance when applicable.

Can a player change settings on someone else’s server?
Usually, only the owner or an administrator with the appropriate access can change persistent server settings. Ask the server owner to make the change; a normal client-side menu cannot necessarily alter the server’s rules.

Should I delete the configuration file to fix it?
No—not as an initial troubleshooting step. Deleting it can reset settings and may have unintended effects. Back up the file, identify what is overwriting it, and change the specific setting through the correct control point.

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