You can change many Palworld world settings after creating a world. For your own local save, return to the title screen, choose Start Game, select the world and open Change World Settings before loading it. The pause-menu graphics and control options are a different menu.
Change an existing local world
- Save your progress and return to the title screen. Keep a recoverable backup before major changes.
- Open Start Game and select the existing save without loading into the world yet.
- Choose Change World Settings, then the custom difficulty/settings controls.
- Adjust one value, confirm the settings and load the world. Reopen the same screen later to verify the value was retained.
This route applies to the person who owns the local world, including its co-op host. A guest should ask the host to change the rules. If you join a dedicated server instead, use the separate section below.
What the important settings change
Custom world settings with German menu labels, captured in 2024.
| Setting / server parameter | Meaning |
|---|---|
ExpRate · Experience | Higher means more EXP. |
DayTimeSpeedRate · Day | Higher advances daytime faster: shorter days. |
NightTimeSpeedRate · Night | Higher advances night faster: shorter nights. |
CollectionDropRate · Gathering | Changes gatherable-item yield, not enemy loot. |
PalCaptureRate · Catching | Capture multiplier; not a guaranteed catch. |
PalSpawnNumRate · Spawns | More Pals can increase performance load. |
DeathPenalty · Death drops | Choose what is lost on death. |
The parameter names are from Pocketpair’s Server Guide; local menu wording can differ. For example, increasing daytime speed does not give you a longer day. Decide whether you want more time to explore or faster time progression before moving that slider.
Choose settings for your actual goal
- Less repetitive gathering: start by reviewing the gathering multiplier rather than changing every combat value.
- More time outdoors: review daytime speed; keep your original value so you can restore it.
- A tougher run: agree on the challenge you want before reducing rewards or changing death losses.
- Playing with friends: discuss the changes with the group and compare one session before changing more.
Dedicated servers: use the active configuration
For a server you administer, Pocketpair documents Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini on Windows and Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini on Linux. Editing DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini alone does not apply the changes. These are server paths, not a replacement for the local-world menu.
Use a controlled change: save and back up the world and configuration, stop the server cleanly, edit the active file or the host’s corresponding settings, restart and verify the result. Keep the previous file for rollback. Follow the provider’s instructions when a control panel manages configuration files.
Missing, locked or ineffective options
- No world-settings button: check that you are selecting your own local save before loading, rather than looking inside the pause-menu options.
- A disabled creation option: do not assume every setting can be changed later. The July 2026 tutorial listed seed, randomization and hardcore among creation-only controls. Check the explanation in your current client instead of editing save files blindly.
- No visible effect: confirm the save/server, the stored value and the direction of the multiplier. On a server, check the active file and restart procedure.
- New stuttering: restore the previous spawn or base limits first. More entities are not automatically better settings.
Admin commands and PC trainers solve different problems. See our Palworld cheats and admin-command guide. For normal resource progression, continue with the wool guide or map overview.
