Overview
Every mod, every backup, and every settings tweak on your Valheim server lives inside a file you cannot reach from the game itself. You need FTP access to get in, and once you’re connected, the directory structure can look overwhelming if you don’t know which folders actually matter. Apex Hosting gives you two ways to connect to your Valheim server via FTP: an online panel built for quick edits, and support for external programs like FileZilla when you need more control over larger transfers. Both methods reach the same files, so pick whichever suits how often you need access. This guide walks through both connection methods, then points out exactly which folders on your Valheim server hold your saves and your mod files.
Valheim FTP Connection
Both connection methods reach the same server files, but they differ in speed and flexibility. The online panel needs nothing beyond your password and gets you into the file list right away. An external program takes a few extra minutes to set up, and in exchange, it handles large transfers more comfortably. Pick whichever fits the task in front of you, or use both as it suits you.
Online Panel
The online panel is the fastest way into your files, since it needs nothing outside your Apex account. This method works entirely inside your browser, and you can start editing as soon as the file list loads.
- Head towards your Apex server panel and click the “
FTP File Access” button. - Enter your password in the text field, then click “
Login“. - The file tree loads, showing every server file you can edit, download, or upload.
Double-check you’re working in the correct Server Profile before you make changes, since each profile keeps its own separate set of files behind this login. From here, you can rename, move, or open most files directly, and very large files are easier to handle through an external program instead.
External Program
An external FTP client gives you finer control over large transfers and lets you manage files from a familiar desktop application instead of a browser tab. FileZilla and Cyberduck are two options, and either one connects to your Valheim server the same way.
- Download an FTP program, such as FileZilla or Cyberduck, then install it.
- Open the application once installation finishes.
- Navigate to the “
FTP File Access” area from your main server panel. - Copy the FTP Address, Port, Username, and Password shown there.
- Return to the external program and enter those login credentials.
- Click “
Quickconnect” or a similar connect button to make the connection. - The directories load, ready for you to download or upload files.
Keep this login information private, the same as your panel password, since it grants direct access to your server’s files. Once you’re connected, dragging files between the two panes works the same way it would on any FTP client.
Important Files
Once you’re connected, either method reaches the same directories: your saves, general server settings, and mod files if you have any installed. Selecting BepInEx as your Game File in the main panel unlocks extra folders for mods like Valheim Plus; restart the server for the change to take effect. worlds_local matters no matter which Game File you’re running, and BepInEx matters once you’ve switched to that Game File.
Worlds_Local
Downloading your world files is one way to back up a server, since re-uploading them restores that exact save. You’ll find them in the …/worlds_local pathway, which holds your world’s database file alongside its main save and a rolling set of automatic backups. This folder works the same way whether you’re running a vanilla server or one with BepInEx installed. Keep track of your save name in your main panel, since that name is what identifies the matching files inside worlds_local.
BepInEx
BepInEx is the mod loader you select as your server’s Game File in the main panel, and it’s what makes mod installation possible on a Valheim server. Valheim Plus is one specific mod that runs on top of BepInEx, not another name for the same thing. Switching your Game File to BepInEx doesn’t install Valheim Plus by itself; it just gives your server the framework mods need to load.
Once BepInEx is selected and the server has restarted, mod files live in the …/BepInEx/plugins pathway, while general mod settings sit in …/BepInEx/config. If you’re running Valheim Plus specifically, its settings live in valheim_plus.cfg inside that config folder, with a long list of togglable options. None of this applies to a vanilla server, since a server without BepInEx selected has no plugins folder to fill.
Common Issues
Cannot Make an FTP Connection
A failed connection often traces back to login details. The FTP username isn’t the same as your Apex panel account. Double-check the password you’re entering, whether that’s your panel password for the Online Panel method or the copied Password field for an external program. If everything looks correct and the connection still fails, confirm you’re logged into the right panel account, since FTP File Access only shows servers on the account you’re logged into.
Files Aren’t Uploading or Downloading
Large or numerous files are a common cause of upload and download failures. Compressing everything into a single archive with a tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip before uploading usually resolves it. The FTP client’s Compress option can package a folder into a single file, which can make it quicker to download instead of pulling every file individually. If compression doesn’t help, check your internet connection next.
Missing File Data
Files that show up incomplete or missing are often just uncompressed. Zipping them into a single file before the transfer usually resolves this. If the files still aren’t where you expect them, double-check you’re browsing the correct Server Profile, since each profile keeps its own separate directory, and the file you’re looking for might simply be sitting in a different one.
Conclusion
FTP access turns your Valheim server from a black box into a set of files you can actually manage. The online panel gets you in fastest for quick edits, while an external program like FileZilla is worth the extra setup once you’re moving mods, backups, or full worlds around regularly. Either way, two folders matter most: worlds_local for your saves and BepInEx for your mods. Both stay in the same place no matter which method you use to reach them.
