Configuration Files for Project Zomboid server

Running a Project Zomboid server puts a handful of configuration files in your hands, covering everything from core server rules to the sandbox settings that shape your world. Reaching them takes a few clicks in the File Browser, and knowing which file holds which setting saves you from hunting through four windows for one value.

In this Nitrado guide, we’ll show you how to locate your Project Zomboid configuration files and what each one controls. We’ll also cover a start-time value that’s easy to misread.

Locate Your Project Zomboid Configuration Files

Open your Nitrado Web Interface and go to the File Browser. From there, follow this path to reach your configuration files:

zomboid > profile > Zomboid > Server

That folder holds four files: servertest.ini, servertest_SandboxVars.lua, servertest_spawnpoints.lua, and servertest_spawnregions.lua. Each one controls a different part of your server, and the sections below cover what each file does.

⚠️ Before editing any of these files, we recommend making a backup of your world.

The servertest.ini File: Core Server Settings

This file controls your server’s core behavior: connection rules, chat, whitelisting, and a handful of gameplay toggles that apply no matter which sandbox preset you choose. Here are the settings worth knowing:

• PVP: Turns player-versus-player combat on or off. PVP=true enables it, PVP=false disables it.
• PauseEmpty: Stops game time when no players are online. Set PauseEmpty=true to enable it, or PauseEmpty=false to keep the in-game clock running with no one connected.
• GlobalChat: Enables the /all chat command, letting players message everyone on the server regardless of distance. Set GlobalChat=true to enable it, or GlobalChat=false to turn it off.
• Open: Controls whitelisting. Open=true lets anyone join; Open=false restricts joining to players already added to the whitelist.
• ServerWelcomeMessage: Sets the message players see when they log in. It supports the <LINE> tag for line breaks and <RGB:r,g,b> codes for text color.
• SpawnPoint: Forces every new player to spawn at fixed X, Y, and Z world coordinates, written as SpawnPoint=x,y,z. The default 0,0,0 disables it, so players spawn normally through the spawn regions. Use the Project Zomboid Map Project to find coordinates for a specific spot.
• DoLuaChecksum: Kicks players whose game files don’t match the server’s. Keep DoLuaChecksum=true so modified files can’t slip onto your server unnoticed.
• AnnounceDeath: Broadcasts a player’s death to the rest of the server. Set AnnounceDeath=true to enable it, or AnnounceDeath=false to turn it off.

The servertest_SandboxVars.lua File: World and Gameplay Settings

This file handles the world itself: zombie population, weather, loot rarity, and how time passes. You don’t need to touch it, but it’s worth reading if you want a server that plays differently from the default settings.

• Zombies: Sets zombie population density, on a scale of 1 (Insane) to 6 (None), with 2 Very High, 3 High, 4 Normal, and 5 Low in between. The default is Zombies=4 for Normal population.
• Distribution: Sets where zombies spawn. The default is Distribution=1, which spawns them focused around urban areas; 2 spreads them uniformly across the map.
• StartMonth: Sets which calendar month the server starts in, from 1 (January) to 12 (December). The default is StartMonth=7 for July.
• StartTime: Sets the hour the server starts at, on a scale of 1 to 9. 1 is 7:00 AM, 2 is 9:00 AM, 3 is noon, 4 is 2:00 PM, 5 is 5:00 PM, 6 is 9:00 PM, 7 is midnight, 8 is 2:00 AM, and 9 is 5:00 AM. The default is StartTime=2 for a 9:00 AM start, so pick the value that matches the start time you actually want.
• FoodLootNew: Multiplies how much perishable food spawns in containers, from 0.0 to 4.0. The default is FoodLootNew=0.8; raise it above 1.0 for a better-stocked map. Canned and dried food uses its own CannedFoodLootNew value.
• Temperature: Sets the overall climate, on a scale of 1 (Very Cold) to 5 (Very Hot), with 2 Cold and 4 Hot in between. The default is Temperature=3 for Normal climate.
• Rain: Sets rainfall frequency, on a scale of 1 (Very Dry) to 5 (Very Rainy), with 2 Dry and 4 Rainy in between. The default is Rain=3 for Normal rainfall.
• MaxItemsForLootRespawn: Sets the item count that excludes a container from loot respawn. Any container holding this many items or more won’t respawn loot; the default is MaxItemsForLootRespawn=5.
• MultiplierConfig: Holds the XP multipliers. The Global value inside it scales how quickly players gain experience in every skill; the default is 1.0, and doubling it to 2.0 halves the grind. The same block also lists per-skill rates if you only want faster Carpentry or Aiming.

Spawn Points and Spawn Regions

Two more files round out your Project Zomboid configuration folder: servertest_spawnpoints.lua and servertest_spawnregions.lua. The first lets you define custom spawn points; the second lets you define custom spawn regions and the map locations available to players.

Both files expect precise coordinate and structure data. We recommend leaving them untouched unless you already know the values you want to set. For the full list of configuration options, see the Project Zomboid Official Wiki.

Set the Rules of Your Outbreak

With your configuration files located and your start time set correctly, your Project Zomboid server now runs on values you chose instead of guesswork. Come back and adjust the sandbox settings any time you want a slower burn or a faster, harder fight for survival. 🧟