How to Fix the Palworld Version Mismatch Error
A version mismatch means the game on the player's computer and the server software are not on the same build. Palworld requires them to match, so after a game update the server is usually the one that needs attention.
Why it happens
When the developers release a patch, Steam updates players automatically. Your server does not update itself unless it is set to. Until it is updated, players on the new version are refused. Less often, a player is on an old version or a beta branch.
Fix it on the server
- Check the current game version on Steam or the official news page.
- Open the Console tab and stop the server.
- Run the server update through your panel. If your plan has an update or reinstall option, use it.
- On self-managed setups, update with SteamCMD using the Palworld dedicated server app id, which is 2394010, with validate.
- Start the server again and watch the console for the version line.
Back up your world before updating.
Fix it on the player side
- Restart Steam so the game updates.
- Verify game files in Steam if the version still looks wrong.
- Make sure the player is not opted in to a beta branch.
When the server updates before players
Sometimes the server gets a new version first. Players then see a mismatch until their game updates. Ask them to wait for Steam to finish downloading.
Prevent future problems
- Subscribe to Palworld update news.
- Use the Schedules tab to restart the server at quiet times so updates apply cleanly. Whether your server updates on restart depends on your settings, so check your panel options.
- Announce updates in your Discord.
Still stuck
Confirm that both sides show the same version number. If they do and you are still refused, check your server password and port. Our Discord team can look at your console output if you paste the first few lines after startup.