Every mod has a side: client only, server only, or both. That side decides where a mod has to be installed, not just whether it runs on a dedicated server at all. A mod page on PalMods states its side directly, and the compatibility engine separately flags whether a mod is known to work on a dedicated server.
Framework installs (UE4SS, PalSchema) work the same way on a server as on a normal install: same folder structure, just under the server's own game files instead of your client's.
UE4SS on a dedicated server
<Palworld folder>/Pal/Binaries/Win64Use the dedicated server tabs above for your server's OS. Everything else about the UE4SS install is identical to a normal client install.
<Palworld folder>/Pal/Binaries/WinGDKUse the dedicated server tabs above for your server's OS. Everything else about the UE4SS install is identical to a normal client install.
<Palworld folder>/Pal/Binaries/Win64Use the dedicated server tabs above for your server's OS. Everything else about the UE4SS install is identical to a normal client install.
<Palworld folder>/Pal/Binaries/LinuxUse the dedicated server tabs above for your server's OS. Everything else about the UE4SS install is identical to a normal client install.
Install mods on a dedicated server
- Stop the server
Shut the server down before touching its files. Installing over a running server can leave it in a broken state.
- Install the framework into the server's game folder
Use the dedicated Windows or dedicated Linux path shown above, not your own client's install.
- Add server-side mods
Drop in whichever mods your modlist needs, following each mod's own guide for the exact subfolder.
- Start the server back up
Launch the server process normally.
- Check the server logs
Confirm UE4SS and any mods loaded cleanly before opening the server to players.
Frequently asked questions
Do all mods work on a dedicated server?
No. A mod's side (client only, server only, or both) determines whether it can run on a server at all, and PalMods mod pages state it directly.
Does everyone connecting to a modded server need the mods installed too?
Depends on the mod's side. Pak content mods and anything that touches shared game data generally need to be on every client. Server-only mods do not.
Does the server OS (Windows or Linux) change how mods install?
For UE4SS-family installs, yes: the framework path differs between Windows and Linux, as the tabs above show. Content-pak folders are the same on every OS.