How to Create 7 Days to Die Server | Kinetic Hosting

Want to play 7 Days to Die with friends on your own terms? Setting up a server is the best way to get full control over your zombie survival world. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create a 7 Days to Die server quickly and easily.

We’ll focus on using Kinetic Hosting’s platform to ease the whole process, so you spend less time messing and more time surviving.

Key Takeaways

• Fast & Easy Setup: Creating a 7 Days to Die server is quick with Kinetic Hosting’s instant setup; your server can be online and playable within just a few minutes.

• Full Control & Customisation: Running your own server gives you full control over game settings, mods, and links.

• Reliable Hosting & Support: Kinetic Hosting provides powerful hardware and low-latency network connectivity for smooth, lag-free gameplay.

What You Need to Create & Host Your 7 Days to Die Server

Before getting into the setup steps, let’s make sure you have everything you need. Hosting a 7DTD server can be done in two ways: you can self-host on your own hardware or use a game server hosting provider.

A Reliable Server Hosting Plan and Hardware

For a smooth 7DTD experience, you’ll want a robust server environment. If you self-host, this means a computer with a fast CPU, sufficient RAM, and a strong internet connection (plus configuring your router for port forwarding).

Choose a hosting plan that fits your player count and gameplay needs. Many hosts offer tiered plans by RAM or slots; for example, one guide suggests a basic plan for 2–4 players and a more powerful server for 5–16 players, especially if you’ll use large worlds or mods.

Our team provides flexible 7DTD plans (starting around 8 GB RAM for standard games), so you can scale up if your community grows. All Kinetic plans come with an unmatched feature set via the Kinetic Panel at no extra cost, including things like one-click mod support and automatic backups.

The 7 Days to Die Game and Basic Setup Info

Next, make sure you have a copy of 7 Days to Die installed on your PC (and your friends do as well) so you can join the server once it’s running. The game is required for basic player connection, but you do not need to purchase a separate game license for the server itself when using a hosting provider; the server runs its dedicated service. It also lets you decide on seed, size, difficulty, and a strong password if you want the game to be private.

If you want your server to be private, prepare a password that you can give to friends. Choose any initial settings like difficulty level, player cap (7DTD is typically 8 players by default), and whether you want to start on a randomly generated map or the default map.

How to Set Up 7 Days to Die Server with Kinetic Hosting

1. Sign Up with Kinetic and Choose a 7DTD Server Plan

The first step is to sign up for a 7 Days to Die server plan with Kinetic Hosting. Visit our 7DTD page and select a plan that suits your needs (you can start with a smaller plan and upgrade later if needed).

2. Access the Kinetic Panel and Locate Your Server

Once you have your account and plan set up, log in to the Kinetic Panel to manage your new server. The Kinetic Panel is Kinetic Hosting’s in-house game server control panel, designed to make server management simple even for newcomers.

You can access it via your browser using the credentials from your signup email. After logging in, you'll see your server dashboard.

Every game server you have with Kinetic will be listed here. Click on your 7 Days to Die server instance to open its overview page. This overview is where you can start/stop/restart, see resource usage, and find connection info like the IP address and port.

3. Configure Basic Server Settings

With your server online in the panel, it’s time to configure the basic settings to your liking. In the Kinetic Panel’s 7DTD server page, look for the Settings section.

Here, you can set key parameters for your server:

• Server Name & Description

• Server Password

• Player Slots

• Game World Options

• Admin Users

All of these adjustments can usually be made via text fields or drop-down menus in the panel. When you hit Save (or apply changes), Kinetic Panel will update the server configuration accordingly.

There’s no need to manually edit files or risk mistakes, though if you want, you can access and edit the config files through the panel’s file manager or SFTP.

4. Start the Server

Starting (or restarting) your 7 Days to Die server is as easy as pressing a button. In the Kinetic Panel interface, locate the Start button (or if the server is already running, hit Restart to apply any new settings).

Click it to boot up your server. Behind the scenes, the panel will initiate the 7DTD dedicated server process on Kinetic’s hardware. You can usually watch the console log in real-time on the panel.

The first start might take a minute or two as the world is generated (especially for a new random map world). Subsequent restarts are usually faster. Wait until the console indicates that the server is fully started.

5. Connect to Your 7 Days to Die Server

To connect to your 7 Days to Die server hosted on Kinetic, simply launch the game and click “Join Game.” Then, select “Connect to IP” and enter your server’s IP address and port, which you’ll find in the Kinetic Panel (typically something like 123.45.67.89:26001). If you’ve set a password, enter it when prompted and click “Connect.”

After a short wait, you’ll be in your custom server, ready to play. Alternatively, your friends can join via the in-game server browser if set to public.

How Long Does it Take to Set Up a 7 Days to Die Server?

You might be wondering how much time you need to invest before you and your friends can start playing. The good news is that using Kinetic Hosting makes the setup process extremely quick.

Thanks to Kinetic’s automated deployment, a 7 Days to Die server is typically ready to use within minutes of your purchase. In many cases, your server is fully online in less than 3 minutes after ordering (seriously fast!).

During those few minutes, Kinetic’s system is provisioning the hardware, installing the latest 7DTD server software, and applying all initial configurations. Compared to manually setting up a server, this is a huge time saver.

Customise & Manage Your Server

One of the biggest benefits of hosting your own 7DTD server is the ability to customise it exactly how you want. Kinetic’s hosting environment gives you full flexibility to modify settings, install mods, and manage your server over time.

Adjusting Server Settings & Configuration

7 Days to Die offers a range of settings you can tweak to customise the gameplay. Through Kinetic Hosting’s Kinetic Panel, you can adjust settings like difficulty, loot abundance, spawn rates, and the day cycle.

If you’re an advanced user, you also have the option to edit the serverconfig.xml or serveradmin.xml files directly using Kinetic’s SFTP access.

Installing Mods (Modlets) and Maps on Your 7DTD Server

Kinetic Hosting supports mods for 7 Days to Die, allowing you to expand or alter your gameplay experience. Installing mods is simple: download the mod, upload it to the Mods folder via the Kinetic Panel’s File Manager or SFTP, and restart the server.

Some mods may require enabling, but most are automatically detected once in the correct folder. Keep in mind that players must install the same mods locally to join your modded server.

If you encounter any issues, the console log will help identify errors. For further customisation, you can also upload custom maps, using the same process as the mod.

What if I Need Some Help with My 7 Days to Die Server?

Even with a user-friendly platform, issues can arise. Whether it’s a configuration problem, mod issues, or a server glitch at 3 AM, Kinetic Hosting’s support team is here for you. Kinetic offers 24/7 human-powered support—no bots, just real people who know their stuff.

You’ll get timely assistance whenever you need it, no matter the time zone.

Ways to Get Support:

• Support Ticket & Live Chat: Use the built-in support system or live chat directly in the Kinetic Panel for quick help.

• Discord Community: Join the Kinetic Discord server to connect with other users and staff for tips and advice.

Start Hosting Your 7 Days to Die Server Today

Now that you know how easy it is to set up and customise your own 7 Days to Die server with Kinetic Hosting, there’s no reason to wait. With instant setup, customisation, and more, we provide everything you need to run a reliable server for you and your friends.

Contact us today. Simply head to Kinetic’s website to order your 7DTD server. If you need help during setup, our support team is just a message away.