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NolimitHost

How to Change Your Project Zomboid Server Version

Last updated: September 18, 2026

Project Zomboid ships different builds, and your server and every player's game must run the same build to play together. This guide shows you how to move your server to a specific build.

Important: Build 41 and Build 42 are not save-compatible. Switching builds starts a fresh world, and many Build 41 mods do not work on Build 42. Back up your saves and server files before you switch.

How Builds Are Selected

Project Zomboid uses Steam branches to choose the build:

Branch Build
Default (no branch)The current stable build (Build 42).
legacy41Build 41, kept available for communities that stayed behind.
unstableThe Build 42 beta branch, used before it became stable.

Step 1: Back Up First

Download copies of these from the server so nothing is lost:

  • Zomboid/Server/ - your servertest.ini and SandboxVars files.
  • Zomboid/Saves/ - your worlds.

Step 2: Change the Build

  1. Log in to the NolimitHost Game Panel, select your Project Zomboid server, and stop it from the Console page.
  2. Set the build. On the panel, open the Startup tab and set the Server Version (or Steam Branch) field to the build you want, then run a reinstall from Configuration > Advanced > Reinstall Server.
  3. Start the server and check the console for the reported build number.

Changing the Build on a VPS

If you run the server yourself, select the branch with SteamCMD using the dedicated server App ID 380870:

steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir /path/to/server +app_update 380870 -beta <branch> validate +quit

Omit the -beta part to return to the current stable build.

Tip: If the server seems stuck on the old build after changing the branch, delete the server files (keeping your Zomboid data folder) and reinstall. Simply re-running the update sometimes refuses to re-download when only the branch changed.

Step 3: Match Your Game

In Steam, right-click Project Zomboid, choose Properties > Betas, and select the same branch. Let Steam finish updating before you try to join. A version mismatch is the most common reason a connection fails.