Custom Domain

Custom Domain for Your Palworld Server

By default, players connect to your Palworld server using an IP address and port number (e.g., 123.45.67.89:8211). While this works perfectly fine, a custom domain like play.yourdomain.com is easier to remember, looks more professional, and gives your server a stronger identity.

This guide walks you through setting up a custom domain to point to your Palworld dedicated server.

What You Need

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A registered domain name — You can purchase one from registrars like Cloudflare, Namecheap, Porkbun, or Google Domains. Domains typically cost between $8 and $15 per year.
• Access to your domain’s DNS settings — You will need to create DNS records through your registrar or DNS provider.
• Your server’s IP address and port — Available in your server panel at Dashboard under Settings.

Understanding How It Works

Game servers use raw TCP/UDP connections, which means you cannot use a standard CNAME record the way you would for a website. Instead, you will use an SRV record (Service record) that tells the game client both the server address and the port to connect on.

However, Palworld’s direct connect does not natively support SRV record lookups in all cases. Because of this, the most reliable approach is to use an A record combined with sharing the port separately.

Option 1: A Record (Most Reliable)

An A record points a domain name directly to an IP address. This is the simplest and most universally compatible approach.

Step 1: Find Your Server IP

1. Log in to Dashboard
2. Select your Palworld server
3. Go to Settings
4. Note your server’s IP address and port number

Step 2: Create the DNS Record

Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider and create the following record:

Field	Value
Type	A
Name	play (or palworld, server, etc.)
Value	Your server’s IP address
TTL	300 (5 minutes) or Auto
Proxy	Off / DNS Only (do not proxy game traffic)

For example, if your domain is example.com and your server IP is 123.45.67.89, creating an A record with the name play gives you play.example.com.

Step 3: Connect Using the Domain

Once the DNS record has propagated (usually within a few minutes, up to an hour), players can connect by entering:

• Address: play.example.com
• Port: Your server’s port number (e.g., 8211)

Players still need to know the port number, but the domain replaces the IP address. You might share it as play.example.com:8211 for convenience.

Option 2: SRV Record

SRV records can encode both the hostname and port into a single domain lookup. While not all Palworld clients reliably resolve SRV records, this option is worth trying if you want a fully seamless experience.

Create the SRV Record

Field	Value
Type	SRV
Name	_palworld._udp.play
Priority	0
Weight	0
Port	Your server’s port (e.g., 8211)
Target	play.example.com
TTL	300 or Auto

You will also need the A record from Option 1 for the target to resolve.

Note: SRV record support depends on the game client version. If players cannot connect using the SRV domain, fall back to the A record method with the port shared separately.

Important: Do Not Proxy Game Traffic

If you are using Cloudflare as your DNS provider, make sure the proxy toggle is disabled (grey cloud, not orange) for your game server records. Cloudflare’s proxy only supports HTTP/HTTPS traffic and will block the UDP/TCP connections that Palworld uses.

In Cloudflare’s DNS settings:

• Click the orange cloud icon next to your record to toggle it to DNS only (grey cloud)
• This applies to both A records and any records used as SRV targets

DNS Propagation

After creating your DNS records, it takes time for the changes to propagate across the internet:

• Cloudflare: Usually under 5 minutes
• Other providers: Can take up to 24-48 hours, though most propagate within an hour

You can verify your DNS records are working by using a tool like dnschecker.org — enter your subdomain and check that it resolves to the correct IP address.

Testing the Connection

Once DNS has propagated:

1. Launch Palworld
2. Go to Join Multiplayer Game
3. Enter your custom domain in the address field (e.g., play.example.com)
4. Enter the port number
5. Click Connect

If the connection fails, double-check that:

• The DNS record is set to DNS Only (not proxied)
• The IP address in the DNS record matches your server’s actual IP
• DNS has had enough time to propagate
• Your server is running and accepting connections

Sharing Your Server Address

With a custom domain set up, you can share a clean and memorable address with your players:

• On social media: “Join our Palworld server at play.example.com port 8211”
• In Discord: Pin the connection details in your server’s info channel
• On your website: Add a “Play Now” section with the domain and port

A branded domain makes your server feel established and trustworthy, which helps attract and retain players.

Need Help?

If you run into issues setting up your custom domain, our support team can help. Open a ticket on Discord with your domain name, the DNS records you created, and your server’s IP address, and we will help troubleshoot.