The ForestThe Forest Server Configuration Generator
Configure your The Forest Dedicated Server without writing config.cfg by hand: set The Forest server settings such as the server name, player count, passwords, difficulty and Vegan Mode in the form, or describe your server to an AI in Easy Mode. The live preview shows the finished server config, which you can copy or download. Free, no sign-up required, and works directly in your browser.
Built by Florian Galz
Example result
Example: the generated config.cfg
You set the options using a form or AI Easy Mode, and the generator creates the finished config.cfg for The Forest live. Below are the first lines of the default configuration; your file contains your values and all other settings.
Example · Default configuration
Output
// The Forest — generated with the ZAP-Hosting Game Config Generator// zap-hosting.com/tools/the-forest/config-generator // Server identityserverName the_forest_serverserverPlayers 4serverPasswordserverPasswordAdminserverSteamAccount // Save & sessioninitType Continueslot 1difficulty NormalserverAutoSaveInterval 30- +17 rowsYou can copy or download the complete file in the generator; the sample lines here only show the beginning.
Settings
The Forest server settings in config.cfg explained
The server config is divided into four sections. Parentheses show the key used for each value in config.cfg.
Server identity
Server name (serverName, up to 64 characters), maximum player count (serverPlayers, 1–8, default 4), join password (serverPassword; leave blank for a public server), admin password for in-game admin commands (serverPasswordAdmin) and an optional Steam account token (serverSteamAccount; leave blank for anonymous login).
Save & session
New game or continue (initType, default Continue), save Slot (slot, 1–5), difficulty (difficulty: Peaceful, Normal or Hard) and auto-save interval (serverAutoSaveInterval, 15–240 minutes, default 30). Difficulty only takes effect for a new save.
Game rules
Valve Anti-Cheat (enableVAC), Vegan Mode without enemies (veganMode), Vegetarian Mode without enemies during the day (vegetarianMode), tree regrowth that restores 10% of felled trees per sleep (treeRegrowMode), building destruction (allowBuildingDestruction), enemies in Creative Mode (allowEnemiesCreativeMode), debug console (allowCheats), full weapon damage against players (realisticPlayerDamage), and resetting structural damage on load (resetHolesMode).
Performance & logs
Target FPS with no players connected (targetFpsIdle, 1–60, default 5) and with at least one player (targetFpsActive, 1–144, default 60), event logs in the console (showLogs), and an admin contact email (serverContact).
config.cfg is a flat file: each line contains a key and its value, separated by a space rather than an equals sign. Toggles are set to on or off. The generator deliberately doesn't configure the server IP, ports or save path.
Guide
How to configure your The Forest Dedicated Server
From the first setting to a running server: how to add config.cfg to your The Forest server.
- 1
Step 1
Open generator
The generator starts with the default config.cfg for The Forest, shown in the live preview. If you already have a config.cfg, upload it using Import in the toolbar or paste its contents.
- 2
Step 2
Choose Easy Mode or advanced mode
In Easy Mode, describe your server in your own words, such as “a private co-op server with a password and Peaceful mode”. The AI suggests suitable values and explains each change. Only changes you confirm are applied. In advanced mode, you set each option yourself.
- 3
Step 3
Set server identity
Enter the server name, maximum player count between 1 and 8, join password, admin password, and optionally a Steam account token.
- 4
Step 4
Set save and session options
Choose a new game or continue an existing one, a save slot from 1 to 5, the difficulty, and an auto-save interval between 15 and 240 minutes.
- 5
Step 5
Adjust game rules
Toggle VAC, Vegan Mode or Vegetarian Mode, tree regrowth, building destruction, the debug console and realistic player damage, and set the server's target FPS if needed.
- 6
Step 6
Check and save config.cfg
Check config.cfg in the live preview; the generator flags invalid values. Then copy or download the file, or share a link without passwords.
- 7
Step 7
Upload and restart server
Upload config.cfg to your server's TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/forest/config/ folder, for example using the File Manager, and restart the server. The Forest reads the file only at startup.
Setup
File location & usage
Two ways to get the config onto a server: upload it yourself or apply it directly in our panel.
The manual method
Upload yourself
- 1
Download file
Download the generated config.cfg using the button above.
- 2
Upload via file manager or FTP/SFTP
On a self-hosted Windows server, place it in
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\SKS\TheForestDedicatedServer\ds\Server.cfg; at ZAP-Hosting, in./TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/forest/config/config.cfg. - 3
Apply changes
The Forest only reads config.cfg at startup — restart your server for the changes to take effect.
The ZAP-Hosting way
Apply in the panel, no FTP needed
Rent a The Forest server from us: download the file, place it in the file manager, and restart. The server overwrites some values with the startup parameters on every start; you set those directly in the panel.
- File Manager directly in your browser
- No FTP client required
- Online in 60 seconds
More tools
Useful tools for your The Forest server
Sons of the Forest is a separate game: its server uses dedicatedserver.cfg in JSON format instead of config.cfg. There's a separate generator for it.
Sons of the Forest Map
Interactive island map: caves, bunkers, villages, and locations of the Rebreather, Katana, Rope Gun, and more, with coordinates and markers.
Built by Dimitri Heissler
Server Configuration Generator
Describe your dedicatedserver.cfg settings to the ZapX AI Agent in your own words, or set each option manually—with a live preview for your rented Sons of the Forest server.
Built by Florian Galz
The Forest Map
Interactive The Forest island map: cave entrances, cannibal villages, landmarks, and items, with coordinates, terrain elevation, and distance from you.
Built by Dimitri Heissler
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
File location, game modes, difficulty, import and Easy Mode—quick answers.
config.cfg is located in your server's TheForestDedicatedServer_Data/forest/config/ folder. You can view and edit it using the File Manager in the ZapX Customer Panel. The Forest reads the file only at startup: upload the new config.cfg and restart the server to apply your changes.
Vegan Mode (veganMode) removes all enemies from the game. Vegetarian Mode (vegetarianMode) removes enemies only during the day. Both are off by default and can be toggled independently in the generator.
The difficulty setting (difficulty: Peaceful, Normal or Hard) applies only when starting a new save, meaning initType New or an empty save Slot. If the server continues an existing save, it retains the difficulty it was created with. By default, initType is set to Continue.
In the generator, set serverPlayers to between 1 and 8 players; the default is 4. A join password (serverPassword) controls who can play, while the admin password (serverPasswordAdmin) protects in-game admin commands.
Yes. Use Import in the toolbar to paste the contents of your config.cfg or upload the file, up to 2 MB. Recognised settings appear in the form. The generator appends lines it doesn't recognise, such as ports or the server IP, unchanged to the end of the file.
Describe the server you want in your own words, such as “a relaxed server with no enemies during the day and frequent auto-saves”. An AI suggests suitable settings and explains each change individually. You decide which suggestions to apply; nothing changes without your confirmation. Passwords and the Steam account token aren't sent to the AI.
No. The join password, admin password and Steam account token aren't stored in share links and are masked in the form. A share link contains only the non-secret values you've deliberately changed.
The generator is free and requires no sign-up: the form, Easy Mode, import, copy, download and sharing features all work without an account. config.cfg is generated directly in your browser. Only your description and current values, without passwords, are sent to the AI for Easy Mode suggestions.
Any more questions?
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