How do I update or change the version on my Vintage Story server?

Players must use a matching Vintage Story client version to connect. Before changing versions, create a backup so you can roll back if mods or worlds are incompatible.

Update to the latest stable version

1. Open the Blacksmith’s Portal and select your Vintage Story server
2. Stop the server
3. Create a backup from the Backups tab
4. Go to Startup
5. Set Release branch to stable
6. Set Release version to latest
7. Confirm the Docker image matches the game version family:
   • Dotnet 7 — Vintage Story about 1.18.8 through 1.20.x
   • Dotnet 8 — Vintage Story 1.21.x
   • Dotnet 10 — Vintage Story 1.22.x and newer
8. Go to Settings and click Reinstall Server
9. Wait for the reinstall to finish, then start the server

AleForge uses a soft reinstall: game binaries are refreshed while your world saves, mods, and Startup-driven config are kept.

Change to a specific version

1. Stop the server and create a backup
2. Go to Startup
3. Set Release branch to stable, unstable, or pre
4. Set Release version to the exact build (for example 1.20.12)
   • For pre, you must enter a specific version — latest is not allowed on the pre branch
5. Select the matching Dotnet Docker image for that version family
6. Go to Settings → Reinstall Server
7. Start the server

After changing versions

• Ask all players to install the same Vintage Story client build
• Re-check mods for version compatibility
• If the server fails to start, restore your backup and confirm Release branch, Release version, and the Dotnet image are valid together

Official release notes and downloads are listed on the Vintage Story website.