7 Days to Die V3.0, the Dead Hot Summer update, is live on the experimental branch as of June 15, 2026, with the stable release scheduled for June 29. You can move your server to 3.0 right now from the panel in two steps, with no files to edit and nothing to install by hand. This guide shows the exact steps, what to back up first, and how players join an experimental server.
Quick Answer
- Open your server's Startup tab in the panel and set the Beta Branch field to
latest_experimental. - Go to Settings and click Reinstall.
The reinstall pulls V3.0 from Steam and your server boots on 3.0. Read the rest first. There is one file worth backing up.
Back Up serverconfig.xml First
A reinstall re-runs SteamCMD with a validate step. Your world and saves are safe. They live in a separate save folder that the update does not touch. But validate can reset a hand-edited serverconfig.xml back to its default. Most of the settings you change in the panel (max players, difficulty, server name) are passed as launch arguments and will survive. If you edited serverconfig.xml directly for anything else (loot abundance, land claim size, XP multipliers, and so on), download a copy first:
- Open the Files tab.
- Download
serverconfig.xmlto your computer. - After the reinstall, compare it and paste back any custom values you need.
Step by Step
- Open your server in the panel and click the Startup tab.
- Find the Beta Branch field. Its own hint explains it:
latest_experimentalinstalls the latest experimental release. Typelatest_experimentalinto the field. The panel autosaves and shows a short "Saved" flash. - Open the Settings tab, click Reinstall, and confirm.
- Wait for the reinstall to finish. SteamCMD downloads V3.0 and validates the files. This takes a few minutes.
- Start the server. The game version prints in the console on boot, confirm it shows V3.0.
Players Have to Switch Too
An experimental server only accepts clients on the same version. Until the June 29 stable release, anyone joining has to opt into the experimental build in their Steam client:
- Right click 7 Days to Die in your Steam library and open Properties.
- Go to Betas and select
latest_experimentalfrom the dropdown. - Let Steam update the game, then connect.
Once V3.0 goes stable on June 29 this is no longer needed. Everyone updates automatically on the default branch.
Moving to Stable on June 29
Experimental builds get frequent patches, so for a server you want stable over the long run, the stable release is the better target. When V3.0 stable lands on June 29:
- Open the Startup tab and clear the Beta Branch field (leave it empty).
- Go to Settings and click Reinstall.
That moves your server onto the stable V3.0 branch, and your players no longer need the Betas opt-in.
A Note on Mods
V3.0 is a major version jump and most mods built for V2.x will not work until their authors update them. If you run mods, disable them before switching, then add back only the versions confirmed for V3.0. The same applies to server tools that hook into the game version.
Common Questions
Is the experimental branch stable enough for a server?
It is playable, but experimental gets frequent patches and the occasional rough edge while bugs are ironed out. If you want the smoothest run, wait for the stable release on June 29. If you want to play 3.0 now, the experimental branch is how to do it.
Will I lose my world or character saves?
No. Saves live in a separate folder that the update does not overwrite, so they carry over. Still, back up anything you cannot lose. One caution: once a world has been loaded in V3.0 it may not load again on an older version, so do not plan on rolling back after you have played on 3.0.
Do my players need to do anything?
Yes, until June 29. To join an experimental server, each player opts into latest_experimental in their Steam client (Properties then Betas). After the stable release nobody needs to do this.
How do I confirm my server is on V3.0?
Watch the server console when it boots. The game version prints in the startup log. You can also see the Beta Branch value you set on the Startup tab.
Need Help?
Not running a 7 Days to Die server with us yet? See 7 Days to Die server hosting. For what is actually new in this update, read what is new in 7 Days to Die V3.0 Dead Hot Summer. Already a customer and stuck? Our support team is available 24/7 from your panel.