📖 Plugged Sinkholes? Dig Into DST Caves on Any Platform

Crack Open the Sinkholes: How to Enable Caves in DST on Every Platform

Get ready to delve underground with this comprehensive guide to enabling caves in Don't Starve Together

Updated 2025-06-13 All Platforms Complete Guide

Quick Navigation

Quick-Start Guide Why Caves Matter Client Hosting Dedicated Server Setup Tips & Multi-level Troubleshooting Resources

Quick-Start: Enabling Caves in Under 5 Minutes

Get your caves enabled quickly based on your play style:

1 Solo "Host Game" (Client Hosting)

From the DST main menu, choose Host Game. On the World Settings screen, look for the "Caves" option or checkbox that says Add Caves.

In the latest version, you'll see a prompt asking "Caves or No Caves?" – select Caves. This will automatically create a linked cave world. Start the game, and sinkholes will generate in your world.

Mine a sinkhole and voila – you and your friends can descend into caves instantly.

No manual file editing needed!

2 LAN Server (Offline)

If you want to play with friends on a local network without internet, run a dedicated server in LAN mode:

Generate a server as in step 1 (or see dedicated setup below)
In your cluster.ini set offline_cluster = true
No cluster token required for LAN/offline
Launch both the Master and Caves shards

Players can use c_connect("YourIP", 10999) in console or find the server under LAN games.

3 Dedicated Server (Online or Persistent)

This is the advanced route for a 24/7 server with caves:

Install DST Dedicated Server via Steam (Tools) or SteamCMD
Configure the cluster (details in Dedicated Server section)
Create a Master shard and a Caves shard with matching settings
Generate a Cluster Token on Klei's site (skip for LAN)
Run the two server instances

This method lets your server run 24/7, even when you're offline

4 Console (PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch)

On console, when creating a world, look for the Add Caves option:

Console editions usually have a checkbox (e.g. "Generate Caves") on world gen settings
Only the host console runs the cave server; friends can join

Console editions may have loading issues with caves, especially on older hardware. If players get stuck loading, have the host enter the cave first, then others follow.

Pro Tip:

For many players, using the in-game Host Game -> Add Caves is the quickest solution. If that's all you needed – go enjoy the caves! For more detailed setup or troubleshooting, read on.

Why Caves Matter: A Quick Overview for the Uninitiated

Caves are a Separate World

In DST, caves aren't just an underground area loaded on the fly – they are effectively a second map running on a separate server thread (or process).

When you enable caves, DST actually runs two servers that talk to each other – one for the surface ("Forest") and one for the caves. That's why enabling them can be tricky; it's literally doubling the server load and complexity.

Content & Gameplay

Caves (including the Ruins within) hold unique resources (Light Bulbs, Ferns, Mushrooms), cave-specific creatures, and bosses (Ancient Fuelweaver, Toadstool, etc.).

Recent updates like Depths of Duplicity added even more reasons to explore: the Greater Depths Worm boss, the Rabbit King event, and more!

Sinkholes

These are the entry points. On a surface world with caves enabled, you'll find plugged sinkholes (cracked rocky circles on the ground).

If caves aren't enabled, those sinkholes remain permanently plugged. When caves are enabled and you mine a sinkhole, it opens and becomes an entrance with a rope going down visually.

By default there are 10 sinkholes generated – so 10 entrances/exits linking the two worlds.

Performance Impact

Running caves means your machine (or server) runs two worlds. This can tax CPUs and memory.

Single-player on a decent PC usually handles it fine, but if you're on an older console or hosting on a low-end PC with friends connected, you might notice lag or slowdowns in late-game.

Enabling Caves for a Solo or Hosted World (Client Hosting)

If you're just playing by yourself or with a couple of friends and one of you is the host (using the "Host Game" button in DST), enabling caves has become pretty straightforward in current versions.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1
Update Your Game
First, ensure DST is updated to the latest version. The caves toggle feature was added in early 2024, so if you somehow have an older version, your interface will look different.
2
Host Game -> New World
From the main menu, select Play -> Host Game. Choose to Generate a New World (or you can edit an existing world if it was created without caves; more on that later).
3
"Caves or No Caves" Prompt
After selecting your base world settings (like survival vs endless, password, etc.), the game will prompt you with a question: "Do you want to add a Caves world to your server?"

This is the new UI flow Klei introduced. Choose Add Caves (or "Yes, enable caves").
4
Customize Caves (Optional)
If you click World Settings for the cave level (there will be a new tab or section for "Caves"), you can customize cave world gen options just like surface.

By default, caves use the "DST_CAVE" preset which is a normal caves layout. If you're new, stick with default caves for now.
5
Generate World & Test
Start the server generation. DST will now spend a bit of extra time because it's generating two maps (Forest and Caves). Once done, the game launches your world.

Find a sinkhole in the world (marked on map as a cracked rock icon), mine it, and it should start a cave server loading screen and then put your character underground.

Common Questions - Client Hosting Caves

Can I add caves to an existing world I started without caves?

Yes, but not directly through the UI. The simplest method: From the main menu, go to Host Game, select your existing world, and look for an Add Caves option there.

If it's not present, you'll need to use a manual method – create a new cluster folder with your existing world as Master and generate a caves shard for it. Check the Troubleshooting section for more details.

My friend and I play on PS4. When he tries to go into the cave, he gets stuck loading. Why?

Console cave hosting can be finicky. The workaround is usually to have the host player enter the cave first, then others follow. This ensures the cave shard is fully up.

If a guest still can't join the cave, it might be the console running out of memory or simply a bug. Ensure both host and guest are on updated versions.

Dedicated Server Setup: Enabling Caves on Windows, Linux, Mac Servers

OS Save/Config Locations

OS	Config Path	Notes
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Klei\DoNotStarveTogether\	Your user Documents folder
Linux	~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/	Hidden folder in home directory
Mac	~/Documents/Klei/DoNotStarveTogether/	Similar to Windows path structure

Host vs Dedicated vs LAN Comparison

Method	Manual Config Needed?	Pros	Cons
Client Host	No (UI toggle)	Simple, quick setup	Server stops when host quits
Dedicated Server	Yes (cluster files)	24/7 uptime, better performance	Complex setup, requires separate machine
LAN/Offline	Partial	No internet required	Limited to local network

Step A: Install the Dedicated Server Software

Windows (Steam GUI method)

If you own DST on Steam, you have access to the Don't Starve Together Dedicated Server tool:

In your Steam library, switch the filter to "Tools"
Find "Don't Starve Together Dedicated Server"
Install it like a game

This gives you the server binaries and default files.

Linux (SteamCMD)

Install SteamCMD (Valve's command-line downloader). Run:

                    steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir ~/dst_server +app_update 343050 validate +quit
                

This installs the DST server to ~/dst_server. No Steam account needed (DST server is free to download).

Mac

Klei doesn't provide a native dedicated server binary for Mac. Mac users have a couple options:

Run the Windows dedicated server via Wine/CrossOver (not beginner-friendly)
Use the in-game hosting (the easier route)
Run a Linux VM/docker on the Mac to host (advanced)

Step B: Configure the Cluster and Shards

1. Find the Config Directory

When you first run the dedicated server (or if you ran DST client at least once), it creates a DoNotStarveTogether folder in your Documents (Windows) or home folder (Linux/Mac).

Inside, create a folder for your cluster, e.g. MyCaveServerCluster. That's your cluster directory.

2. Cluster.ini – Enable Sharding

In your cluster folder, create a file cluster.ini. This file has settings for the whole cluster:

[GAMEPLAY]
game_mode = survival         # or endless, etc.
max_players = 6              # adjust as needed
pvp = false
pause_when_empty = true      # nice for survival

[NETWORK]
cluster_name = My Cave Server    # Shown in server list
cluster_description = Two-level world with caves
cluster_intention = cooperative  # or social, etc.
cluster_password =               # set a password if you want

[SHARD]
shard_enabled = true             # ***Enable multi-shard (needed for caves)***
cluster_key = supersecretkey     # a secret key that links shards
master_ip = 127.0.0.1            # loopback since shards on same machine
master_port = 10889              # default master port
shard_count = 2                  # total shards in cluster (2 = Forest + Caves)
                

Note: shard_enabled = true is critical – it tells the game this cluster will have multiple shards.

3. Create Shard Folders

Inside your cluster folder, create two subfolders, one for each shard. Name them Master and Caves.

DoNotStarveTogether/
└── MyCaveServerCluster/
    ├── cluster.ini
    ├── cluster_token.txt       (if online)
    ├── Master/                 (surface world files)
    └── Caves/                  (caves world files)
                

4. server.ini for each shard

Now in each shard folder, create a server.ini file.

For Master/server.ini:

[SHARD]
is_master = true           # This is the primary shard
name = Master              # (name can be anything, mostly for identification)
id = 1                     # shard ID, master is typically 1

[NETWORK]
server_port = 10999        # Port for Master server (unique)
                        

For Caves/server.ini:

[SHARD]
is_master = false          # This is a secondary shard (slave shard)
name = Caves
id = 2                     # shard ID, must be different (e.g., 2)

[NETWORK]
server_port = 11000        # Port for Caves server (different from Master)
                        

Note: is_master = true on one shard marks it as the primary server that clients actually connect to.

5. World Generation Settings

We need to make sure the Master generates a forest and the Caves generates a cave. Create worldgenoverride.lua files in each shard folder:

In Master/worldgenoverride.lua:

return {
    override_enabled = true,
    preset = "SURVIVAL_TOGETHER"
}
                        

In Caves/worldgenoverride.lua:

return {
    override_enabled = true,
    preset = "DST_CAVE"
}
                        

6. Cluster Token (if online)

If you want this server to show up on the Online server list, you need a cluster_token.txt in the cluster folder:

Log in to the Klei Accounts page
Generate a server token (it's a long alphanumeric string)
Put that string in cluster_token.txt

If you're running LAN/offline: you can skip this token and set offline_cluster = true in cluster.ini.

Step C: Launching the Servers (Master & Caves)

Windows Launch Script

Create a batch file (start_caves.bat) with the following content:

@echo off
cd /D "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Don't Starve Together Dedicated Server\bin\"
start dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer.exe -cluster MyCaveServerCluster -shard Master
timeout /t 2
start dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer.exe -cluster MyCaveServerCluster -shard Caves
                

This will open two console windows: one for Master, one for Caves. On first run, the server will generate the worlds which can take a minute or two.

Linux Launch Script

On Linux, it's similar but you might use screen or tmux sessions to keep them running in background:

cd ~/dst_server/bin
./dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer_x64 -cluster MyCaveServerCluster -shard Master &
sleep 2
./dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer_x64 -cluster MyCaveServerCluster -shard Caves &
                

Firewall/Ports

Ensure your OS firewall or hosting provider isn't blocking the ports (10999, 11000 in our config).

On Windows, you might get a popup the first time – allow both exe instances on private/public networks as needed.

If players can't see or join your server online, you may need to port-forward those ports on your router to your host machine.

Verification

The Master server console window shows "Registering master server in the lobby" or "Cluster Ready".
You can launch DST client and find your server in the browser (or connect directly via console command).
Join the server, find a sinkhole, mine it, and test entering the caves.

Step D: Mac and Other OS-specific Notes

Mac Hosting via Client

Since running a dedicated server on Mac is tricky, most Mac users simply use the client host method described earlier. That works fine – you just can't host a headless persistent server easily.

If you must, consider running a Linux VM or using bootcamp (if on older Intel Mac) to run a Windows/Linux server.

Linux Tips

The Linux dedicated server is 64-bit; ensure you run the dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer_x64 for better performance.

Also, case sensitivity: on Linux, your cluster folder name must match exactly the -cluster argument (case-sensitive).

Windows Tips

If you installed via Steam GUI, you can actually launch the servers from Steam by clicking "Play" on DST Dedicated Server – but it only launches one shard. That's not super useful alone.

You can also find community-made DST Server Managers (with GUI) that let you configure and start servers without dealing with batch files.

Cave-Specific Tips and Multilevel Worlds

Rollbacks & Saves

DST clusters save shards independently but in sync. If you rollback the server, both surface and cave rollback to the chosen day.

The game handles this, just use rollback command on Master or via admin commands normally.

It's not recommended to rollback one shard and not the other – it can corrupt the linkage.

Sinkhole Relinking

By default, sinkhole entrances pair with cave exits in some random order.

If you ever want to "shuffle" which surface sinkhole connects to which cave exit, you can do so by editing the LevelData file or using a mod like "Relink Sinkholes".

This is very advanced and mostly cosmetic unless you want a specific layout.

Multiple Caves Shards

DST does support more than two shards. You can create another shard folder (e.g. "Caves2") with its own server.ini (id 3, is_master=false) and worldgen preset.

You'd need the Shard Configuration Mod to help the game use additional sinkholes for that second cave.

This is definitely beyond standard gameplay; mostly server modders do it. The Multi-World mod uses exactly this technique to add worlds.

Resource Distribution

When you have caves on, some resources get distributed between worlds. For example, Birchnut trees only appear on surface, Light Flowers only in caves, etc.

So be mindful when customizing world settings – if you turn off a resource on surface thinking "caves will have it", double-check that it actually exists in caves.

The Don't Starve wiki has entries for each resource noting if it's cave-only or surface-only.

Mods Compatibility

If using mods on a dedicated server with caves, remember to enable them for both shards. This usually means you need the same modoverrides.lua in both Master and Caves folders.

Some mods (like HUD/UI mods) you only enable on Master since clients only connect there. But generally, any mod that affects world gen or creatures should be on both.

If you forget, you might see weird behaviors or crashes.

Performance Tweaks

Caves can double the CPU usage of your server. Here are some tips to improve performance:

Limit the number of players. With caves, consider lowering max_players.
Keep pause_when_empty = true (default in survival). This means if all players leave a shard, that shard will freeze time.
Consider generating a smaller world if running on a low-end machine.

Pro Tip: Backup Your Cluster

A cluster with caves has more moving parts; a crash or corruption is rare but can happen. It's wise to backup the entire cluster folder periodically. That includes both shard subfolders and the cluster files. If anything ever goes wrong, you can restore from backup.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Q1: "Dedicated server failed to start" error (or caves not generating)

Symptom: You start a world with caves and get an error popup: "Dedicated Server Failed To Start – There was trouble starting the server." The caves don't work.

Causes & Fixes:

Firewall/Antivirus Blocking

This is the #1 cause on Windows. DST uses separate .exe processes for server shards. The cave shard might be getting blocked.

Fix: Allow the DST executables through your firewall. Specifically, whitelist: dontstarve_steam.exe and dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer.exe.

Missing Cluster Token (online server)

If you're running a dedicated server online and forgot the cluster_token.txt or it's invalid, the Master might start and caves might not.

Fix: Obtain a fresh cluster token and place it correctly, or set the server to offline/LAN mode.

Mod Crash

Some mods can crash during world gen, especially on caves if they weren't designed for it.

Fix: Disable all mods and try again. Add them back one by one. Ensure any server mods are enabled on both shards.

Wrong Config (Shards not connecting)

If you DIYed the config and mis-set something (like both shards marked is_master = true), the shards won't form a cluster.

Fix: Use the config examples above. The Master console should say "Shard [1] (Master) ready" and Caves console should say "Connected to Master".

Q2: Console player issues – infinite loading or disconnect in caves

Symptom: On console (PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch), when a player tries to enter caves, they get stuck on loading screen indefinitely, or they get disconnected.

Things to try:

Host Goes First

Have the host player enter the cave first, wait until they're fully inside (and caves generated), then others attempt to join.

Keep Player Counts Low

The more players, the more strain. On console, playing just 2 players is far smoother than 6 when caves are involved.

Restart and Re-enter

If someone gets stuck loading, the host can roll back one day or just quit to main menu and restart the server.

Last Resort – Tethering

Have everyone stay on the surface while one person goes into caves, does what they need, then comes back.

Q3: How do I add caves to an existing world I already started?

Scenario: You and your friends played 100 days on a surface-only world. Now you regret not having caves. Can you enable caves without starting over?

Methods:

Method 1: Use the "Add Caves" feature via Host Screen

Check Host Game -> Select World -> Edit World. Some players have reported an "Add Caves" button appears for worlds that don't have caves.

Method 2: Manual Cluster Merge

Follow the Dedicated Server Setup steps to create a new cluster with caves enabled. Instead of generating a new Master world, copy your existing world files into the Master shard folder of the new cluster.

Method 3: Use a mod

Some mods allow world hopping. There's a Teleportato mod that lets you carry over progress to a new world. While not exactly adding caves to same world, you could generate a new world with caves and hop to it preserving characters.

Q4: I set up a dedicated server, but caves aren't showing up in-game (sinkholes are plugged or missing)

If the dedicated server is running and you can join, but sinkholes are still plugged, something's off with shard linkage.

Check server logs: In the Master shard log, search for "Sim unpaused" or "Shard". If it says "Shard 2 disconnected" or nothing about caves, then the caves shard likely never joined.
Ensure both shards running: Did you definitely launch both? It's easy to accidentally only start Master.
Cluster Key and Shard IDs: A mismatched cluster_key will make the cave server start, but not integrate.

Q5: My server runs fine, but there's lag/stutters, especially when someone goes in/out of caves

Some lag is normal when players transfer shards – the server has to save their state and load them on the other shard. However, consistent lag could be due to resource usage.

Hardware check: CPU is usually the bottleneck. If you're running on an older PC or a budget cloud server, DST's single-core performance might struggle.
Tune settings: Consider reducing number of mobs. For example, caves have Batilisks that spawn every dusk from every open sinkhole.
Mod profiling: If using mods, one of them might be causing server strain. Use console command #profile to see what's using CPU.

Q6: Are there any tools to manage my server easier, especially with caves?

Yes! If you find editing text files and launching batch files tedious, community and third-party tools exist:

Klei's Online Server Manager: If you use the cluster_token and register the server, you can manage some aspects from Klei's online interface.
AMP (Application Management Panel): A web-based game server panel that supports DST. It provides a web UI to start/stop shards, edit settings, and view console output.
LinuxGSM: If you host on Linux, LinuxGSM is a script that simplifies installation and updates.
DST Dedicated Server GUI: There was a project that gave a simple GUI window where you could tick "cave" and press Start.

Q7: Do caves ever reset or regenerate? How to handle Ruins resetting?

DST doesn't automatically reset caves. The content like Ruins (Ancient Guardian, etc.) can be regenerated in-game by using the Ancient Fuelweaver boss fight mechanics (that's a gameplay element – sealing and re-unsealing ruins).

As a server admin, if you wanted to fully reset caves, you'd have to delete the caves shard save files (while server off) and start it up, effectively generating a new caves world. Players would lose anything built/stored in caves though.

Many servers do periodic cave resets to allow rerunning ruins for late-game resources. It's usually coordinated by admins.

Further Resources & Wrap-Up

Enabling caves in Don't Starve Together might seem like a chore, but with this guide, you've hopefully found it as straightforward as following a trail of carrots. DST's caves add tremendous depth (literally!) to the game – now you can fully enjoy that content no matter your setup.

Quick Recap

Check a box to enable caves when hosting a world (or use the new Caves toggle in the world creation flow).
For dedicated servers, make a cluster with multi-shard enabled; configure Master and Caves settings carefully.
Always troubleshoot with firewall and mod checks if things go awry with caves.
Know your platform's limits: Console players, manage expectations and use workarounds for cave bugs; PC hosts, use server tools if needed for convenience.
Keep learning: The DST community is creative – new mods and tools (and sometimes new Klei updates) keep improving the process.

Further Resources

Official Klei Guide – Klei's knowledge base on dedicated servers covers shards and cave setup.
Community Guides – The Steam Guide "[Complete Guide to DST Dedicated Server]" is frequently updated and offers another perspective.
Klei Forums – There's a wealth of Q&A on the Klei forums. If you encounter a weird error, search there or post.
Discord Communities – Some DST communities have dedicated server help channels where you can get live advice.

Major Update History

July 2016 – Caves for All

Game Update 165304 enabled caves on non-dedicated servers. Prior to this, only dedicated servers could have caves.

October 2019 – Console Cave Co-Op Fixed

A patch on PS4 v1.58 addressed the bug where only hosts could enter caves. Guests were no longer disconnected upon cave entry.

March 27, 2024 – "From Beyond: Scrappy Scavengers" Update

Introduced the "Caves or No Caves" world creation option and various worldgen QoL improvements.

September 12, 2024 – "Depths of Duplicity" Update

Major content update focused on caves with new cave mobs, a cave boss (Greater Depths Worm), Rabbit King event, and cave-specific tools.

January 2025 – Hotfixes for Cave Crashes

A series of hotfixes addressed rare save corruption and crashes when caves had been unopened for a long time.

Setting up caves is kind of like setting up a LAN party in an underground cave – at first it's dark and confusing, but once you string the lanterns (configs) in the right places, it lights up and becomes an amazing adventure for everyone involved. So don't be afraid to flip that switch and descend into the fun!

Happy spelunking, and may your boulders be gold-veined and your light bulbs always bright!

— Guide last updated: 2025-06-13

DST Server Configuration Generator

Our interactive config generator tool is currently under development! Soon you'll be able to generate all necessary configuration files for your cave setup automatically.

Watch this space for updates - coming in July 2025!

⬅️ Back to Guides