How to assign work to Pals in Palworld

In Palworld, your hardworking Pals might not always be performing the task you'd like them to. If you'd like to manage your Pals more closely, read on below to learn how to assign work to your Pals in Palworld.

How to assign Pals to workstations in Palworld

Every Palworld creature has at least one task it can complete at your base, referred to in-game as a Pal's work suitability. The Pals in your base will default to Automatic Work Mode; in this state, Pals will complete tasks at random as they become available. Pals must be manually assigned to specific workstations in order to leave Automatic Work Mode.

To assign a Pal to a task, approach it and press the Lift button (F on keyboard or X on controller) to pick the Pal up. Then, approach a compatible workstation and press the Lift button again to throw your Pal at it. Throwing a Pal at a compatible workstation will put it in Fixed Assignment Mode, restricting the Pal to the station's task. For example, I threw my Lamball at a workbench so that it would focus solely on crafting items for me. You can do this with any Pal, no matter its size or work suitability.

Related: How to ride Pals in Palworld

Keep in mind that you do not need to have a task queued up to assign your Pal to a workstation. The assigned Pal will remain idle at the station until a task becomes available. This is especially useful for food production, which requires several types of work suitability. By assigning Pals to Berry Plantations or farms, you can ensure a constant flow of food to your chests. Just be sure to meet your Pal's needs and maintain their SAN to keep them productive.

If you'd like to set your Pal back to Automatic Work Mode, the process is exactly the same. Simply pick up your Pal again and throw it away from the workstation. This is best done in an open space, preventing your Pal from assigning itself to a different task.

Related: How to repair items in Palworld

How to fix "No work available in immediate vicinity" bug in Palworld

Sometimes, a Pal won't enter Fixed Assignment Mode, even when you've thrown it at a compatible workstation. When this occurs, a message will appear on the screen informing you that your pet has switched to Automatic Work Mode. I've encountered this error while trying to set my Pal's work multiple times; here are the methods I've used to fix it.

Throw your Pal at the front of the workstation

The most common reason this bug occurs is that the Pal gets thrown at the side or back of a station. When this happens, the Pal may fail to register the workstation and return to Automatic Work Mode, even if it's touching or on top of the station. This happens most often with crafting stations like the workbench or Repair Bench. Luckily, it's an easy fix; just pick up your Pal again, make sure you're facing the front of the workstation, and throw the Pal forward.

Related: How to get Paldium Fragments in Palworld

Make sure the workstation is completely inside your base

Palworld allows you to build structures anywhere, even outside of your base. This means you can accidentally build workstations that are partially or completely outside your base's border, which may prevent a Pal from using them. If you're getting an error message while attempting to assign your Pal, enter Disassembly Mode in the build menu, destroy the workstation, and rebuild it inside your base. The station should accept any Pals you assign to it.

Restart Palworld

Restarting your game is a tried-and-true strategy for fixing bugs. On one occasion when I encountered this bug, I restarted Palworld only to find my Lamball crafting arrows like it was supposed to. If the above methods fail, be sure to exit the game completely rather than simply returning to the title screen.

For more survival game guides, check out How to Incubate Pal Eggs in Palword and How to get Ancient Technology Points in Palworld here at Pro Game Guides!