Press F1 to open the console in a normal game on most keyboard layouts. On a headless dedicated server, use the server terminal, Telnet, or the web control panel instead. To run privileged commands, your player must be listed in serveradmin.xml; permission level 0 is the most powerful level, while higher numbers are more restricted.
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Use console commands for immediate actions such as moderation, buffs, land-claim administration, and shutdowns. Put anything that must survive a restart in serverconfig.xml. The sections below show how to access each interface, grant admin rights, configure remote access, choose the right command family, and avoid the common failure modes.
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Choose the right administration interface
The best interface depends on whether a player client is available and whether the server has a graphical session.
| Interface | How you open it | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-game console | Press F1; on some layouts use the key above Tab, such as tilde or backtick. |
Commands while you are connected as a player. | Requires a client session and sufficient permissions. |
| Dedicated-server terminal | Type into the process terminal on the machine running the server. | Headless administration, startup diagnostics, and local recovery. | You must have operating-system access to that machine. |
| Telnet | Connect to the Telnet port configured in serverconfig.xml; the example configuration uses port 8081. |
Remote commands when no game client is available. | The port, password behavior, and command support can vary by build. |
| Web control panel | Open the configured control-panel address; the example configuration uses port 8080. |
Remote administration through a browser and host dashboard. | It must be enabled and reachable, and its interface differs between server builds and hosts. |
These interfaces do not all expose identical capabilities. A command that needs a local player, camera, or client UI state may work only in-game. Server-management commands such as moderation and shutdown are the natural choices for the terminal, Telnet, or a web console.
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Open the console in-game
Use F1 first
- Join the server with the player account that should run the command.
- Press
F1. On most keyboard layouts this opens the console overlay. - If nothing appears, press the key immediately above Tab. Depending on the layout, this is commonly the tilde (
~) or backtick (`) key. - Type a command and press Enter. Use the console’s help output to check the exact spelling, aliases, and argument order for the installed build.
Keyboard bindings can differ by layout, so a working game client does not prove that F1 is the only valid key. If the console still does not open, check whether another application or custom key binding is intercepting the key, then try the key above Tab.
When a command is rejected
A visible console does not automatically grant administrative rights. On a dedicated server, only players listed in serveradmin.xml can execute privileged commands. A command can therefore be correctly typed yet return a permission error. Fix the account’s entry and permission level on the server, then reconnect before testing again.
Make yourself an administrator on a dedicated server
serveradmin.xml stores the server’s administrative identities and command permissions. The same file also holds banned users and whitelist entries, so edit it carefully and preserve sections unrelated to the change.
Safe procedure
- Stop or quiesce the server. Do not edit a live file while the process may rewrite it. Use the host’s graceful-stop function or the server terminal, and wait until the process has exited.
- Back up the file. Copy
serveradmin.xmlto a dated backup outside the active configuration directory. Keep a second copy of the previous working version so a malformed edit can be reversed quickly. - Open the file with a plain-text editor. Keep the existing XML structure, capitalization, and enclosing elements. Do not paste a snippet from a different game version without comparing its structure with the file generated by your server.
- Add the player to the administrator section. Follow the identifier format and element names already present in your file. The syntax is build-sensitive; the server version’s own example or version-matched reference is safer than a generic template.
- Set the permission value. Level
0is full access in the admin guide. Higher numbers are more restricted, so use the least powerful level that still allows the job you need. - Save, validate, and restart. Check that the file remains well-formed XML, then start the server and watch the startup log for configuration errors.
- Reconnect and test a harmless command. Open the console and run a read-only or low-impact operation first. If it is denied, stop and inspect the identifier and permission value rather than repeatedly changing a live server.
Permission levels are not universal across builds
The direction of the scale is established for the admin guide—0 is most powerful and larger numbers are more restricted—but the exact available values and command restrictions can change. Treat the numeric mapping as build-sensitive. Confirm the syntax and supported levels against the files and documentation shipped for your release before changing a production server.
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Enable Telnet and the web control panel
Remote administration is configured in serverconfig.xml, not by an individual runtime command. The reference configuration includes properties for the web control panel, Telnet, their ports, and a Telnet password.
| Property | Purpose | Value shown in the example configuration |
|---|---|---|
ControlPanelEnabled |
Turns the browser-based control panel on or off. | Not stated; choose the value supported by your build. |
ControlPanelPort |
TCP port used by the control panel. | 8080 in the example configuration; not a universal requirement. |
TelnetEnabled |
Turns the Telnet interface on or off. | Not stated; verify the release’s configuration file. |
TelnetPort |
TCP port used for Telnet administration. | 8081 in the example configuration and admin guide. |
TelnetPassword |
Password used by the Telnet interface when supported by the build. | Set a strong, unique value; no universal default is established for this setting. |
Configure a remote interface
- Stop the server gracefully and make a backup of
serverconfig.xml. - Open the file and locate the control-panel and Telnet properties. If a property is missing, copy the spelling and structure from the configuration file generated by the same server build rather than inventing a new element.
- Enable only the interface you actually need. Set the port to an unused TCP port;
8080and8081are examples from the reference configuration, not promises that every host uses them. - Set
TelnetPasswordif your release supports password authentication. Do not reuse a game, operating-system, or email password. - Start the server and confirm in its log that the interface bound successfully.
- From a trusted administration machine, connect to the configured address and port. If the connection fails, test local access first, then inspect the host firewall, router forwarding, and any provider-level network filter.
Expose remote administration only to networks you trust where possible. Restrict inbound access with a firewall or private network, avoid opening the interfaces to the public internet without a specific security plan, and verify the current release’s authentication behavior before forwarding a port. The example ports identify configuration fields; they are not a universal security policy.
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The following commands are the dedicated-server examples identified by the command reference. Exact arguments, aliases, required permission levels, and interface support can change between builds. Enter the command name in the console’s help system before using it on a live world.
| Task | Command | Typical interface | What it changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove a player immediately | kick |
In-game, terminal, Telnet, or web console where supported | Ends that player’s current session; it does not necessarily create a ban. |
| Block a player | ban |
Administrative interfaces | Applies a ban according to the build’s identity and duration syntax. |
| Inspect connected players | Player-list command shown by the console help | All server administration interfaces that expose status | Returns the identifiers or names needed for moderation; exact command spelling can vary. |
| Change permissions | Permission-administration commands plus serveradmin.xml |
Usually terminal, Telnet, web console, or a privileged in-game console | Changes runtime or stored administrative access, depending on the command and build. |
| Send a server message | Broadcast or server-message command shown by help | In-game and remote consoles where supported | Displays a message to connected players; command name and argument rules are build-dependent. |
| Apply a status effect | buff |
In-game or server administration interface where supported | Applies a named effect to a player or target using build-specific arguments. |
| Remove a status effect | debuff |
In-game or server administration interface where supported | Removes a named effect according to the installed build’s syntax. |
| Set land-claim size | setlandclaimsize |
Privileged console | Changes the land-claim size setting or target value supported by the build. |
| Remove a land claim | removelandclaim |
Privileged console | Removes a claim when the command and target-selection rules are supported. |
| Stop the server | shutdown |
Terminal, Telnet, web console, or privileged in-game console where supported | Requests a server stop; use the host’s graceful-stop behavior to protect saves. |
Moderate players without damaging the world
Kick versus ban
Use kick when you need to end a session immediately but may allow the player to return. Use ban when the account should be prevented from reconnecting under the build’s ban rules. Before either command, obtain the exact player identifier from the server’s player-list output; names can be ambiguous, change, or contain characters that the command parser treats specially.
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A kick is a runtime action. A ban is represented in the server’s administrative data, but the exact persistence and duration syntax depend on the release. Verify the result after reconnecting and keep a written record of who was moderated and why.
Permission administration
Use serveradmin.xml as the source of truth for long-term administrator access. Runtime permission commands may alter the current process, but they should not be assumed to replace the XML file. After a restart, confirm that the intended administrators still appear with the intended levels.
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Apply buffs, debuffs, and land-claim changes
Buffs and debuffs
buff and debuff alter runtime player state. Because effect names and argument order are not guaranteed across builds, first run the command’s help entry, then test on a consenting test character. Record the effect name and duration you used so another administrator can reproduce or reverse the change.
These commands are not a substitute for a persistent server setting. A temporary effect normally belongs to the running session; a rule that should apply after every restart belongs in the appropriate serverconfig.xml setting if the build exposes one.
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Land-claim administration
setlandclaimsize and removelandclaim are powerful because they affect protected building areas. Confirm the target player, claim location, and current world state before executing either command. Take a backup or save snapshot where your host supports one, announce disruptive maintenance to players, and check the command’s help output for whether it operates on the administrator’s current position, a named player, or another target selector.
Stop and restart safely
shutdown is a lifecycle command, not a replacement for a backup routine. Warn connected players, allow them to leave dangerous areas, and use the host’s graceful-stop mechanism whenever one is available. A forced process termination can leave recent world changes unsaved or require recovery on the next launch.
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- Broadcast a maintenance warning with the expected stop time.
- Wait for players to log out and finish any active world operation.
- Run
shutdownthrough a trusted administration interface, or use the host’s graceful-stop control. - Wait until the process exits and the save files stop changing.
- Copy the world and configuration backups before applying updates or editing XML.
- Start the server and inspect the log for save loading, port binding, and configuration errors.
- Reconnect with an administrator account and verify player permissions and remote interfaces.
Persistent configuration belongs in serverconfig.xml
Console commands act on the running process. They do not replace startup configuration. If a value must survive a restart, place it in serverconfig.xml using the property supported by your server version. This distinction prevents a common failure: an administrator changes a setting in a console, restarts for an update, and discovers that the old value has returned because the startup file was never changed.
Use a controlled configuration workflow
- Stop the process before editing.
- Back up the current XML and the world save.
- Change one related group of settings at a time.
- Preserve the file’s existing XML structure and value types.
- Start the server and read the complete startup log.
- Verify the setting in-game or through the administrative interface after connecting.
- Keep a change log with the date, old value, new value, and administrator responsible.
Settings, property names, and defaults can change between builds. If the server ignores a value, check spelling and capitalization against the configuration file generated by that release before assuming the setting is unsupported.
Launch a headless dedicated server
A headless process can keep the world available without a host player remaining online. The official server reference gives this Windows-style pattern:
start 7daystodie -quit -batchmode -nographics -configfile=serverconfig.xml -dedicatedAdapt the executable name and path to the installation on your operating system. On systems where the executable is invoked directly rather than through the Windows start command, retain the flags and call the executable using that platform’s normal process launcher.
| Flag | Purpose |
|---|---|
-quit |
Supplies the headless startup behavior expected by the dedicated-server launch pattern. |
-batchmode |
Runs without the normal interactive game window. |
-nographics |
Disables graphics for a server that has no display session. |
-configfile=serverconfig.xml |
Loads the persistent settings from the named configuration file. |
-dedicated |
Starts the dedicated-server mode rather than a normal client session. |
SteamCMD installation, network ports, the configuration file, and administrative tools are part of a typical standalone setup. Keep the process under a service manager or scheduled task if you need automatic recovery, but confirm that the manager stops the game gracefully and does not start a second instance against the same save.
Self-hosting or managed hosting?
Both approaches can provide a persistent world. The practical difference is who owns the machine, network, updates, and recovery work.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted dedicated server | Managed server hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Persistence | Persistent while your hardware, operating system, and process remain available. | Provider-operated machine is designed to stay online without your personal computer running. |
| Control | Direct access to files, launch flags, mods, logs, firewall, and operating-system tools. | Control depends on the provider’s panel, file access, supported mods, and plan limits. |
| Administration | You configure Telnet, the web panel, permissions, scheduled tasks, and backups. | Often includes a web dashboard and may offer scheduled restarts or managed tools; verify each feature before subscribing. |
| Maintenance burden | You handle updates, port forwarding, firewall rules, backups, crashes, and hardware failures. | The provider handles infrastructure, while you still remain responsible for game configuration, permissions, and checking backups. |
| Cost and portability | Uses hardware and bandwidth you already own; save files are directly portable. | Requires recurring hosting charges, but migration depends on the provider’s export and file-access policy. |
Choose self-hosting when you need operating-system access, custom launch flags, or complete file control and are prepared to maintain networking and recovery. Choose managed hosting when keeping a machine online, forwarding ports, and repairing crashes is more work than your group wants to own. In either case, confirm that you can download the world save and configuration before making the server your group’s long-term home.
Troubleshoot the most common failures
F1 does nothing
- Try the key above Tab, usually tilde or backtick on layouts where F1 is not bound to the console.
- Check the keyboard layout selected by the operating system and the game.
- Test in a normal gameplay session rather than a menu or overlay that captures function keys.
- If you are administering a headless server, use the terminal, Telnet, or web panel instead of the client console.
The console opens but says you are not allowed
- Confirm that the player identity is present in
serveradmin.xml. - Check the permission value; level
0is the full-access level described by the admin guide, while higher values are more restricted. - Make sure the server was fully restarted after the XML change and that you reconnected afterward.
- Inspect the startup log for malformed XML or an entry that was ignored.
Telnet or the web panel times out
- Verify that
TelnetEnabledorControlPanelEnabledis enabled in the activeserverconfig.xml. - Confirm the configured port. The example configuration uses
8081for Telnet and8080for the control panel, but your build or host may use different values. - Test from the server machine first. A local failure points to configuration or process startup; a remote-only failure usually points to a firewall, router, or provider filter.
- Check the password and authentication behavior supported by your release.
- Do not expose the interface broadly while troubleshooting; restrict the source network until access works securely.
A change disappears after restart
The setting was probably changed at runtime rather than in serverconfig.xml. Reapply it in the persistent file, restart gracefully, and verify the value after the process loads.
The server will not start after an edit
- Restore the last known-good XML backup.
- Compare the edited section with a file generated by the same version.
- Look for missing closing elements, incorrect capitalization, duplicate properties, or values copied from another release.
- Start with the smallest change possible, then add further settings one at a time.
Administrator checklist
- Record the server version before changing permissions or command syntax.
- Keep dated backups of
serveradmin.xml,serverconfig.xml, and the world save. - Use permission level
0only for accounts that genuinely need full access. - Test commands on a non-production world or consenting character first.
- Use the console help output for current aliases and argument order.
- Restrict Telnet and web-panel ports to trusted networks.
- Use a strong, unique Telnet password where supported.
- Announce maintenance before
shutdownand wait for a graceful stop. - Verify that a setting is stored in
serverconfig.xmlwhen it must persist across restarts. - After updates, retest permissions, remote access, moderation, and save loading before inviting players back.
Bottom line
Use F1—or the key above Tab—to reach the in-game console, and use the terminal, Telnet, or web control panel for a headless server. Put administrators and permission levels in serveradmin.xml, keep restart-proof settings in serverconfig.xml, and treat command names and numeric permissions as version-sensitive. That division between runtime actions and persistent configuration is the key to reliable 7 Days to Die server administration.
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