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How to Ban or Kick a Player on a Valheim Server

Add your account to adminlist.txt, restart the Valheim dedicated server, then use the F5 console to kick, ban, unban, or list players. This guide explains persistent bans, identifier choices, whitelist traps, and troubleshooting.
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On a Valheim dedicated server, kicking removes a connected player for the current session; banning also prevents that player from joining again until you remove the ban. The reliable workflow is to add your account to adminlist.txt, restart the server, open the in-game console with F5, and run kick, ban, unban, or banned. Bans are stored in bannedlist.txt and persist through restarts.

What you need before changing player access

You need administrative access to the dedicated server itself or to its hosting control panel. Being the person who created a character, owning a copy of Valheim, or being a server moderator in a separate community system does not automatically grant access to the dedicated-server console.

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  • Access to the server’s configuration or save-file directory, either through the machine’s file system or a hosting-panel file manager.
  • The account identifier for the player you want to manage. A SteamID64 is the safest choice when you can obtain it; player names are easier to type but can change or collide.
  • Permission to restart the server when changing the administrator or ban files.
  • A PC copy of Valheim for the in-game console workflow. An equivalent console-command workflow is not established on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch, so do not assume that F5 is available on those platforms.

Give yourself admin access

Valheim dedicated-server administration is file-based. Add your identifier to adminlist.txt; in-game settings do not replace this step.

  1. Stop the dedicated server, or use the control panel’s file manager if it supports safe edits while the server is stopped.
  2. Open adminlist.txt in the server’s configuration or save-data area.
  3. Add your identifier on its own line. Keep one identifier per line and do not add commas, quotation marks, or explanatory text.
  4. Save the file and start or restart the server.
  5. Join the server with the account you added. Press F5 to open the console. The console is restricted to recognized administrators.

If the console does not open after a restart, verify that the file was saved in the active server’s directory, that the line contains the intended identifier, and that the server was restarted after the edit. A file edited on a local computer has no effect unless it is the file used by the running dedicated server.

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Kick a connected player

A kick ends the player’s current connection. It does not create a lasting block, so the player can attempt to join again immediately if the server otherwise permits them.

Console command

kick PlayerName

Replace PlayerName with the player’s current in-game name. The official command summary uses a player-name form. Some third-party administration summaries also describe identifier variants, but name handling can vary with the game version and server implementation; if a name-based command is rejected, verify the live official dedicated-server guide and use the identifier format it documents.

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When a kick is appropriate

  • A player is idle, disruptive, or occupying a slot but has not earned a permanent restriction.
  • You need everyone to reconnect after a configuration change.
  • You want to end a session while preserving the option to let the player return.

Ban a player from rejoining

A ban removes a connected player and records a restriction that blocks future joins. Use it for repeated rule violations, deliberate griefing, or another situation in which a simple kick is not enough.

Console commands

ban PlayerName

For servers and versions that accept a stable account identifier, a SteamID64 is generally preferable to a name because it is designed to remain associated with the same Steam account. The exact accepted formats are not completely consistent across published command summaries: the official command snippet lists PLAYERNAME, while other summaries mention a name, IP address, or SteamID64. Treat the syntax shown by your current official guide or server build as authoritative rather than assuming every format works everywhere.

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Ban workflow

  1. Join as an administrator and press F5.
  2. Run the documented ban command with the player’s name or supported account identifier.
  3. Confirm that the player is disconnected.
  4. Use banned to display the server’s current ban entries.
  5. Record why the action was taken in your own moderation log. The Valheim ban file records entries, not your community’s explanation or appeal history.

Unban a player

An unban removes a stored ban so the player can join again, provided no whitelist, password, or separate server restriction prevents access.

unban PlayerName

If your server build accepts a SteamID64 for bans, use the same stable identifier when reversing the action:

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unban SteamID64

Use the exact spelling and identifier format that was recorded. A name change, different capitalization, or an attempt to unban by name when the file contains an account identifier can leave the original entry active. After running the command, check the ban list and have the player try a fresh connection.

List current bans

To inspect the entries known to the running server, open the administrator console and run:

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banned

This is the quickest way to check whether a ban was recorded and to inspect the form of the stored entry before attempting an unban.

Manage the ban file directly

Valheim saves persistent bans in bannedlist.txt. A hosting control panel’s file manager can expose this file when an in-game command is unavailable or when you need to clean up an old entry.

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  1. Stop the server before editing the file so the running process cannot overwrite your changes.
  2. Open bannedlist.txt in the active server directory.
  3. Keep one ban entry per line. Remove only the line belonging to the player you intend to restore.
  4. Save the file and restart the server.
  5. Run banned after reconnecting as an administrator to verify the resulting list.

Make a backup before manual edits. Do not add comments, commas, or multiple values to one line unless the current official guide for your version explicitly requires that format.

Choose the right identifier

Identifier Advantage Risk or limitation Best use
Player name Fast to read and type in the console Names can change, contain unexpected characters, or be shared by more than one person A quick kick or a command when the server clearly accepts the current name
SteamID64 Stable account-oriented identifier; several administration guides recommend it for reliability You must obtain the correct 64-bit identifier, and command support should be confirmed for your server version Persistent bans and unbans where the build accepts it
IP address Can identify a network connection when supported Addresses can change, and a shared household, school, or workplace connection can affect several people Only when the current server documentation explicitly supports IP entries and the collateral effect is acceptable

The available command summaries disagree about whether every identifier type is accepted for every command. Do not infer support from the table alone: test the syntax on a controlled server or follow the command syntax in the current official dedicated-server guide.

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Do not confuse bans with the whitelist

permittedlist.txt is a separate permitted-player list. It is not an alternative name for bannedlist.txt and it does not provide a second way to remove a ban.

Putting an identifier in permittedlist.txt makes the server invite-only: only listed players can join. Leave this file empty unless you intentionally want that access model. Accidentally leaving one or more entries there can look like a ban because an otherwise eligible player is refused even though the ban list is clear.

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Kick versus ban: a practical decision

Action Immediate effect After a restart Use it when
Kick Disconnects the current session No lasting block is created The problem is temporary, a slot must be freed, or you want to warn the player
Ban Disconnects the player and records a join restriction The restriction remains because it is stored in bannedlist.txt The player must be prevented from returning until an administrator reverses the decision
Unban Removes the stored restriction The player can return unless another access rule applies An appeal succeeds, a mistaken ban is found, or the restriction has expired under your community policy
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Troubleshooting common failures

The F5 console does not appear

  • Confirm that you are using the PC version and not a console platform for which a command-console method has not been established.
  • Check that your account was added to adminlist.txt on the server that you joined, not merely to a similarly named local file.
  • Make sure the identifier is alone on its line and that the server was fully restarted after the edit.
  • If a hosting panel has separate instances, verify that you edited the instance’s active files rather than a template or backup.

The server says the command is unknown or rejects the target

Command syntax can change with game updates, and published summaries do not agree on every identifier format. Check the current official dedicated-server guide for the exact command spelling and argument form. Try a player name only where the active documentation lists a name, and avoid assuming that an IP or SteamID64 is accepted merely because another guide mentions it.

The player reconnects after a kick

That is expected: a kick is not a ban. If the player must be prevented from returning, run the documented ban command and verify the result with banned.

The player reconnects after a ban

  • Run banned and check that the entry exists.
  • Confirm that you banned the intended account rather than a misspelled or changed display name.
  • Check whether the server restarted from a different data directory or restored an older backup.
  • Inspect permittedlist.txt and other access controls; a whitelist problem can produce confusing join behavior, but it does not remove a ban.
  • If you edited bannedlist.txt manually, stop the server, correct the line, save it, and restart before testing again.

The unban command appears to work but the player still cannot join

Check the list again and match the unban argument to the identifier actually stored. Also check for a second entry, an invite-only permittedlist.txt, a password requirement, or another server-side restriction. Clearing one ban does not override a separate access rule.

A ban affects the wrong person

This is most likely when an IP address is shared or when a display name is ambiguous. Prefer a verified SteamID64 where the server version supports it, and document the identifier and reason before applying a permanent restriction.

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A safe moderation procedure

  1. Capture the player’s exact current name and, where available, verify the account identifier.
  2. Decide whether the incident requires a temporary kick or a persistent ban under your server rules.
  3. For a kick, run kick PlayerName and record the action.
  4. For a ban, run the documented ban form, then run banned to confirm that an entry was created.
  5. Keep a backup of bannedlist.txt before any manual cleanup.
  6. When reversing the action, use the same identifier recorded in the ban list, run unban, verify the list, and test a new connection.
  7. Review permittedlist.txt separately so a whitelist does not unintentionally turn a public server into an invite-only server.

Important limits of dedicated-server admin rights

Administrative access for a dedicated server is primarily about managing connected players and access lists. A separate, lower-confidence administration note says that dedicated-server admin rights do not necessarily unlock every cheat or god-mode command available in single-player or self-hosted worlds. Do not treat successful access to F5 as proof that every other console command is available; verify each command for the current server version.

Quick command reference

Purpose Command Result
Kick a connected player kick PlayerName Disconnects the current session without creating a lasting ban
Ban a player ban PlayerName Disconnects the player and records a persistent restriction
Unban a player unban PlayerName Removes the matching ban entry when the identifier is correct
List bans banned Displays the bans known to the running server

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