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The commands below assume you control the server console or hosting panel and are using a TShock version whose setup flow uses /setup and the owner group. Older installations may use different names, as explained later.
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What “admin” means on a Terraria server
There are two different server types that players often call “Terraria servers.” A vanilla server has no permanent admin account system. The person who starts it can control the process, world and console, but vanilla Terraria does not provide TShock-style player accounts, groups or permission nodes.
TShock adds that management layer. In TShock terminology, the highest built-in group is normally owner. An owner account can authenticate in game and use commands reserved for elevated groups. “Superadmin” is common in older tutorials, but it is legacy terminology rather than the name used by the current setup procedure.
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If your server does not contain a tshock directory, does not print a setup code at startup, and does not recognize /setup, these instructions do not apply until TShock is installed and loaded.
What you need before starting
- TShock running: Start the TShock server, not a plain vanilla Terraria server.
- Console or panel access: You need to read startup output and, if necessary, edit or back up server files.
- A client connection: Join the server with the Terraria version and address used by that installation.
- A private credential: Choose a username and a strong password that you will not reuse elsewhere.
- A backup opportunity: Once the account is created, keep a copy of the TShock data files while the server is stopped.
Do not give the setup code to another player. It is intended to grant temporary access to the setup process, so anyone who can use it while setup mode is active may be able to create an elevated account.
Become the owner account: the complete procedure
1. Start TShock and locate the setup code
On its first boot, TShock prints a setup code in the server console. TShock also writes the code to setup-code.txt inside the server’s tshock folder. A hosted server may expose that folder through a file manager rather than a desktop directory; look for a path similar to tshock/setup-code.txt.
Copy the code exactly, including capitalization or punctuation if present. Do not include surrounding explanatory text from the console. If the server has already completed setup and the file is no longer present, use the recovery section below instead of guessing a code.
2. Join the server and claim temporary setup access
Connect to the server as a normal player. In chat, enter:
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/setup <setup-code>
Replace <setup-code> with the value printed by TShock. A successful command grants temporary setup privileges for creating the first permanent account. This is not the account you will use day to day; it is a short-lived setup state.
If the command is rejected, check that you joined the TShock instance whose console displayed the code, that the code was copied without extra spaces, and that setup mode has not already been disabled.
3. Create a permanent owner account
While setup access is active, create your account in the built-in owner group:
/user add <username> <password> owner
For example, a command with your own private values might look like /user add ServerOwner StrongPrivatePassword owner. Use a username that is easy to identify in the server logs and a password that players cannot guess. Avoid posting the real command in public chat, screenshots or support tickets because it contains the password in clear text.
The final word, owner, is important. It assigns the account to TShock’s current highest built-in group. Typing a different group name creates a lower-privilege account or fails if that group does not exist.
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4. Log in with the new account
Authenticate the account you just created:
/login <username> <password>
Use the exact username and password from the account-creation command. The login is separate from account creation; creating an account does not automatically authenticate an already connected player.
5. Turn off setup mode
After the owner account has logged in, run:
/setup
Running /setup without a code closes the setup system. It prevents the setup-code notice from appearing on later boots and removes the temporary setup path from normal operation. Leaving setup mode enabled is a security mistake because the initial setup mechanism is intended only for first-run account creation.
6. Test the account after a restart
Stop the server cleanly, start it again, and connect with the owner credentials. The setup notice should no longer be presented. Log in with /login and test one administrative action appropriate to your server. If the account works before a restart but not afterward, check that the server is saving the same TShock data directory each time and that you did not launch a second installation by mistake.
Command reference
| Command | When to use it | Result |
|---|---|---|
/setup <setup-code> |
First-run setup, after joining the server | Grants temporary setup access so an initial account can be created |
/user add <username> <password> owner |
While setup access is active | Creates a permanent account in the owner group |
/login <username> <password> |
After account creation, and on later sessions | Authenticates the player account and applies its group permissions |
/setup |
Immediately after creating and logging in to the owner account | Disables the setup system and stops the setup-code notice on future boots |
Use these commands in game chat unless your hosting panel specifically documents a console syntax. Panel consoles sometimes display commands without the leading slash; follow the panel’s input convention while preserving the command and arguments.
If you cannot find the setup code
The server is still waiting for first-time setup
Check the TShock folder for setup-code.txt and review the complete startup log. The code is generated and printed when TShock first starts, so scrolling back through the console or opening the panel’s log viewer may reveal it even when the live window has moved on.
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The file was deleted and no owner exists
Community guidance describes a console-based recovery path when there is no owner account and the setup file is gone. First, create or register an account, then change that account’s group from the server console with:
/user group <username> owner
An alternative is to create an owner account directly from the console with the /user add command shown earlier. Console command parsing differs between hosting panels, so enter the form accepted by your panel and verify the resulting group in the server output. Protect the console while doing this; the password may be visible to anyone who can read the console log.
An owner exists but you cannot authenticate
Do not repeatedly guess passwords in public chat. Use the server console and the account-management facilities provided by your TShock build to regain access, or have another trusted owner make a replacement staff account. The exact recovery command and password-reset behavior can vary by version; check the command help exposed by your installed build rather than applying an old tutorial’s syntax.
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TShock stores account and permission data in its SQLite database. The file named tshock.sqlite must be kept with the server’s TShock data. Losing it can mean losing the owner account and having to run setup again. Stop the server before copying or restoring the file, and restore the backup to the same TShock directory used by the process you actually launch.
Version and terminology differences
Older tutorials commonly instruct administrators to run /auth <authcode> and create an account in a superadmin group. One historical naming convention used “SuperAdmin” before Terraria 1.4-era changes. Current TShock guidance and the Pryaxis-maintained documentation use /setup and the owner group.
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If your server says that /setup is unknown but recognizes /auth, you are probably running an older TShock release or a different server modification. Do not mix commands from the two systems. Identify the installed TShock version in the startup banner and use instructions written for that version. The exact behavior of every 2026 release should be checked against the build installed on your server, because command names can change between releases.
Secure the server after becoming owner
Use the owner account for setup, not routine play
An owner account has more authority than most staff members need. Community administration guidance generally recommends reserving it for server setup and emergency maintenance. For moderators and helpers, create a separate custom group containing only the permissions required for their duties. This limits the damage from a stolen staff password and reduces the chance of an accidental world-changing command.
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- Never paste an owner password into a public chat channel, issue tracker or screenshot.
- Restrict access to the hosting panel and server console to trusted operators.
- Back up
tshock.sqliteand the rest of the TShock configuration while the server is stopped. - Keep backups protected; a database copy can contain the information needed to preserve elevated accounts.
- After restoring a backup, confirm that the server is loading the intended data directory rather than creating a fresh one.
Decide whether players may self-register
TShock can allow players to create ordinary accounts with:
/register <password>
This is useful on a private server where players need persistent identities, but it does not make them administrators. Set your registration policy deliberately and explain to players that registration and owner privileges are separate. Never tell players to register with an owner password or reuse an operator’s credentials.
Using a hosting-provider control panel
The underlying sequence is the same whether the server runs on your computer, a rented machine or a game-hosting panel. The labels differ:
- Open the panel’s server console or log viewer and start the TShock instance.
- Copy the setup code from the startup output, or open the panel file manager and read
tshock/setup-code.txt. - Join using the address and port shown by that panel.
- Send the four commands in order: setup with the code, user creation, login, and setup without a code.
- Stop and restart from the panel, then test login again.
If the panel automatically regenerates files, confirm that its working directory is persistent before creating accounts. A container or temporary instance that is discarded on restart can make a successful setup appear to vanish.
Troubleshooting by symptom
“Invalid setup code”
- Make sure you copied the code from the same server instance you joined.
- Check for an omitted character, an added space or a line break copied from the console.
- Confirm that setup has not already been disabled with a previous
/setupcommand. - Verify that the server did not regenerate its TShock directory after an update or panel reinstall.
“You do not have permission” after using the code
The code may have been entered by an account that is not connected to the TShock server, or the command may have been typed into the wrong console or chat channel. Join the actual game server, enter the command in chat, and watch the matching server console for a response.
The account was created but login fails
- Retype the username and password exactly as created; passwords are case-sensitive.
- Check that the account command completed successfully instead of reporting a duplicate username or syntax error.
- Make sure you are logging in to the same server database where the account was created.
- If the server restarted between creation and login, confirm that
tshock.sqlitestill exists and is writable.
The setup notice appears on every boot
Run /setup with no code after logging in to the newly created owner account. If the notice returns, inspect the TShock folder and startup path: the process may lack write permission, may be loading a different data directory, or may be restoring an old copy of the database and configuration.
The owner group is not recognized
This usually indicates an older TShock version using legacy group names, a typo, or a server that is not running TShock. Read the startup version, check the groups available in that installation, and do not substitute superadmin unless the installed version explicitly requires it.
Quick Recap
Quick checklist
- Confirm the server is running TShock.
- Find the first-boot code in the console or
tshock/setup-code.txt. - Join the server and run
/setup <setup-code>. - Create the permanent account with
/user add <username> <password> owner. - Authenticate with
/login <username> <password>. - Disable setup mode by running
/setupwithout a code. - Restart, log in again and confirm the account still has owner permissions.
- Back up
tshock.sqliteand reserve the owner account for trusted administration.
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