To enable RCON on a Garry’s Mod server, set rcon_password to a non-empty password in garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg, save the file, and restart the server. An empty value, rcon_password "", disables RCON. The same console variable is used whether you edit the file yourself or use a hosting panel.
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What RCON does on a Garry’s Mod server
RCON is the remote console interface for a Source engine server. It lets an authenticated administrator send server-console commands without opening the game, joining the server, or sitting at the machine that runs the server. That is useful for restarting maps, changing configuration, checking status, and carrying out routine administration when the server is hosted elsewhere.
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Garry’s Mod uses Valve’s Source RCON Protocol over TCP. The usual SRCDS RCON port is TCP 27015, although a provider may assign a different port or place the server behind a proxy. The port used by your server is the one an RCON client must target; do not assume that a custom game port automatically means the RCON port is the same.
RCON authentication is controlled by one server console variable:
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rcon_passwordwith a non-empty value enables password authentication.rcon_password ""disables RCON.
RCON is separate from the password players use to join a password-protected server. Changing the player join password does not enable RCON, and changing the RCON password does not change who can connect as a player.
Before enabling RCON
Have the correct access
You need either file access to the server’s Garry’s Mod installation or a control panel that exposes the server configuration. On a conventional installation, the file is garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg. Managed hosts may expose that file through a text editor, a configuration page, or a field labeled for RCON. The interface varies, but the setting you are looking for remains rcon_password.
Choose a password that is used only for RCON
Use a long, random password that is not reused for your operating-system account, control panel, Steam account, or player password. Anyone who obtains the RCON password can issue commands accepted by the server console, so treating it like a privileged credential is appropriate. Do not place it in public documentation, screenshots, chat logs, or a repository.
Decide whether you need RCON running continuously
If you only need occasional remote administration, leave RCON disabled between maintenance sessions. Enabling it increases the number of services that must be protected. If you keep it enabled, restrict access to trusted administrator IP addresses where your hosting environment or firewall supports source-IP rules.
Enable RCON in server.cfg
The file-based method is the normal choice because it survives a restart. Follow these steps when you manage the files directly.
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- Stop the server or use the provider’s safe configuration editor. Stopping first avoids an overwrite if the server writes its configuration during shutdown. If your panel specifically supports editing while the server is running, follow its save procedure.
- Open the Garry’s Mod configuration directory. Locate
garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg. The absolute path may include a provider-specific instance directory, but the final folders are normallygarrysmod/cfg. - Add the password assignment. Put this on its own line:
rcon_password "Use-A-Long-Random-Secret-Here"
Replace the example value with your own secret. Keep the quotation marks, especially if the password contains characters that could be interpreted as separators. - Save the file without changing its name or extension. Confirm that you edited the server instance that actually launches your Garry’s Mod server. Multiple instances on one machine can each have a different
server.cfg. - Start or restart the server. The setting is intended to be loaded during startup. A restart also makes it clear which value is persisted in the file rather than merely held in the running process.
- Record the connection details securely. You will need the server’s reachable IP address or hostname, the RCON TCP port, and the exact password when connecting from an external client.
Do not add a leading comment marker such as // or ; to the line. A commented line is documentation, not an active setting. If the file already contains an rcon_password line, edit the existing active line instead of leaving conflicting assignments in multiple places.
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Enable RCON through a hosting panel
Hosting panels use different labels and file layouts. Look for a server configuration editor, startup configuration, or an RCON/password field. Enter the same cvar value, rcon_password, and apply the change. Some panels write the value into server.cfg; others generate configuration files when the instance starts.
After saving, restart the Garry’s Mod instance from the panel. A panel may show a success message before the game process has reloaded the file, so wait for the server to finish starting before testing. If the panel has both an RCON field and a raw configuration editor, use one source of truth and check that it does not overwrite the other on the next restart.
If you cannot find an RCON control, ask the provider where the active server.cfg is stored or whether its template disables custom cvars. The cvar name does not change merely because the server is managed through a web interface.
Verify that RCON is enabled
Verification should include a restart. A value entered only into a live console can disappear when the process stops; the persistent file or panel setting is what matters for the next boot.
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- Restart the server after saving the password.
- Check the startup or server console for configuration errors. A malformed line, an accidental comment marker, or editing the wrong instance can leave the intended value unapplied.
- Connect with an RCON client using the server’s IP address, RCON TCP port, and password. The Valve protocol expects those three connection details.
- Send a low-impact administrative command that you are authorized to run. Confirm the response, then disconnect.
- Restart once more if you need to prove persistence. Reconnect with the same details after the second startup.
Do not test by repeatedly guessing passwords. Failed authentication attempts may be limited by the server’s RCON protection settings, and repeated failures can trigger a ban.
Connecting and issuing commands
External RCON clients
An external client connects to the server’s IP address, TCP port, and RCON password. Use the exact port supplied by your host; TCP 27015 is the protocol’s usual SRCDS default, not a guarantee that every deployment uses it. If the server has a hostname, verify that it resolves to the intended public address.
Keep the client and password private. RCON traffic is an administrative channel, so use it from a trusted network and avoid copying the secret into shell history, screenshots, or shared configuration files. The protocol connection is distinct from the game connection: a player may be able to join the game while the RCON port is blocked, or the RCON port may be reachable while the game port is not.
In-game console use
Third-party Garry’s Mod setup guides describe entering the password with the rcon_password command in the game console and then prefixing remote commands with rcon, for example rcon sv_cheats 1. Other guides also mention setting rcon_address to the server IP first. These sequences differ between guides and are not confirmed here against a current primary Garry’s Mod reference, so treat them as a compatibility check rather than the authoritative setup method.
For predictable administration, configure and test the server with a dedicated RCON client or the control panel’s console. Never run a command that changes gameplay, permissions, or files until you know whether it is being executed locally or through RCON.
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Changing the password while the server is running
You can change the cvar at runtime from the server console, but a runtime value is not a substitute for editing the persistent configuration. Add the new value to server.cfg, then restart when practical.
Changing rcon_password while the server is running causes the server to close all currently authenticated RCON connections. This is expected behavior, not evidence that the new password failed. Every client must authenticate again with the new value. If you change the password from an RCON session, that session can be closed immediately after the change.
Security settings and safe operating practices
Use a unique, high-entropy password
A short, familiar, or reused password makes online guessing more practical. Generate a random secret, store it in a password manager, and give it only to people who need administrative access. Because the standard configuration uses one shared RCON password, maintain an access list outside the server and remove access when an administrator no longer needs it.
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Allow inbound TCP access to the RCON port only from trusted administrator addresses when your firewall or hosting panel supports that rule. If your IP changes frequently, use a secure administrative network rather than opening the port to every address. Do not confuse a game-server firewall rule with an RCON rule: the protocol is TCP and may require a separate rule from the ports used for player traffic.
Understand failed-login protection
Garry’s Mod exposes sv_rcon_maxfailures, which caps failed authentication attempts before a ban is applied. The exact operational effect depends on the server build and configuration, but the setting exists to limit repeated failures. A mistyped password can therefore produce a temporary access problem even when the configured password is correct. Stop guessing, verify the saved value, and check the server console or host controls for the resulting ban or failure message.
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Turn RCON off when it is not required
To disable the service, replace the value in the persistent configuration with:
rcon_password ""
Save the file and restart the server. Clearing an RCON field in a hosting panel has the same intended result when the panel writes the corresponding empty cvar. Verify that no second configuration file or startup template restores an old password.
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Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| RCON works until the server restarts | The password was entered only in the live console, or the wrong configuration file was edited. | Put rcon_password in the active garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg or the panel’s persistent field, then restart and test again. |
| The server rejects the correct-looking password | Extra whitespace, mismatched quotation marks, a stale client password, or a different active instance. | Copy the value directly from the saved configuration, reconnect with the new value, and confirm the server was restarted after the edit. |
| The RCON client cannot reach the server | Wrong address or port, a firewall rule, provider network filtering, or a server that has not finished starting. | Use the provider-supplied IP and RCON port. Confirm that TCP access is allowed and that the process is online. |
| Connections disappear immediately after a password change | Expected behavior when rcon_password changes at runtime. |
Reconnect every client with the new password. Persist the value in the configuration for the next restart. |
| Repeated tests result in a ban | Failed-authentication protection, including sv_rcon_maxfailures. |
Stop retrying, inspect the server console or host controls, and resolve the saved-password or network-address problem before testing again. |
| The panel has no visible RCON option | The host may hide raw cvars or use a custom configuration template. | Open the advanced configuration editor or ask where the active server.cfg is located. Request the setting by its exact name, rcon_password. |
| RCON is disabled unexpectedly | The value is empty, a template overwrote it, or another startup configuration supplied an empty value. | Search the active configuration sources for rcon_password, remove conflicting entries, set one non-empty value, and restart. |
Configuration reference
| Item | Value or behavior | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Enable variable | rcon_password |
A non-empty value enables password authentication. |
| Disable value | rcon_password "" |
An empty password disables RCON. |
| Typical file | garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg |
Hosting layouts can place the active file elsewhere. |
| Protocol | Valve Source RCON over TCP | RCON is not a UDP-only game query. |
| Usual port | TCP 27015 | This is the SRCDS default; use the assigned port if it differs. |
| Runtime password change | Closes authenticated RCON connections | Clients must authenticate again. |
| Failed-login control | sv_rcon_maxfailures |
Caps failed authentication attempts before a ban. |
Should you use a launch option instead?
Most setup instructions use server.cfg or a hosting-panel field because those methods are visible, persistent, and easy to audit. A +rcon_password launch option is sometimes suggested for Source servers, but its behavior for a current Garry’s Mod deployment was not established here. Do not rely on a launch option unless your host documents that exact method and you have verified the value survives a restart.
A practical maintenance checklist
- Confirm that the server instance and configuration path are the intended ones.
- Set one non-empty
rcon_passwordvalue in the persistent configuration. - Use a unique random secret and store it securely.
- Restart the server after saving.
- Allow TCP access only from trusted administrator networks where possible.
- Test once with the correct IP, port, and password rather than repeatedly guessing.
- Re-test after a second restart if persistence matters.
- Remove or replace the password when an administrator no longer needs access.
- Set
rcon_password ""and restart when RCON is no longer required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RCON password the same as the server’s player password?
No. RCON uses the rcon_password cvar and authenticates administrative console connections. The password that players enter to join the game is a separate setting.
Does RCON provide access to the server’s files or operating system?
No. RCON is a Source server-console protocol. It does not replace file-transfer, shell, or hosting-panel access, although commands issued through it can affect the running game server.
Does RCON require UDP?
The Source RCON protocol uses TCP. A game server may use other protocols and ports for player traffic, but the RCON connection itself must reach the configured TCP port.
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A runtime change to rcon_password closes all authenticated RCON connections by design. Reconnect with the new password after the change.
What should I do if my host does not show server.cfg?
Use the panel’s advanced configuration editor or ask support for the active Garry’s Mod configuration path. Request the setting by its exact cvar name, rcon_password, and restart after it is applied.
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