DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowHalloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
World desk8 min

How to Enable the MOTD on a RimWorld Together Server

Set EnableMoTD to true and enter your welcome text in MessageOfTheDay to show an MOTD when players join a RimWorld Together server. Follow the exact ChatConfig.json or hosting-panel steps and fix common JSON and restart issues.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Enable the RimWorld Together welcome message by editing the server’s chat settings: set EnableMoTD to true and put your text in MessageOfTheDay. On a self-managed server, those keys are in Config/ChatConfig.json; hosted panels usually expose the same file as Chat Config or Configuration Files › Chat. Save the change, start or restart the server according to your host’s workflow, and have a player reconnect to verify the message.

For a hosted RimWorld Together server, Godlike.Host provides a Pterodactyl-based game panel with SFTP/FTP access. RimWorld Together’s code is licensed CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, a NonCommercial licence (github.com/RimWorld-Together/Rimworld-Together, 10 Oct 2026).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What the RimWorld Together MOTD does

MOTD means “Message of the Day.” In RimWorld Together, it is a welcome message sent when a player logs in to the server. The feature has two separate settings:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  • EnableMoTD is the on/off switch. It must be set to true (some hosting forms display True).
  • MessageOfTheDay contains the text players should see.

The official server-configuration documentation identifies ChatConfig.json as the chat settings file and normally places configuration files in the server’s Config directory. See the RimWorld Together server-configuration reference for the key names and their meanings.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
TOZO A1 Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth 5.3 Light Weight in Ear Headphones | IPX5 Waterproof,2 Mics for AI Calls,Immersive Premium Sound Bass Headset with Charging Case,32 EQ via App Black
  • [Ultra-Lightweight Ear Buds Designed for Small Ears] Each earbud weighs only 3.7g and features a compact, ergonomic in-ear design made especially for small ears. Secure, low-profile, and comfortable for workouts, all-day wear or overnight sleeping.The ultra-slim profile sits flush in your ear with no hard edges poking or rubbing, so you can even sleep on your side without discomfort.
  • [Immersive Stereo Sound with TOZO OrigX Technology] TOZO OrigX tuning delivers clear vocals, balanced mids, and natural stereo sound for music, podcasts, and videos.
  • [Long Battery Life for Daily Use] Get up to 7 hours of playtime on a single charge, with up to 32 hours total using the charging case—ideal for workdays, commuting, and extended listening sessions.
  • [Bluetooth 5.3 & Stable Connection] Bluetooth 5.3 provides fast pairing, stable wireless performance, and reduced dropouts as you move around home or office.
  • [Deep Bass with Clear Vocals] High-performance drivers produce punchy bass while keeping vocals clean and detailed for everyday listening.

Before you change the setting

  • Identify your management method. A self-managed installation uses the files on disk. A game-hosting service may provide a form or a browser-based text editor instead.
  • Stop the server before a manual edit. Editing while the process is running can allow the running process to overwrite your change when it saves its configuration.
  • Make a backup. Copy ChatConfig.json to a separate location, or use the host’s configuration-backup feature, before changing it.
  • Prepare plain text. The value must remain valid JSON. Use normal quotation marks, preserve commas and braces, and avoid pasting rich-text formatting from a word processor.

Enable the MOTD on a self-managed server

Use this procedure when you control the RimWorld Together server files directly.

  1. Stop the server. Use the server’s normal stop command or service control and wait until the process has fully stopped.
  2. Open the configuration directory. Go to the server installation’s Config folder. The official guide on creating a RimWorld Together server also describes this configuration location.
  3. Open ChatConfig.json. Use a text editor that does not add formatting or change the file extension.
  4. Turn the feature on. Find EnableMoTD and change its value from false to true. JSON uses lowercase Boolean values, so write true, not True, when editing the raw file.
  5. Enter the welcome text. Replace the value of MessageOfTheDay with your message. A minimal configuration looks like this:
{
  "EnableMoTD": true,
  "MessageOfTheDay": "Welcome to our RimWorld Together server! Read the rules before joining a colony."
}
  1. Save without changing the JSON structure. Keep every required comma, quotation mark, and brace. Do not save the file as ChatConfig.json.txt.
  2. Start the server. If your service manager supports a restart rather than separate stop and start actions, use the normal restart workflow after the file is saved.
  3. Verify from a client. Have a player disconnect and reconnect. The message is intended to appear when the player logs in, so an already-connected session is not a reliable test.

Enable the MOTD through a hosting panel

Provider interfaces are wrappers around the same chat settings. If labels differ, search for either Chat Config or a file named ChatConfig.json; the stable keys are still EnableMoTD and MessageOfTheDay.

Shockbyte

Shockbyte’s procedure dated March 11, 2026 uses the control panel:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  1. Open the control panel and stop the server.
  2. Open Config, then choose Chat Config.
  3. Enable Enable MOTD (Message Of The Day).
  4. Enter the welcome text in the MOTD field.
  5. Save the configuration and start the server again.

Shockbyte says the message appears when players connect. Its guide describes MOTD as “a message shown to players when they join your server.” Read the provider’s MOTD instructions if the labels in your panel do not match these names.

Rank #2
Sale
Smart Watch for Men Women Compatible with iPhone Samsung Android Phone 1.69 inch Full Touch Screen IP68 Waterproof Bluetooh Fitness Tracker Heart Rate/Sleep Monitor (Black)
  • 【IP68 Waterproof Multifunctinal Smart Watch】Torjalph fitness activity tracker smart watch is IP68 waterproof technology ,you can wear it when swimming,handwashing,it's rain-proof which means that you perform multiple exercise modes outside without worrying about sweat or rain corroding your fitness smart watch,and this watch equipped with a 230 mAh large capacity battery magnetic charging ,and this sports activity tracker watch can be used 5-7 days If fully charged.
  • 【Larger 1.83'' Full Screen Watch & Multi-dial Selection】1.83 inch full HD color touch screen smart watch for men / women provides excellent 240*284 resolution image quality ,This Bluetooth smart watch offers a better touch experience and remarkable immersion and ,more than 200 watch faces for you to choose from App"Da Fit ", you can change the dial style according to your mood to wear keeping the world on your wrist
  • 【Accurate Activity Tracker Smart Watch 】sports watch activity tracker uses sweat and dust resistant breathable silicone strap, our Fitness Tracker Smart Watch for Android iOS Phones supports 12 sports modes,walking,running,bicycle,swimming,badminton,basketball,football,rope skipping. This bluetooth calls smart watch for men women is lightweight and stylish, bringing more convenient and relaxing sports experience while also providing more protection.
  • 【Your 24 Hour Personal Daily Health Monitor】Fitness watch for women men full touch screen IP67 waterproof bluetooth smartwatch for Android iOS Phones with heart rate blood pressure monitor multifunction Andriod smart watch with steps counter sleep monitor sports fitness watch, monitoring blood oxygen saturation allows you to understand your physical condition in real time to track fitness progress ,to know your health status in time.
  • 【More Functions Bluetooth Call Smart Watch】This fitness activity smart watch full screen for iPhone and Android phones includes a bunch of new features including:The bluetooth smart watch can hang up the phone, receive and display WhatsAPP /Text /Facebook /Twitter /Messenger reminder.Support sedentary reminder, alarm clock, stopwatch, timer,weather information,music control, remote camera control compatible with Android 5.0 and above or iOS 9.0 and above smartphones.

Citadel Servers

Citadel exposes the underlying JSON in a text editor:

  1. Sign in to the game control panel and stop the server.
  2. Open Configuration Files.
  3. Select ChatConfig.json in the editor.
  4. Set EnableMoTD to True in the panel’s field or editor.
  5. Enter the message as the value of MessageOfTheDay, then save.

The provider’s documented workflow is available in its RimWorld Together MOTD article. The capitalization shown by a form is a display detail; when you are editing raw JSON, use lowercase true.

BisectHosting

BisectHosting’s instructions dated September 2, 2026 use a panel path that may be labeled for another game in the interface:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  1. Open the Starbase panel and stop the server.
  2. Choose Configuration Files › Chat.
  3. Set EnableMoTD to true.
  4. Enter the text in MessageOfTheDay, keeping the value between double quotation marks.
  5. Save the file and start the server.

Follow the provider’s published steps if your panel uses the same navigation.

Rank #3
New Bee Guitar Cable 10ft Electric Instrument Bass AMP Cord
  • [Low Noise High Fidelity] New bee guitar cord with 22AWG oxygen-free-copper center conductors provides enhanced signal transfer, the PVC insulation material and the high-density stranded copper double shield provide noise rejection for quiet operation
  • [Ideal for Choice] New bee 1/4 straight and right angle metal connectors, ensures a secure connection in any instrument, pedal, or amp jack. L shape great fro on stage guitar stands
  • [Wide Compatible] Suitable for mixer, power amplifier, microphone, effector, decoder, equalizer, electoronic organ, electric guitar, electric bass and other electronic equipments. Widely used in the installation of smart home, karaoke speaker, professional stage audio, etc
  • [Easy Disassemble] Making incidental repairs quick and easy! Very nice, flexible cable
  • [Dont Hesite to Order] 24 hours customer services and professional technology team are standing by

Panel differences at a glance

Management method Where you edit How the switch is shown Text field Apply action
Self-managed Config/ChatConfig.json EnableMoTD: true MessageOfTheDay Save, then start or restart the server
Shockbyte Config › Chat Config Enable MOTD (Message Of The Day) MOTD field Save, then start the server
Citadel Servers Configuration Files › ChatConfig.json EnableMoTD shown in the editor MessageOfTheDay Save in the editor
BisectHosting Configuration Files › Chat EnableMoTD MessageOfTheDay Save, then start the server

When choosing between panels, the practical differences are whether you receive a form or a raw text editor, whether the panel validates JSON, and whether it offers automatic configuration backups. Those features affect how safely you can edit the file, but they do not change the two RimWorld Together keys.

Writing a valid and useful MOTD

Keep the value valid JSON

The message is a JSON string. A plain apostrophe is fine, but a double quotation mark inside the message must be escaped with a backslash. For example:

{
  "EnableMoTD": true,
  "MessageOfTheDay": "Welcome! Read the "#rules" channel before playing."
}

If you need a line break, use the JSON escape sequence n inside the string rather than pressing Enter in the middle of the quoted value:

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
{
  "EnableMoTD": true,
  "MessageOfTheDay": "Welcome to the colony!nCheck the rules before you build."
}

Do not remove the comma separating the two properties, add comments, or surround the Boolean with quotation marks. "true" is text, not the Boolean switch the server expects.

Rank #4
BSIMB 15.6" Digital Family Calendar & Chore Chart, No Subscription Fees
  • Digital Family Calendar: BSIMB digital calendar wall touch screen puts an end to your chaotic life. Designed for busy families, the digital calendar keeps you organised and in step with your family. Assign different colours and tasks to each family member to make family scheduling easier and more intuitive.
  • Easy Setup and Auto-Sync: Plug in, connect to WLAN and auto-syn your electric calendar in minutes. Digital wall calendar compatible with Google calendar, iCloud calendar, Outlook calendar, Cozi calendar and Yahoo calendar. Add events directly on the device or through the ecalendar app. Electronic calendar stays current whether you're at work or traveling—no manual updates needed.
  • All-In-One Home Assistant: Smart calendar builds habits and encourage independence with personalised chores. Display daily meal plan to reduce the daily ‘What's for dinner?’ stress. To-do lists keep track of everything you want. Turning chores into valuable achievements with stars and rewards, making life easier and more enjoyable.
  • Manage Anytime Anywhere: BSIMB electronic calendar for family stay connected with the powerful ecalendar app. Access and manage your digital wall calendar anytime, anywhere with free features like stars & rewards, photo screensaver, chore charts, meals plans, to-do lists etc. Electronic planner paid features like Magic Import tailor advanced tools for users with special needs.
  • Stay in Touch with Loved Ones: Share photos or videos from your phone to electronic wall calendar with app, instantly update your life moment, and keep in touch with your family, especially those who are far away; you can also surprise your smart calendar digital wall by sending him a wish card; it's also great for keeping tech-illiterate elders in touch with the youngsters.

Choose text players can act on

An MOTD is most useful when it answers the questions a new arrival has immediately: which rules apply, where to ask for help, whether a particular mod set is required, and what to do before joining a colony. Keep the first line recognizable as a welcome, then provide only information that is maintained. If a rule, channel name, or schedule changes, update the value in the same configuration location.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Confirm that the message is active

  1. Check that the saved file still contains EnableMoTD set to true and a non-empty MessageOfTheDay value.
  2. Start the server after the save operation has completed.
  3. Connect with a player account that was not left in an existing session.
  4. Disconnect and reconnect if the first connection was made before the configuration change.
  5. Compare the displayed text with the exact value in the file or panel, including punctuation and line breaks.

This test distinguishes a configuration problem from a visibility problem: the setting is a join-time message, so changing it does not necessarily inject new text into a session that is already connected.

Troubleshoot an MOTD that does not appear

The key is enabled but the file will not save

  • Look for a missing comma, quotation mark, or closing brace.
  • Check that the editor did not append .txt to the filename.
  • Remove smart quotation marks copied from a rich-text editor and replace them with ordinary " characters.
  • Restore the backup, then make one small change at a time.

The panel accepts the form but the value reverts

Stop the server before editing if the host’s workflow requires it. Some panels regenerate configuration files when a server is running or when a setting is saved through a separate form. Reopen Chat Config or ChatConfig.json after saving and verify that both keys still contain the intended values.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The message is visible in the file but not to a player

  • Confirm the Boolean is enabled, not merely that a message has been entered.
  • Start or restart the server after the edit.
  • Use a fresh reconnect; an already-connected player may not receive a join-time message again.
  • Check that you edited the active server instance’s Config directory rather than a backup, staging copy, or a different server installation.

The message is cut off or displays oddly

Inspect punctuation in MessageOfTheDay. An unescaped double quotation mark ends the JSON string early, while an unintended line break can invalidate the file. Replace embedded quotation marks with " and line breaks with n, save, and repeat the reconnect test.

You cannot find the setting in the panel

Search the file browser for ChatConfig.json, or look for a menu named Chat Config, Configuration Files, or Chat. Provider labels can vary, but the key names are the reliable identifiers. If none appears, consult the host’s support documentation for access to the server configuration files instead of creating a second file with a different name.

A later update removes your change

Keep a copy of the intended two-key configuration and check it after server updates or migrations. If the host provides backups or a versioned configuration editor, use that facility so you can restore the known-good values without rebuilding the file manually.

Recommended maintenance routine

  • Record the current MOTD text in your server administration notes.
  • Change one setting at a time and test with a reconnect.
  • Keep the message short enough to read on a first login, with the most important rule or link first.
  • Remove time-sensitive instructions when they expire so returning players do not receive stale information.
  • Before migrating hosts, copy ChatConfig.json and verify that the destination exposes the same EnableMoTD and MessageOfTheDay keys.

Key facts to remember

  • MOTD is the welcome message shown when a player joins.
  • EnableMoTD controls whether it is sent.
  • MessageOfTheDay stores the text.
  • Self-managed servers normally use Config/ChatConfig.json.
  • Hosted panels may rename the same settings, so search by the file name or key names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing MessageOfTheDay alone enable the MOTD?

No. The message text and the Boolean switch are separate settings; EnableMoTD must be enabled as well.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Should EnableMoTD be true or True?

Use lowercase true in raw JSON. A hosting form may display True as a label while writing the correct Boolean value for you.

Why does a player who is already online not see the new message?

The MOTD is associated with login. Test it with a disconnect and reconnect after the server has loaded the saved configuration.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.